Chapter 1

Alexa's POV

Running… running… running!

I can't turn back, I'm scared…too scared to look back.

It's coming behind me, at a massive speed…. I once turned and saw its red eyes, and I couldn't look at it twice.

I'm tired, but I must go on if I want to stay alive… I must continue running.

*Alexa, run! Keep running!* She yells from behind me.

I increased my pace, running faster than before… I can't get caught.

*Run! Don't look back!* He urges me.

*Just run!* They both urged me.

I heard a thud but didn't turn back…the heavy footsteps stopped, but not for long…it continued again.

I'm panting and running out of breath, but that didn't stop me… I must get out of here.

*Rebecca!* I heard his panicked cry.

I stopped running abruptly and turned back….my eyes grew wide, my mouth hung open as I couldn't process what's happening.

*Rebecca!* He cried again….and the reality of what's happening dawned on me.

It had finally caught up with them…she laid on the ground with its might form over her… barring its teeth at her…ready to devour her.

He tries to fight it off, but he obviously isn't strong enough…it pushed him away with its snout.

It already clenched its teeth on her neck, tearing it… I can't just watch, I must help.

I step forward but unfortunately, its neck snaps towards my direction…. I halt frighteningly.

*No!* A scream leaves my mouth.

It takes a step towards me….my heart beating fast, but he suddenly steps in front of it…not flinching away from its glaring red eyes.

He pushes it back and grunts.

*Alexa, run!* He said before it tackles him and lands him on the ground…. Its teeth positioned on his neck.

*NO!*

*

*

My eyes snapped open, and I quickly sat up… panting heavily. My headaches and my hands move to my forehead… Wiping off the beads of sweat.

I reached for the table lamp and turned it on…. I reached for the glass of water and pills on the nightstand… I stared at it and sighed deeply.

*Don't go into the woods… it's dangerous!*

*There are vicious beasts lurking around in the woods!*

*Always stay in the house and don't come out at night!*

Had I listened to these words….had I been obedient… I wouldn't be having these nightmares.

The door burst open and my brothers…. Micah and William…rushes in.

Though we all call Williams, Will.

Micah rushed straight to my bedside, but Will flipped the lights on before coming to me.

Will wipes off the sweat on my forehead… Micah holds my right hand in his.

“Lexa, are you alright?” Will asked.

“Had another nightmare?” Micah asked immediately after Will.

I simply nod to answer both their questions. Micah and Will exchanged looks, and Micah sighed.

“Thankfully, we are moving today!” Will said.

I raised my head at once with a surprise expression on.

“Moving? When did that happen? Why am I just finding out about it was just now?!”

I studied their expressions as I questioned them… Micah was avoiding my gaze, but Will kept a straight face on.

Micah turns to the alarm clock on my nightstand and gasps dramatically.

“It's 05:10am…” He claps his hands and stands up. “… Lexa, start packing, let's move!”

I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply… I don't have time for his jokes now.

Furthermore, I dropped the pills I was holding and crossed my arms across my chest…a scorn on my face… I can imagine my brows knit together.

“No!” I said, looking at Will….his straight face still on.

Micah laughs lightly.

“Come on, Lexa. Don't be stubborn now, we're doing this for your own good” he explained.

“No!” I said again.

“But….”

“No buts, Micah. I'm not moving!”

They both know I don't like it when we move… I always have problems adapting to a new environment.

“Lexa, don't be like that. Now that mom and dad.....”

“Stop!” I cut him off.

I don't like it when they mention our parents…. I can't get over what happened yet, even if it's been almost a year now.

“We've moved more than 20 times, when are we going to stop moving?” I asked.

“We're only trying to find a quiet place for you… somewhere that won't trigger your nightmares,” Micah explained.

I scoffed…excuse! That's the only thing they say every time they want us to move.

He points towards my window…wait, did I forget to lock my window before going to bed?

“Look, your window is just facing those woods…who knows if that's the reason for your nightmares” he said.

I turn my gaze from the window to Will… he's exceptionally quiet.

Well, I don't need to tell you about their personalities now….you can clearly tell that Micah is the simple and approachable one among them.

Will is strict with me…no, he's strict with Micah and me…but a bit lenient with Micah.

“I still don't want to move, Micah” I said, staring pointedly at Will…as if he's actually the one I'm talking to.

And truly, he's the one I'm talking to… I was directing that comment to him.

“But Alexa.....”

Will bangs on my nightstand and stands up…he stares at me sternly.

“We are moving today and that's final!” I flinched back and grabbed Micah's arm.

“Wi… Will…calm down, let's talk to her calmly, she'll understand”.

“Well, you have been trying to talk to her calmly…did she understand?” He scolds Micah.

Ok, that's the only thing I like about him… instead of scolding me anytime I'm wrong, he scolds Micah instead.

He turns to me.

“Start packing up… we're moving by 8am!” He leaves my room immediately.

Micah sighs and sits on my bed, his hand on my right cheek… caressing it softly.

“Don't worry, Lexa, you'll adapt sooner than you expect” he said.

“Lie!”

“True! I'll take you round town when we get there…and who knows, you might make plenty of friends!”

I rolled my eyes… I know exactly what he's trying to do… I know what he meant by that.

“I'll show you all the beautiful scenery and.....”

“Just tell me you want me to accompany you on your job hunting!” I interrupt him.

He smiles brightly and winks at me.

“You are really my sister…you know me too well”

I shake my head. I wish I can be this free to everyone… I wish I can make any friends and talk about anything and everything with my friends.

“Lexa! Lexa!” He snaps his fingers across my face.

I blinked a few times.

“What?”

“What were you thinking?”

“Nothing”

He chuckles and shakes his head.

“You were obviously thinking something”

“It's nothing…but I really don't want to move… I'm tired of being a new student every time!”

“You'll be fine”

Just when I was slowly accepting this place, we're moving again.

“I'm in my senior year, don't you think all this frequent migrating will affect my studies?”

“Nope! You're smart!”

“Try talking Will off.....”

“No, Lexa. You can't continue having all these nightmares…it needed to stop”.

I huffed and rested my head on the headboard.

“Don't worry, I promise you…this will be the last time we move”

I rolled my eyes…he told me the same thing last time we moved here, and here we are moving again.

“Don't roll your eyes at me, Missy…or I'll pluck 'em out!”

“Whatever!”

There's a long pause…none of us saying a word.

“Where are we going this time?” I asked.

“California!”

I hummed. Who knows where we'll go next…maybe France.

“And I believe we'll stay there for a very long time,” he said.

“You sound so sure”

“Yeah… the agent guaranteed Will and me that the house we're moving in isn't near the woods…so, I don't think you'll have any nightmares”

I don't know why. But I suddenly released a long relief breath.

“I hope so!” I muttered silently.

“I know so.” He said.

His phone suddenly beeps, he reaches for it from his PCs pocket.

A small frown first appears on his forehead… Before a bright smile took over.

“Lexa, start packing… we're leaving by 8am.” He said and rushes towards the door.

“Wait…where are you rushing off to?” I asked.

“Oh, I got a text from Betty”

Betty? Who's that? I asked mentally with a confused frown.

He seems to notice my confused expression and smiles.

“Betty, my girlfriend.” He winks at me.

I simply groaned in response.