IT WAS THE MIDDLE OF OCTOBER. The air, as those in the northern part of the united states would expect, was as chilly as ice. The wind struck west with enough of a cold current to turn the warmest house dead cold. But, that wouldn't really bug anyone there in Montana, would it? Everyone who lives there is by now used to such chilly weathers that whenever a foreigner would complain of the chills they would just be confused. Maybe that's where the line between me and normal, everyday Montana residents started.

I've known—hell, even my baby sister knows and she's only five!—that normal just was not meant for my life's dictionary. I know, I sound like just about every other protagonist in some slice of life film, but I wasn't just saying things such as abnormality for kicks. I've never, in my entire seventeen years of life, have tried to stand out as much as I do now. It's the exact opposite, to be precise.

I sighed, bringing a bony arm to my face and wiping tangled bangs away from my forehead. I analyzed my arm, stating down every small detail on it. Including the bizarre-out-of-nowhere tattoo. It ran down from my mid-lower arm to the middle of my palm. The ink looked anything but fresh (which it is, by the way). I've seen what new tattoos looked like—red, swollen and painful. Yet, here I am with a few days old tattoo that seemed to look fully healed for about a month.

I clenched the fist holding the tattoo. How did this happen?

TWO DAYS AGO, 1:06 A.M

"Genevieve! How many times have I told you to take Sadie for a walk?!" The shrill sound of my mother's tone nearly shook me from my spot at my desk. My pencil skidded across my notes and I groaned, hands on my forehead. Geez, could she do anything but yell at me. Nevertheless, I got out of my chair with a sad reluctance. In two days, I have a Trig test and God knows I need to study for it. If I don't then I'm just setting myself up for failure.

"Yeah, okay! Just gimme a second." I mostly mumbled that last part to myself. I think anyone with a strict mother and a good sense of danger could understand to keep snarky comments to themselves, even if said out loud. I ran to my closet and grabbed my all-time favorite candy red hoodie. It's worn out, yes I agree, but it's comfy and I may or may not have developed an attachment to the old piece of cloth.

Next, I lazily slipped on a pair of slippers—or, should I say mismatched since both are completely different colors, size and have different patterns. Oh well. Its not like I'm going somewhere special or anything.

I hurried out of my small bedroom and hoped down the staircase. Literally. It was a bad habit and to me, didn't really seem that bad since it's only six stairs. But,I knew mom thought differently.

As if on cue, she entered the hallway with a deep frown. "For Christ's sake, Genevieve! If you do that one more damn time I swear this spatula will go up your—" mom stopped speaking when she saw Elizabeth (my five year old bratty little sister) enter the hallway, too. "—behind..." she murmured, sad she couldn't find a good enough word to 'protect' young Liza's 'innocent' brain. Yeah, right. That devil was as knowledgeable as anyone in this house.

Liza tisked and waved a finger at mom. "Mama, that would hurt her! Don't do that." Said the little girl, hands on her hips as if she was actually twenty-five rather than a plain five. Then, like the oldie Liza is in her soul, she looked at me with a disappointed smile.

Do you know how sad it is to have your toddler sister be disappointed in you?

"Sadie already has her leash on. She told me she gotta poo so bad." I cringed at her words. Liza was never one to have a filter, but then again, what five year old does? With a silly smile, I turned my head to look at mom, giving her a very needed apologetic smile.

"Sorry, I really am. It's just I have a test coming up and I'm already stupid enough and need to study for this thing." I smiled sadly, feeling guilty that I worked mom hard enough ti make her cuss at me. She never cusses, but when does it's like talking to the devil.

She held a hard gaze on me for a solid minute before breaking into a smile. "Eh, don't worry about it. Just walk the dog and finish studying, 'kay?" She grinned again, waving me off with one of her hands. I sighed in relief, thanking God that she was in a good mood. She wasn't a usually happy person, not that she was sad either. She's just... herself. Strict, caring and blunt and hell. I think she's been watching too much Hell's Kitchen. I couldn't watch a single episode, wayyy too much anxiety.

