A door slams off in the distance, waking me up from my tired slumber, I must have just missed Annie as she scrambled off to work on a weekend. I guess that's what she gets for being the headmistress of both a college and a boarding school.

I closed my eyes trying to let my exhaustion pull me back to sleep but my brain had been awoken by Annie's departure and it demanded the rest of my body to follow through. I sat up, the blankets falling away and letting the cold morning breeze wrap around me. I yawned and reached for my phone.

No notification.

My body went limp in my bed again. My mother had ignored me since our fight on the phone, she was purposefully declining my calls and the 20 or so messages I sent last night all went ignored as well.

My eyes burned slightly but I wouldn't let myself dwell on it anymore, it was not like before this me and my mother had the best relationship. Actually, she's probably the happiest she's ever been with me finally out of the picture.

I swallowed a painful lump in my throat and got out of bed. The cold of my room wrapped around me tightly but I clung to it, keeping my thoughts on that was a lot easier than even thinking about my mother. I left my phone on my bedside table and left my bedroom.

The ankle had cleared until it barely twinged in pain, Annie had wrapped it so perfectly that the only evidence of yesterday's excursions was the light purple shadow hovering over the skin. If I stepped too harshly on my foot a zap of pain shot to my knee but it was otherwise easy to ignore.

I'm going to like to have Annies healing help around, knowing how clumsy I can be.

The cottage was empty, Annie had left and the house suddenly felt cold with her departure, I went into the kitchen and the sound of bubbling brought warmth into my heart. I walked over to the kitchen oven and found a pot of bubbling oats waiting for me. My eyes found the note tucked beside the oven.

Morning Button,

I made some oats for breakfast, remember to eat them you have a big day planned. I have a helper coming to give you a tour of the school.

You also need to think about your major this year - don't dwell on it too much right now. Tonight I invited some people from all the subjects we have to offer and they can tell you more about the subjects.

Don't lock yourself up inside this house, go out and explore. I promise Westown Peaks has a lot to offer.

See you this afternoon,

Annie.

I can't stop the smile growing on my face, even though the thought of dinner with professors and teachers sounds like the worst possible thing, I know that Annie cares about me and is just trying to make me feel welcome. Something I haven't felt in a while.

Deciding not to dwell on it considering it's not like I can tell Annie no, I instead get on with my day. I grab a bowl and spoon out a healthy heaping of the oats and then take a seat at the kitchen table tucked neatly underneath the large bay window, that overlooks the expansive school grounds and the forest behind it.

I'm surprised by the number of students walking around the grounds so early in the morning, not only because the thought of being up this early sends a heavy feeling into my limbs but I hadn't expected there to be so many students here. They all talk amongst themselves, laughing loudly and playing around but it sends a nervous bubble into my stomach. Everyone knows everyone here and I'm going to become the odd one out come Monday morning.

None of the students come close to the cottages, probably because the line of houses is the teacher's area but I keep my eyes on them all the same. Watched as most of them walk over the fields and right into the forest that surrounds the school. It's weird to see the space so open to the forest, no one even hesitates before walking inside the dark shadows.

Eventually, I turn my back on the window and am just starting to clean some of the dishes when there's a knock on the door, pulling me from my thoughts I look at the large wooden door in confusion.

Who the hell would be coming here? I almost yell out that Annie's at the school but instead I walk towards the door.

"Hello?" My voice is shaky and so low that I force myself to clear my throat and try again. "Hello." My voice is stronger this time.

"Umm, is this Morgan?" A strong male voice replies through the closed door. "My name is Lucian, I don't know if Annie told you but I'm supposed to be your guide for the day?" He ends the statement as if he's asking for a question and I can't help the small smile filtering onto my lips.

I train my face back down instantly and slowly open the door. Standing just outside is a boy - well man - he looks about my age and he has a wide smile spread on his face as I come into view.

The boy is good looking with tanned skin and bright white teeth that gleam in the downcast clouds hanging low behind him. He's also incredibly buff with thick muscles encased in his dark red flannel jacket and black jeans. A tattoo peeks out from underneath his collar but I can't make out what it's meant to be, not to mention his smile keeps pulling my eyes back to his face.

God, does this mean all the male students will be attractive here. Two out of two is pretty good odds.

"Ahh hello?" My words come out like a question but Lucian doesn't seem to notice, instead, he sticks his hand out immediately with an eager smile. I take his hand.

"Lucian." He tells me his name again with a shake of his hand.

"Morgan," I mumble out still quite confused.

He holds my hand tightly in his for a moment longer than necessary and I quickly pull my hand from the warmth of his and take a small step away. An almost awkward silence fills the area around us.

