The Forest of Hands and Teeth Fan fiction

A/N: Okay so I absolutely Adore these books and I wanted to write a fan fiction on them so i did (: Thank you for reading, I know its a bit vague at first (:

oh and DISCLAIMER: almost none of this is mine... Credit to Carrie Ryan (: (she is amazing)

Chapter one

Holding a candle in my shaking hand I searched for anything but all I could find was endless flat, smooth, concrete floor without a single stain, bump or imperfection. My candle light wasn't bright it barley lit my way. Not that I had one. The darkness pressed in and the candle seemed to wane and flicker. I hear a moan, an inhumanly human moan. My body shuddered in automatic response; already my body was imagining the feeling of cold, lifeless hand gripping me. I ran, ran from the moan, from the darkness, from my own shadow. From everything.

But they followed me persistently as I knew they would and I couldn't escape, my breath was the only other thing I could hear, coming hard and fast as I ran. Then a resounding splash echoed through my head and my foot was soaking in water but I didn't dare stop. The moans were closing in getting closer and if there is one thing I have learnt it is that to survive you must do anything. I kept going and the water rose to my ankle it was so cold and already I couldn't feel my toes, or more precisely I could and they felt like heavy bricks. Like dead weights pulling me down. As it rose to my waist I could feel the cold soaking through my skin into my bones making them ache until I could no long feel them. Imprisoned in my ever moving , ever wavering ball of light I kept walking though I couldn't feel where I was walking or on what but that did not matter I could still hear them following me where ever I went, I knew I could out run them, but unlike them I couldn't keep going forever.

Suddenly instead of continuing at waist height in the fridge water I kept going down and I wasn't stopping, I couldn't feel if my legs were about to hit ground but I could feel myself almost slipping under. Holding the candle with one hand I tried to stay afloat and kept my head above the water that even with the candle light only 2 inches away was pitch black, like an impenetrable black hole where no light would dare venture. I was moving my feet, kicking to stay afloat though I'm not sure if they are moving I can't feel them, it feels like a dull ache of nothing.

Then the darkness swallowed me whole, the candle had dipped into the water extinguishing the flame that was my only light, my only hope. Panicking I kept thrashing at the water, trying to claw through the icy liquid to keep above the water. I felt a tug on my hip as I was dragged down, sinking quickly as if anchor was tied to me causing me to sink even as I struggled upwards. With the freezing cold and darkness completely surrounding, I couldn't breathe though my heart was hammering out of control in my chest and my brain was yelling at me to breathe even as it told me I couldn't. my arms were becoming sluggish and difficult to move as the freezing water took effect, not that I even knew which way was up any more, with my eyes closed, no light and my head bursting with little white lights behind my eyelids. I couldn't take it anymore the surface was out of reach as was any hope, though if I was being truthful that had disappeared even before the light of the candle did. I took a breath just as I felt my body crash to the sandy bottom and my wold spin at a million miles per hour.

Gasping I woke immediately bolting up right and alert for any dangers until I realised I was soaking in sweat on my thin mattress. It took me only a moment to figure out that I had been dreaming, I had this dream far too often though it fooled me every time. Flopping back down on my bed I closed my eyes tightly, squeezing them shut to prevent any tears escaping. Just a dream.

Sitting up and this time rubbing my eyes, trying to rid myself of the feeling the dream left behind. But just like in the dream I was struggling to keep afloat but this time it wasn't the water threating to drown me but my own sad loneliness and fear. Taking a deep shuddering breath I draw myself out of bed, throwing on my cloths hurriedly and picking up my satchel. I hesitate glancing back at the warm bed that I have used for the last 3 weeks, I'm going to miss the certainty I realize but then I shake myself, there has only been one certainty in my life for a while… I am alone.

That is what my days revolve around, each move I make can be as selfish as I like because there is no one I have to take care of, no one to take care of me. I used to believe that I would find someone here in the forest but I have long since put to rest that hope. Leaving it berried so deep that I couldn't even find it If I wanted to. It was just the unconsecrated and I left now. I survive and they exist, in this cruel and vicious world that I have been left in.

