The cold wind howled over the summit of the mountain. There were no trees of green or plants of any kind. Icy blue water splashed down the frozen, barren terrain. Looking up not a cloud in the noon sky, and yet no sun. No warm light touched the surface, nothing but pure, cold, darkness. And yet she could see. Every detail of the bleak mountaintop had become sharp, the focus increasing until it hurt her eyes just to see. No one but her. Isn't this what she had always wanted? How had this become the worst decision of her life?

"Liz! Come on it's not that boring" Liz woke with a start. Her mind was groggy as she looked up at Ruby, her best friend.
"Hey, are you okay? You look like you haven't slept in weeks!" It was amazing how accurate Ruby could be without even realizing it. Liz hadn't been able to sleep as the mountains pulled her towards them. Cold wind haunted her thoughts, and the empowering feeling of being alone. Ever since her mother had mysteriously disappeared on a hiking trip, the mountains had been calling to her, craving her, until it had become almost unbearable. Clouds were rolling through her thoughts when Ruby cut into the fog.

"Liz?"
"Um, I have to go. Talk to you later." It was 70 degrees outside as she exited the cool school building, and yet she was shivering. Her mind was filled with the images of the mountains. She just wanted to get away, disappear from this life. She wanted to be alone more than anything in the world. She ran. Wind rushed through her long blonde hair, streaming behind her, rippling like a river. The only noise was her feet pounding on the sidewalk as she ran, which in her mind was the most wonderful sound in the world. There it is. Before her was the house, tall and proud. She reached for her neck out of instinct, tracing her finger along the delicate chain. A promise. Held deep inside the heart. Never to be found, to be read and cared for. Just another whisper in the wind. Blowing over her dreams, her life, everything she thought she had known. But she didn't. Nothing ever opens itself and gives in without a fight. Rusted shut, a hidden promise to the life she had once known. Happy, without incident. Until the mountains. Hiding behind the ever-present layer of clouds. If only she knew what had happened, why she was locked in this life. A life of worry and mourning, with no way out. She walked up to the front door, put her hand on the familiar door knob, cold, hard, and reassuring. She tried the door. Unlocked, as always. A familiar mustiness reached her nose. Keeping her sane, happy, relaxed, just by opening one door. She climbed up the stairs, each one creaking under her weight. No other sounds penetrated the otherwise silent room. Until, noise. A small trickle of water. Water? The water wasn't on last time I was here! She took a cautious step forwards. Only water. Then another step and another until she reached the source of the only sound in the house, a faucet, running so slightly she was amazed she heard it in the first place. She was so focused on the water she didn't notice the breathing. But it's not like it mattered anyway, she was already in the house, and it had noticed her. Pain shot through the back of her neck as she whipped around to face her attacker. The only light was coming from a crack in the ceiling. A spot light on the stage of the dark bathroom floor. In it's small light she saw movement, just a fast whip towards her neck. A click. A heart on the floor. Broken dreams. Everything stopped moving. A new image in the spotlight. Splatter on the floor. Scarlet marks. Red blood staining the ground, slowly making a path down the uneven floor. Trailing from her unconscious body.