The faint sounds of something scratching against the windowsill had jolted me off my bed at once, legs pushing forward with caution.
Hannah Grace and Audrey laid fast asleep, the room englobed in utter silence, leaving me to whatever wonder was outside the windows.
It was lights out.
The entire dormitory being quiet, with every girl being in her bed, what then was that noise I heard out there.
I picked the lampshade off my bedside drawer, figure pushing forward slowly onto where that sound came from.
At every step I drew forward, my heart thumped even faster, part of me hoping it was just some animal swinging on the trees, but I knew so well an animal wouldn't make that noise.
Spared no chance to make use of the lampshade in my hands, a figure had scaled in from the window, earning that ear-crawling shriek which poured out my lips.
Firm hands had shot to my lips at once, stopping the screams instantly.
Those firm hands weren't mine.
And only when I pulled my gaze open, did I recognize those hazel eyes.
"What are you doing here?" I made sure certain to keep my voice low, taking caution not to disturb the two sleeping figures in the room off the slumber they were found in.
"Did you just scale a window?" The words stumbled out my lips muffled, with eyes intent intent on him.
"Why would you scale a window?"
"Shhh" Followed the voice, with his hands soon pried off my lips.
He fell silent, eyes shifting through mine.
"Come with me" His voice was low, body pulling closer to mine.
"Come with you?"
"Where?" I uttered, completely lost at the words of this figure who had snuck into my room in the middle of the night, and even though I looked a mess, being jolted off my sleep, he managed to look as good as ever.
Hair falling over his face, they bounced at each movement he gave.
"Come with me to a Place, Anna" He had pulled my hands immediately.
At twelve past midnight, still in my yellow night dress, I was taken out my room, led to a destination by this figure who made my heart race.
***
The pathway which led off of Bowers' was dark and steepy.
We went past a hill, going along the deserted environs onto a destination I Still couldn't tell.
"Are you sure you know where you're going to" I called out to the figure in front.
"I'm not here to sell you off, Tinkerbell" A grin had taken to his lips, eyes having a glance back at me.
"Should that in anyway comfort me?"
"It should" He followed.
"I'll be with you all along"
"Like that makes it any less disturbing"
He resumed walking, his form proceeding into the murk ahead.
"Can you at least not keep to the silence? It irks me"
He had taken a pause in his tracks, soon turning around to face me, a soft sigh leaving those lips.
"What then do you want me to talk about, Tinkerbell?" His voice broke out.
"Anything, as long as you're not quiet"
He huffed a breath, eyes having one more glance at me before he turned around to resume walking.
"I used to come here, back when I just got into Bowers'" He began.
Feet stomping on dead leaves, he pushed forward, clearing the path ahead for us.
"I used to come over just to be away from everyone" He followed.
"Why?" I called out. "Why did you do that?" I followed.
He fell silent, and with back still turned to me, he stopped in his tracks.
"Because I realized I was sent to Bowers' not for the sake of schooling, but because my family sought to get rid of me" Those were the words I heard right as his eyes took mine.
Those words that had me staring at the form away.
"We're here, Tinkerbell" He uttered, hands soon gesturing at the calm waters ahead, just as my figure pulled forward, advancing the clear lake.