Evelyn, Bob, and the Enchanted Forest.

Once there was a young girl named Evelyn. She was 14-years-old living in a dusty and old abandoned library. It had tall, glass windows on two sides of the main room and tall bookshelves on every other wall. The books were old and dusty. Some broken with cracked spines. She’d been living since she was 10, but she didn't touch one of the books. She had moved in here with her family because of robbery. They had been completely robbed in every house they had lived in previously, so they gave up hope and moved far, far away. Their only hope was this library, they loved it, and Evelyn misses them everyday. They had died on a mission for food, attacked by bears. It never bothered her much thought, all she needed was food, clothes, and this library.She loved the style the library represented. The only light they had was the windows and vines that draped every wall.

On a warm, sunny, fall day. Evelyn woke up in a great mood. She felt adventurous. So she leaped out of bed and got dressed in a long, sage green, silk dress that reached down to her ankles. The dress had a sage laced sleeve and was a little torn up, since it was her favorite color of silk dress she owned. She owned many. Her mom made them for her when she was very little to wear when she was older. Now they were all she ever wore, the only thing her mom had left her with. Her mom was her best friend. She never left her side and her mom always helped her during rough times. So she made a point to wear a silk dress everyday.

After she got dressed, she grabbed her small wooden basket and headed out the old stone back door and got breakfast. She pulled some blackberries, cherries, and raspberries. As she grabbed them, she heard a noise in the bush on the other side of her. She jumped and turned around and looked at the bush with confusion. With curiosity, she tiptoed over to the bush. Stepping carefully on each stepping stone. When she approached the bush, it rattled again. With shook, she jumped back. Pushing her long, brown hair behind her ear, she knelt down to get a closer look at the bush. She gasped. A small squirrel jumped out of the bush. “Oh my god! You scared me!” Evelyn said, she put her hand to her chest and laughed to herself. I don’t know what I was thinking, I knew it was probably just a squirrel...but you never know what you could find in these woods. Evelyn thought to herself while looking around at the trees around that tower above her, one hand still placed against her chest, the other carrying her basket of berries. Then she felt a hand slowly settle on her left shoulder. In shock, she didn't move. She just stood there. Looking straight ahead. She slowly turns her head. And soon comes face to face with a tall, pale man that looked about the same age as her. They locked eyes. He looked familiar. But Evelyn had never spoken to him.

He dragged his hand down from her shoulder, slowly running his cold fingers lightly down her arm and meeting her hand. He grips it tightly. Evelyn looks down at both of their hands but he takes his other hand and places it under her chin and lifts it up so their eyes lock again. “Shhhh” He said in a deep voice. Evelyn just nods her head. He didn’t seem like he’d hurt anyone or cause any harm but Evelyn always had to think of the worst to keep safe. But she trusted him. “Follow me.” She whispers while taking his hand and walking away.

She steps inside the library, still hanging on to the mysterious man’s hand. When she turns around to shut the door behind them, he gives Evelyn a strange look. He seems worried Evelyn thought to herself.

“Okay, now that we're alone. Who are you?!” She exclaims. You can hear it echo off of every wall around them. “I'm Bob. Ive lived in this forest on my own for years. And I've never seen you around here, are you new?” Bob said in a curious voice

“No, I’m 14 and I’ve lived here since I was 10 years old.” Evelyn replied. She was confused. Where did this boy come from? Why hasn’t she seen him before? “I’ve lived here since I was eight and I’m 15 now.” Bob said. “My home just recently got burnt down. This place is pretty nice though.”

“You can stay here with me. It is pretty nice and I have plenty of room. No one knows this library is here. So trust me, no one will know you’re here with me.” Evelyn said. She just didn’t know what she was gettin herself into. Bob accepted the offer and Evelyn helped him settle in. Luckly, he already had everything he had left after his house had burnt down.

It was a sunny, autumn morning. A few days had passed since Bob started living with Evelyn. And Evelyn had just woken up and got dressed so she could make Bob breakfast in bed. So she dressed in a silk, blue colored dress. She then slid a bandana over her hair as she stepped in front of her gold, cracked mirror. Yes, it may have been broken but Evelyn always believed it held good luck instead of bad luck. She did a couple spins to make sure the dress looked okay on her. It did so she smiled at herself and slowly stepped away. Right when she walks out the sunlight glares through the front window right onto her face. “Ah!” She squeals. But then just walks away and laughs to herself. As she leaps down the steps and into the kitchen, a strong smell of syrup and sugar surrounds her. She sniffs the air wondering, “Where is this wonderful smell coming from?” Then she looks up from the steps just to see Bob standing there, a pan in one hand and an old, torn up oven mitt in the other. Evelyn blushes. Trying to hide face behind her hands, she cuffs her mouth. “Did you make breakfast?” Evelyn asks politely.

“Yes, of course. I thought it would be the right thing to do for you. Especially since you’ve been working hard around here lately.” Bob replies with a smirk on his face. His accent made him sound royal, like he should be a king. But he wasn’t. From what Evelyn knew he didn’t have any royal ancestors and had only lived in the forest. Evelyn smiled. “Well, I’ll be just outside. Want me to get any berries for breakfast?” Evelyn asked, already headed to grab her basket.

“Sure! That would be wonderful.” Bob exclaimed happily. “You never know what could be out there though, so be safe. I’ll try to keep an eye out but yell if you need me.” Bob said getting back to cooking pancakes for the two of them.

Wow...I honestly didn’t think someone could make me as happy as my parents did.. Evelyn thought to herself and she stepped down onto the cold, stone steps in her bare feet. She looked around, she had picked alot of the berries off of the trees so it was hard to find one that had many left. Bob really did make her happy. He easily got along with her and he saw through her flaws.

After Evelyn was done picking berries, she walked back into the library. The smell of smoke hit her like a smack in the face whenever she stepped inside. Waving her hand infront of her face she rushes toward the kitchen. Whenever she opens the door that leads into the kitchen, smoke blows all over her. Coughing and still trying to see she can tell cooking took a bad turn. “Evelyn! Where are you?!” Bob yells from inside of the smoke and flames.

“I’m right here! Dont worry, I’ll help you!” Evelyn replies with confidence in her voice. Without hesitation, Evelyn jumps off of the steps and into the smoke and flames. ‘Anything to save a friend. Anything to save a friend…’ She keeps thinking to herself as she feels the flames burning her legs. It feels like torture. Walking through flames. Burning and scarring her legs and feet. Soon she reaches Bob. “I can’t see! Where are you?” Bob askes in a trembling voice.

“Here, take my hand.” Evelyn replies still trying to ignore the flames licking her silk dress, burning and tarnishing it. But right when Bob’s hand meets hers, it feels like the flames lift her and she lands outside of the kitchen. She lands hardly on her back and screams at the sight of her library in flames. Black smoke everywhere. She begins to cry. Her life flashes before her eyes as the flames apporach her closer and closer every second. She has to make a decision and fast, but she can’t think straight. Her mind is everywhere but where it needs to be. Then a note lands in her lap. Not even thinking about what could be written on the inside, she opens it and starts to read the message. The note says:

Evelyn, you deserve this. If my family can’t live in a peaceful home neither can you. Say bye. Now you know how I felt.

-Bob

Why would he do such a thing? I loved him-” Evelyn screaches at the top of her lungs before an unknown black figure comes behind her and sweeps her off of her feet. Never to be seen again.