My whole body was in shock. Before me, the TV was turned on, volume high and me being glued to every word that was said. I had gotten up earlier than I would as my phone was constantly popping up with new notifications about Tanisha Clive being dead.

It couldn't be real. Surely not. Once I saw the notification, I ran all the way downstairs with my dressing gown draped around my body. So far, the news reporter on the TV had said no information about Tanisha.

She couldn't be dead. She was one of the kindest and most unproblematic people I had ever met, and she had raised a good son too. It's a shame he didn't get to grow up into the stunning man he would have become.

At the moment, the news show had come to a break, but was about to come back on. The warm steam from my cup of tea steamed up my glasses. I didn't usually wear glasses, but sometimes for watching TV or reading when it was late or early, and my eyes hadn't adjusted to the world yet, I would wear my glasses to help.

The news titles ran across the screen and a lady with sparkling gold hair that looked like sand appeared on the screen.

"Good morning," she said, hitting her papers against the table and looking back at the camera, "Yesterday evening, a dead body that has now been identified as Tanisha Clive was found in Sherwood Forest. So far, Sherwood Forest remains closed."

I wouldn't be surprised if people were able to get past and into the forest. The curious souls of humanity would find a way to creep in and try to catch a glimpse of what happened. On the screen, a picture of Tanisha appeared in the left-hand screen. Her beautiful smile was larger than ever for the whole world to see.

In a way, we both looked similar, but clearly we were both different. One of us, was still alive.

"Further information suggests that this was no accident. Some police officers that were there at the scene told news reporters that Tanisha Clive died by no accident and in fact, this was officially classed as a murder case. Any more information on this will be told later on. We wish her family our condolences here at BBC news."

The camera turned to face a new man who was now showing us viewers what the weather for today would be like. But I didn't care. My body was once again in shock. This couldn't be real. I wanted someone to say this was an prank and that Tanisha was still alive. But I knew that wouldn't happen. This was very much real.

Even though I didn't know her well, from the brief conversations we had when she was picking Elijah up from the nursery, she was a good person. Her laugh would make any room full of joy and now, that would be a laugh, none of us heard ever again.

The clock struck 07:00am and Holly - who was snoozing away next to me - pricked her head up and made a small grunt. I knew there was no point getting ready yet, but I couldn't keep still. My hands, that were shaking furiously, moved around the sofa.

After getting dressed, my skin seemed pale from the horror of the news. My chapped mouth gave a large yawn as my hands moved around my face and into my hair. Pacing up and down the rooms of my house, Holly followed after, mimicking my every move. As much as I wished I could go back to sleep, I wouldn't be able to keep still. I had to move.

The lead clipped gently around Holly's collar, and we headed out for our walk. The cold breeze brushed against my face as we walked through the large field. The sky was still dark but had slight hints of orange and red. I would imagine most people still in bed or only just waking up. Or most people would be sat in their homes, glued to the TV after the shocking news that was just shared.

After the body was found, there were rumours that it was Tanisha, but not in a million did I think they would be true. The world seemed silent and still, almost as if the world was recovering from the news itself.

Barely anybody was about and the few people who were, were just runners. I wished I could run like them, without getting tired and panting like dogs when running past someone. I knew that if I attempted running the distance they would, I would be sweating and panting like crazy.

 Like I said, my life really didn't have any importance to it. Sometimes, I wonder what would happen if I disappeared like Tanisha did. Wonder who would miss me and what the world would really lose if I wasn't in it. But I couldn't think like that. One day, I would have a family and I will find the importance that I have been longing for in my life.

 Our walk was quick as I didn't really have the energy to walk longer after the news. Even Holly was quieter than usual. After trying to make myself look more awake, which didn't work, I drove towards the cafe. Hopefully, he would be there to brighten my day up. The thought of Tanisha's dead body being found in the woods that we had visited not too long ago, lingered in my mind and seeing his face, might help it seem better.

 The ring of the bell on the door announced my arrival in the dead cafe. No one was inside apart from Sandra who was sat by a table, a cup of coffee in her hands.

 "Hey, thank god, you are here. I've had barely anyone in today as you can clearly see." she announced as I sat beside her.

 "Where is everyone?"

 "They are all probably hiding in their homes after today's news. No one really wants to be out in case they get hurt themselves." she took another sip and glanced around at her empty cafe.

 I didn't blame people for not wanting to be out. If it wasn't for work, I would stay in my home, safely away from the cruel world. Sometimes, this world would bring me joy as I watched people laugh with their friends or something incredible – that seemed impossible – happen. Other times, I would even fear the world we live in. Not for how it looked, but for the people in it.

