I woke up at 1:32 AM.

My head wasn't pounding as hard anymore, but the subtle ache still remained to remind me of the events of the previous day. My bed was empty for the first time in 3 years, both Chris and Dog downstairs on watch for anybody outside.

I heard their voices from my window, desperate and loud. Then the banging on the front door, and shouting. "We know you're in there, witch!"

I was on my feet in an instant, putting on clothes and socks. Me and Chris had worked out a plan to flee if they managed to get in, and a way to preserve my family history. Go into the library, lock the door, barricade it, and slip out the side window to the ground below. And, before I had come upstairs, he had given me a forehead kiss and a tight hug. It will all be okay, he had said, and the words made my heart pinch. The same words my grandmother had said, long ago.

I ran down the stairs quickly and quietly, then entered the living room. Chris was on his feet, and Dog was growling.

My heart raced in my chest. I was unsure whether to call to them or pretend I wasn't here, but the curtains didn't hide any light from the fire burning in the fireplace. They knew I was here.

Chris approached me in two strides, and got so close I could see every line on his face. The terror in his green eyes. "We need to leave," he whispered urgently. "I can't face them. I'm not-I can't face them."

I pressed my lips into a thin line and moved past him, looking at the door. More pounding resumed, causing me to jump. Dog growled. "I have no quarrel with you," I said loudly, fighting to keep my voice steady. "I just want to live in peace in my woods."

The pounding stopped, and quiet conversation I couldn't hear ensued. My skin was itching and I began to pace as it reached minutes of silence.

"What do you know about Chris?" One called, and I shot a look back to the boy in the corner of the room, who seemed small and afraid. I swallowed, looking at him for any direction. He shook his head.

"He's safe, but he's not here. Again, I have no problems. Just let me live peacefully, and I'll forget everything that happened."

Silence. And then slightly louder chatter, and words I couldn't make out. Chris came up behind me and grabbed my arm. "We have to go," he said, his voice shaking. I shook him off, looking up at him. The fear in his eyes made my heart drop to my stomach, and I swallowed.

"You go ahead. Me and Dog will catch up."

He seemed hesitant, but harder pounding on the door made him change his mind. "Promise me you'll be okay," he said hurriedly. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

My cheeks heated at the words, but I knew what he meant. He was the only person on this entire mountain I trusted, and I was the only person he trusted. "I'll be fine," I said, my voice cracking. The pounding was getting more urgent. "Go, now."

He nodded and turned, giving Dog a look that said take care of her before he rushed up the stairs and into the library.

"I said I have no problems," I repeated, reaching for my firepoker. "Just go."

"Where is Chris?" I recognized the voice immediately as Matt.

"He's not here. Leave, now."

"You know where he is?" Aiden shouted. More hushed conversation followed, and then I saw the shadow of a head peek into the window, then quickly disappear.

I hesitated. "What's it to you?"

"Let us in. We just want to talk." That was Natalie now, and the heavy silence that followed made my heart leap into my throat.

"Let us in or we'll find a way in," that was Aiden now, and I cast a glance at Dog. His lip was curled up in a silent growl.

"One minute," I hollered, and I got on my knees and rubbed Dog's ear. "Go wait in there," I whispered, gesturing to Aspen's room. "They'll be in and out, I promise, but I don't want to put them more on edge with my wolf in the room."

He whimpered, but seemed to understand and padded into her room, leaving the door slightly ajar. I stood, looking towards the door now. "We don't have all night," Aiden called. I checked the time. 1:44 AM. I breathed deeply to try and steady my heart, and then hesitantly unlocked the door.

One, two, and three.

My hand rested on the doorknob. I could still change my mind. I could still—

The door burst open in an instant, and I was thrown back, falling hard on my butt. Aiden was now in the room, wildly looking around until his eyes rested on me.

It was snowing hard outside, and the fire was extinguished from the hard winds that blew in, bringing flurries of snow. Before I even had time to react, Aiden had plucked me up, holding both my arms firmly behind my back with one hand.

"I don't know what you're playing at, witch," he growled. "But you're gonna show us where Chris is."

Dog ran into my view, growling and spitting. "Wolf!" Jon hollered from behind Aiden. Aiden grimaced and threw me backwards into Matt's chest, who quickly wrapped his arms around me. Panic filled me and I began thrashing and spitting at my assailant.

