"Keep going" I mumble still running through the woods. After two days of running through the forest I final find the cottage. I take out my old keys and unlock it stepping inside breathing in the scent of pinecones. This was my real home. I drop my bags on the floor then take a small tour to see if it's still the same. Everything's still there. I open one of the doors and fall onto the small bed. There was a lot of work to be done around here. I change into some jeans and a black tank top putting my hair up into a pony ready to tackle this place. I start with fixing the kitchen, scrubbing, and fixing the pipes. I keep myself busy for the next week trying to not think about anything that's not about the cottage. It looks as good as new! Three weeks later I finish not seeing a single human being in sight not even Phoenix. I pick peaches and apples from my trees that I had planted a long time ago. *Crunch* I whip around to see a snapped twig. "Who's there?" I yell pulling out kn!f3. "Nyx!" they yell. I scream as a shadow leaps at me. I wake up sweating and panting. I look outside to see that it's late afternoon. I get out of bed shaking and I take a deep breath. "Just a dream." I remind myself calming down. I walk to the small kitchen and take an apple. I bite into it the sweet juices fill my mouth. Something felt off. I walk around the house a little bit checking under my bed in the closet and in the bushes. What was I missing? I hear a snap outside and I my head snaps to the window. "Nyx?" they whisper. The wind speeds up outside and a hand slams into the window. I scream and stumble backwards. I start sobbing and shaking as I try to escape whoever's outside. "Nyx!" they scream. I scream even louder, crying. I back into the corner holding my kn!f3 in front of me. The door creeks open and Phoenix steps in his black air dripping wet his blue eyes no longer blue but red. I try not to scream as he stands in the doorway scanning the place. I silently open the cabinet behind me and crawl in closing it. I put my hand over my mouth and slow my breathing down. I hear a creek from the floor board next to me. I creek open the cabinet and peek out as I sigh a breath of relief as I watch him leave to the next room.
