I headed downstairs with Edward clinging to my shoulder. Entering the kitchen, I saw Austin already eating breakfast. I inwardly sighed and went over.

"Naomi..." Austin said, gazing up at me. "Listen, about yesterday... I'm sorry, I overreacted."

I was a bit surprised by his sudden apology, but I was glad he didn't make me say it first.

"I guess I'm sorry too," I replied, averting my gaze. "I stayed out too long."

"It's alright, I'm to blame here. I've gotta learn to treat you like an adult instead of like my baby sister."

I chuckled and took a seat. "You've got a point there. It would be nice to not have someone watching over me like a hawk."

Austin laughed a bit as well. "I guess I do take things too far. I'll try to be less... protective of you from now on."

"Good, because I am an independent young woman," I said while flicking my hair.

We both continued to talk and joke around as we ate. Once finished, I saw Austin off to work before sitting in my room with Bella and Edward. I grabbed my laptop and began working on my book some more.

??? pov

I gasped, my eyes snapping open. I see now. The spirits have shown me. That girl will be of great significance to me.

But something will happen soon. Very soon. A tragic event will bring us both to meet. But what of the cause of this event? The spirits are unable to tell me.

I will simply have to wait. Wait for my time to come forward. A small grin spread across my lips. I shall finally come closer to what I seek.

Naomi's pov

I groaned and rubbed my fingers against my temples. "Ugh, I can't think of a good idea for the next part."

Bella and Edward seemed to stare at me questioningly. I smiled and picked them both up in my arms.

"Come on, you two, let's get some fresh air."

I stood and carried them out and downstairs. Before I even got to the front door, it opened and Austin came in. I hadn't even realized he had gotten home.

"Hey, Naomi," he greeted with a smile.

"Austin, I didn't know you were home already."

"Already? It's nearly 6:30."

I quickly looked over at the nearest clock with surprise. I hadn't even noticed how late it had gotten. Time seems to fly when I'm writing.

"Guess I lost track of time," I mumbled.

Austin then looked down at the opossums in my arms. "Today's Friday, so you know what that means. Bath time for you two."

Bella and Edward both hissed and snuggled into my arms. They knew what a bath was and they hated it. Austin came over to take them from me, but they both clung to my shirt, refusing to let go.

We finally managed to pry them off me. Both opossums were hissing and fussing while Austin began carrying them away.

"I think I'll take a walk," I called to Austin, causing him to stop in his tracks and look back at me.

"This late?" he questioned.

I nodded. "I've got a bad case of writer's block and I really need to clear my head."

By the look on his face, I could tell he was trying hard not to make a big fuss. After a moment, he sighed in defeat.

"Alright, make sure you have your knife and just text me if anything happens."

"I always do," I replied simply.

With my phone in my pocket and my hunting knife strapped to my waist, I left the house. I noticed Latte already standing under her favorite tree, ready to rest for the night.

With the darkening sky above, I entered the woods. I was never really scared to go out here alone. After all, I've never once run into anything dangerous.

Nonetheless, I stayed on one of my paths. I walked for a short while before stopping beside a small creek. I took a seat on a large, flat rock and just relaxed. I could see the moonlight pouring through the treetops and reflecting off the water's surface.

I took a deep breath, watching the tiny fish swimming around in the water. That's when something shiny caught my eye. I leaned forward a bit, staring down into the water.

There was something small shimmering in the moonlight. It swayed back and forth in the water's current. I scrambled off my rock and leaned over the edge, peering at the object.

It looked like a ring. I reached my hand in and grabbed it, pulling it out to examine it. I moved my hair out of my face and inspected the ring.

It was a simple metal band with a transparent, oval-shaped crystal embedded in it. Upon closer inspection, I could see what looked like a green smoke swirling around within the crystal.

"What the hell...?" I muttered, confused as to what I was looking at.

I was about to try and pull the crystal out when my phone dinged, signalling that I got a message. Unable to tear my eyes away from the ring, I reached into my pocket and slid my phone out.

I finally looked at my phone screen to see that I had gotten a text from Austin.

Naomi, something weird is going on. You should get back to the house.