"Right so, we should start the tour right?" Lucian asks motioning towards the porch steps before he can move away however I shake my head. Confusing him. "Sorry, Annie said I should give you a tour."

"No that's not the problem." I smile at him as he looks at me confused. "I should probably get dressed first right?"

A smile threatens my lips as Lucian finally looks down at my clothes, seeing that I am in fact standing in my pyjamas, he turns his back on me but not before I see the slight red blush on his cheeks.

"Right, you get dressed. I'll be here."

I almost laugh at his reaction as I close the front door and rush back towards my room, I throw on the first things my hands find. Putting on a pair of dark blue jeans and a black tight long sleeve shirt but it takes me a while longer to find the jacket packed deep in my bag, the jacket was useless at my mother's old home but by the looks of the clouds hovering just on the horizon outside my window, it will easily become a necessity here. I make a mental note to tell Annie about my lack of thick clothes before it's too late.

Shrugging quickly into my only jacket I head back to the front door to find Lucian zoned out on the porch looking a the mountains in the distance. I come up beside him, not wanting to break his concentration but I'm barely there for a second before Lucian is turning to me with a wide smile. It sends a bolt of electricity through me.

I smile back at him, feeling slightly nervous and unsure of what to do next.

"So what's on the agenda for today?" I ask him, as he walks down the stairs. I follow behind him a second later.

He spins around ahead of me walking backwards as he motions around himself, arms wide. I look behind him at the lawn filled even more by the students all of them happy with the lull in the rain, none of them pays any special attention to us as we walk through them.

"So, I could take you to the main building, show you the boring things like where your classes are, where the bathrooms and cafeteria are but today is too much of a perfect day to waste inside."

My eyes immediately drift to the sky where the clouds are hanging low to the ground trying to touch the tips of the forest beside us, looking like a sudden wind will pull the rain from them. Lucian's eyes lift to the sky as well but he just smiles and laughs at the clouds there.

"I see the speculation in your eyes but here in Westown Peaks we take what's given and right now there's no rain hitting the tops of our heads so it's outside taking in the fresh air." I laugh with him even though the idea of this being anywhere near a perfect day has a heavy feeling of dread entering my stomach and making a home there. Suddenly I miss the heat and open sky of the city.

I look back to Lucian hoping to keep the dread out of my mind as Lucian walks ahead of me a smile still on his face. I rush to catch up with him.

"Now young Morgan, the number one best thing about Weston Peaks Academy is the forest surrounding us, it doesn't matter how many times you go into these trees there is always something new and exciting to discover, around every corner." Lucian walks to the edge of the forest, where I now see a small path that the other students had been entering through while I was watching.

My mind conjures up the image of the man from the forest yesterday, not just the one that saved me but the one that has watched me and drew me inside the trees. I turn to the shadows now but they all move around so quickly that I can't make out the shape.

"Is anyone allowed in the forest?" I ask Lucian, looking over to see the confusion in his eyes.

"Students are allowed in the forest at any time as long as they don't have class but you shouldn't find any intruders inside no." I nod my head, I guess whoever had been watching me is a student here. Maybe they hadn't even been watching me after all.

Lucian grabs my arm softly tugging me into the darkness of the forest. A cold shiver slides down my spine but Lucians there instantly pulls me closer to him until I feel the heat coming from his body more than I feel the cold forest around us. I want to push him off but he's so warm that my body instantly relaxes and I ignore the urge.

We walk further along the path, for the most part, crowded only by the trees around us, the path is pretty straight before taking a sudden turn to the left and then the whole area opens into a wide clearing. More like a meadow actually, very clearly different from the one I stumbled upon yesterday but still as breathtaking.

There's a small lake in the middle of the open area and the students lazing around tell me that they spend a lot of time here. There are people everywhere all of them talking amongst themselves, laughing and gossiping. I catch more than a few of them kissing, hidden away from prying eyes and I quickly look away.

I find myself scanning the area looking at the faces around me trying to find the boy from the forest but a quick look shows me that he's not amongst the students here. I'm about to turn to Lucian when something else catches my attention. A girl standing off to the side glaring over at me with bright green eyes.

Jesus, how have I already pissed someone off? I ask myself but the answer comes quickly when she finally looks away from me to glance up at Lucian her eyes instantly going puppy dog wide before she sees the arm draped over my shoulder. Lucian seems to notice the girl at that moment as he smiles over at her and walks us over.

I almost drag my feet at the thought instead I straighten my shoulders and let myself be pulled over.

"Mila, this is Annie's granddaughter, Morgan." He introduces us but the girl, Mila doesn't even give me a second glance before she turns her 'sultry' eyes on Lucian. I want to laugh but I hold it in as she smirks over at him.

