Tuesday 12:15 PM .
"Ahhhhhh!".
Angel screamed as she tripped over a fallen log.She hit the ground hard.
Pain shot through her ankle instantly.
"Ow!"
Clutching her leg, she looked around frantically.
The forest was dark,too dark.
Fog curled around the trees like ghostly fingers while shadows danced between the trunks.
Her heart hammered against her chest.
Then she heard it.
A low growl.
Angel froze.
The sound seemed to come from somewhere behind her.
Slowly, she turned her head..
Nothing.
Only darkness.
Another growl echoed through the woods.
Closer this time.
Angel's breathing quickened.
The monster was getting nearer.
Ignoring the pain in her ankle, she pushed herself to her feet and began limping forward.
Branches scratched against her arms.
The fog thickened.
Then she heard it again.
A deep rumbling growl.
Much closer.
Too close.
Angel whimpered and forced herself to move faster.
Suddenly she saw movement between the trees.
A pair of glowing eyes.
Watching her.
Fear exploded through her chest.
She stumbled backward—
"Angel!.
***
Angel's eyes flew open.
She gasped sharply and sat upright.
For a second, she didn't know where she was.
The forest was gone.The growling was gone.
Instead, she found herself sitting in the backseat of the car.
Miley was staring at her.
"Jeez," Miley muttered. "You okay?"
Angel quickly looked away.
"Yeah."
Miley frowned.
"You don't look okay."
"I'm fine."
"Angel."
Angel sighed.
Miley crossed her arms.
"You keep doing that."
"Doing what?"
"Zoning out."
Angel looked out the window. The city lights blurred past.
How was she supposed to explain to her best friend that every time she closes her eyes, strange creatures haunted her dreams?
"Maybe I'm tired."
Miley wasn't convinced.
"Are you sure nothing's bothering you?"
Angel hesitated.
For a moment she thought about the dream.
About telling Miley.
No.
She couldn't tell Miley.
Not yet.
"I'm fine," she repeated.
Miley stared at her suspiciously.
Then suddenly her eyes narrowed.
"Wait."
Angel immediately knew that look.
"What?"
Miley pointed dramatically.
"There's something you're not telling me."
"There isn't."
"There is."
"There isn't."
"There is."
Angel groaned.
Miley leaned forward.
"Tell me."
"No."
"Tell me."
"They is nothing to tell."
"Tell me."
Angel finally gave up.
She'll just have to tell her something
"Fine."
Miley sat up straighter immediately.
Angel looked away.
"There was a boy."
Silence.
Then—
"There was a WHAT?!"
"Miley!"
"What boy?!"
Angel covered her face.
" I bumped into a boy."
"At the mall?"
Angel nodded.
Miley looked like she had just discovered buried treasure.
"Details."
"There aren't any details."
"There are always details."
Angel sighed.
"He helped me pick up my things."
"And?"
"And nothing."
"And?"
Angel groaned.
"He was handsome."
Miley let out the loudest gasp Angel had ever heard.
"I KNEW IT."
"Keep your voice down."
"No."
"Miley."
"No."
Angel rolled her eyes.
Miley grinned.
"So what's his name?"
Angel froze.
"..."
"..."
Miley blinked.
"No way."
Angel groaned.
"I don't know."
"You don't know?!"
"It's your fault!"
"My fault?"
"You called my name!"
Miley stared.
"You're kidding right?".
Angel sighed "Unfortunately I'm not". Angel sank lower into her seat.
Meanwhile, despite Miley's teasing...
She couldn't stop thinking about the boy's green eyes.
And for some reason...
They felt familiar.