Fiona sat gazing silently out of the window. The sun was setting outside, the red orange rays shown through the open blinds and bathed her in it's warm glow. ''Fiona?'' the voice was faint but grew louder. ''Fiona...'' Fiona blinked and held her head. ''Yes, sorry. What were you saying?'' she reproached apologetically. The gentleman sitting behind his desk smiled sympathetically, the pen he used scratched a crossed the paper, illegible to Fiona's quiet gaze. ''I think we ought to wrap things up for this session okay? I think next time we might look into some more grounding techniques, keep you in the moment and it should help with some of your anxiety symptoms.'' The man was thin and middle aged. He kept his appearance clean and professional, he was almost a stereotypical therapist in terms of appearances. Fiona gave a half smile and nodded. ''Alright.'' she said as she stood.

The air smelled of summer, the evening brought with it a cool breeze that made her dig in her rucksack for her cream coloured woolen jumper. She pulled it over her and took in her surroundings. The car park was half empty, there were several buildings that contained offices, most empty due to the time of day. There was a hum of quiet traffic and the gentle vibe of human life that permeated her senses, typical of a large town anywhere. She suddenly felt a pang of resentment and quickly dismissed it. ''…..How I envy the simplicity of everyone else's lives...'' she said in whispery tones to herself. A blue green car pulled in next to her, her demeanour eased slightly when she saw her friend motioning for her to get in.

''You were away with the fairies again, weren't you?'' Said Heather. Fiona took in her friend and house mate. She was a petite woman with dark coloured hair and wore glasses, she was a bit shorter than that of Fiona. Both women were the same age. It'd been a meeting woven by fate, at least, that's how Fiona always felt about it. Heather first sat next to her during dinner in a mental health ward in hospital. They were both so young then and Fiona was in the throws of trying to come to terms with what she had been through, no one had believed her, but Heather listened. Fiona's parents were never found, neither was the place that she now carried within her mind and heart, where ever she went. Never quite escaping it's grasp on her. Both women were now in their early 30's. A familiar and warming bark escaped from the back of the car. ''Hewie.. Good boy.'' Said Fiona as she fastened her belt. ''Sooo... How'd it go?'' ventured Heather. Fiona smiled weakly. ''I think I may have zoned out a bit, but it feels like we are going around in circles.'' she sighed. Heather bit her lower lip and nodded. ''Sounds about right.'' said Heather. The car pulled away with the three friends inside, Heather sat quiet, concentrating on the road. ''How has your appointments been going?'' Fiona asked politely. Heather smirked. ''It's the same crap over and over again, I'm trying to get along with it but... It's just the nature of the beast I guess. I've always been in therapy, I've lost count of how many therapists I've been through now... Mental illness is a bitch.'' Fiona nodded to herself. Her mind took her back to their first meeting. Heather was isolated from the other women that were in the ward, she always looked lost herself or angry. The two had a shaky start in their friendship, Heather actually threatened to bludgeon her just for asking her her name. Fiona shook her head, smiling at the memory. It was a bad start to what turned into a close friendship. She felt Hewie's nose nudge against her elbow, Fiona patted his head.

Driving out of the town centre they came to a quiet road that was full of houses and a few corner shops, large trees grew in rows near the roadway. Heather pulled the car up to their house and parked it on the curb. Fiona opened the back passenger door to let Hewie out as Heather gathered up the groceries from the boot of the car before heading in. Hewie now walked with a slight limp, he was getting on a bit in years but he still acted the same as the day she found him tied so cruelly to the tree in that awful nightmarish place. His neck still bared the scars of his ordeal. Fiona looked up at their home. It was a two story semi-detached brick house. Typical English home really, she thought to herself. Some flower boxes adorned their windows adding splashes of colour to their abode, the front garden was small and a neatly trimmed hedgerow acted as a fence to keep the random passer by from trodding onto their little patch of green. Living with Heather gave her a sense of safety. She knew that was a two way street though, Heather was all on her own too. A brisk wind tousled Fiona's hair, she shuddered and hurried into the house with her faithful companion by her side. She couldn't help but look over her shoulder for a moment, a familiar feeling washed over her that she hadn't felt in a long time. The sky seemed to darken, a rumble of thunder boomed in the distance. She trembled and wondered if it was a warning, an omen. Fiona could feel the panic rising in her chest and her shoulder prickled. Closing the door quickly she leaned against it, tears welled up in her eyes. ''Something's wrong...'' she looked down at Hewie, who's ears were perked, the hair down the centre of his back was raised slightly.

