A/N: This is chapter 8, but since i just replaced my author's note with chapter 7 you may not have gotten a notification so check that out. I'm sorry it's been so long! I just graduated High school so I had been focusing on school since the last time I updated. I finished with really good grades and I'm super proud of myself. I'm going to try to finish this up before I head off to college.

Matthew yanked his hand away from the girl in front of him, falling back onto the ground, he gasped, trying to regain the wind that had been knocked out of him, he scrambled onto his feet turning and running away from Edith who soon began to follow, He ran as fast as he could, rain had started coming down hard but he kept going until his legs ached and and he could barely see through tears, he came to a stop on the side the a road. He couldn't breathe, gasping for air before throwing up, disgusted from losing his breakfast he steadied himself on a tree, he looked around. no Edith, but he had no clue where he was.

"Fuck." he whispered under his breath as he felt around his pockets

"My phone must of fell out when I left the house."

He shivered as the wind and rain brushed against his cold skin a, looking up he saw a dim light in the forest just on the other side of the road, he walked slowly, a small house sat in the trees.

He knocked on the door, praying that someone was home.

"Please please please."

His plea was answered by an older woman who answered the door, she had glasses which were pushed up on top of her head

dark curly hair.

"Oh my God, come in you're going to catch a cold!"

Matthew quietly shuffled inside the house, the warm air caressed his cold face as he let out a sigh of relief. The woman walked in a room and soon back, holding what looked like flannel pajamas.

"Go in the bathroom and change into this, give me your clothes I will dry them for you."

Matthew took the clothes from the old woman thanking her as he went into the bathroom to change, she had given him flannel pajamas, he wasn't sure about this woman or her house but he changed anyway. Once he was changed and the woman had set his clothes in the dryer, she sat him down with a blanket.

"So," she , said pouring him a cup of tea, "what brings you to the area?"

"I'm Matthew Williams, I'm on vacation here with my father at our lake house." He gingerly took the tea from the woman.

"Well Matthew, I'm Helen Wardman."

they sat in silence for a while, the fire crackled in the background as they sipped their tea, Helen's house was a quaint one, a small dog laid on a pillow by her feet, it didn't make a sound it just peered at Matthew with its big black eyes.

"Um, could I possibly use a phone to call my friend? He doesn't know where I am and is probably worried sick.."

"Of course" Helen smiled, handing the boy a phone from the side table.

Gilbert's sleep was disturbed, but he couldn't place what was causing the disturbance, he leaned into the space where Matthew had been, and he realized his boyfriend was no longer there when he hit the sofa, he bolted up and looked around, maybe he had just gone to the bathroom? Gilbert stood up walking around groggily, he made his way into the kitchen where he noticed a phone lying on the floor, he picked it up. If course. Matthew's phone. Gilbert became a bit more panicked.

"Mattie?" He called out, no reply, "Shit, where is he?"

He walked around looking. He pulled out his buzzing phone from his pocket, he didn't recognize the number but he answered in hopes it was Matthew.
"Gilbert?" The voice on the line asked.

"Yes? Matthew?" He recognized the voice

"Gilbert, I'm at Helen's house." Gilbert knew of Helen, but he didn't know her personally. She was an older woman who lived on the other side of the wooded area that surrounded the Lake, his grandfather visited her sometimes. "Why the hell are you there?"
"I'll have to explain later," he said sadly, "I'm sorry."

"It's fine, I'll come get you." He hung up, he started to walk out the door, the air had the earthy smell of rain, and the ground was puddled. Thoughts were swimming around his head, he shook it off hoping that Matthew just needed to go on a walk or something.

Gilbert shortly arrived at what he believed to be Helen's home, Helen and Matthew stood in the doorway, Matthew hugged Helen and walked to the car, she waved at Gilbert who returned a friendly wave back.

"Gilbert. I'm sorry." Matthew said quietly

"Why are you sorry?" he assured, "I'm not upset, what happened?"

"I saw her," Matthew looked at his feet, "She asked me to follow her."

Gilbert gripped the steering wheel, he couldn't get angry with Matthew, He was safe it would be irrational to be mad. "What did she want Mattie?"

"I don't know Gilbert." he sighed, "She said she needed to show me something."
"And?" Gilbert questioned.

"She told me to follow her," Matthew's breathing was uneven, "She took me to a cut off over the lake, she wanted me to look at the water." He pulled his arms closer to his body he couldn't think of what might have been in the murky water over the edge of the drop off. She might have pulled him in, he would have drowned. Matthew was shaking, it would be his dream.
"Matthew?" Gilbert asked, "What's wrong?" Gilbert looked over at the boy next to him as he pulled into his driveway, Matthew looked pale his eyes were clamped shut and he was shaking.

"S-she was g-going to drown me." Matthew stuttered

"No Matthew," Gilbert said "I promise she's not going to hurt you." Gilbert didn't know what to do.
"Can I touch you?"

Matthew nodded shakily, Gilbert placed his arms around him rubbing his back trying to comfort Matthew to the best of his ability.

"Do you need water?" He shook his head "Is there anything you want?"

"No Gil," He said wiping away tears "Can we just go back inside?"

The rain started back up, the blue light coming in the circular attic window leaned over Matthew; illuminating his face, the patter of the rain was calming and the dancing shadows of the rain left patterns on Matthews skin, he leaned his head against Gilbert's.

Gilbert pulled the blanket they had over the two of them tighter, The feeling of this moment, the aesthetic… It was perfect, something Matthew wished wouldn't end. The lilac scent of Gilbert's hair, the feeling of arms wrapped around his waist. It was all so magical to him.

"Birdie?" Gilbert whispered

"Yes, Gilbert?"

