It was new moon.

Without the glowing light of the moon, the forest was almost impossible to navigate. I tried to feel my way forward, but the trees were too far apart and the roots literally wrapped themselves around my legs.

I didn't know where I was going or where I was coming from, but I knew I had to get out of the woods.

The path I had chosen was rough and I spent more time on all fours than on my feet and I was sure my knees were blue and red.

But the worst happened right after I was sure I found the right strategy. I should have known when the soft moss ground suddenly turned to stone, but even then I couldn't have seen the abrupt end.

I took a step.

Two steps.

Three steps.

Four.

Five.

Six... I stepped into the void. I fell.

The cold water was a shock, but it caught my fall. Completely soaked and cold, I tried to swim to shore. I tried to push forward with all my might, but something caught my ankles and pulled me deeper into the water.

Then I saw him.

He was standing on the bank. Though the moon was not shining, his snow-white marble skin shone like a beacon.

"EDWARD!" I yelled hoping he would notice me. "HELP ME! EDWARD! PLEASE!"

I screamed as loud as I could and swallowed so much water, but he just stared at nothing. I reached out to him as I was slowly being pulled underwater.

All hope left my body as my hand disappeared into the water. Wasn't that what he wanted from me? That I disappeared from this world? That I couldn't tempt him anymore? So I wouldn't become his biggest mistake?

I closed my eyes and let the water take over me.

Then I felt it.

Someone grabbed my hand and pulled me back to the surface. When my head was above water again, I spat water and gasped for air. I couldn't see whose arms were holding me, but I knew for a fact it was Damon's teeth piercing my skin.

And then I woke up.

The dream haunted me all day. I felt like the dream was trying to tell me something, but I didn't know what.

It's been years since I last dreamed about Edward. The first time I dreamed about Damon.

Fuck what's wrong with me? One vampire vanishes from my life and the next one comes with a head dive. At least Damon makes the effort to make our relationship exciting. What kind of relationship do we have you ask me? God if I knew.

Tell me, have you ever been so deep in your thoughts that you don't pay attention to where you're going and end up wondering how you got there? Yes, that just happened to me.

I seem to have been thinking about my dream so hard that my legs carried me into the woods. Heaven, how long have I walked and how deep am I in here? Not a single hiking trail can be seen here. If I went back from where I came from, I could get out of here before it got dark. The question is where did I come from? I've completely lost my sense of direction.

I looked around, hoping to find some clue as to where I was or at least point me in the direction of civilization. Instead I found something else. Someone else.

Damon was standing a few meters in front of me. He had his hands casually in his pockets and was leaning against a tree. His gaze was fixed on me.

His words from last time rang through my head. Dodge him until sunrise and get a favor or pay in blood.

I slowly began to distance myself without breaking eye contact. Only when he took the first step did I start to run. It was obvious he was a lot faster than me, but he'll keep chasing until either I lose energy or he gets bored.

That was the only advantage I had. An advantage I had to exploit as much as possible.

Luckily, because of my dream, I was more than aware of the roots and somehow managed to jump over them without falling.

I could see everything around me, but I didn't know where I was running or where I came from. All I knew was that I had to get out of the woods.

What was bound to happen happened and I missed a root and ended up headfirst in the moss. The ground was soft, so I won't get more than a few bruises from it.

Now comes an important tip for life. If you're in an unfamiliar area, watch where you're going and don't walk backwards like I did or you'll miss the cliff and fall.

The cold water was a shock, but it caught my fall. Completely soaked and cold, I tried to swim to shore. But some aquatic plant had wrapped itself around my leg and I couldn't move.

I tried to free myself, but I didn't have a good grip on the plant and because of the cold I didn't have enough strength to pull myself out.

All hope left my body as my head disappeared into the water. I was cold. The more I moved, the more tired I got. How long would it take for them to find my body? Will they ever find my body?

I closed my eyes and let the water take over me.

Then I felt it.

Strong arms wrapped around my limp body and pulled me to the surface. I spat water and gasped for air. Damon swam to shore with me and laid me on a bed of yellow autumn leaves. The cold autumn air stabbed me like daggers.

Damon leaned over me and gave me a mischievous smile.

"This round goes to me. Any loser speech you want to give?"

I took what strength I had left to answer.

"I dreamed of you."

I passed out before I could see his reaction.