|Chapter 01|

|this can't be happening|
° ° ° ° °

The familiar darkness of the clear night sky was calm and not-so-special, exactly like previous nights before. Rune was returning from the bar after work hours, where she was a regular customer for the bittersweet taste of alcohol. Yet sometimes the lone drinker sought a companion within the dark bar, a companion to share the mutual feeling of intoxication. Rune lived alone but during nights that a new friend couldn’t be found, it led to drinking with the sole purpose of wrapping up the cloak of memories of the past.

She drove while humming to a song playing on the radio as the car roared on the charcoal roads of Woodsboro, surrounded by the strangely somber woods. Not a single rustle of leaves or running animals disrupted the wooden soldiers. They were quiet as they were every single day at that same hour of time. Woodsboro was a small town somewhere in the east of Windsor, though it was capable of garnering the attention of the tourists. A place most popular within the small town is The Forest Of Stake, the mysterious woods has been the center of attraction for years.

The woods have been a no-entry zone as the given name was as creepy as the place was terrifying.

A few moments had passed, and Rune arrived at her empty house. She pulled herself out of the car and walked towards the doorway. A chill snaked down her spine as the winter wind blew her dark brown curls in her face. Shivering, she rubbed her arms in a desperate attempt for warmth as she took careful steps towards the front door.

She rolled a sleeve up, revealing the old watch on her fair-skinned wrist. She bent down to pick up the keys placed under the doormat. A very secretive way to hide though very effective in moments like this one.

As she thrust the key inside, turning it sideways the door opened with a squeak. When living alone, she didn't feel frightened of anything but that day, her house was strangely calm and quiet, like the change in atmosphere was alarming her about a danger lurking around. Rune heard a noise from the kitchen which caused her to jump in place, tensing her body in alarm. Taking baby steps cautiously she walked in, took off her blazer and placed it on the couch in the middle of the living room. She strode towards the parted kitchen which was to her left. Without making any noise, she continued to tiptoe to the kitchen entrance. What she saw was unexpected, making her eyes widened for a second and then let out a soft chuckle.

"Oliver," she exclaimed to the dog and lifted him in her arms. "What are you doing boy? Are you that hungry that you couldn't even wait for me?"

Oliver barked following with a whine, licking Rune's nose.

"Awww, you seem so hungry today." She stated the obvious. "Wait, I'll bring you some food. I'm so sorry I forgot to feed you before leaving."

She placed Oliver in the blanket covered basket near the dining table. The small dog was not able to hide his excitement as he jumped and waited for her to arrive back with food from his bed.

Within a minute, Rune presented Oliver with some dog food to eat along with some water to drink. She then went to the dining table and began to go through the endless amount of letters that her maid had placed on the table, perhaps before she left.

The exterior of one of the letters read:
'From Mr. Cooper from the grocery shop'

"Surely, they have sent the bills." The thought ran through her mind. While checking others, her eyes dropped on a letter which read 'from Aiden Milo.' Aiden was her best buddy from the friend's group. They haven't talked to each other for more than five years because of what happened that day in the woods.

With a confused look, she stared at the letter, curious about what was going to be inside. Her eyes started to tear up and couldn't hold the emotions that flooded through her. Just then, she threw the letters on the table which could wait a day or two for her reply and held that one letter within her hand. In a fury, she tore the seal and opened the envelope to see what was laying in the confines of it. As she started to read, her mask was full of sadness. The letter read:

"No, no! He can't go there! What is he doing? He. Can't. Go. There!"

Her screams frightened Oliver.

"Don't be scared, Oliver. It's nothing."

But something was there, disturbing her. And she wanted to stop it. Thinking for some solution, she walked towards the fridge, Oliver trailed behind her. Rune took a bottle out and gulped down the entire water with shaky hands.

"Go sleep, Oliver. It's late." She commanded, and Oliver followed what he was told.
She took a deep breath as she strode up the staircase towards her chamber. The thought of Aiden still wandered in her restless mind.
____________________

Time passed and she drifted into a deep sleep. Just then, the doorbell rang. She was so deep in the sound sleep that she didn't bother to wake up. The bell buzzed again and continued till it succeeded to wake her up from a deep slumber. She lazily peeked out of the balcony and saw a familiar face.

"Aiden!?" She exclaimed in shock. She had just read his letter only a couple of hours before. "What are you doing here at this hour, buddy?"

"Can you open the door already? I can't just stand here outside, it's cold!"

He shouted as he raised his arms in the air.

"Wait, I'm coming," Rune called out and ran down to open the entrance door.

"Oh, Rune. Come, let's go." He said as soon as he had gotten in the living room after greeting her with a hug.

"What are you doing here?" She asked with a confused expression.

"Leave that for now. We have to go. Come!"

"Go? But where? Aren't you up with something to prove me and the others wrong?" She said in a sarcastic tone guessing what it could possibly be.

"We don't have time. Come with me. We have to go there!" He grabbed ahold of Rune's wrist.

"No! I'm not going anywhere and neither are you. I can't let you go there, especially not alone."

Just then, Rune's phone buzzed in the pocket of her sweatpants. She rattled it out of the pocket with her other hand: an unknown number flashing on the now lit screen.

"Hello?"

"Rune! It's me. She’s coming. Please save me. Save me from her!" The voice from the other side burst out in fright. It was clear that the person she talked to was breathing heavily.

"Who are you?" She asked.

"It's me, Rune. Aiden."

"What? H...how? But you're right in front of me! How can you be there and here too? Stop joking, okay." She asked in a shaky voice. With her head lifted, she then turned to the person who stood beside her as she gulped down the fears that started to consume her emotions. "Aiden?"

A sinister smirk formed on his lips. He pulled her in one go. She tried to punch him, but her hand passed through him as if he were smoke. He pushed her down on the floor and wrapped his long fingers around her pale throat, trying to choke her. She fought back for her life despite the rapid beat of her heart against her chest. Rune tried to loosen his grip around her neck so that she could get a chance to escape. His face started to drip off like melted wax that revealed white muscles covered in blood. Her eyes widened at the sight she saw and an urge to scream erupted in her body.

Despite many efforts she failed. Her petite body wasn't a match to his superficial one. Rune’s sight blurred as her eyes slowly started to close. She couldn't breathe and eventually ended up welcoming the darkness from behind her eyelids, her mind accepting the unwanted sleep.

Hope you enjoyed the first chapter :)
Do comment and let me know what you think and don't forget to hit that star.
° ° ° °
Can you describe what you feeling now?

Will Rune be dead?

What happened to Aiden? Where he is now?

Who is Janet he was talking about?