The forest is dark and cold. I’ve only been walking for fifteen minutes and already the moon and stars are gone, they’ve disappeared under the canopy of the trees.

I tell myself to walk forty-five more minutes, then I can sit and rest, maybe even build a fire. Dad taught me how once, but ever since then, I’ve never successfully lit one.

An owl hoots somewhere above me, my already frazzled nerves cause me to jump. I start to run, I don’t know where, just away from here.

Around ten minutes later, I’m sitting on the ground, out of breath. After catching it again, I stand and start to walk again. I’m lost, I knew that for sure, I’d never been beyond the edge of the woods alone before. Dad always insisted he go with me, I was always okay with it. Dad never got lost.

Crack.

Something breaks, and I didn’t do it. I almost scream, but stop myself. Telling myself whatever is out there, it will find me faster if I scream. Instead a small squeak comes from my mouth. I quickly cover my mouth with my hand, but it’s to late. Whatever it is, is walking, or running towards me. I can’t tell from which direction.

Hard arms wrap around me, one around my waist, the other around my neck, cutting off my air supply.

Within the minute, I’m seeing spots. Breathing is a struggle. I claw at the stranger’s arm, the one keeping the air away.

My hands drop, I can barely move, I can’t breath. The darkness envelopes me.

I awaken to a small cave-like room. There’s a single lantern dangling from the ceiling. My bag is missing.

“Ahh, you’re awake.” a rough voice says from behind me.

I quickly stand up, a little to quickly, the room starts to spin. I fall back to the ground.

“Careful, darlin’.” he says, “You might hurt yourself.” he starts to laugh, which only makes me mad. I want to prove him wrong, so I try to stand again, a little slower. I succeed this time. Turning to fully face the stranger, I glare at him. He looks like his voice. Rough, dirty. Way to strong to be an average villager. Who is he?

It’s as if he can read my mind. “You’re probably wondering who I am, darlin’, so let me tell you. Name’s Jedidiah Black. Kind of a bleak name if you ask me.” he chuckles to himself.

“And who might you be, darlin’?”

“Don’t call me that!” I snarl.

Jedidiah grins. “Whatever you say, but I can’t just say ‘girl.’ You must have a name, unless you don’t, in which case I’ll just continue to call you darlin’.”

“Cressalynn.” I mutter. “My name’s Cressalynn.”

“Alrighty, Cresslynn. Mind telling me the reason you were in our woods last night?”

Before I can answer, a shadow joins us. No, not a shadow, a person.

It’s too dark in here.

“Jedidiah, what have you discovered about our guest?”

“Only her name, boss.”

Boss? The shadow man sounds much younger, how could he be in charge?

“Well? What is it!” says the shadow. Apparently he has no patience for suspense.

“She says her name’s Cresslynn.”

I scowl, breaking in for the first time. “Cress-A-Lynn!” I spit, already annoyed with Jedidiah.

The shadow steps into the light. He’s young, maybe a year older than me. He has dark hair paired with the greenest eyes I’ve ever seen. He’s handsome. My cheeks redden at the thought.

“Hello.” he says. I scowl at him, not in any mood to be polite.

His face is hard, but his eyes are laughing, probably because of me. Which makes me angry.

“What do you want?” I ask. He actually has the audacity to laugh.

“I want to know why you were in our woods last night.”

“Why should I tell you.” Their woods?

“Because if you’re running from the law, we can help you.”

I scoff. Help me? How?

“Who even are you?”

“We’re the Ghosts.” he says.

A small laugh escapes me. “The Ghosts? What kind of name is that?”

His eyes harden. “Ours.”

He turns to Jedidiah, “Tell me everything you learn.” The burly man nods. “Of course, boss.”

Shadow man leaves and I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding.

“Who was that?” I question.

“That, was our leader, Raidyn Cross.”

Raidyn Cross. So, the shadow has a name. Of course he does, you idiot.

Jedidiah clears his throat. “So, what were you doing in our woods.”

“Nothing.”

“That’s sure not what it looked like.”

What does he think he saw?

“Well, Jedidiah. What did it look like?” I was honestly curious.

“It looked to me like you were running.”

I scowl again, annoyed that he’s right.

“Let me guess.” he says gently. “Your family got injected.”

I nod, tears forming at the very thought of my parents, alone, dying. Because of me.

“Well, you’re in luck.”

I stare at him in shock. “H-how?”

“That’s something you’ll be finding out tomorrow.” his grin is so wide it seems to take up residence across his entire face.