Chapter 1

Here I am again, running through the woods. The mud squelches around my bare feet as I run like hell in my scarlet ball gown. As I look back, I see a dark figure chasing me—a tall, lanky, shadowy figure with white eyes and long, sharp fingers. I dodge the trees as I dash past them, hoping that “thing” doesn’t catch up. I’m exhausted and can’t breathe; I need to stop. The more I run, the harder it is to breathe, but I can't stop; this “thing” still follows me. I look back to see nothing but the trees and the night above me. I deem it safe enough to stop and catch my breath. I collapse on my knees; my legs feel like nothing under my weight, and my lungs are on fire, telling me to breathe, but no matter how much air fills them, they still quiver and shake, begging for more.

“You don’t belong here,” it whispers. Suddenly, I feel a sharp burning sensation across my back. I touch the wet, burning wound on my back. Blood. Looking back again, I see pitch black where there should be trees. “GET OUT,” it grabs my ankles and pulls, scratching my legs to shreds as it drags me closer to my castle. I thrash, mud splashing into my face and smearing itself into my beautiful red dress. It traveled quicker and quicker. My violent thrashing increased as it approached the edge of the woods. “LET ME GO!” I screamed. It didn’t stop for me. “STAY OUT,” It threw me out of the forest with such force. I tumbled down the hill. I was so exhausted. I couldn’t move; I couldn’t think. Everything in my head was a swirl of thoughts. What was that? Why was it in the forest? Why did it chase me? But before I could comprehend an answer, everything turned pitch black.

I wake up panting in a cold sweat. The blankets around me are moist with sweat as I push them off of me. I stand up, shaken. “Just another nightmare,” I say, hoping to reassure myself, but no luck. As I walk to the bathroom, my body feels greatly fatigued, as though I have run a marathon.

“Ow,” I complain as I splash cold water on my face. My hands feel… chalky? Why would they feel chalky? I light a candle before looking in the mirror in an attempt to find the culprit causing me to feel so off. I stare at myself, and to my horror, I see my pale skin splattered with mud. My hands are covered in blood and dried mud. “Was it a dream..?” My back burns so badly that I feel like someone put me on a stake and attempted to burn me alive. “It wasn’t a dream… was it?” After taking a closer look, I realize my whole body is caked in dried mud and blood.

I rush back to my bed with my candle to find my sheets and pillow covered in blood. “The sheets weren’t covered in sweat… they were covered in blood.”