Lena was aware of Enigma pulling her onto the dance floor and holding her hand. Lena looked down at their joined hands and in the colored lights, she once again noticed the lines and markings on Etna's hands. Lena was curious but didn't want to ask Etna about them at the immediate moment.
"I'm not really experienced at dancing," Lena admitted, becoming self-conscious again.
"Don't worry. I'll lead." Etna replied with a reassuring smile.
It quickly became apparent to Lena that Etna was an excellent dancer. Etna's steps matched perfectly to the music and she smiled at Lena as they danced. Etna's hand was on Lena's waist. One of Lena's hands was on Etna's shoulder while the other held Etna's hand.
Lena gave in to the music and let herself relax into the rhythm, forgetting how nervous she was about looking foolish in front of Etna. Etna's soft smile made Lena feel comfortable and Lena got lost in Etna's piercing green eyes.
All too soon, the slow song ended and was replaced with a faster song.
"Now I think this is the kind of song that you will be the expert at dancing to, Princess," Etna said.
"Princess?" Lena asked, confused.
"Oh! I'm sorry. I just... as we were dancing... you look beautiful in the dress... and with the silver flower in your hair... I guess I just thought you were as beautiful as a princess." Etna laughed awkwardly. It was the first time Lena had seen her fumble her words.
"Thank you. You look amazing yourself." Lena said, forcing back the urge to scream You're the most beautiful person I've ever seen!
"I led for the slow dance. Why don't you show me how this kind of dancing is done?" Etna said, bowing and sweeping her arm to one side to give Lena the floor.
"Uh... sure." Lena suddenly became self-conscious again. The two of them spent the next few songs dancing together, not caring how it looked or if they were bad at it.
Eventually, they walked back over to Aleta. Aleta had a huge smile on her face as they came back.
"I'm going to go get a drink. Do either of you want anything?" Etna asked.
"Lemonade, if they have it. Thanks, Etna," Lena said.
"I'll have the same," Aleta said. Etna nodded and walked off to go get the drinks. As soon as she was out of earshot, Aleta rounded on Lena.
"She danced with you! What was it like? What did you talk about? How was it?" Aleta asked excitedly.
"We didn't really talk that much. We were busy dancing. It was really fun... she said I was beautiful." Lena blushed slightly. "You should come to dance with us too!"
"Sure!" Just then, Etna came back with three paper cups of lemonade. Lena and Aleta each took one and the three of them chatted and sipped their lemonade.
"Where are you from, Etna?" Aleta asked.
"I used to live somewhere very far away. It was a really small town too, I'm sure you wouldn't have heard of it. It's strange to me here. There are so many people and so many buildings... it's been a bit of a challenge adjusting to everything." Etna said.
"That seems like it would be difficult," Lena agreed.
"Would you like to go dance again? I find it quite fun." Etna spoke up after a long moment of silence.
"Yes, let's go!" Aleta grabbed both Lena and Etna by the hands and pulled them onto the dance floor. The rest of the night was spent dancing, chatting, and generally having a good time.
It was around 2 am when Lena and Aleta said goodbye to Etna and trudged back to their dorm rooms, thoroughly exhausted, but happy.
"What a night, huh?" Aleta said as they said goodbye at Lena's door.
"Yeah... what a night."
"You even got to dance with Etna."
"She danced with me," Lena nodded, still a bit dazed at how well the night had gone. She had actually survived without making a total fool of herself. That was an accomplishment.
"Well, goodnight. I'll see you tomorrow!" Aleta waved and skipped off down the hallway.
"Goodnight!" Lena called. She walked into her room. She was tired. She could have just collapsed on her bed right then and there, but she convinced herself to stay up long enough to undress, put on pajamas, and remove her remaining makeup. The final thing she took off was the silver flower from her hair.
You were as beautiful as a princess.
Etna's words echoed in Lena's mind. Her thoughts shifted to something else Etna has said. Something even Aleta didn't know about.
"I have something important to tell you," Etna had said seriously. "Something I can't tell you here. Meet me tomorrow at the large tree near the library. I'll be there around sunset."
Lena walked over to her bed and lay down. She was tired, but now that she was thinking about it, her mind didn't want to let her sleep.
Questions raced through her mind. What did Etna want to tell her? Why her out of all people? Why did Etna seem so serious when she said it? Why couldn't she have said something at the dance? Why did she only bring it up when Aleta wasn't there?
Eventually, Lena fell into sleep, but her dream only raised more questions.
Running through the forest. Lake. Yes. This part is all familiar, then Enigma will be- wait! No that's not right! Out of the lake stepped Enigma, but walking through the forest behind Lena was... Etna! Etna and Enigma stood side by side and looked at Lena and their resemblance to each other was uncanny. The only difference was clothing style and braided vs shaved hair.
"You're in danger, Lena!" Etna and Enigma spoke together, so in sync that it was almost as if one creature spoke with two voices. "You must believe us! Heed our warning. You are in danger."
Lena stared at both of them, one the girl she sort of knew, the other, the enigma she only knew in dreams.
"Why? How am I in danger?" Lena demanded. "What is going to happen to me?"
"Believe us." Etna and Enigma spoke again with an edge of urgency. Slowly they began to fade from view as smoke swirled thick around Lena. She started to hear screaming again, and again felt a sharp pain. Only now this pain was different than it had been before. Before it had been in her side. Now it was on her back. She saw a shadow of something looming above her and then-