 "It's terrible what happened, isn't it?" she asked as I gave her a nod.

 "That is why you must be careful with people. You never know who's the good or bad ones are. It's like that guy you've been talking to. What's his name again?"

 My eyes darted into her own. They were staring at me, waiting for an answer I could not give. She must have noticed as her mouth curved into a small smile that was full of amusement.

 "Just promise me one thing, before anything gets serious or you develop feelings, make sure you know everything about him. A man who doesn't give his name, is a man not to be trusted." Her small brown eyes were empty of the amusement, replaced by the serious glare she had.

 "I promise." I answered as I watched her eyes relax and being full of warmth again.

 Standing up, she made her way behind the counter and started to make me my coffee without me asking. My phone gave a loud ping that echoed through the empty cafe.

 Opening the text, it was read, Hey, I'm sorry I didn't come yesterday and probably won't be in today at the cafe. Got caught up with some work. Hope to see you soon. - your mystery man.

 Typical. Once again he wasn't here, but I wasn't his girlfriend so there was no reason for him to be here. I just wished he would come, so I could make sure I didn't scare him away. The worst thing that could happen was him ghosting me, but I'm sure he wouldn't do that.

 However, the best thing about not seeing him, was that I could think about what to say. I knew that I needed to find out his name. Sandra was right. A man without a name shouldn't be trusted. And I knew he had one.

 The smell of freshly ground coffee entered my nose and escaping my thoughts, Sandra sat back down in front of me with my coffee. Thumbling for my purse to get my money out, Sandra's hand gently gripped my arm, her warmth travelling through my body.

 "Oh, don't worry about that. You don't need to pay. You come here every day and after the news this morning, we all deserve a break."

 Her kindness was unlike others and for once, I felt like I had a good friend. I was never one of those popular kids in school. I was more like the ones who kept to themselves and didn't really have anyone to hang out with. Seemed like that had carried on following me even to adult life. But Sandra, she was the closet thing to a friend, and I was proud to call her it.

 We sat talking for a few more minutes before a couple walked inside and it was time for me to go. Even though I wasn't at work, I could already tell that it wouldn't be an enjoyable one.

The whole time at work, everyone was silent. Even the children were quieter than they usually were. The only sound that could be heard was the ticking of the clock.

 My mind wasn't where it was supposed to have been. The whole time, all I could think of was Tanisha and how she should have got the life she deserved. She should have got to live her life with both her son and husband. What I would do to see her walk through those doors.

 Piles and piles of work were slammed down on the desk and the energy to do them, had vanished into thin air. The amount of emails, letters and paperwork that needed to do were just getting larger, but I didn't care. Why should I when people in the world are going through worse things? But the little voice, in my head, was telling me to do them, and despite the hatred I had when I admitted it, the voice was right.

 The whole day went by slowly and once the parents collected their children with sulken faces, I got ready to go home. All I wanted to do was sit with Holly, curled up on the sofa while watching a happy movie.

 The wind began to growl in my face the moment I stepped outside. Bins were being blown all over the floor with rubbish piling out of them. On the normal day, I would pick it back up and carry on with my day. But today was no normal day. 

 Outside the school, a black car lurked around the corner. Normally, parents would have left by now. Maybe it was just a parked car with someone visiting a friend's house.

 Not thinking anything of it, I hopped into my car and began to drive away. But I wasn't alone. As soon as I had started the car and got half-way down the street, the car had started following me, tracing my every move. The windows were tinted so no one could see inside.

Carrying on driving, I stayed where people would be able to see me and so would the cameras. Whenever I got the chance, I would give a glance in the mirror and there they would be. Driving behind me, mimicking every turn I made.

 As the traffic lights turned red, I grabbed my phone to only find out there was no power to it. Great. That's just what I needed. Someone was following me and I couldn't even ring for help. But if I could, who would I ring? There was no one in my life that could help me. Only him.

 The light flickered to green and now I had to keep driving. Though as I took a turn off the road, I cursed to myself for taking it. The shear panic of everything that was happening blinded my thoughts and now, I had no idea where I was going. On one hand, I knew for certain that this person was following me as it wasn't too long after he mimicked my moves once again and was trailing after me. On the other hand, now I was completely and utterly alone with no where to go.

The road was long; twisting into every direction. Eventually, it led to the back of a forest with trees that seemed to touch the sky and a small area, full of gravel, for a car to be parked and I knew which forest this was. This was the back of Sherwood Forest.

My mind creeped to the thought that this was the very place where Tanisha was killed. This was where he final moments of life were held. And now, I lingered here too, with the sky darkening as every second passed.