"Tell me about yourself." He said "I don't know much about you."

"Like what?" He replied growing slightly anxious about what could possibly be asked of him.

"Your life story." Gilbert grinned "I want to know everything about you."

Gilbert grabbed Matthew's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze, Matthew thought for a moment before replying.

"I was born in Minnesota," He started "I don't know much about my parents relationship but my parents are both from Canada. My mom died when I was two."

"Fuck, I'm sorry Birdie." Gilbert interrupted "Sorry, go on."

"I don't really understand where all my dreams and stuff started happening, it's been happening for so long that I don't even know anymore. All I can remember being bullied for a while back in Minnesota, That's when I started uh," He paused nervously. "Anyway we moved, and that basically takes me here."

"Ok but tell me about you."

"Jesus Gil, you asked for my life story."

"Okay, but I just realized I didn't want your life story." He said smirking "What's your favorite animal, color, food, etcetera."

"Polar bear, red, pancakes, um I like classical music, and hockey."

Gilbert started laughing, Matthew's face turned bright red in embarrassment.

"What's so funny!?" He said

"You're so Canadian." Gilbert laughed

They fell silent, Gilbert twisted a lock of Matthew's golden hair around his finger.

"What about you Gil?"

"I like hawks, blue, alternative music, I'm not big on sports."

"Nope, what about your life story?" Matthew said,

Gilbert rolled his eyes in reply before continuing

"I was born in Berlin, Germany. I moved to the United states with my grandfather and younger brother when I was five." He said "I've come to this lake house every summer since we moved here. I have two really good friends, Antonio, and Francis. But other than that I never really made friends with anyone, sure, I talk to people but there's a difference between talking to people and being friends with them."

Matthew nodded silently, Gilbert still seemed mysterious to him. Something about his snow white hair, pale skin and deep red eyes made him seem so much different.

Gilbert was thinking, through the whole conversation he couldn't seem to get his mind away from the previous day's' events. He met a boy in his class that he would end up dating and be led on a goose chase with ghosts and shit. And he was starting to have doubts over the reality of the situation, was there really a ghost? Is Matthew delusional? Staring out the window, he seemed nonchalant to the world but inside he was trying to be supportive of Matthew.

"Mattie it's getting late, want me to walk you home?"

"Yeah," There was a hint of a yawn in his voice "That would be great."

Gilbert stood up and offered his hand to Matthew, standing him up and kissing him on the cheek.

Gilbert opened the trap door and lowered the ladder, offering for Matthew to go first, he smiled and started down the ladder, Gilbert sat on the edge and watched as the blond stopped.

"Gilbert," He asked quietly not looking up "You do believe me right? You don't think I'm crazy or something?"

"Of course I believe you Birdie…" He could feel the hairs on the back of his neck rise as he replied "If I doubted you why would I be here?"

"Just checking." He said continuing his way down, Gilbert let out a sigh of relief before continuing down the ladder himself.

Gilbert had walked Matthew home and said his goodnights, now Matthew was sitting on his bed, his gaze fixed on a random spot of his bedroom wall, his hands were busy petting and parting the fur of the plush polar bear on his lap. He was daydreaming, if asked he wouldn't be able to tell anyone what he was dreaming about. It felt blank and distant but like a frenzy of intrusive thoughts all at once. He wanted so badly to pull out a blade again, but he didn't have the energy. The encounter with Edith had left him drained.

He looked over at the computer that sat on his desk, he should be doing some research but he was tired. Sighing he forced himself to go online anyway,

Fire, lake house

Many news articles came up, ads for insurance, and random images. Not what he wanted, he was going to have to be more specific in his search, he entered his location in hopes of better searches turning up.

A plethora of articles came up. "Family of Three Dead After Massive Fire." Similar articles came up all by the local new stations and papers. He clicked on the first link hoping for the best.

- "A massive house fire broke out last night in the Scotch Pine Lake front properties."
-"The family of three living in the house were nowhere to be found, footprints leading away from the house lead authorities to believe the child, escaped but she has not been found yet."

-"Authorities are not sure what caused the fire but will be focusing on finding the missing child at this moment."

This was just what he was looking for, pulling out a piece of scratch paper he began to jot down notes. He was getting somewhere the sense of accomplishment gave Matthew hope that he hadn't felt in a long time.

He began to search for more information, he heard the door creak open he kept his eyes glued to the screen still typing.

"I'm busy dad,"

The door continued to creak open and he gained no response from the person at the door. His shoulders tensed, why wasn't his father answering him? He would normally give an ok or some response. He felt the hair on his arms raise as goosebumps covered his skin. He slowly looked up from the screen trying not to panic. He moved his to the door and there was, nothing. The door had just moved on its own, probably from not latching shut properly.

Matthew then felt something cold, but gentle on his shoulder, he turned to find a hand resting on his shoulder and edith looking at him with large, green eyes. Matthew quickly jumped falling out of his chair backwards in an attempt to escape.

"Please, do not run away from me." she whispered.

"Why should I trust you?" Matthew hissed "You're going to hurt me!"

She scowled in response, she walked over to the bed and sat down. Picking up the plush bear laying on the bed and holding it close.

"You don't understand what my world looks like." she hissed

"What the fuck do you mean?"

"I'm stuck here and I want to leave."

"You've been causing me to have insomnia! I haven't slept well in months because you drown me in all of my dreams! What do you want!?"

She stood dropping Kumajiro, and gliding over to Matthew. She bent down so she was at eye level.

"I've been stuck like this for years!" she spit "Do you think ghosts get to sleep? The answers no,"

"What. Do. You. Want."

"Your help."

A/N: Thank you so much for reading, sorry for another cliffhanger. I will try to update sometime next week!