The taxi pulls into the gravel road to Laura's house. As the house appears through the trees that surround the road Laura felt herself release a breath that warmed her to her stomach. Golden hour made the home look as if it was one of Aunt Lillian's freshly baked cherry pies with its caramelised crisp of sugar on top of the pastry. The flora and fauna surrounding the property looked angelic in the warm evening light. Everything was as Laura remembered when she left at the beginning of the year for the start of the school year. Laura turned around to face the back seats of the car with the first genuine smile she'd felt in a while.

"Welcome to Beauvoir Estate ladies."

Violet and Maggie sat forward in their seats to get a better look of the house, Laura had never taken anyone to her home before or introduced anyone to her family. The taxi pulled up in front of the house, the front door swung open.

"Laura!" calls a small boy, running into Laura's arms before she had a chance to fully get out of the car. Laura squeezed the boy back, giving him a kiss on the top of his blond curly hair.

"I missed you Greggy. Meet my friends, this is Maggie and Violet." Greg shyly squeaked a hi to them, they greeted him in return with a smile.

"Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in." Leaning in the doorway was a woman with long brunette hair, which had greying streaks running through it. She wore flared green corduroy pants and a buttoned up cardigan as a top. Laura smiled at the sight of her Aunt Lillian, who was still just as beautiful as ever. Aunt Lillian walked over and tightly hugged Laura, she smelt like rose water and cinnamon.

"You've been to hell and back Dear, I'm so sorry." Aunt Lillian whispered into her ear, "These must be your lovely friends!"

The taxi drove off, and the girls carried their bags in. Inside the house smells like freshly baked sourdough, and a distant smell of incense, perhaps from another room. An earthy mushroom stew is bubbling away on the stove. The grandfather clock is ticking away, the house is filled with calming noises. Soft footsteps of little paws on the wooden floor, and the rubbing against Laura's leg made her look down. A fluffy black cat with large green eyes stared up at her. Laura scooped the cat into her arms, and it began to purr.

"I've missed you too, Edgar." said Laura as she rubbed behind her familiar's ears.

"Thank you so much for letting us stay here for a few days Lillian." Violet said softly. The house was probably brushing off on her, Violet is never that soft spoken.

"Oh you're very welcome, it's not often we have any of Laura's friends round to visit. It's nice to know she's not as secluded at school as she can be at home. Anyway, dinner will be ready in ten minutes. Why don't you all go settle in while Gregory and I set the table." Greg sighed as he reluctantly walked over to help his Aunt, who was no doubt going to make him cut fresh flowers from the garden for the table.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

Laura's room was at the very top of the third story of the house, whilst technically the attic, it had been renovated to be a bedroom by her grandmother Joy when she was in her fifties. This house had been passed down for many years to the women of the family, and one day it would become Laura's too. Showing the girls her room, she wandered over to the window to open the shutters and let in some fresh air. Edgar had already made himself comfortable on the bed, lapping up the last of the sun's rays. Laura reached under her bed for the futon's for the girls to sleep on.

"I love your room, you have so many books." Maggie said in admiration. Laura turned to her bookshelves, she supposed she did too.

"Thanks, you can borrow some if you like. I've read all of them."

"I brought some goodies left over from the school year to have later." says Violet as she rummages through her bags. She pulls out a handful of hard boiled lollies, a big box of chocolate cauldrons, and a packet of Witch Fire chips. Maggie turns and smiles cheekily.

"I brought face masks" she smiles..

*

After having listened to Laura's little brother Greg talk about some card game he plays at school throughout almost all of dinner the girls lie on the bed chatting. The clock on the bedside table reads one in the morning. The moon is brightly shining through the curtains, the stars sit silently in the sky. Laura can feel her eyelids becoming heavy, she listens to Maggie and Violet chatting and almost-whisper voices. Laura feels warm and comfortable as she fights the sleep trying to come over her.

"Pfft," Violet scoffs, "you'd crush Sarah in a chess match. If that's all you're worried about then you have to sign up."

"Do you reckon? It would suck if I lost." Maggie said unsure. Laura's eyes close.

"You have all of break to practice, and losing is just the first step to improving your game. You find the flaws then you try and get better. You'll regret it more if you don't." Their voices drift off as Laura falls into a deep heavy sleep.

An owl hoots overhead, stalking its prey in the inky black woods. Laura suddenly realises she's running, she is the prey. Branches from the tree's grab at her clothes and scratch at her skin. She catches her foot on a rock and falls into the composting leaves that cover the ground. Laura feels around in the dark, trying to find something she's lost but she doesn't know what it is. Under her fingertips she feels a root to a tree, she follows along it hoping it'll lead her away. The tree's trunk has a hole big enough to crawl into, she feels cobwebs stick on her skin and in her eyelashes. The owl hoots again, she scampers into the corner. When will this end ? She wonders. Everything falls quiet. White light suddenly floods the ground, the moon is out. There is something lying on the ground. Timidly leaning closer, unsure if it's safe, she sees that it's the owl. It has an arrow through its heart. Laura crawls out, trying to see who has shot the owl. There is a thwish sound, Laura looks down to see an arrow sticking into her chest. It doesn't hurt, but she feels like it might be best if she lay down. She looks up at the moon unable to move, did it lead her to her doom? Footsteps lay quietly into the leaves, coming closer. A girl steps into her vision, she looks like the night, wearing all black. A bow hangs over her shoulder. She leans in closer, now Laura can see her face. She knows this girl, but doesn't know how. Her inky black eyes bore into Laura's as she whispers to her.

"I won't save you again."

Laura wakes with a jolt. Who is she?