"No!" I forced my eyes to open wide but, the blinding light of the moon made me shut them again. I blinked thrice to ease them.

I am breathing heavily... but, why? What did I see? Why do my tears are falling again?

What happened?

I tried to sit up, but I couldn't. My body feels so heavy, I can't even lift my hand. I tried again—so hard—to get up. It's so cold, but there is no wind, not even a soft blow... and the fog is obscuring my surroundings, dead skinny trees look like they are watching over me. Their silhouettes from the moonlight made them even darker. Dried leaves serve as the lawn in this dead forest. No sign of life at all. Shivers running through my spine, as if I am being watched. I don't want to look behind nor to another way, I'm really scared.

Where am I anyway? How did I get here myself? Why am I —

' YOU ARE A WITCH! ' 

Mrs. Herrick's angry face suddenly popped up in my head. Everybody is looking at me in shock and suspicion. They are all looking down at me—disgusted.

' She wants to take Emily's position! '

"No!"

I gasped as I cover my mouth in panic. My eyes watered, and my heart pounds hard and fast. I can't breathe properly. I closed my eyes and embrace my legs shaking in fear, and from the breeze of this dark forest. I can't help but remember what happened in the mansion earlier. Now, I remembered that they all agreed to throw me out of the Hestrelia Estate.

I don't want to remember! I am not a witch... I didn't mean to hurt Emily. I love her so much.

I just want to be with her... that's all.

My sobbing sure breaks the silence but,  I can't help it. I'm afraid. I'm confused. I don't know what to do from here on out!

"Mama..." my voice is breaking through my sobs too. I withdrew my palms from my face, and look upon the full moon. I can't control my tears to drip frantically. "Mama..." I was

' As long as there is a light, you can continue to walk '

I lift my head and look around but, there is only darkness and fog. I'm sure I heard Mama's voice. I wiped my tears off. My nose keeps running so, I keep sniffing.

Some strands of my hair delicately hang from my shoulder. It is shining red from the moonlight. I got Mama's hair color. This is the only remembrance I have from her. I don't even have a single picture, Mrs. Herrick burned all the pictures I have. Even I got being oppressed by my hair color, I won't cut it, I won't dye it. Even if it will be the last thing I have to do.

Mama's right, as long as there is a light I can continue to walk. I looked around and I couldn't remember how I had gotten here. If it wasn't the moon that illuminates some part of the forest, I wouldn't see anything even my own shadow.

I stand up even my knees are both shaking. How long have I been sleeping anyway? As far as I recall correctly, Mr. Andrews put me to sleep...

"I can't remember—" I jerked from rustling leaves behind the dried bushes a couple of meters away from me, "...I-is... some—someone o-out there?" I can't even hide my nervousness from my shaking voice.

I breathe slowly, "Maybe a raccoon...yes—raccoon!" I convinced myself that it was a raccoon but— who am I kidding?!

If I'm not mistaken, this forest is called Nameless Forest. Why did they give such a name? That's an absurdity. I looked around as I take steps, and honestly, I don't know where am I.

The place I left, is the same as where I am now. I am just... Am I truly leaving? Old folks who have been living beside the Nameless Forest borders have a lot of creepy stories about this forest. They said there are a lot of non-human creatures here, such as dark elements and... flesh...f–flesh-eating...demons.

I forgot about it!

I forgot about it!

There's no helping it, whether I remember it or not, I ended up here. I am still here.

I continue to walk ahead, trying to calm myself down. I took a deep breath, and exhaled "I got this."

I fasten my pace a little. A silhouette dashed from my left followed by high-pitched giggles. I stopped walking and looked around. Dried leaves from dead trees are falling, while the branches were left swaying. Several small branches fell as if something has been there.

"Is... I–is someone..." I can hear some footsteps behind me. "...out there...?" I whispered as I swallowed a lump and take a glance over my left shoulder. I quickly turn around when I heard rustling leaves on my right but, there's nothing.

"Your hair..." a croaky voice came out of nowhere followed by my shadow being distorted before my frozen feet.

My confidence was suddenly devoured by terror. My legs have gone numb. I can't take any step forward. I feel like my chest is about to bursts. My breathing is uneven. It's still cold but I got sweating palms.

I couldn't let my gasp out of my mouth when I noticed that my shadow is moving on its own like water rippling from a fallen leaf— W–why does my shadow... my shadow is moving? I'm not seeing things, right? I'm...

"Her hair...!" another croaky but tiny voice! They are increasing. My feet... I can't lift them! "I must have seen it" the tiny voice became deeper and brittle.

"Who are you... young maiden?" Their voices are swaying in my ears. It feels like they are whispering through the blow of the wind.

"Is she young?" he laugh sounds like a squeaky wet shoes, "I doubt it"

The voices are in different pitches. They are getting louder and louder as if they are coming near me. I can see black figures behind the skinny trees. They all talk about my hair! I shut my eyes and covered my ears.

"She is afraid of us!" someone cackled like a witch. I can feel their strong presence. Their high pitched laughs penetrate my ears. There are some creepy giggles near me, some are just above my head. I can feel them! I wanna leave!

I couldn't let my voice out. I'm shaking on my spot. My mind is empty, I can barely think.

Someone... please... anyone out there.

"Begone" I twitched as my eyes went wide.

Someone's behind me!

His voice was deep but calm which wields supremacy. It was not scary, but it made me tremble. The man's voice came from behind me.

I looked at the shadow lurking in the fog, "Name... less," they whisper with a menacing tone. Their voices are slowly fading, possessing anguish and fear. They were all scared of the person behind me.

"Be careful" a sweet voice was the last thing I heard from them. It sounds like a warning, but the man behind me... soothing...

Is he... is he an exorcist? A shaman? I wanted to look at him but I... I felt weaker. I'm— Why am I shivering?

I looked upon him, bright red eyes— just like my hair a while ago— glaring, as if looking into my soul, into my whole being. His eyes... they are enchanting.

"Compensate me, human" he commanded with blazing red eyes. Emotionless.