 Turning the steering wheel to make my car turn around, the headlights grasped onto the other car, outlining every line. It's lights, bounced back onto my own car. The entrance was blocked and now I had no where to go. I could run through the forest, run for my life, but where would I go? The sky had darkened to quickly and if I went in that forest now, I'm afraid I'll never come back out.

My heart pounded against my ears so loudly that I thought the person in the other car would be able to hear it. My knuckled turned a ghostly white as they gripped the steering wheel.

 Then, the door to the car, opened!

A large figure stepped outside of the car, shutting the door after them with a loud bang that seemed to echo around us. They creeped further and further towards me, fear slowly moving around my body. If I needed to, I was ready to plough my car forward and into them, but my mind was somewhere else. My mind, was holding me back as it has done so many times before.

 Not in these circumstances, but talking to a man or woman or doing something out of my comfort zone, made my whole body stop where it was.

As the figure moved in front of the headlights, everything became clearer. His light skin seemed to look paler like a ghost haunting me. If it wasn't for those eyes, I might not have recognised him. Those stormy eyes were ones I could never forget.

 The question that entered my mind was why would he follow me? He could have called or texted me if he wanted to speak.

 He paced back and forth as I stepped out of the car. Maybe it was a foolish mistake, but the curiosity of what he was doing and the anger that filled me for scaring me like that overtook the feeling of fear I had felt moments ago.

 "What the hell were you thinking? Why were you following me and how did you know where to find me?" I ordered, but he made no effort to respond.

 He carried on pacing back and forth, fingers running through his hair. He was mumbling something under his breath. Not being able to make out the words, anger filled my body again as I shouted, "Answer me! For once just give me an answer."

 The pacing stopped. Everything fell silent around us and maybe I shouldn't have shouted. Maybe I should have asked more kindly, but I was done being left in the dark and now, I wanted answers.

His face turned to look at mine, but it wasn't the usual one I admired. His jawline was tensed and his mouth curved into a thin line. His hands were clenched into fists. The usual look of warmth in his face was no longer there. It had disappeared just like Tanisha had before being found.

 "Are you ordering me? Me?" he growled with a sly smile forming on his face.

Taking a small step back, his face glowed with control for he knew the only way out was through which we entered. He knew I wouldn't go running through the talls trees that towered over me and would wrap me in the darkness. He knew he had me right where he wanted me to be.

 "You don't understand. No one does. I lost the person I loved. Then I lost another. Everyone kept leaving me."

 I could relate to the last line, he just said. Everyone left me too, and that feeling of loneliness and not being wanted would never leave. But it didn't make my anger diminish.

 "What do you want?" I asked, my voice quaking slightly even though I willed it to stay strong and steady.

"Isn't it clear enough? I want you. I want you to stay and be with me. I don't want what the others did to be repeated by you. But you'll leave like everyone else, I know you will."

His pacing started again, my heart beating with each turn. Trying to keep my breath steady, I asked, "Tell me your name. Tell me who you are and I might stay."

 After tonight, I might not want to stay with a man who can invoke this much fear into my heart. But knowing his name and who he is would help me stay.

 "No. You can't know. Not now. Not after what I've done." 

 He moved closer towards me, but as I took another step back, he paused. Looking me up and down, his cruel face remained set in stone. A small, lifeless laugh echoed around us as if he was amused by the hold he had over me.

 Sandra was right. He couldn't be trusted and in this moment, I knew, I had made a grave mistake.

 Twisting my body around to get back into my car and leave – even though I wasn't sure how to yet – something large and hard hammered against the back of my head. The lights of the world went out and my body was plunged into a pool of darkness.

 As my eyes opened back up again, my head pounded with pain. I didn't know where I was. The stone floor was cold and sent a shiver running down my spine. Little light was around me and the darkness I had woke up from, still lingered around me.

 There were no windows and a man sat opposite me. It was him. I tried to talk, scream at him, but all that came out were muffled sounds. Something was over my mouth. My hands bound together with rope or handcuffs. My eyes couldn't make it out through the darkness. I willed my body to stand up, but the strength I had, had left my body.

 "I'm sorry," he muttered as he ran his hands along each other, "I wish it didn't have to come to this. I just couldn't lose you. Not you too."

 I wanted to spit in his face, to kick my legs at him, so he felt pain, but I couldn't will my body to do it.

 He slowly strode away from me before closing a door above me, blocking out the light. Now, I was left in darkness with only my muffled screams to be heard.

Nobody would miss me down here. No one would know. Sandra was right. This man, that had no name, couldn't be trusted and now, who knows what would happen. All I wanted was to go home.