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I stood at the edge of the forest. It beckoned me to give up my fight to not venture in it. I held fast in not entering it. The reason is because it was against the law, a law that should not have been made. That is not why I stood where I was. It was because the forest is where my whole family been. It's been said it was a fire out of accident, but I knew better. If stories are right, the whole town hated them. I believe that their deaths were not an accident. I do my best not to think about that. I am thirteen now. This is the day that I will leave the children's home and venture out and find whatever was there. I wanted Emma to be my tutor, but she was a bookkeeper, which is one thing I did not want, but Emma was the one person that I could learn things from. She was the town's elder.  
"Aww, there you are Ava. The graduation is about to start. You should head back." My blond hair swung in the hair as I looked behind me. There stood a grey haired lady with eyes full of wisdom.
"Hi Aunt Emma, how are you? Why do I need to go to the graduation Auntie?" The old woman to up her skirts and sat down on a bare stump, out of breath. I must have had a look of worry for she smiled and said,
"Do not worry child. I'm fine. Don't worry about me. I see your back at the same place you were seven years old. Why do you tutor yourself in the heartache of the past?" I thought about what she said. 
"Why do I? You know why Aunty. In there,' I pointed at the forest, "is where my whole family died. I am sorry to waste my time and stair in the forest." A look of concern crossed Emma's face. I looked away from her aged face. Silence over took us and we both looked into the forest. I was glad she was here with me, for I have very few friends. I looked at Emma's face again; a look of determination was upon her face.
"Ava, what are you planning to do? I mean do you really want to stay here?" What? Why would she ask me that? I have no choice but to stay here. No one has ever went in the forest and came back. No one knows why." Emma nodded her head and seemed to think a bit. 
"Ava, how much do you know about the forest?" I had to think about that. I know of what was taught to me by the teachers, but I do not believe them. Do I think there are more humans like us out there? Yes." I've read books that Emma Had in her library. There was no prove those stories in the books were true, and there wasn't no way for me to find out either, unless I venture out into the forest, which they call Forbidden Forest. I looked at the forest again. Something was staring at me in there. I had no idea who. That is why I have not made my way in there. I looked at Emma; something insomething in in her eyes told me that she could since it too. 
"Ava, I have a severe question for you," I looked at her and shrugged, all her question are  important.
"Shoot Auntie", she held her eyes on me than said,
"You got to get your mind on set. Look two miles pass the Forest is a cabin. In that cabin there is a map. Get the map, it has important information that you need to make the trip to the house on the other side of the forest. You have no time to spare, for it will come back around again." I looked at her. What the heck is she talking about? I stared at her for a long moment, her wrinkles showed age and fatigue. 
"Look Emma, I have no idea what the heck you are talking about, are you insane?" A small smile formed on her face. 
"Ava, watch out for the four legged creatures. They can really mess you up. There were just four of them, but they might have babies. The mare of this town was going to put you in cleaning duty, but I you can be better than that. The whole town is whispering about you. They all think you're a curse." I rolled my eyes at her. The town has been after me sense I was a toddler. My parents held a huge party in the forest. Most of those of who went to the party were burned up. I was young to understand what was happening, but at the same time I could hear the screaming and whimpers. At that time I thought they were laughing. Sadness overwhelmed me. That one thing that really confused me was these creatures that Emma was talking about.
"What are the creatures?" Emma didn't respond but brought out a duffle bag and slammed it in my arms. 
She got up looked at me and pointed to the forest. I knew that look, it meant trouble and that i needed to head her instruction. 
"There is a path in the forest. Follow that path; do not go off of it. And hurry. The map is divided into section. In each section is a tree, do not go near the tree, but around it. You will be alone. But you will reach your destination before night fall. And here," she handed me a staff with graphs, which I didn't understand. I grabbed with my free hand. I figured she must have given it to me to defend myself. I nodded my head and got ready to go.
"I will tell Tinny that you had to go." Tinny was my best friend and I wished she could come with me, but I knew I was pressing for time. Again I nodded my head, this time my hair bouncing around. I look at the small town I grew up in. the Library in front of me and the school beyond that. To the front of the library was the huge garden, which never ran out of eatable fruit. No doubt, Emma was behind it. Little houses surrounded the garden and behind the library more houses. On the other side of the town, was huge ware house with all the necessary items needed to live a normal life. What most people don't know is that there are 3 more warehouses beyond that one. I am the only one that knows that. 
"Okay Emma tell what I need to do and I'll do it." For next few hours Emma explains to me what I need to do and look for after I leave the forest. But the forest itself was another thing. There were weird creatures that would follow my scent, but I was not to worry about that. 
That night I visited everyone that was important people that was in my life, which isn't much. I went outside one more time and headed to my dorm room. I said hi to some of the kids and head up to my room. I got the necessary items I needed for a shower and headed that direction. I was halfway to the shower when a chill made its way up my spine. I slowly looked around the corner. A dark figure in black cloaks hovered in the air. I silent scream escaped my lungs. I quickly ran to the bathroom and locked the door. What is that and what is it doing here! I turned the shower on and hid behind the door. Frost formed on the door, causing the door knob to crumble to the floor. I hid the scream that formed in my throat. Steam from the shower made the bathroom musty and harder to breathe, though I think that me being scared out of my mind had to do part of it. The door still had frost built up, but the heat from the shower grew as well, it's like they were fighting each other. I wonder if the water and the ice were fighting each other. After for what seemed eternity the ice on the door died down. I sat on the edge of the bathtub. 

Knock knock, the knock on the door woke me up from my stillness. I still didn't answer the door thinking, that the thing was still out there. The door creaked open and Emma popped in.
"Dear child what are you doing here with the water on. What happened?" She walked over to me and sat down on the tub with me. I looked at her. I wonder if she would believe me, but I had to tell her, why not tell someone.
"There was a hooded figure in the hall and chased me into the bathroom. I turned the water on, which for some reason turned really hot. What really got me is that whatever the figure touched, frost formed on the object." I knew what she saw but I denied what she saw. She shrugged her shoulders and wobbled away, now I realized that she peed in her pants. I said nothing pretending not to notice that. I after she entered her room, I knew it was time to get ready for the trip.  I took a grayish duffle bag and stuffed enough clothes to last me awhile. I grabbed another bag and stuffed toiletry stuff in it and headed out. 
I looked up and down the hall, hoping no one was in the hallway. There were strict rules in venturing out without permission from someone in high council which we had non ever since the new mare took over. I waited several more minutes for my aunt to come in. She never did. I gulped, I hated to admit, but I had to go off without any goodbyes to my auntie.. I sat my pale hand on her pillow and whispered, 
"See you later auntie. I will miss you. Please keep an eye on Tiny." I took one last look around the room. Dark drapes hung on one side of her room and two bed stands stood at either side.