''I'm just gonna put dinner on yeah? I'm thinking... Fajita's!'' came a cheerful voice from the kitchen, breaking through the heavy atmosphere of dread that had befallen both Fiona and Hewie. Fiona breathed in through her nose and out through her mouth slowly before calling out. ''Sounds good! Remember, plain chicken pieces for Hewie though!'' she said as she bounded up the stairs to her room where she caught sight of her dishevelled self in her closet mirror, Fiona's room was adorned in antique furnishings, one look and anyone would be able to tell she was fond of pastel colours, it had a bright and cheery airy look and feel to it albeit simple. She raised her jumper and shirt up and turned so that her back faced the mirror. She peered at the mirror behind her to find her ominous birth mark a deep scarlett colour. ''What does this mean?'' she said quietly. ''What's going to happen to us Hewie?'' She knelt down and buried her face into Hewie's soft fur. There was a soft 'clink' and a thud that made her jump. She cautiously opened her closet door and looked inside. On the floor lay her jewellery box, amongst the chains of golds and silvers was a large brass key. Debilitas's key that she had found after her struggle with him, simply laying on a table in a locked away area of a bathroom. She knelt and quickly shoved the chains and key back into it's box and pressed it further into it's shelf. She'd wondered how it'd fallen in the first place.

Dinner was quiet in their small kitchen. The walls were an olive green colour which contrasted well with the deep wooden hues of the floor and counters. Heather sat back in her wooden chair and sighed. ''You know, your more 'off' than usual. What's up?'' asked Heather. Fiona rubbed her hands together and glanced down at Hewie. ''Seriously, if you say 'nothing!' I will throw this fork at you.'' Heather said flatly. Fiona sat back in her chair. ''Okay, okay. I think... Something bad is going to happen. I think that maybe, the people I told you about, I think I've been found. I'm terrified, I don't even know how to word what my fear is.. I..I...'' She held her head in her hands. Heather frowned. ''…... After all of this time? If anyone that weird was after you Fiona, don't you think they'd of found you ages ago?'' Heather reproached. Fiona sighed exasperated. ''You'd think so but.. I've just got this feeling that we aren't safe here.'' she tried to explain. Heather folded her arms and looked up at the ceiling. ''Remember the last time you felt like this? We pretty much spent a few years hopping around the U.K until you felt better? Fiona, we've hopped around so much it'd make any stalker's head spin. Honestly, I think we are alright here and it's been years and years.'' Heather smiled reassuringly. Fiona felt herself relax a little. If she'd told anyone else this they'd elude to her experiences as being nothing but the imaginings of a traumatised mind. Heather at least acknowledged her worries, she validated her and it made Fiona feel as though her sanity were still intact. Heather stood up and stretched. Fiona frowned. ''Hey, you got your hair cut!'' She said, surprised. Heather rolled her eyes. ''Oh my god Fiona. Oh my god. Really?! Your just noticing that now?!'' she laughed. Fiona face palmed. ''I really am out of it today!'' she exclaimed.'' Heather grinned ''and I thought I had problems.'' She started clearing away some plates. ''It's a pixie cut, I think it suits me.'' Fiona nodded ''Yes, it really does.''. She said in agreement. The evening was quiet, rain drummed upon the windows and roofing, lulling Fiona into a deep sleep after the two women retired to their separate rooms for the night.

Fiona was running again, only things were more and more vivid. Everything was swimming into focus, she was there. In that castle. In that place. The car, the screams and- Fiona woke up in a cold sweat, gasping. Hewie nuzzled her and whined before emitting a low growl. She'd not heard Hewie growl like that since... She shook her head. ''What is it boy?'' she asked weakly. Hewie jumped from the bed and pawed at the closet door. Fiona swung her legs over the bed and edged toward the doors, opening them. Hewie pawed at something, he gripped it in his mouth and placed it in Fiona's hand. The large brass key to the gate of that wretched, twisted castle. It felt cold and heavy, she dropped to her knees. ''I can't do this any more Hewie.'' She sobbed. There was a quiet knocking at her door, She saw light streaming in through the crack at the bottom of it. ''Fiona...?'' she heard Heather. The door opened and Heather poked her head through. She was squinting. ''What you doin? I heard something, oh hey you okay?'' Fiona couldn't stop herself from crying, she was holding up the key and lacked the words to tell her anything. Pure emotion flooded her body and she was overwhelmed. Heather ran to her room before coming back. ''Forgot my glasses'' she put them on and looked at the key that Fiona was shoving at her. She took it and watched Fiona sink into a mess into Hewie's fur. Heather sighed and weighed it in her hand. ''Right, I'm putting this in my room okay? I don't know why you keep this damn thing around. Just stay there, I'll... Put the kettle on.''

