Hello again, welcome to Chapter Two of my story Arcanum. I hope that you enjoy-I will be trying to keep things interesting and chapters as long as I can. Favouriting, watching, and reviewing all help the story grow and get better.

~Polynox

Chapter Two:

Father took me to the hospital the next day, concerned for my health after what had happened the other night. I couldn't really sleep, so when I was getting examined by the doctor, I was in and out on what was going on. He said I was most likely sleep deprived, and that it would be good for me to get some more fresh air since I was being cooped up all day like some dog. I looked at my father, who had a sheepish expression on his face.

I didn't bother trying to explain to them that what had happened was real; after talking with my father last night, he said he had left home for work and when he returned I wasn't there. I still couldn't figure out what was going on. It buzzed in the back of my head like a swarm of angry hornets, stinging at my mind for some solution.

That woman, though . . . and what she said. What was it supposed to mean? Was it all just a dream; a subconscious worry that I might be taken too? But my father didn't find me sleeping. I was wide awake, still on the ground, recovering from her cold hand around my throat. None of it made sense.

We were back home now. I had just woken from a long nap, and it was about mid afternoon. My father was on the phone, talking with one of his co-workers about the disappearances. I stood up from the sofa and stretched, walking past him to the front door. I slipped on my long coat, pulling on my boots.

He stepped out from the kitchen doorway. "Where are you going?"

"The doctor said it would be good for me to get some fresh air. It's daytime, father, I will be fine." I had my hand on the doorknob, waiting for his reply.

He sighed deeply, looking me with worry. "Don't be too long. And don't go near the woods."

I smiled, and then waved as I shut the door behind me. As much as I hated disobeying my father, I couldn't help myself from slowly shambling towards the line of the forest. I looked around. The streets were empty, as usual, with the occasional noise of chatter from neighbors houses. I stopped in front of the line of trees, about where I thought my father found me. I circled around no spot in particular, looking between the ground and the forest, running things over in my mind.

"Too weak. You are too weak." The woman's haunting words ran through my mind and my body, causing me to shiver.

I stood in place, furrowing my eyebrows, deep in thought. What did it mean? Was I just simply over thinking a sleepwalking dream? As much as I tried, I couldn't let it go. My hand wrapped around my throat, remembering how her fingers dug into my skin. Cold, and hard. Her face, her eyes, so inhumanly blank.

Slowly-subconsciously, I guess-I walked farther, past the line of the forest, leaning against a tree. My free hand ran down the rough bark.

"Trying to strangle yourself?" Came a voice. I jumped, my hand dropping, and I turned my head to see a . . . guy? My heart beat wildly, unsure of what to do. Who the hell would be in the forest? Well, I was, but . . . He . . .

He smiled, brushing some hair back from his face. I wanted to look at him, head to toe, but I couldn't take my eyes off of his. They shimmered under his disheveled auburn hair, dark as wine. He looked my age, albeit a little older.

"What are you doing in the woods?" Was all I could manage to say.

"I could ask the same question. I was just going for a walk." His eyes said different, but I didn't say anything.

"Yes, I suppose." I said, chewing on my bottom lip. He watched this, his eyes flickering up and down my body once. "Do you live here?" I motioned towards the street.

"No," he sighed, glancing the way I shrugged. "I attend an academy nearby, farther off in the woods, about a mile or so away. I was just running some errands."

There was a school in these woods? And with all of these kidnappings, they hadn't shut it down? I furrowed my eyebrows but didn't say anything.

"What's your name?" he asked, his voice soft. He came closer, leaning against another tree about a foot away.

My stomach twisted, a flash of pain stabbing the back of my head, but I ignored it, willing myself not to get weak in front of . . . this man.

"Siron." I said, just as quietly as he had.

"I am Kaname," he smiled. "It is a pleasure." He held out his hand. I stared at it for a long moment, then reluctantly reached out and shook his palm.

His fingers enveloped mine, squeezing for just a moment. He didn't drop my hand, and I couldn't, either. His palm was so warm . . .

Suddenly he pulled me closer, into his chest, and used his free hand to brush back my hair from my face. My cheeks heated intensely, when he leaned down, his lips dangerously close to mine.

"I believe you," he said, his voice no higher than a whisper. His words seemed to swirl in the breeze around us.

I was confused. He believed me? . . .

"I don't understand," I said, my voice almost lower than his, shaking with unease.

His eyes softened, staring down at me. "I wish I could explain things better, Siron. That woman you met the other day, she was not a figment of your imagination."

My heart skipped a beat. He knew about the woman . . . how?

"You . . . know about that?"

"I know a lot," he said, with a hint of disgust wrapping around his words. "But you only need to know one thing." He stared down at me, gaze so intense it shook something inside of me. His eyes were so deep . . .

"You are anything but weak, Siron."

The world grew quiet as I let his words sink in. "How do you . . .? Why . . .?"

My cheeks flared unwillingly with heat as his lips brushed my jaw. "In time." he said.

Eyes closing for but a moment, when I opened them, he was gone.