Disclaimer! I do not own the Night World series... That belongs to LJ Smith, what a lucky child she is :P. The only thing I'm responsible for is the strange imagination which I used to write this. :3
When John and Dana told Mitchell and Ramona about the planned camping trip that would take place this summer it gave the step-siblings a chance to bond before graduation. Their reactions had been predicted, Mitchell was thrilled. Staying in a forest for three months, with no distractions. Ramona however, disliked the idea. Camping, in a forest. Where the slender man was bound of be waiting for her. Where murderers lurked in the darkness. Where kidnappers took their dead victims. Where the bugs and evil animals are. Where the-
"Ramona! Hurry up, we're leaving!"Her dad called from the driveway. He'd pulled the silver land rover out of the allocated area and parked it adjacent to the house beside the sidewalk. It had pulled her from her thought bubble. Ramona sighed and glanced down seeing the grey suitcase laying on her bed. She gripped the handle and tugged it off the bed. Once she made it to the car she remained silent for the entire journey. Even when they stopped for food. She wasn't going to enjoy the next three months...
"Ramona, come on. It'll be really fun. We can like, climb trees and go fishing and-"
"Does it look like I want to climb trees? Or go fishing Mitch?"Ramona interrupted her step-brother.
Mitchell sighed and stepped out of the car.
"You could at least try."He said sadly.
Ramona's eyes softened, realising she'd hurt him.
"Look, Mitch, camping really isn't my thing, I'd much rather 'bond' with you at home. Where there's real food... And Tumblr."Ramona explained.
"You can live without Tumblr for a few months."Mitchell smiled. Ramona shot him a bitch glare and he went to fetch his bags from the back of the car.
Ramona's step-mother came back towards the car after she'd look part in a long and boring conversation with her dad about what they'd do over the next few days.
"Are you going to get out of the car any time soon 'Mona?"She asked and Ramona sighed in annoyance.
"Don't call me Mona."Ramona whined.
"Okay, sorry. Ra-mona..."She said clearly. Ramona remained silent.
"Maybe you should hurry up and pick a room before Mitchell beats you to it."She smiled in a friendly manner.
"I don't want a room. I don't even want to be here."She snapped causing Dana to step away from the car and go to speak to her dad again.
"Ugh."Ramona huffed and put her head in her hands.
"There's no way I can take three minutes out here, let alone three MONTHS."She said to herself.
Before Ramona had time to look up she felt a hand on her shoulder which made her eyes shoot up to who the hand belonged to.
"That's it, get out the car. You're here whether you want to be or now so let's go."Her dad said gesturing for her to exit the car.
"Ugh!"Ramona huffed angrily. She climbed out of the car and set foot on the dusty mud trail, wincing with anger.
"Okay, fine. But there is no way that I'm helping you plan tomorrows 'fun' events. I'm going for a walk. Hopefully I'll run into a friendly neighbourhood murderer and they'll put me out of my misery!"She ranted before storming off into the woods.
"Should I follow her?"Mitchell asked his step-dad.
"No, leave her to calm down. She'll come running back screaming as soon as she see's a butterfly."John smiled to himself and continued to unload the car.
Ramona had followed the same trail for almost half an hour before she decided to stop walking. She turned around and realised that she could no longer see the cabin or the car. She knew that she'd been walking in a straight line so she just had to follow the trail back. But then another trail caught her eye. She turned to see a little mud trail which led down a small dip. In that direction she heard running water...
Despite how dangerous and dirty the trail looked Ramona surprised herself and followed it. She slipped a little and gripped a branch with her hands as she came to a lake. A beautiful glassy lake. A short waterfall formed by a castle of rocks created a pleasant atmosphere. Then Ramona saw something even more beautiful than her surroundings. A boy. Walking across the edge of the lake. When Ramona's eyes caught his she was sure that her heart stopped. His eyes were a brilliant shade of brown. Warm and welcoming. She couldn't help the butterflies filling her stomach. She was sure that she'd never seen anything so beautiful as she stood beside the secluded lake.
The boy seemed to fall into a trance as his eyes met Ramona. Such innocence radiated from her. As she watched him intently. Porcelain skin which made even the most beautiful winters seem dull. And her eyes. Golden in the sun. Brown in the darkness. The boy stopped in his tracks and stood watching her for a moment. He'd never felt so vulnerable. And he hadn't felt as vulnerable as this for centuries. It gave him a feeling which he hardly recognised. A feeling he didn't want. Or one he had never used or needed.
"Ramona! Where are you?! Don't get yourself lost on your first day!"She heard her step-brother shouting and she turned away immediately to the sound of his voice.
"Okay Mitch, I'll be right there!"She shouted back. Ramona turned back to the boy. But he was gone. The area in which he had walked on seemed untouched and undamaged. She raised her eyebrow in confusion and ambled up the trail towards where her brother had called from.
The boy was watching her from a tall tree. His eyes narrowing as he examined the way she walked... She was human. He was sure about that. But once the girl went out of sight the strong feeling pumping through his veins had gone. He now had an unchanging desire to see her again. Soon. Sure he'd been with quite a few girls considering his age. But every relationship had plunged him deeper into loneliness. The boy forced himself to forget the thoughts coursing through his mind at a painful speed. He jumped from the tree and disappeared into the forest...