It was damp as the night fell, the wind howling through the trees. She could feel the breeze nipping at the bare skin of her arm, causing little bumps to rise. Her leaning body was supported by a large Oak tree, it was the end of fall, most of the trees in this forest had lost its leaves, but this one still had a few orange and red in it’s branches. The soft fabric of her scarf abruptly whipped up against her face, startling her out of her daze. You have to keep going, her insides shivered. She needed to get her bearings.

She straightened, and an abrupt throbbing pain shot through her making her double to the ground. She grasped her arm. Her leather jacket looked like it had been cut clean off from the elbow revealing a long, bloody gash down her inner arm. The blood wasn’t slowing, and looking at it made her knees weak. She ripped off the bottom of her tee shirt and gritted her teeth as she wrapped it around the wound, letting out an agonizing groan.

“My car..” she sighed, frustrated “…I don’t even know where I am! Where do I go from here? Huh?! What do you want from me?!” She stood, shaking her hands towards the sky with anger.

Shaley had a constant struggle with her faith. It seemed like everyone around her had something to truly believe in, maybe not tangible, but something to provide comfort. She had never had that connection, although occasionally she would speak to someone, someone she didn’t even believe existed, just to console her. To make her feel like someone was listening.

Truly broken, she began sobbing “I always knew you weren’t there, if you were, if whatever you are was real, you would show me a sign, provide your ‘child’ some guidance!” She was defeated. Part of her had always imagined previously that her situation wasn’t that bad, that she had all she needed and didn’t actually need help. Now that she was truly lost and broken, she knew the truth. “I am alone…”

The wind was getting more frantic, swirling now, and darkness was beginning to consume her surroundings.  Pieces of her long golden hair were being strewn every which way, and her body was shivering uncontrollably. “This isn’t right, something feels weird.” she murmured to herself. She started to wander around aimlessly, hoping for something to look familiar. She couldn’t even remember how she had gotten here, or where her car was, or what happened. Everything was all jumbled in her mind, it took all she could to focus on walking.

There was more howling now, she could no longer tell if it was just the wind. Leaves were swirling around her, and water was falling from the clouds.

*SNAP*

She turned abruptly, squinting, but couldn’t see past her hands in this darkness. Her heart was racing, she stood still and listened but couldn’t hear anything else. She felt the panic setting in, and closed her eyes. I am going to be okay, I am going to be okay, just breathe. She did some deep breaths and opened her eyes. As she turned she saw a glimpse of light. She allowed her vision to focus, to make sure her mind wasn’t playing tricks on her, but it was unchanging. A lamp!

She started towards the lamp and began to see the outline of a cottage. It was hard to tell what the house looked like in the night, the lamp, which was posted just outside of the small porch, was the only source of light. Desperate for warmth and shelter from these winds, not to mention whatever else was out there, she took a creaky step up onto the porch. The door had an old brass lion knocker, and a window on either side matching it’s length, lace curtains were hanging in them. Wary, she knocked on the door using the metal knocker. Nothing. She pressed her ear to the door and knocked again frantically. Silence.

“Oh, come on!” She sighed loudly. She looked through one of the windows, squinting through the curtains. Something moved. She pulled back and gasped, adrenaline rushing through her. “Hello?! I am hurt! Please help me! I know someone is home, please!” She begged. She heard something moving inside, and looked back in the window, nothing. She began to panic, this was her only hope, her body was so sore, she needed relief from the elements. Helplessly, she started away, hoping to find shelter elsewhere. She turned to look back at the house, and saw the door was cracked open.

As she started, a man’s head appeared in the door, making her jump. He slowly put a finger up to his mouth “shhhh” he warned,  Shaley could tell he meant it. Silently, she made her way back to the porch, he opened the door to her, and she momentarily felt like she could breathe.

To Be Continued…