Almost Forever

Chapter 5: Things have changed

As I was running down the
road, something tripped me and I landed flat on my face. I was thinking to class=GramE>myself ‘this seems to happen to me a lot.’ Then I heard a
noise coming from the bushes.

           
“Piss… Hey, over here.”

I got up from the ground and
looked to my right where the sound was coming from. Standing up I walked over
the bushes and looked harder. Then a pair of hands grabbed me, pulling me
inside. One hand was now over my mouth to keep me from screaming. I recognized
the pair of eyes that were staring at me. The hand moved from my mouth, so I
could speak.

           
“What do you what?” I questioned the man, with the yellow cat eyes.

           
“I am here to bring you to Steph. You must come with me. And be quiet.” He said
grabbing my arm and dragging me behind him. I lifted the bottom of my skirt so
that I would not on on it as we ran. The hood of my cloak was now off my head
and flopping in the air as I ran.

           
“Where are we going?” I inquired but he did not answer me. We were running deep
into the woods. Then I knew that we were going to the “tree”. He stopped in
front of the “tree” and told me to walk inside. I told him that I would not be
able to find my way around in there, and get lost. He sighed and said looking
to the tree,

           
“Tree, take this girl where she needs to be.” The door to the tree opened and
he pushed me inside. The door closed and there was complete darkness. There was
a gust of wind coming from all directions. I could not see anything. Then
finally, I was standing in front of a door. I knocked and waited for an answer.

Then the door swung open, and
the elf woman was standing there. She greeted me and told me to follow her. The
door slammed behind me, I jumped, when it startled me.

           
“Come and have a seat Nicolle.”

           
“What is this all about?” I asked, taking a seat on a cold chair. The room
itself was also cold. And you could hear the gusts of wind from the trees
bras. Is. I could see the steam from my breath as I exhaled.

           
“Nicolle, I am afraid that we are going to have to act quicker that I thought
originally. There is much to be done.”

           
“But what has happened?”

           
“The man is seeking you out quicker then expected.”

           
“What, how do you know this?” She looked to me when I asked that. ‘Oh right
what a stupid question.’ I thought to myself, I had forgotten that they “know
these things”, as they liked to put it.

           
“But that is beside the point Nicolle, we must do something.”

           
“What do you plan to do?”

           
“Well to be quite honest I am not sure.” She stated. I just opened my eyes
wide.

           
“You mean you have not thought about it?”

           
“I was not expecting him to seek you out so quickly, like I told you.” She said
banging her hand on the table. “We must get you out of here. Yes, we will hide
you somewhere deep in the forest, he will never find you there.” She wahinkhinking aloud, with a smile on her face. “Come.” She ordered, grabbing my hand
and pulling me out of the chair. She walked over to the door and opened it.
Trailing through the tree once again we ended up at another door. She knocked
on it. Standing there waiting she was looking around. And I just thought, ‘like
anyone is going to see us.’

           
“You never know Nicolle. People are always watching.”

           
“You don’t need to be embarrassed” she said still looking around. She knocked
once more, and finally the door opened. There was the man that had dragged me
into the woods earlier. Steph walked in and rolled her eyes at him. She knew
what he was doing. As did I when I noticed him pulling up his pants. There was
a girl half naked, trying to cover herself in the corner of the room.

           
“I…I ah…was not expecting you.” He replied.

           
“Oh be quiet. Here.” She said taking the gown that was on the arm of the chair
and tossing it to the girl in the corner. The girl quickly pulled the gown on
and left the room. I just stood there out of the way, of both the girl, Steph
and the vampire.

           
“Look Shido…”

           
“I said that I was not expecting you.”

           
“That is not what I was getting at. We will discuss that later. But ay, ay,
about Nicolle, I have decided that we are to take her deeper into the woods and
hide her there. He will never find her there.” They continued to talk to one
another, always referring to “the man” as “He”. I just sat in a chair,
squirming about, because it was the most uncomfortable chair I have ever sat
in. I moved so much that one of the legs of the chair gave way, and sent me backwards,
crashing to the floor. They both looked to me. But I got up whispering “Sorry.”
And so they turned back to one another and resumed talking. I was now sitting
on the floor. It was cold, but much more comfortable then the chair. Then just
as I became content with my sitting position, I was pulled to my feet.

           
“You are to stay here with Shido for the night. And in the morning you are to
come with me. We are to go hunting for a good place for you to live.” I nodded
my head in agreement. Shido on the other hand looked to Steph and asked if she
could stay there and I could stay in her room. I rolled my eyes.

           
“No Shido this is not negotiable.”

           
“Okay.”

           
“Now you look tired, you should get some rest.” She escorted me to the bedroom.
She paused at the door way to see the sheets, a mess and on the floor. And the
mattress was crooked. Clearing her throat she waved her hand and the room was
now neat with, new sheets and a fluffy pillow. I walked over to the bed, sat
down on it and untied my cloak, laying it neatly on the end of the bed. I
kicked my cold wet slippers off and crawled into the bed. Steph left the room
and resumed talking to Shido. Then I heard the door close. I closed my eyes and
quickly fell asleep.