I opened my eyes the next morning, expecting to still be laying in the middle of the forest, but I was under a blanket. In my bed. Last night couldn't have been a dream, it was too realistic. I saw the body- hell, Ifeltit.

In a panic I sat up in my bed glancing around the room, thinking it would suddenly morph back into the dark mass of trees I was sure I was in last night. When nothing happened, to my dissapointment, I clambered out of my bed and headed to my room mates room, still not fully convinced it was a dream.

I had been living with Katja for a while, so I knew she would be up already. I opened the door quietly to see Katja hanging upside down off of her bed listening to her iPod. This was no surprise to me as I had seen her in stranger situations.

"Guten Morgen, mein Freund!" She was German, if you hadn't already guessed. "Wie geht's?"

I closed the door behind me and walked over to the open window. The city was just waking up, and the street wasn't busy. It was, for once, nice and peaceful, save for Katja's music blaring from her headphones.

The window in Katja's room overlooked the garden, which then led out into the woods. Again, I felt that strange feeling that was pulling me towards it. Without taking my gaze away from the window I answered my friend.

"Yeah, morning. Um, Kats? Did I- do you remember if I left the house? Last night, I mean." I could hardly talk straight, the woods disturbed me too much. Reluctantly I looked away and immedietly felt better.

"Ja, I think you did. I went downstairs this morning for some milk, and the whole floor isschmutzig."

Dirty? Why would it be dirty? I told her I'd tell her all about it later before I left her room and made my way down the stairs. Straight away I saw what she meant. My trip to the woods had made my sneakersincrediblyfilthy and there was mud prints all over the floor. I stepped around the mess to retrieve the mop and get to cleaning.

This had to be proof that I went to the woods last night, but the one thing that puzzled me was that I didn't remember coming home afterwards. What about that gold light? And the man, was he still there? I couldn't just leave him there. I was pulled out of my own little world when Katja came fumbling down the stairs.

"Gute, es ist putzen," I heard her mumble under her breath. "Are you going to tell me what's up with you now?" I hesitated, as I put the mop away, before replying.

"I promise I will, Kats, but I have to do something first," grabbing her in a hug then pulling on my trench coat. "I'll be back soon."

-x-

Stepping back into the woods was probably one of the worst idea's I had that day. This whole situation was freaking me out, especially the feeling I got whenever I even looked at it. But this was too interesting to pass up - my life was too boring at the moment.

Tracing her steps wasn't too hard to do, I was already at the clearing I found last night, but with no body in sight. In it's place I saw a small glistening object. Confused, I ran over, knelt down and picked it up. It was a small blade with a intricate design on it.

Disappointment and fear passed through me at that moment. The man had gone, and I remember him havinga lotof weapons. He was dangerous.

All of a sudden I was flipped over and thrown down on my back when I felt something cold and hard against my neck. I didn't have to open my eyes to know it was a knife.

"Please don't hurt me," I let out; my eyes were still shut tightly but I had an idea of who was holding a knife to my throat.

"Quiet." He had a strong accent, but I couldn't place it. "Tell me why I am here, or I kill you. Right now."

I opened my eyes slowly before they met with his. I could hardly see his face, as most of it was covered by a shadow made from his white hood. Although, his eyes shone a bright brown. He didn't have the eyes of a killer, but his actions proved otherwise. My lips started to shake as they opened to answer him.

"I d-don't- what are y-you talking about?" I silently hoped he would believe me. I stared up at him as my fear grew, and he pushed the knife harder against my neck as his look turned more menacing.

"Please! I swear, I don't know anything! Y-You have to t-trust me..." He stared into my eyes, reading me, before replacing the knife with his rough hand, so I thought he was attempting to strangle me. I started to wriggle from underneath him.

"Stop moving, wench. I believe you. I will not let you go yet, though." His voice was quiet but serious.

"Why? I want to go home," I said pleadingly. "You're not going to rape me, are you?"

He looked like he was ready to kill me again. "Do not talk such nonsense." He stood up, pulling me with him. I watched him as he hesitated to say something, gritting his teeth before saying,

"I need your help." The fact that he had not killed me led most of my fear to evaporate.

"And this bothers you, why?" This earned me a glare.

"I am used to doing things for myself."

"Then do whatever it is you need yourself. I am going home." I turned around and started to walk home. I was still a bit shaken up but I could manage. I had been walking for all of 5 minutes when I turned around and noticed the man had gone. 15 minutes later I had arrived home.

"So this is where you are living?"

I shot around and glared at this man who had suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

"How-"

"You ask too many questions." I could see a tiny smirk beginning to form on his tanned face, which bought my attention to his lips. There was a small white scar that cut through the right side of his mouth.

I wonder how he got that.

"I am not going to leave you alone until you help me," he was suddenly standing in front of me, fingering his blades, his voice deadly quiet. "Don't forget I will kill you if you are of no use to me, but I know that you are."

Ugh.