"Don't hurt him! Dog, no! Go back!" I yelled, but I could see Dog blinded with rage as he snarled towards Aiden, barking in a way I had never heard.

He latched onto Aiden's leg and shook as hard as his body would let him, and Aiden let out a pained cry. He threw his leg with full force, and I watched in slow motion as Dog's grip slipped and he flew through the air, towards the wall. A crack, followed by a single whimper.

And then silence.

"No," I said quietly at first, and Matt began to drag me out of the room, Aiden now facing me and cursing. "No!" I screamed as I was pulled through the doorway, and tears fell down my face. "No, no, no, let me go! Let me tend to him! He's all I have left!" I didn't care how pathetic my cries sounded, but I struggled as hard as my body would let me.

But they managed to pull me outside, and Aiden closed the door behind him. He was limping, and blood was soaking through his pants. He grit his teeth. "Show us where Chris is, and we'll let you go."

"I can't," I cried, my sobs breaking through the silence of the night. "I don't know where he is," it was the truth, and I looked down at my bare socks in the snow, my feet already feeling the cold get to them.

"Yes, you do. You said he's safe." He eyed me up and down, and I lifted my head to look at him again. "And I know just where you'd hide him."

-

My tears had stopped now as me and my four attackers walked through the snow, over the landscape, Aiden in the lead. Natalie was now in the back, whispering quietly with Jon. Matt was silent as he held my wrists behind my back, forcing me to keep up with Aiden.

I couldn't feel my feet anymore. "Where are we going?" I asked quietly. Aiden didn't answer. Matt didn't either.

Maybe they didn't know.

But then I saw the familiar path through the trees, and my heart leapt into my chest. "If we're going there, we can't. It's not a full moon. We won't survive," I said hurriedly, but there is nowhere else this path leads.

He was taking us all into the deep forest, to our deaths.

"Why would we believe your superstitions?" Aiden scoffed, but I could already hear the trees rustling in warning. They knew me. And they knew I was in danger.

It was darker in the woods than usual, the moon only half full now. I had never seen it in this light. I could feel goosebumps form on my arms and legs, but not from the cold. It was a warning we were getting too close.

"We can't go in," I repeated, my voice pleading now. "We won't survive."

Aiden cast a look over his shoulder, and the shadows cast over his face made him look downright evil. I shuddered. "Shut up or I'll shut you up."

I remained silent as we got closer. Jon now spoke from the tail of the group. "Aiden, I don't like this place. I don't feel good," He said, and his footsteps slowed.

"If Chris is anywhere, he'll be here. Where us commoners aren't allowed." He spit the words like venom. Even Matt's steps had slowed now, feeling the venom and grudges of the trees affecting him.

I felt a chill ride up my spine and I soon saw why.

There the entrance to the forest was. It was pitch black, and it was awake.

We were going into the deep forest, and the trees could see us. And dancing right over the entrance was two butterflies, one black and one white.

I knew that death awaited me past the barrier.

-

"Never get too comfortable in the forest, my love," my grandmother had said as we entered the house. It was January of 2019. Snow had stopped falling, but the chill was keeping most of it from melting. I kicked off my boots and flopped onto the couch, eagerly digging into my bag. "Are you listening?" She demanded. I hadn't been.
"Yes," I responded, pulling out my trinkets. An old doll with buttons for eyes; one was missing. A teacup with a chip in it. A pair of glasses with one of the frames missing.
She sat beside me, grabbing my arm and stilling my motions. I whipped around to face her, and her brows were drawn together as she examined my face.
"Willow, you can never get to comfortable in that forest, do you understand me?" The seriousness in her words sent a chill up my spine. I nodded in response. "The trees know you when they sleep because of the blood that runs in your veins, but in the darker nights, they won't recognize you." Her eyes had untold stories behind them, and I shuddered.
"Yes, grandma, I promise."
"We are the only people in this world left with magic in us. Don't be stupid. Don't let it die with you."
Again I nodded. "It won't."
She squeezed my hand and retreated to her bedroom, and I looked at the items I had laid out on the couch, then out the window to the bright full moon outside.
The trees were still, and the only sound was the crackling of the fireplace.
And I vowed then I would't let my family line die with me, even if I didn't have everyone powers.
And with that, I collected my items and headed up the stairs to my room, exhaustion overtaking me.