The two women sat silently on the carpeted floor in Fiona's room with mugs of hot tea. ''…. Your hair is sticking up.'' Fiona said after awhile, eluding to Heather's bedhead. Heather quirked a brow and side glanced over at Fiona. ''Your hair is sticking to your face and you have a booger hanging out your nose.'' Said Heather flatly. Fiona quickly used her tissue to wipe her nose. Heather looked mildly amused as she took a sip of tea. Fiona turned to look into her mirror. Her hair was stuck to the bits of her face that were wet with tears. She looked a sorry state. She looked over at Heather, her dark hair seemed to now hold the ability to defy gravity, you could see all the piercings in her ears now. She was so different from Fiona. Heather was sporting some tattoo's on her chest and arms, she had a few on her thighs as well. Her pajama's weren't as conservative as Fiona's either, all Heather had on was a pair of pants that vaguely resembled short shorts and a tank top. Heather glanced at her. ''I've been thinking.'' She all but blurted. Fiona shook her head and focused on her words. ''Thinking about what?'' she asked curiously. ''This place that you were taken to. It haunts you. What if, oh I don't know. You were to face it for once?'' Heather stared at her, her dark eyes bore into Fiona. Fiona fumbled with her words as her brain tried to comprehend what she was suggesting. ''I'm not sure I understand...'' Fiona looked into her steaming hot cup of tea. She knew. ''Sure you don't.'' Heather sighed. Fiona frowned. ''Even if... I mean, I don't want to, but lets say I did go, where would I go to? We were... Driving and I... They brought me there. I don't know where that place is, I was taken there. I wasn't conscious.'' Fiona finished. Heather was staring at her. ''Then... How did you leave...?'' Fiona's mouth opened and closed a few times. She had her. Heather looked like a hawk that had spotted it's prey and had swooped in for the kill. She didn't miss. Fiona slowly shook her head. ''You know, I always wondered why that wasn't explored. Or it was, but you said you didn't remember. Fiona, I think you do and I never wanted to say about it but your getting worse. I don't want to pressure you into anything, so... I'll go. I'll see if I can find out what happened to your par-'' Fiona cut her off. ''No! No you mustn't. It's a place that no one should ever go to, it's a nightmare!'' She shook her head. Heather looked calm and collected. ''Then what? Continue to live half a life? Can you honestly say that you are happy looking over your shoulder all the time?'' Heather stood. ''I know I'm a bit... Fucked up and from what you said it doesn't sound a pleasant place at all. But tell someone. Do something about it. I'm offering to help you, just... Take it for once.'' Heather left Fiona to her thoughts.

Fiona laid in her bed with Hewie. ''…..I feel like a child that's afraid of monsters out of a fairy tale.'' she said quietly. ''Heather is right though. But I...'' She nodded off and fell into a deep sleep. Meanwhile Heather sat on the edge of her bed. Heather's room was a similar décor to Fiona's but more rich in deeper hues of reds and rich browns. She held the key in her hand. She peered at it, the lamplight next to her bed made it gleam. She yawned and let her hand fall beside her with the key. She was vaguely aware of it's weight, she tiredly took her glasses off and put them on her bedside table, thinking about this and that. Heather frowned and yawned, her left shoulder felt like it was prickling, her hand tightened around the key slightly before she too fell into a sleep that was filled with unfamiliar scenes and a deep foreboding.

Heather looked behind her shoulder. A voice emanated from a dark void. ''Hello my dear... I've found you. I've found you both.'' Heather frowned and said ''Who're you?'' before being engulfed in hands that tore at her clothing and gripped her flesh, dragging her into oblivion.

