Sorry for the long wait... Been having problems...

But here you go.

Anna stood there, her eyes wide in horror. She froze in place, trying to hold her breath as well as she could. Anna wanted to turn and run. It would be easier, it would be quicker. Of course she'd be caught...but... atleast she wouldn't have stand here and wait. So, if she wanted to do it. Why was she just standing here? Was it because the creatures in the forbidden-colored cloaks were doing the exact same?

They weren't at all moving, but standing as still as statues, staring right at Anna. Why weren't they rushing at her? She was waiting for them to do just that. But there they stood, about thirty feet away. They easily could get Anna. So why weren't they making the slightest effort to... Maybe they were like all the other animals Anna seen and heard about. They just stalked their prey, then they'd just torture them. Nipping at them, knocking them around until the poor animal had no more strength to even try and get away. Surely that's what they were doing to Anna.

It was the only reason that she could think of.

Anna could feel her arms and legs shaking uncontrollable. 'Stop!' Her mind commanded the rest of her body, but it was no use. Anna's hands grabbed at her skirt and clenched into fists, trying to stop from shaking. She could feel tears building up in her eyes. Anna closed her eyes as tightly as she could.

It was a sure thing... She'd never see anyone from the village again. Not even that rude little brat that suggest that she should throw herself in the forest.

Never again would she get to hear her mother's stories and songs. She wouldn't get to have her father give her quiet advice, or hear his laugh. Anna felt herself smile lightly at the thought of his laugh. He'd hardly let it slip out in the village, but when he was alone with Ivy, Anna, or Nicholas, he didn't care... It was rough, yet calm and soft at the same time. Diffucult to explain, even to herself. Nicholas... She'd never get to help him out again. Or listen to his problems when he got older. Nathan...sweet Nathan, everytime she saw him, Anna came close to shouting her love for him. But she had resisted the urge to...

She'd never get to see anyone at all.

All thanks to these monsters in red.

At that thought, it crossed Anna's mind to just go after the creatures. She opened one eye slightly and her breath caught in her thought. Both of her eyes shot wide opened and started to glance from side to side. They had left. Left Anna alive. Her breathing quickened as her heart and mind started to race. Where could they have gone? Anna spun around in a circle, but no sight of the red cloaks.

She took a few steps forward and Anna felt her body tense up, expecting to see one of the creatures run at her. But, it did not happen. She took more steps, but quicker. Still, nothing. They were gone. Utterly gone. It didn't make sense though... Why would they have just left her? Did they find something better then her? She was hopeful of it, but very, very doubtful.

They wouldn't just leave her.

But here was her chance...Her last chance to get out of the forest and live. Anna broke into a run, jumping over rocks and tree roots sticking out of the ground, ducking under branches that seemed to be trying to get her to stay in the forest, forever trapped. Anna continued to run, her legs getting tired, her chest on fire.

"ANNA!"

She was so lost in running that she barely heard the voice. It took her a brief moment to understand it and to stop. She stopped so suddenly that she nearly tripped. Anna tried to control her breathing so she could hear better. Her hopes started to drop with every passing second. Maybe she had only imagined the voice.

"ANNA!"

The voice echoed all around, and Anna could tell it was her fathers. "I'M HERE!" She shouted at the top of her lungs. Anna walked closer to the direction she thought the voice was coming from.

"ANNA?!"

"HERE!" She could hear her father's voice getting closer each time he yelled.

"STAY THERE!" His voice replied back to her.

"ALRIGHT!" Anna stood in place, not wanting to have the slightest change of getting lost again. Softly, she wrung her hands together, wishing he'd come sooner.

"Keep yelling!"

"I'm Here! Hurry!"

"I'm coming as fast as I can, Anna!"

In an instant she could see a figure run to her in a yellow cloak. Smiling in relief, Anna ran to her father, hugging him tightly. Finally she felt like everything would be alright with her father with her. Nothing could go wrong. The creatures wouldn't even try to go after them. She'd finally get to go back to the village and see her mother and brother and everyone else.

Lucius smiled to himself then stepped back from his daughter, but he still held onto her shoulders, "Your alright?"

"Yes."

"Don't lie Anna.... You swear your alright? Your not hurt?"

"I'm alright... I'm not hurt." He hugged her again, a few tears escaping his eyes. "How's mother?"

"She'll be fine knowing that your home and not hurt at all. Nicholas will be too. Everyone will be. You made all of us worried and nervous for you, Anna."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize. They'll all be happy to see that you're well." He stopped and looked down at her, "Are you ready to go home?"

"Yes!" Anna nodded furiously "I want to go home."

"I thought so." He kissed her forehead, then put his arm around her shoulders, leading back to the direction of the village.

Anna let out a happy and relieve sigh, finally this nightmare would be over with.

They continued to walk and talk quietly, giving smiles to eachother now and then. Her father lifted his eyes and nodded to the distance and Anna could see the borderline and torches that were unlit. She grinned up at him, then looked ahead as they walked closer. She was in the village, with her family and friends. Everything would be alright. It would be. Anna walked inbetween the torches and grinned, she was out of the forest. She had made it.

She looked up to her father, but he was looking around, a troubled expressionn on his face. "What is it?" She asked quietly, but he either didn't hear her, or chose not to answer her. Just a few seconds after she asked, he grabbed her hand, starting to run. Anna nearly fell when he pulled her arm, but she caught herself. Anna struggled to keep up with her father's speed.

With a gasp, Anna suddenly stopped seeing a creature, covered by a red cloak, laying motionless on the ground. The blood was easy to see...it was coming from what seemed like all over. A blade was in its chest. Others villages had started to run to them now. Anna looked around and saw Nathan slowly dragging himself away fromm the creature before he collasped on his back to the ground. Blood was seeping through the white shirt of where his shoulder was.

His face was very pale, and his eyes were closed tightly in pain. There was blood all over his clothes, but not as much as there was at his shoulder. It seemed to be drenched in red. Nathan held his shoulder as a light groan escaped his mouth. Lucius was at his side suddenly, putting pressure on his shoulder, "Stop moving." He commanded Nathan. For the most part, he did...but his body was still slightly shaking.

Nathan winced in pain again and he opened his eyes halfway, looking at the villagers that were surrounding him. Anna's eyes met his and he offered a weak smile as he lifted his head a few inches off of the ground, "Ah, good....You've found her..." And with that, Nathan fell unconscience.

Anna backed out of the way as the doctor pushed his way through the crowd. She stopped for a moment...No body else except Anna saw the flash of red dissappear into the forest. For a moment, she did nothing but she felt her mother's arms around her, and Anna turned to hug her.

Two more chapters to go... They'll probaly be short ones.