Chapter 1 – Far Away

I run. I run as fast as I can, away from broken hearts and empty homes.  I run until my breath is heavy and my legs are aching from the effort. I run because that’s all i can do.

The trees suffocate me, their pines prickling and blocking me from the sun. There is no wind whistling and without it, the soundless forest seems eerie and monstrous. I see a light flicker ahead of me but it disappears as soon as i lay my eyes on it. With my last ounce of strength, I run after the only light left in my life.

The canopy of trees get thicker and thicker as i run until i can’t see anything anymore. The light disappears into nothingness and i realise with dread that i don’t know where i am. I’ve read stories about girls getting kidnapped in forests and getting slowly murdered. There screams could be heard for miles. 

No-one cares about me, I think. They can go ahead and try, I invite them to.

A rustling comes from behind a tree in front of me and despite what i was thinking, i back away, fear running through my veins.

“You do not have to be afraid of us,” A voice echoes through the woods. I start to shake and my voice trembles when i ask:

“Who are you?” what do you think they’re going to say idiot, i think to myself. Murderers don’t introduce them selves.

“We are here to help,” another whisper echoes through the woods. The voices are neither girls’ or boys’. They are something different, something out of this world. It is as if they are whispering through a speaker in a deep ocean.

I feel a light touch on my shoulder and i jump and turn around but there is no-one there.

“Don’t you trust us?” the voice tickles my ear and i have to stop myself from turning around again.

“Show yourself,” i squeak, tears stinging my eyes.

“If you wish,” two figures appear in front of me. They are both tall and lean with chestnut brown hair and eyes that sparkle with secrets and mischief. Their otherworldly beauty is transfixing and i find myself gaping.

“I’m Orion, this is Andromeda,” the boy, Orion, says. Something at the back of my head is telling me to run but i ignore it. Orion and Andromeda’s presence makes me feel safe and i don’t want to lose something as rare as that.

“Are you lost?” Andromeda asks in a soft voice. “You can come with us, we will show you the way home.”

Without thinking, i find myself following her. I don’t understand what’s happening but for once I’m going to just follow whatever light i see. And right now, my light is two inhumans.