"Run Elizabeth! Run and never look back!"

The girl froze completely regardless of her fathers words. The scene before her was too frightening to take her eyes off.

"No! Please don't hurt her!"

Finally her senses were beginning to return to her and she could finally grasp the situation thanks to her mothers plea. Her mother and father were tied back to back while a tall masked figure stood holding an armed gun at them. She had no idea such a thing was happening in her own home. She was just released from school and hoped to spend the weekend lazing around but it seemed like that wasn't going to happen anytime soon. The masked figure began to turn to her silently until her father spoke again.

"Elizabeth! Run now!"

She quickly jumped and darted out of the door hearing the quickening footsteps of the armed man behind her. Soon they began to fade. Silence filled the air as the girl huffed and puffed. She had no idea where she was going but she didn't care. As she made her way up the large hill beyond her own backyard, two shots filled the air. Her heart sank. She couldn't think straight or even ponder what had just happened.

"N-…. No… This can't be happening. This has to be a bad dream! I'm still at my desk asleep! Yeah!"

The girl began to slap her face with anger.

"Wake up Elizabeth! Please wake up!"

Soon the slaps began to slow and tears began to stream down her cheeks. This wasn't a dream. This was truly reality. Her parents had been murdered. Why was fate so cruel!? Why did this have to happen to her? She sat down on the large hill and looked at her home in the distance. She couldn't return. She just couldn't find the strength to do so. She could hear the ringing of the police sirens from afar. They would never catch the man. He was long gone for sure. She whimpered and cried knowing that the place she once called home was going to have to be put in the past. She couldn't return; now or ever. She stood and wiped her eyes before looking at the forest that stood behind her. A
dults warned children of the unknown hidden in the forest. Of course, it just seemed like nonsense every time she thought about it.

"Nows a better time then ever…"

She took a deep breath and began to walk into the forest. Perhaps a stroll through the wilderness would help her clear her mind. Afterwards, she would just return to town before it gets too dark. Sounds like a plan. However, after an hour of sense walking, she finally came to a conclusion.

"If I return…. Wait, what if that killer is still there?! He knows my face by now!... But I'm a witness… I'm so confused…"

She then stopped realizing she had wondered off more than she had hoped. She sunset scattered from tree to tree. She had wondered off further than she had hoped. She couldn't even tell where Springford was anymore.

"Oh god! This is it! I'm going to die out here. I'm going to starve to death, freeze to death, or be eaten by some wild animal!"

Her mind was spinning in a panic. Her life was completely over and no one was going to know where she was. She whined more as she began to look around but paused at the sight of a light.

"W-Wha!..."

Without thinking, she began to dash towards it only to see a large log cabin. She looked through the window hoping to see signs of life but unfortunately no one was there. Was this place abandoned? She slowly opened the door and walked in with caution until hearing nothing but silence.

"W-Well…. I guess I could… Just spend the night here then try to find my way home tomorrow."

She looked around a bit. Oddly enough, for an abandoned cabin, it was welly furnished. The first thing she spotted was the unlit fireplace under the stairs. She kneeled down and began to place a few of the logs inside. She smiled as she lit the fire and stared at the glowing flames.

"Man… That feels so much better."

She said while raising her hands towards the fire. She closed her eyes as the heat began to take over her for a moment. It felt so good. She stood and walked around the floor until finding a mirror on the wall. She pouted at her appearance. Her light brown skin was covered in dirt, her short and curly black hair was in knots and her her clothes were filthy. She couldn't even recognize herself.

"This is awful….. I want to go hom-"

She gasped while hearing the door slam open. A tall male stood glaring at her. His appearance was quite muscular but it was obvious to tell that he wasn't too much older than her. His ginger beard connected up his sideburns and stippled mustache and followed to the soaked curly hair popping out of the fuzzy beanie on his he
ad. The plaid shirt and dark pants he wore complimented the large earlobe gauging piercing on his ears. Was he some sort of forest hipster? She gasped and quickly backed towards the wall frightened.

"I-I'm sorry! I-I thought this place was abandoned!"

"What are you doing out here?!"

Hearing the mans roaring voice made her heart jump. Never in her eighteen years of live has she been this scared.

"M-My name is Elizabeth! I live in Springford. I don't know how I got out here but if you could give me directions, I-I will be on my way as soon as possible!"

The young man glared at her before slamming the door closed. He walked towards a table and placed a lantern down before removing his coat.

"If you leave now, you'll freeze to death."

She paused and looked outside. The dark trees violently shook. Did the temperature drop that quickly?

"I-I….. Well… If you could perhaps be so kind as to-"

"You shouldn't be out here anyway. I have no idea where this springfar is, but if you plan to go there tonight, HE'S going to get a hold of you first."

Elizabeth paused as she heard him.

"It's Springford. And… What do you mean?"

The man removed his beanie and frizzed his curly ginger hair.

"There's a beast out here in these woods. He comes out whenever he feels and takes the unsuspecting."

Elizabeth gasped. That must have been why she was told not to enter these woods. She gulped slightly while hearing him.

"Thank you for the warning sir. Eh… Perhaps if it's no trouble then… Could I wait out the night. Then I'll be out of your hair in the morning."

He sat down in a chair and kicked his feet onto a table.

"And where do you plan to go? You have no idea where your home is."

Before Elizabeth could speak, she silenced herself. He was right. She barely knew which way north was. She rubbed her neck slightly before hearing the male speak again.

"How does a deal sound. You do something's around my house and I'll help you get information on where your home is."

She raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Why are you going to help me?"

He shrugged slightly.

"Never was my style to let woman get themselves killed."

She rolled her eyes slightly while shrugging.

"Alright…. So how exactly are you going to get information."

"I know my way around these woods. I go from place to place chopping trees for edel wood. I turn them into oil for my lantern. I find some places through my travels. I might ask around."

She paused. "Might?"

He smirked. "Just depends on if you do a good job or not."

She folded her arms. "What exactly am I doing?"

"The usual. Cooking, cleaning, making dinner. Stuff like that."

She angrily glared. "So your making me your servant?... Your quite the gentlemen."

He yawned. "I'm aware I am but please. Call me Lucius."