Lena awoke with a start. It was already morning. Lena looked around her room frantically, making sure things were as she had left them. Then she remembered the last time. She threw the covers off of herself and clapped her hand over her mouth to stifle her soft scream. Dirt. Again. As if she, or something else had been outside in the night and then come back to her room. Lena felt a thrill of fear.
Lena's phone buzzed with a notification of an incoming text message. She picked it up to see at least ten missed messages from Aleta.

Hey.

Are you up?

Okay, listen. Call me. Something really weird just happened.

Lena.

LENA REPLY.

Seriously, Lena. This is serious. It's about Etna.

LENA.

LENA!!

Ugh. I swear. You're too good at sleeping.

Did Etna ask you to meet her?

If she asked you to meet her, don't do it, Lena!

The last messages surprised Lena. Knew Aleta had no way of knowing about that unless Etna had told her. She was almost positive Etna didn't want anyone to know about it.

Hi. I'm up. What happened with Etna??

Lena went and got dressed. When she got back there was no reply from Aleta. That was weird. Aleta was the kind of dependable person who always answered immediately. Especially if she had been trying so hard to get ahold of Lena just minutes before.

Aleta?

After another few minutes, Lena got a reply. What it said made her blood run cold.

Lena, Etna was outside your room last night. It looked like she had some kind of blade with her. I don't know, I didn't see it well, but she had something metal that glinted.

What!?!? When was this? Did she see you?!

It was around four am. I heard footsteps so I peeked out my door. When I did she turned and saw me but I just waved and went down to the vending machine so it wouldn't seem suspicious or like I was spying on her, you know, since she'd already seen me. But I came back and she was gone.

She wanted me to meet her tonight.

Don't do it!

Okay... she said she had something important to tell me though.

It's a trap, Lena! It has to be!

I guess you're right. Want to meet at my room in five minutes? We can talk in person.

Yes. I'll be right over.

Sure enough, five minutes later Aleta knocked on Lena's door. Lena let her in and they say down on the bed together.

"I have to tell you something you should know," Lena said. She proceeded to explain about the first dream and the mud and leaves, and how the same thing had happened only this time Etna had been in the dream and told her that she was in danger.

"Freaky. Maybe you subconsciously knew Etna was being creepy outside your door and it got into the dream?" Aleta suggested.

"It is possible," Lena muttered. "I think I should go to the place she wanted me to meet her tonight. But I won't go alone. You can come with me. I just... I need to know the truth."

Aleta hesitated for a long moment before relenting.

"Okay. I know how much this means to you."

"Thank you, Aleta!" Lena threw her arms around Aleta. "You're an amazing friend. I love you!"

"So, I guess it's a plan then. We will go there at sundown. I'd do anything for you. I love you too."