Days had passed. Even weeks. Weeks where I had done nothing but sit in a white room strapped to the wall with a robotic voice in the corner telling me that I was wrong. The day that the guard had come in my room and told me I was being moved to a different room was probably the happiest day of my time at Meadowbrook.
He and a few other guards unstrapped me from the wall and led me down the hallway. As I walked down the hall, the shrill screams of psychopaths echoed through my head. We came to a stop in front of an enormous room very unlike the others. The guards led me inside and locked my handcuffs to the wall. I surveyed the room carefully. What kind of a room was this? There was a swampy pond with lily pads and grass and plants around it. On the other side of the room, there was a forest that was so dark that I couldn't see into it. Newly added, was a grass field in front of the door with flowers and green grass. In the very back of the large room, was a ladder that led to rafters and below it, a stage. I looked around, why did it look so strange? I struggled against the handcuffs that held me to the wall. Eventually, there was a faint clicking sound, and I was free. What had helped me escape? I didn’t know, but I had a feeling it probably wasn’t the guards. I turned around to see my reflection in the glass and and my heart nearly burst out of my chest when I saw it. I had antlers and white freckles on my face. Like a deer. Like the one that had attacked me.
I was blankly staring into the reflection that once was my own when I heard faint singing. I strained to hear it because it seemed to be coming from the other side of the room. From the rafters. The singing became louder as a girl with spider-like features descended from the ladder. One side of her hair was black, and covering one of her eyes. The other was white and tucked behind one ear. She wore a black jacket over a white jacket with a bow tie and black skirt.
I could hear it now. We’re gonna get you, we’re gonna get you, and then we’re gonna kill you, and then we’re gonna kill you. Fear rushed through my body. Where do I run? The dark, creepy forest? The weird, swampy pond? The rafters she just came from? No. There’s nowhere to hide. I stood there like a deer in headlights. Which I am. But still! She eventually was right in front of me. I saw her reach into her coat. That’s it. I wasn’t going to stand here and wait for her to kill me off while singing her stupid song. I ran. And I ran fast. I thought I had finally lost her and I sat down, trying to catch my breath. I stood up and I screamed. She was standing just inches away from my face. I backed up slowly and ran. Again. She was nowhere in sight so I sat down next to the pond.
“It is so peaceful here.” I thought. I gently brushed the water and felt the top of the lily pad.
Suddenly, a green thing with blue hair and a mischievous grin popped up out of the water and grabbed my hand. I shrieked. I fought back as hard as I could but she was too strong. She seemed to be pulling me in the water, drowning me. “Release me, mermaid!” I shouted. Her eyes flashed an icy blue and her mischievous grin turned into a scowl as she shouted, “I’m not a mermaid!” She had pulled me nearly halfway in when the first lady showed up and said, “Release her, Misty.” She let go abruptly and sank down into the murky depths just far enough that I could only see her head. She was grinning her evil grin again. “Who are you?” the first person demanded. “My name is Emma. E-Emma Brookes.” “I’m Misty Cascade.” said the thing that had just tried to drown me as she extended her hand. “Nice to meet you.” I said, not taking her hand. “Not to be rude,” I began, “but, what exactly are you?” Her eyes flashed an icy blue again but she remained calm. “I’m a naiad. You’re welcome for a swim any time.”
“And I am Phantom of the Opera. Otherwise known as Perry.” She said as she stared at me, “Perhaps you've heard of me?” I gulped as I remembered the Phantom of the Opera and the types of naiads from stories that I had read. Naiads drowned people. I was very sure that they sent me here to kill me or something. “What is that forest over there?” I asked, gesturing towards the wood in the corner. The naiad grinned “Luna.” she said calmly. “Luna?” I asked. “Who’s Luna?”
Misty’s grin was now ear to ear. “Go see for yourself.” said Perry, who was now too smiling evilly. I saw Perry turn to Misty and whisper something to her. Of course, I was skeptical. As if they read my mind, Perry said, “It’s not a trick! We promise!” She grinned and bit her lip. For some reason, they thought I was dumb enough to go into the dark, scary woods. Although, whatever was in there was probably less scary than Perry or Misty. Even though I knew they were planning something, I backed into the woods. I was going to die either way. What was the point?
I was desperately trying to slow my breathing as I steadily walked into the woods. It really was dark. I couldn’t even see five feet in front of me. I was expecting something to lunge out at me at any second. There was hope, though. Whatever was in these woods couldn’t be any scarier than Perry or Misty. Unfortunately, I was wrong.
Something lunged out at me from deep behind the dark recesses of the wood. It was menacing, it was fierce, it was fanged, it was a girl.
I assumed this must be Luna. Before I even had time to react, I bolted. She was fast too. Mainly because she was a wolf. That’s right, a wolf. And I’m a deer! Talk about unlucky! I was surely doomed. I ran as fast as I could. And she was still catching up to me! Perry and Misty were sitting by, eagerly watching.
Suddenly, Perry grimaced. She called Luna over with her and Misty and they began quietly conversing with each other. How dumb did they think I was? After I caught my breath, I quickly searched around for somewhere to hide. Nothing.