I notice that Lucian's arm doesn't move a muscle on my shoulder.

"I'm surprised you were even willing to give 'her' a tour of the school." She spits the word out at me. "Normally you're so busy," Mila says as if it's some flirty joke between the two of them but something tells me it's more of an excuse for Lucian to blow the girl off. A smile creeps onto my face and I quickly hide it behind my hand waiting for Lucian's reply.

"Right." Lucian draws the word out and uses his other hand to rub the back of his neck awkwardly, fully committing me to the idea that he's not as busy as he makes out to be. "Well, you know ... when the headmistress asks for a favour..." He lets his answer sizzle out but Mila just laughs along with him.

"Right of course." She touches his other arm and I feel him ever so slightly lean away from her. He looks like he wants to run away as Mila takes another step closer to us and this time I don't hide my eye roll from her.

"Lucian." Someone loud call comes from the other side of the clearing and the relief is instant on his face as his whole demeanour lights up. He looks down at me for a moment and backs up at the guy. I smile, nodding my head that yes I would love to leave Mila for someone else. His smile brightens even more.

"Morgan, I need to speak with Jason real quick. Can I leave you here with the girls for just a second?"

My face instantly drops, he's leaving me here. He quickly backs up with an apologetic smile before I can answer. Sure, I think to myself, leave me with the sharks to fend for myself. Perfect.

I turn back to the girls with a carefully blank expression but it's clear that Mila and her friends seem to think Lucian's brush off is for me and Mila goes back to happily ignoring me.

"Just as expected this girl is nothing." Her voice carries easily over to me and I know she's only saying it for my benefit. "I wouldn't be surprised if Annie had to beg Lucian to take her out for the day, she clearly doesn't belong here."

I'm not worried about her words like she clearly wants me to be. I doubt anyone can really say no to Annie and it's not like I had expected Lucian to jump at the chance. Still, Mila and her friends continue their 'takedown?"

"Give it a week and I'm sure no one will even remember her name."

I wanted to laugh at their words, to be so immature like a couple of mean girls but instead, Lucian came over and quickly pulled me away from the clearing.

I notice quickly the worried expression on his face as he pulls me further into the forest, when he sees me looking that same easy smile falls onto his face and I seem to forget all about the girl's words and his strange expression. I smile back at him.

"It's a little crowded here, let's keep exploring." I nod with him and once again allow his arm to be around me, keeping me warm as we walk.

And that's what we do all day, walking through the less travelled forest paths as Lucian tells me the myths surrounding the forest. I laugh at his horrible puns as he tries to make the stories interesting but deep in the forest, it's hard not to believe every scary story out of his mouth. Eventually, I end up forgetting all about the cold but the whole time he doesn't let go of me. Lucian is so sure of himself and so happy with the things around him that after a while I start feeling the same way and allow the flirting banter between us to build as we walk around.

My favourite story about the forest is about a beautiful witch who hides herself away deep in the forest.

We had just passed a dark shadow in the forest when Lucian turned excitedly towards me. He grinned and told me that this was one of his favourite stories.

"Once upon a time," he starts the story with a wink, "there was a witch who was just a child when her mother abandoned her, sending her into the woods for fire once a cold evening. Her mother had turned her around so many times calling instructions for the best wood in the forest that eventually the girl ended up forgetting her way. She was lost deep in the forest with no food or water, alone when all of a sudden she found a small cabin.

"She entered the cabin unsure about what she would find, having heard so many stories about kids being taken but instead she found it abandoned - just like herself. Inside she found many things inside the cabin, many magical things that even though she had no idea what they did at the time she was fascinated by them.

"For years she stayed in the cabin exploring and studying the objects around her, the cabin happy to have someone inside of it again kept her fed and healthy while she learnt. By the time she was eighteen, the objects had turned to trust her and as such wanted to protect her from the dangers of the world. It is believed that the girl is still out here in the forest protected from time and everything because of the cabin's love for her."

I stayed silent watching as Lucian's eyes looked through the darkness as if expecting a cabin to pop out at him. The story honestly made me more sad than excited like him. This girl was abandoned by someone that was meant to protect her and instead had sought refuge with objects and things, never knowing love or happiness or finding her way in the real world. She probably was very lonely when she died with just things around her.

I tried not to think about it too much as we continued on and Lucian was more than happy to keep me distracted with other, happier stories as we walked. 

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AUTHOR NOTE

Thank you for reading Chapter 03 of Myth Breakers. I hope you are enjoying Morgan's story and that you are just as excited as I am to see where her story takes us in later chapters.

Edited 29/04/2022

As always please don't be afraid to point out any grammar, spelling, or plot problems that you see in this chapter or any of my stories.

Thank you,

LAURA