I waved mom and Liza goodbye and stuck two fingers in my mouth, creating a high-pitched whistle. Sadie came running through all the rooms in the house and strait on my legs, making me stumble on my feet.

I laughed. "Sheesh Sadie, you love me too much," I then grew into a giggling fit as she continued to attack me playfully and licked my exposed skin in affection. Deciding I stalled enough, I grabbed the dragged leash and wrapped it around my wrist tightly. Something I've always had to do with this damned puppy. She was a lively Golden Retriever and she really liked to chase the wild animals around here. Especially the woodland ones.

I groaned at the mere though. Dang, I seriously hope Sadie doesn't decide to look for wild rabbits tonight. Rabbits usually hid underneath our porch and when spotted, Sadie will literally chase the poor things into the woods. One time Sadie had jerked me with so much force into the woods I fell in a ditch and sprained both my ankles. The pain was unimaginable.

I walked towards the front door and into the dark of the night. Or, for lack of better words, dead of the night. Montana isn't a highly populated state and our town was definitely not a very populated town. To prove my point, I could name everyone's face if forced too. It's that small.

Sadie was trying to break free from the leash and run off. Already?! I thought to myself in astonishment. Well, not exactly astonishment but you get the idea.

"No, bad girl. You're gonna stay with me tonight. Too tired to run..." I groaned, now walking alongside the road sluggishly. If someone were to see me right now, they'd think I'm either seriously hating my life or a zombie. I would think both.

The wind whistled in my ear, making me wince at the sheer sound of it. I hate the sound of wind. I don't know why, but something about the sound wind makes just makes my toes curl in disgust and ears almost bleed. So, I quietly thanked the Lord that I managed to remember to snag my phone and earbuds. I always brought my phone with me, no matter what and no matter where. To the store? Yep. My granny's house with absolutely no service or WiFi? Mhmm. To the bathroom? You bet your ass.

I pulled my phone and earbuds out and went to my music and clicked shuffle. Even though I want to listen to a specific song I'd still always press shuffle and hope that its first on the list. Although, that never really happens. I made sure to keep the volume as low as possible in case anything unordinary happened. Which, by the way, is highly doubtful. Nothing ever happens here in Sidney. That was a given.

I grinned to myself, enjoying my music and this nice, chilly walk. Thinking about it now, I guess I kind of did need something like this. For the last week I've been studying relentlessly and giving me no time to myself. A break felt nice, heavenly even.

Nothing gets better than a walk down your street at night. Nothing.

The wind grew colder and colder as minutes passed and I'm actually glad that I brought my hoodie with me this time. If not, I bet all this cold air would make me catch a cold and if that happened then I would probably miss my test and—

Already thinking about it again?! Geez, my brain can't catch a break.

Finally, for the first time tonight, I allowed myself to be completely engrossed in my music and pay attention to nothing less and nothing more. Even though seconds passed and those seconds turned into a few minutes, I could never really have a break seeing what I noticed.

Through The Neighbourhood's angelic singing, I could hear Sadie start to erratically bark. I sighed for the thousandth time today. Nobody ever makes a peep before I put my earbuds in. Pulling on out of my ear and looked at Sadie, I grew confused.

She stopped walking completely and was now... sitting? Dead center in the sidewalk, too. She had just been barking like she'd caught a cat yet now she's like a plushie—still.

"What's the matter, girl?" I questioned (even though she obviously wouldn't answer). I decided to put my earbuds and phone back in my pocket since I was starting to feel on edge now. Before, as I was listening to music, I felt utterly content. Now, seeing Sadie's odd stance and the quietness of the night, the hairs on my neck stood.

She never acts like this. Like... calm. She's a puppy and never ever calms down—she doesn't even sleep calmly. So, like ant rational person would do, I analyzed the area around me.

Black.

Everything is black, as it should be in the dead of the night. On the roads near my house, most of the streetlights have busted bulbs that people are too lazy to fix. There was nothing surrounding me but trees, trees and, oh, did I mention trees? Yeah, my house was in the middle of nowhere. You have to drive thirty minutes away just to go to a gas station. Yeah, no wonder nobody wanted the house. But, it was cheap and cheap to mom meant hell fucking yes. But, besides the thousands of trees there was a park to my far left. It was broken down and most likely rusted by now since absolutely no one goes there. I can't name a single time someone has been there my entire life and that says something about that park. For one; it's stranded in the middle of nowhere and two; it's right next to the road. I wouldn't take my kids there if I had any, either.