I stared at my phone with worry. That's unusual for Austin to be the one to send me a text like that. Before I could reply, a faint scream in the distance caught my attention.

I jumped in surprise, dropping the ring back into the water. I gave it a quick glance before standing up. I turned and darted past the trees and back toward home.

Emerging from the forest, my eyes quickly landed on Latte in her field. She was lying on her side, which was odd for a horse to do. I ran and jumped the wooden fence, rushing to her side.

She had a huge slice across her neck and multiple smaller cuts covering her body. But she was still alive... barely. She looked up at me, breathing heavily and forcing out a small neigh.

"Latte," I mumbled, dropping down next to her with tears welling up in my eyes. "What happened to you?"

She quietly gazed up at me as I gently pet her head. I watched the life fade from her eyes and she let out her final breath before becoming completely still. With my tears sliding down my cheeks, I stood and looked over at the house.

I climbed over the fence and quickly went to the front door. The porch light was on, I only hope Austin's okay. I quickly went inside, instinctively placing a hand on my knife's hilt.

It was quiet... too quiet. I attempted to contain my tears and carefully walked forward. I immediately headed upstairs.

"Austin?" I quietly called.

No answer. That's not good. I walked down the hall and paused momentarily. From where I stood, I could see the bathroom door open with a red substance on the floor in front of it.

I immediately rushed over and froze in the doorway. I gasped at the sight before me. Blood was splattered everywhere. Bella and Edward lay on the floor. Bella had a huge hole in her side while Edward's belly was sliced open, letting his innards spill out.

Austin hung limply over the edge of the bathtub. He had multiple deep stab wounds in his back along with what looked like slices across his neck. The water that still sat in the tub was now a deep red from all the blood that spilled into it.

Fresh tears poured out of my eyes at the sight. Who would do such a thing? Before I had a chance to react, I felt a presence behind me. I quickly whirled around with my knife in hand.

There before me was a man with white skin and messy black hair wearing a white hoodie with red stains and holding a knife dripping with blood in his hand. He didn't appear to have eyelids and a carved smile spread across his cheeks.

He chuckled. "Well, someone's vigilant. I was going to make this quick, but..."

Instead of being afraid like a normal person would be, overwhelming anger overtook me. I clenched my knife tightly in my hand while glaring coldly at him through watery eyes.

"You..."

He tilted his head to the side, staring at me. My voice trembled with rage and sorrow.

"You bastard!" I yelled while lunging at him.

I attempted to stab or slice him with my knife, but with every try, he would dodge my swings or block them with his own knife. I was getting fed up with him.

"Come on and fight me!" I shouted at him. "You son of a bitch! I'll kill you for this!"

He chuckled at me again, stopping my knife with his own. "Ooooh, you're a feisty one. Very well then, let's see you try."

He shoved me back and sliced his knife at me. I moved back a bit but I wasn't quick enough. His blade slashed against my skin, leaving a deep cut on my arm.

I winced and grasped the bleeding cut. Fear began to wash away my anger when I realized that I couldn't win. Seeing him now, the way he overpowered me so easily in a fight, I knew I only had once chance of surviving.

I managed to dodge his next knife swing and kicked him in the stomach. While he doubled over in pain, I darted past him and down the hall. Making it through the front door, I could already hear his footsteps not far behind me.

I ran as fast as I could out into the woods, hoping to loose him. I glanced back to see him gaining on me. What the hell? Why is he so damn fast?!

At this point, I knew there was no escaping him. I skidded to a stop and twisted around to face him, hoping to at least strike him once. With my knife raised, he charge toward me faster than I had expected.

In the blink of an eye, his blade was lodged in my stomach. My eyes widened and my knife fell from my clutch. The man was right in front of me, his face inches from mine.

"Go to sleep," he quietly said, yanking his knife out of my stomach in one swift movement.

I struggled to breathe. The man moved back, letting me fall forward onto the ground. I could feel the grass under me growing wet with my blood. I could see the feet of my killer swiftly leave my sight.

I attempted to move but found that my body wouldn't listen. Damn him. He kills everything I care about and then just leaves me here to die. Bastard. My body grew cold and my vision faded, but that didn't matter to me. All I want is revenge.