''Heather!'' Heather woke with a jolt, she was aware of her heart beating hard in her chest, she felt somewhat disoriented before reality swam her and her senses out of the world of dreams and into the waking world. She stared up at Fiona wide eyed. ''Heather? You kept shouting... Are you alright?'' Asked Fiona. Heather nodded silently. ''Yeah, yeah just some... You know what tea in the middle of the night, I don't think it's good for dreams.'' she rubbed her face and sat up. ''Fucking hell that was bad.'' she said drowsily. Fiona frowned. ''Nightmares?'' she asked. Heather nodded. ''Yeah, it's nothing though. Sorry if I woke you.'' She said. Fiona smiled and shook her head. ''It's no bother, really. Listen, thank you for sitting with me last night...'' Heather nodded ''No worries... Hey. Ah nah, it's nothing. What's the time?'' asked Heather. ''It's half passed 9.'' Fiona said. Heather nodded wearily. ''Right. A new day. Think about what I said though okay?'' Fiona smiled and nodded '' Yeah. Don't worry, I'm already thinking about it.'' She said, a tone of hope in her voice this time. Heather nodded a bit taken aback. She thought Fiona would run a mile before even thinking positively about anything to do with her dark mysterious past. ''Change of heart...?'' She reproached carefully, testing the waters. Fiona sat on the edge of Heather's bed. ''I don't know. I think I'm just tired of running, and if I keep running... I might run out of energy to face up to what I need to... I don't want that to happen. I'm scared but... I'm not a child any more.'' The look on Fiona's face was almost mournful. ''I've lost so many years being fearful. I just can't bear to lose any more.'' she finished quietly. Heather stared at her friend and nodded silently. ''I know where to go.'' She added after a long silence. Heather quirked a brow. ''What...?'' Fiona avoided her gaze. ''I think I do. No... I'm sure this time. I've been having these dreams and... I think I remember.'' Heather glanced around confused. ''Wait... You know where the castle place thing is?'' Heather asked. Fiona paused for a moment and nodded. Heather looked as though she was trying to work out the meaning of life. ''Soo... Right. Okay, I mean this kind of has ramifications, Fiona I think we should go to the police, your parents case could potentially be re-opened if that's the case.'' ''No'' Fiona interjected. Heather blinked. ''Why?'' Heather asked, thoroughly confused.''After all these years and no real search. Years of being told that everything is in my mind..?'' Fiona gesticulated at the room at large. ''They didn't take me seriously! They put me in that Mental Ward. I don't want them to think that I need to be sectioned. I really can't go back there either, please try to understand Heather, please?'' Fiona all but pleaded. Heather nodded to herself, unsure of what to say or do. ''... I'm going to go have a shower and I guess... We'll talk about... Going. Form some sort of plan I suppose...?'' Fiona nodded ''Yes I suppose so...' Fiona said quietly, she left Heather to her thoughts.

The hot water cascaded down Heather's body, steam filled the glass shower unit. Heather watched the water and bubbles from her shower gel swirl down the drain and breathed deep as her lavender soap filled the bathroom with it's calming aroma. She winced slightly and reached over to her left shoulder before letting her arms drop. ''I hope... That the place isn't as bad as she's made it out to be...'' Heather remarked. For a brief moment part of her nightmare played upon the strings of her memory, she shook her head in defiance. The handle to the water squeaked slightly as she turned it off and wrapped herself in a towel to dry herself. After dressing and brushing her teeth she went down stairs to find Fiona at the kitchen table with a cuppa, she had a road map out and she was wringing her hands nervously. ''… You been busy.'' Heather said as she went to the cupboard to fetch herself some oatmeal satchet's and milk. Fiona said nothing for a time, the beep of the microwave signalled the oatmeals readiness for consumption. Heather sat next to her and peered at the map. ''Up North? It'll be a bit of a drive.'' said Heather as she tucked into her warm breakfast. Fiona nodded ''Yes, I was thinking the same thing. There's a B and B we can stay at so we'll have daylight to go and find it, it will be somewhere in this forested area here.'' Fiona pointed to a somewhat large area on the map. Heather sniggered. ''Fucking hell, probably have more luck finding a unicorn than a castle in that.'' she said. Fiona smiled faintly. ''I really don't know how I found my way out... If it weren't for Hewie.'' Fiona rested her hand on his head, she ruffled his fur adoringly. ''….He's older now, I was thinking of asking the neighbours to look after him until we get back. I couldn't bear the thought of him getting hurt... He's getting on in years and... I just can't let him get hurt.'' She said, a tear ran down her face. Hewie tilted his head and put his paw on her lap. Heather finished her oatmeal. ''….. It's not gonna be a good bye Fiona. We'll come back you know? Anyway the neighbours looked after him before, they'll spoil him rotten!'' Heather comforted. Fiona smiled. ''Yes, I think so too... So. About the journey.'' The two women leaned over the map and made plans. Days passed as they sorted themselves out to depart. Before Fiona knew it... It was time to hit the road and journey into the place that deprived her of a sound future.