"Come on, Kendra!" The cloaked woman jogged farther into the woods, her red shawl billowing in the wind behind her. Her laughter could be heard, making her easier to find. Branches snapped and leaves crunched as she ran farther with me close on her heels.
Soon, all I heard was my own footsteps and heavy breathing. "Red?" Panic set in as I continued to search for her. "Red!"
"Kendra!" Her scream was distant, laden with fear. As I sprinted through the forest towards the lake, I prepared for a battle. My bow and arrows appeared in my hands in a puff of purple smoke as I pushed through the barrier of trees, the sunlight temporary blinding me.
A man wearing all black with a hood, held Red, his arm around her neck, the other holding a sword. I drew my bow and aimed for his head, "Let her go and I might let you live."
He tightened his grip and raise his sword to her neck, pressing it against her skin. "Or I could kill you both and take everything you have."
I tightened string, pulling the bow back farther, "The minute I see her blood is the minute I put this arrow through your skull. Now let her go." He threw her to the ground, where she quickly got to her feet and ran to my side.
He directed his weapon towards me, "Well, lass. What are you going to do?" He lunged at me, causing me to release my arrow towards his head, which he effortlessly blocked and sung again.
"Red, get out of here. " I tossed my bow to the ground and unsheathed my saber. She opened her mouth to retort, but the man lurched at us again, which I met, "Go!" She rushed into the forest, only enraging the robber more. He spun his weapon and advanced on me.
I tried to stay in step with him, advancing along with him. I lunged, cutting his upper thigh, the clothing split as the sharp metal carved into his skin, The black fabric exposed the pale skin, that soon stained red. He attempted to charge at me but fell as his leg gave out, his blood staining the sand beneath him.
I stepped over him and kicked him onto his back, raising the sword over his throat, "Stop!" The boy was on the shore, his green eyes piercing through me, tears streaming down his face nothing but remorse steaming off him. "This isn't you! Please."
"No, Pan." I lowered the sword, rustling coming from the woods.
Granny appeared with her crossbow, shooting the sword from my hand. Red grasped me, pulling me away. I look towards where Pan stood, only to see he had disappeared again. I tried to pull away but she only hugged me tighter, "Take her back to the house." Granny walked over to the man, aiming at his head. Red dragged me towards the forest, the man pleading for his life as Granny released the arrow.
As I woke up, I gasped for air and flailed my arms trying to fend of an attacker. "Hey, hey, sh. It's ok, it's ok you're safe." Pan rushed to my side, a bowl and cloth in hand. He kneeled by the hammock, dabbing the damp cloth on my forehead.
"Get away from me!" I slapped at his hand, which he only pinned down. "Let go!"
"Not until you tell me what you remember." He was standing over me, pinning my hands to my side.
"What are you talking about?" I wriggled my arms, trying to get free, only for him to grasp them harder.
"You kept saying a woman's name, you said my name. Now what did you remember?'
"It was just a stupid dream! None of its real! Now will you please let go of me!"
"Fine, but only if you tell me what you saw."
"God, fine!" He let go, taking a step backwards. "I was running through a forest, after Red. She got held up by a robber, I attacked him, some old woman showed up and killed him."
"That's not all of it, Kendra. I was there and I begged you not to do it. I begged you not to kill that man. You're not like.." He trailed off, staring at me as I tried to stand.
"Not what?" I stood, closing the spacing between us, he furrowed his brows, "Not what?"
"You're not a murderer."
"And how would you know? You don't know who I am!"
"Your name is Kendra Lynn Rowland, you lived in Otselic, New York. Your mother is Denise and your father is Frank, both drunks. Before that you lived with Red and Granny. The rest you'll have to remember."
I struck him, "So you're a stalker now?" He grabbed my hands and pinned them to my sides, crashing his lips against mine. It felt wrong but familiar at the same time. He moved his hands to cradle my head and the other wrapped around me, pulling me closer.
"I'm sorry she's doing this to you." His whole body was tensed, his fists besides him rubbing against the rough bark on the log.
"Well, she didn't want anyone knowing who I am, so she left me with Red and Granny. You helped me remember, so she's sending me to a completely different realm. Whatever keeps anyone from knowing I exist." I sat besides him, rubbing my hand on his back to try to calm him, I hated seeing him like this. "I'm gonna miss the Enchanted Forest."
He leaned towards me, gently kissing me, "I'll visit you as much as I can."
I pulled away, gasping for breath. I threw my hands into my hair, pushing against my head to stop the splitting headache that was starting, my throat clenched up. "Your memories are coming back, you're starting to remember who you really are. I helped you once I can help you again, please." He tried to pull me close again but I only slapped his hands away.
"What have you done to me?!" I sat on the hammock, my elbows resting on my knees as I tried to rub my headache away. It felt like my life was being ripped from my head as memories from the Enchanted Forest flooded in. All the times I snuck out of Grannies to see Pan, all the times I practiced my bow and sword fighting, all the good and all the bad; but it felt like half of it was missing. I couldn't help but sob, my whole life was a lie, everything I knew just made up to trick me.
Pan knelt in front of me, grasping my hands and pulling them in front of him. I shoved him to the ground, everything becoming too much, "Fine, I'll just leave you to it." He stood, dusted off his pants and left out the door, a soft click echoing through the room.