I sneak down the hall even though I don't need to, it not like the unconsecrated will hear me and there is no one else to hear me. But it's instinctive and as I carry on my way I keep silent and alert. Passing down the creaky warped stairs I duck under the cobwebs that are threatening to take over the entire ceiling. Easing the heavy wooden door open I peeked outside taking in the barren desolate town, not a sound except the faint moans whispering on the breeze. I sigh and pull the door ajar just enough so that I can slip through the small gap. Though that is relatively easy with my slight build and skinny, malnourished figure.

Now outside in what was once the middle of the village I search a few houses gathering supplies for my journey. This is all I have done for the last 7 years of my life. I wonder along the paths and find things, places and supplies then I move on. It used to be in the hope that I would find someone but now it is just a habit remaining from a time when I had higher hopes, before the dampness and cold desolation of this world destroyed them.

Seven years ago I had a family, neighbours, friends but the unconsecrated breached my village and they were gone, lights snuffed out of existence leaving me alone in the darkness. Once upon a time I had known love and warmth but no longer. I continued to the edge of town without incident. Finding the gate I looked at the odd symbol that marked it, rubbing my icy fingers over the cold worn grooves. Trying to piece together their meaning from nothing, racking my brain for memories I didn't have. Sighing I looked ahead through the rusty old chain links then quickly passed through snapping the gate shut behind me. The unconsecrated shuffled mindlessly closer sensing my nearness pressing against the fence as I walked down the narrow path my eyes watching only ahead not willing to meet the desecrated void faces that were once people.

Down the path to something new I tried to tell myself but I knew whatever I found would likely just be another deserted village or worse one overrun with unconsecrated. I trudged on through the day passing different gates each time inspecting the symbols on the bar hoping I would suddenly understand the secrets hidden in the old metal. Nothing happens though and I remain as clueless as I have always been to their meaning. When darkness truly falls I take out the wood I have gathered throughout the day and make a small fire, heat up some food and go to sleep knowing that tomorrow will be long and lonely.

Before sleep takes me I let myself think about them, let the memories wash over me but like crashing waves they pull me in as I struggle against the tide of emotions. Sucked in I remember every detail of them.

First my mother with her long honey blond hair so similar to my own and her sweet reassuring smile that could calm me even when the moans were at their loudest. In my mind she stands in a meadow dressed in a fine, clean sky blue dress that matches her eyes and flutters in a non-existent breeze. In her arms she holds a baby, my little brother Jonathan, he was only just 5 weeks old when the breach happened. Tiny and innocent, he knew nothing of this world yet it took him without regret, without mercy. I remember how small he was, his wide, innocent blue eyes and the way his little fingers would just hold my pinkie.

Then I pictured my father, a tall strong man with a kind smile, his eyes such a vibrant green that they seemed magical, enchanting. They would always capture my attention when he told me stories, and I loved that I had inherited them, though looking at my reflection would always remind me of him, and serve to remind me countless times that I could never look into his beautiful eyes again, that he will never hold me as he would when storms roared outside and lightning flashed across the horizon.

I could never remember my father without remembering Conner my older brother who was his splitting image with the same nose, mouth, and messy hazel hair. The only major difference was his eyes one of which was blue like my mothers and the other as green as my fathers. I looked up to him so much he was strong and brave. I followed him around like a puppy and he let me.

Tears were now streaming down my face in salty rivulets; I could feel them against my cheeks even with my eyes shut tight. I never should have thought about them, I should just try and forget them; forget the pain and the loss and the loneliness. Just forget it all. But I can't because if I don't remember them… who will?

A/N: Okay so this is the first chapter. I hope you enjoyed it and please review to tell me what you think (:

P.s. if you were reading my one direction fan fiction, it got deleted because of the use of real people so i'm going to eventually get it up on another website ):