My eyes fluttered open slowly, the light was fading, creating new shadows and dark patches around me. Eyes glimmered from tree hollows. The wind wailed between distorted trunks, carrying the sickly stink of wood rot, I sat up slowly to capture my surroundings, the damp leaves grimed at my skin.

I lifted my face, letting the light and shadow dance across my skin. Bees hummed in and out of the pennyroyal. The warm winds swam though my hair, directing me over my shoulder. With a turn of my head, I felt the scene change, as if someone had set wallpaper to scenery.. It was a forest as clear as day and beautiful with its greenery and serene lands.

I had lost track of time, and this wasn't a good thing. It was early morning, and I could hear the birds chirping sweetly to one another but the forest seemed all too dark that surrounded me right now. I stood up abruptly as the leaves rustled beneath my feet, taking a more intent look about my surroundings. I promised them I would meet them soon, and the others can't find me, I was hoping they'd never venture into this forest again.

I swallowed, my mouth was hoarse, and my eyes were sore, looking down at the ropes burns that had been given to me a short while ago, they still burned with rage of my almost encounter with death. I still remember the people chanting for a young woman, me to be embraced with true darkness, with fear and torment, to meet my death day and my corpse.

I was lucky to be alive. I wasn't quite sure as to what happened back then though in that tiny village I once called home, in which I cannot go back. It all happened so fast. A bright light, then fire, and I was free and everyone was screaming, children were crying. My sorcery had nothing to do with it. I remembered the words spoken to me, a hushed whisper in my ear before then.

"You are the last witch. invenietis illos. Break free.."

It was hard to process everything at once, I wasn't even a witch as far as I knew. My mother always protected me but I was unsure why and everything was beginning to unravel, but she encountered her death, as did so many other friends, suspected of witchcraft all because they were my friend, And my mother was a supposed witch, in which she was not. Or we'd all be safe. Wasn't that how good witches work, they get the happy endings.

I wiped my cheeks, it was cold from the breeze that travelled through me, like I was a ghost, and wet from letting a few tears slip. I was alone. If there was any bit of hope there, it's what was said on my stake, about to be burnt to death. I must find them. They're out there somewhere, and I didn't know who I was supposed to be finding.

I walked through the leaves, encountering a river that flowed before me, a smile slipped onto my face. My father once taught me some life skills, and one of them was to always follow the river when you're lost. It's where people will find you.

I licked my lips, refusing the temptations to drink from the water until I reached my destination, and I began to push my way through leaves that were outstretched from tree branches and tall bushes, making my way here until hours later I'd hope to encounter something.

It grew dark, and as soon as the sun hit ground, and the moon hit sky, the forest wasn't as pleasant during night. The fog seen afar, brought a vision of cataracts to your eyes. Every sound made back and forth made you turn and rotate until you were driven with insanity. The forest was disturbingly beautiful and inviting in day, yet disturbingly horrid and repelling during night. I was restless, I was hungry and tired and alone, and only the beating of the newly made fire, burning wood comforted me with its company.

Suddenly, a tall body weight jumped onto me, a piercing sharp dagger in one hand while holding me down with the other, the weapon directed at my throat as I looked up, struggling to get free of the man's grasp, crying out "let me go!"

"Who are you?" He said harshly, pressing more of his bodyweight onto me, then shining a lit lamp in my eyes, I stared up at him, my eyes traced his tall slender figure of what I could see, from his messy brown hair. The closer he came, the better I could view him. His eyes warm, a range of soft colours. Reminding me of sweet caramel. Lilac bags hung under them, ageing him quite a bit, but he couldn't be much older than me nonetheless.

He caught my eye, his jade orbs piquing with sudden interest as he stared just as intently back at me, what took me by surprise was when I felt his lips against mine, kissing me harshly and all I could manage to do was stand there frozen in his grasp, unable to join in the fantasy he had while kissing me.

At once I tried to pull away, letting out a small whimper as he held me down, shoving him off of me as his dagger flung by the fire, my hands went to reach it a so ran, but he grabbed me and tugged me down, I yelped and went to scream for help helplessly although nobody would hear me in this dark forbidden forest at night.

I whimpered a little more and went to raise my hands to cover my face, my cheeks wet with tears as I breathed deeply, whispering, "please don't hurt me," but he didn't listen and yanked at me, I tried to reach for something but nothing was there, nothing besides the autumn leaves that crumpled in my hands. Then it was too late, and darkness surrounded me, pain erupting through my all too vulnerable, weak body.