Chapter 1 – Finding Courage
Her eyes closed momentarily, forcing a natural breathing pattern. This was merging on insanity. There was no way this could be right, just not possible. Her slender fingers clinched the folded paper gingerly, as if toying would destroy the evidence she needed to be here. Her eyes scanned the small road, a hidden entry way, and then she gazed back down at the paper. This was absurd. A quick shake of her head and momentarily tossing of her thoughts aside forced her to start walking the small roadway.
They would never hear her coming, even worse she thought. They're going to kill me. Literally. What if they were what she thought they were? Her heart started racing, what if they turned her away? What if they weren't there? And the worst thought was what if this wasn't the place. Not only would she putting herself in danger, she would place these people in mortal danger. Mortal, how ironic she thought.
She was lost in her thoughts, not taking in the surroundings as she should have been. The large house surrounded by glass windows and a vaulted roof emerged from the hidden tapestry of the woods. The sudden appearance through the heavy wooded area startled her out of her thoughts. She took a deep breath scanning the outside of house, the wooden trim, the open bright windows, and the majestic oak trees looming over the roof precariously framed the beautiful home.
Her movement silent to the ears inside, she moved smoothly across the paved driveway to the surrounding woods to be invisible to any eyes as well. Her fear was compiling inside of her. How was she to know that this was the actual place? A contorted dying oak tree hiding her petite form from the vision of any out looker from the home, she had to talk herself to approaching the door. She pressed her forehead against the bark, the moist moss protecting her skin from the rough bark underneath. She bit her lower lip, wiping her forehead and boldly took a step from behind the tree. With every step she took her confidence grew. They had to be the ones; the paper said it was true, so it had to be. There was no other way, she kept repeating to herself.
A trembling hand reached up whipping a loose blonde auburn strand behind her ear. With one more mind coaxing thought she took the steps up to the front door. The front door was a dark chestnut with an embellished glass ornate border. Her, now brave hand, pressed the door bell, it took some push, it had to of been rarely used, the melodic tone echoing within the house. She held her breath, knowing that it would have caught the residents off guard; at least, that is what she was told.