If that's true, then why is someone there right now?

Standing on one of the stable swings was a figure of a person. I could tell nothing of that person. Only that they are scaring the literal shit out of me and Sadie and I need to get out of here as soon as possible. Even though those words were set in stone in my brain, my feet couldn't bring themselves to move. I couldn't bring myself to move. I don't know if it's fear or pure curiosity but whatever it is I didn't like it.

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Chills ran down my spine. A scary cold ran over my body like ice. Was it... looking at me? Maybe it's the paranoia but I can swear that he's looking straight at me. We are the only two people out here right now, so it could just be curious eyes?

I shook my head. I don't care, I thought as I shook the chills off, I'm leaving. Well, this walk sucks. Here I wanted a nice walk down the calmest road. He could be harmless but any sensible person would not approach that figure,

I turned around on my feet and began walking back where I came from. Only to stop when I felt a tug on the leash and then pop! What the hell was that?! I looked behind me and my eyes widened.

Sadie's gone.

With more anxiety than my mind needed, I looked around in a panic, looking for Sadie's bright yellow-orange hair. I relaxed a bit when I saw her sprinting figure but panicked again when I noticed that she was heading for the most dreaded place to be in the night: the woods. If eyes could pop out of their heads mine would have right then and there.

My voice broke out automatically. "Sadie! Come back here!" And finally, I could walk again. My legs sprinted out so fast and far ahead of me that I grew light as a feather on my feet. I'm an excellent runner (ex. track athlete here) so it wasn't too hard to catch up to my dog, but it is hard to stay on her trail. Without realizing it, I was now within the woods and darting branch by branch and root by root.

The already cold wind surrounding me grew colder and colder the faster I got. I was stepping in mud and puddles but I could care less as the only thought coursing through my brain was Sadie. I have to find Sadie, catch her. I'll take all night if I have too; I love that puppy with my whole being.

"Sadie! Girl, where are you?!" Yes, I lost her. One second she was there in front of me and the next completely gone like dust in the wind. I felt like crying. These woods are humongous and go one for hours on end. There was no way a human could possible chase after a hyperactive dog. I was at an end. "Sadie!"

I groaned loudly, brushing the hair out of my face to see where I was going more clearly. The woods slowly grew darker and darker the longer I lingered here and suddenly I felt as if I was inside a black void of nothingness. Owls of the trees hooted and crickets chirped. I, however, was panting and now leaning against a tree to catch my breath.

All those years of track and I still have bad stamina.

I cried out loud, hitting the tree with the palms of my hands. Through my small weeps and whimpers of worry and sadness, a crack of hope sounded through the night. Sadie's' bark. I whipped my head upwards instantly and looked towards the direction the bark came from and was back on my feet in seconds. Skinny branches scratched by arms and legs as I ran. My hair got caught a couple of times but I couldn't stop running. Hope flooded me when she barked again and I knew I was close.

As soon as another bark came I saw Sadie's standout-ish yellow hair. I leaped faster than I had been and took the puppy into my cold arms. She started to love up against me as always and I was filled with happiness that there seemed to be nothing wrong with her. Patting down her matted hair, I was practically wailing in happiness. I thought she was gone for sure.

I pointed an accusing finger at her face, my own face firm. "Don't ever do that again, Sadie! You scared me half to death!" I shouted, then softened my face when she stopped being playful and her ears fell down. I hate disciplining her, but if I didn't no one would. I gave her a final pat between her ears and stood up. Not before making sure I latched the leash back on her collar. Wait a second... how did the leash even come off? It's a tricky leash and it's hard as hell to put on in one go.

A question for another day I decided.

When my eyes finally drifted away from my precious baby, I found myself frowning. Not only was I dead in the center of the woods but it's as dark as coal out here. I could barely see the trees in this darkness—oh, not to forget fog had made its way through the woods a little while ago. It's like being in a horror movie.

I tugged on Sadie. "C'mon girlie, time to go home." I took a big step over a log. Now would be a good idea for a flashlight. As I took my phone out I wondered how I was so stupid that I didn't even think about using my flashlight earlier. The area around me instantly lit up Well, not as much as I would hope, but it's better than nothing. I can finally see the silhouette of trees and bushes, so at least I can tell if a wild animal sneaks up on me. I mean, I hope so.

Just like earlier, I felt the leash tug. I quickly snapped my head to look over at Sadie and sighed in relief as soon as my brown eyes landed on her sitting figure. Wait, sitting? Again? Why is she doing this to me tonight?! I just want to go home where it's safe and comfy. I hate being scared (it's the reason why I don't watch horror movies) and going through the woods at night is definitely a horror movie scene.

And I'm the victim.

Oh hell no, I thought snappily, no one's dying tonight. I'm getting out of here right now. True to my words, I decided to pick up the twenty-pound dog and dash through the woods in a straight direction. If I'm not heading in the direction of my house then at least I would hit some type of civilization, right? A road, trail, even a gas station. I have to.

Sadie whined in my arms. I totally forgot that Sadie hates being held. She rough and likes to do things herself, and picking her up only makes her whine and kick you in the stomach with her hind legs. I waited, still running, for her to start to squirm. And she did. She kicked and wiggled out my arms and back in. I squeezed her harder, not risking letting her go and then her running off.

"Shhh," I whispered to her, giving her some gentle pets. "It's okay girl, you're okay." Maybe that would help her calm down. I hope it does at the very least.

About five minutes of running I knew I was running in the complete opposite direction that I came from. But that wouldn't stop me from running straight. That is my most plausible way out of here. I really need to get home before mom gets worried and we have this whole missing person case going on when I just got a little lost in the woods. Actually, knowing mom, she probably already called the police. But, if I am really lost—and I mean if—then maybe that would be helpful. The downside? Mom will flip her shit when the cops leave and I will never be able to leave the house at night ever again.

Yeah, I would rather find home myself. Sadie started to squirm again. I hushed her, resettling her in my arms in a more comfortable position and looking down at her, making sure she's okay. Maybe she just uncomf—nevermind, she's squirming still.

"Sadie, calm down! We're almost—" the rest of my sentence never left my lips. When my head lifted up to direct myself through the rest of the woods, I was meet with an opening. A very ominous opening.

Trees outlines the opening in a circular way, creating a big mass of flatland in midst of it. I could finally see the sky now, clear of any clouds and filled with thousands of small, sparkling stars. The moon is at its fullest point, shinning brighter than the stars could ever dream of. What caught my attention wasn't the ethereal sky or the odd place I've just discovered, but rather it's what's dead center of the opening.

A flower. There it stood, towering over the weeds around it and bathing in the light of the moon. My eyes felt blessed. All worries, even if just for a second, left me in that instant. Something about that flower was so beautiful that it caught me dead in my tracks in bewilderment.

It wouldn't hurt to look at it. And so, my left, ever so slowly, walked to the flower. I can now see the color of the flower. Or, should I say colors. It's definitely a rose, that much I can tell of it. But I don't ever remember reading or seeing a rose of this multitude. It's splattered in a variety of greens, blues, pinks, reds, and purples. Just like splattering paint on a canvas.

It's so... pretty. I could feel the appearance of the rose pulling me in. I felt as if it was hypnotizing me with it's bizarre appearance. But I didn't stop moving. I walked towards the rose, pulling Sadie along with me as she complained the whole time, wanting nothing other than to leave. When I was finally in arms reach of the flower, I extended a hand to it.

Everything following that action was a blur. A blur of colors, even. I must've been dizzy from all that running earlier because nothing else can explain the things that happened logically.

The flower arched itself towards me. I don't know if it was the wind or something, but all I knew was that the stem of the rose swayed my way. Wait, since when did roses grow not on bushes? I brushed the crazy question away when my fingertips brushed against the soft petals of the rose. I was zapped with a small current of electricity, but not enough to have me crying on the ground. Instead of wincing like any sane person would, I grinned.

What's wrong with me? I thought in a panic. I can't control my body. It was like a puppeteer was controlling me—their puppet of choice. My body won't respond with my mind and I couldn't find the strength to pry my mouth open. Why can't I speak?! Why—

Sadie's oh-so-familiar fierce barking broke my thoughts. I want to look at her, I want to see what she sees but my body keeps failing me. I keep on failing myself. I could feel my sanity slip through my fingertips through all the commotion flooding my senses.

Sadie's barking.

My hand grabbing the thorny rose, bleeding.

Whistling wind.

Hushed whispers.

I'm going mad. I'm dreaming; yeah that has to be it! I must have hit my head on a tree and passed out. And now I'm dreaming this all up. If so, this is the most realistic dream I've had in ages. Ever, actually. That mere fact makes me think that this actually isn't a dream.

I wanted to scream when my hand gripped the rose tighter. My blood was oozing out of my fresh cuts, shining under the moon's light and dropping onto the forest floor. I'm bleeding too much, I noticed. This wasn't like an ordinary cut from a few thorns but it actually looked like someone sliced my hand open with a kitchen knife. I think I'm gonna pass out...

My mind was drifting away as my body was wide awake, grinning and happily squishing the beautiful flower to pieces. I was trying to break away from the compulsion, my brain fighting a war with my body to take control over. I can't stop squeezing the flower, pushing the thorns deeper and deeper into my skin until I could no longer see them. I should have screamed in pain or even flinched at the feeling. Somehow, for some reason, I felt nothing. No pain, no ache and no pinch. It was like a ghost passing through me and only given chills.

Please just wake up, I begged myself, hoping to God that this is all some crazy dream again. Even though we all know it's very much real.

My quiet, motionless body sudden piqued up. My body was trembling like a broken toy; muscles I didn't even know I had jerking in every possible way. My eyes rolled in the back of my head, rendering me blind for the time being. Slowly, I could feel again. A small ounce of pain burned my hand, starting off like putting your hand under hot water but only for the said water to heat up, faster and faster, until it's boiling.

That's when I could scream.

I shrieked, my happy face suddenly distorted with boundless agony. Pain I shouldn't be feeling by a mere thorn coursed through my body, starting with my palm and straight to my brain. It was such a sharp pain—like being burned, and electrocuted at the same exact time. Warm tears fell down my burning face, staining my shirt wet. I could barely hear Sadie's erratic yelping through my cries. She was probably bouncing around me, scared out of her life at my sudden change in attitude.

I stopped paying attention to anything but myself. I need to make it stop..! I can't take this anymore, I feel like I'm going to die. That thought stayed in my head. Die... this will kill me. Fear struck me harder than ever before. My fight or flight response kicked in and I could feel myself opening my eyes again. My blurred vision focused on the rose (the source of my pain I assumed) and nearly passed out at the sight.

The rose looked like paper. Literally. It was no longer three dimensional as it lied in the air, flat as paper. It appears to look like it was ripped right out of coloring book. I was utterly bewildered. What was more confusing and out of this world was the fact that the rose was halfway stuck to me.

The top of the rose, with all its petals, was imprinted on my palm like a tattoo. I could clench my fist and see that the rose tattoo moved with the creases of my hand. Just like an actual tattoo would. I freaked, trying to pull my hand away from the rose. Of course, just like I anticipated, I couldn't move. I was forced to watch the rose sink itself onto my skin. The more it soaked itself on the surface of my skin the more I sobbed. The pain was making me nauseous, making me see doubles of my hand. The world was spinning and with one final, ear-piercing screech I fell flat on the ground.

My side hit the ground roughly, causing my head to hit the dirt so hard it edged my blacking-out on more, my vison finally fading into black nothingness. I could see nothing but I could hear everything still as I passed out.

Sadie was barking, the wind was whistling louder that Sadie was making, my own voice was panting, and the last sound to ever enter my ears was those hushed voices again. The whispering.

Finally, I was met with nothing and fell unconscious.