1 Prologue and Chapter One

Walk. Don't Run. Walk. Don't run.

Running means, you're trying to get away. Or trying to get to something or somewhere. Amber was trying to get somewhere. Anywhere, away from her mother. She was the golden child. Her sisters looked up to her. But how could they now, when she was running—walking away...in fear?

Breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth. In and out. In and out.

The forest was her friend, she told herself. The bird calls would guide her through the trees along the dirt path. She was alone, and somewhat at peace with herself.

But nothing was peaceful. The silence between her and her sisters was as loud as could be. An uncomfortable churning scraping noise. A fork against a plate but louder.

Amber looked to the sun and held the side of her hand against her forehead shielding herself from the bright light. It was noon or a bit after.

How many times had she done this? Leave her family? Her sisters? Amber's stomach twisted as sweat pricked her brow. Mouth growing dry, she shook her head. Maybe some water would help.

She made her way to a nearby stream and kneeled to the steam. Her knees pressing into the mossy ground as she cupped the cool liquid in her hand up to her mouth. The stream trickled quietly as she drank. She took this time to slow her breathing some more and gazed at her reflection but was quickly ripped away by the sound of a snapping branch.

Amber pricked up suddenly looking for the source of the noise. Her hearing was better than most. Most humans that was.

In silence, Amber stood up slowly not to draw attention to herself. Her hands stretched out for balance as she stood up barefoot. Her ripped blue jean shorts traveled up her legs as she stood. The hair rising on the back of her neck warned her.

Another noise, this time a rustle. Her head twisted and turned back and forth. It could just be a deer, she told herself. She was soon corrected when her green eyes came across a young man. He looked to be in his twenties, her age at least. Dark brown wavy hair shaped his small head. Dark blue eyes like a stormy night stared back at her, and a friendly smile grew on his face.

"Beautiful isn't it?" He spoke first peering at the forest around them. His hands were wrapped around the strapped of his backpack and he took a step closer to the stream. Amber watched him and he pulled something from his pack. Amber took a quick step back.

The man raised his hands, "It's okay, I'm just getting some water. Are you lost?"

Amber didn't say anything.

"Do you speak English?"

She bit her lip but nodded slowly.

"So, you can understand me. Do you need help?" He asked as he filled his silver container with water waiting for her answer. She never talked to humans. Mother forbid it.

But mother wasn't here now...

Amber took steady steps toward him observing his every move. He turned and looked down at her feet.

"You'll get hurt if you don't wear shoes." He pointed, "What's your name?"

"What's yours?" She responded.

"Nathan. Nathan Arrow." He stood up and stuck out his hand. Amber did the same. He chuckled.

"Here," He pushed her hand down and lifted the other one and shook it. Weird custom humans had, but Amber went along with it, "It's called a handshake. Your name?"

"Amber."

"Last name?"

"Just Amber."

"Ok, well it's nice to meet you Amber."

"Nice to meet you, Nathan." They let go of each other and Amber tucked a strand of her brown hair behind her ear nervously, "Where are you going?" She asked.

"Right now? I'm hiking."

"What's that?"

"It's just a walk through the woods, some people camp after they hike."

"Camp?"

Nathan smiled showing his teeth. She found herself liking his smile and did the same.

"Where are you from?" He asked and they began walking together.

"The woods."

"You have a cabin out here?"

"Big Cabin."

"A house?"

"It's complicated."

Nathan nodded, "I see," He scanned her body.

"What are you looking at?" She asked slightly defensive. No one has looked at her that way before.

"You. You're very interesting."

Amber tried to smile slightly, "You are too. I like looking at you."

Nathan laughed. Amber liked that sound.

"Can I go with you?"

"On the hike? Of course."

"And after?"

"What do you mean?"

Amber walked closer to him, and whispered, "To get away."

"Has someone hurt you?"

"My mother."

Nathan's brow furrowed, "I'm so sorry. Do you have any siblings?"

"Yes, two younger sisters. They got away."

"And you?"

"I'm getting away too."

Chapter 1 

Trust me.

Trust me when I tell you it's not a blessing living two lives at once. If I had the choice to give up the life I led---I would. Take care of each other. Before the moonlight hits the shadows of the trees, I run, for my darkest days lie ahead.

Another one.

Another messaged dream. But none of them made any sense.

I woke again, gasping for air. Sweat soaked my t-shirt and dripped down my brow. I sat up and stared at the wall above my sister's bed with a frown. Then the headache came. I pressed me hand against my throbbing head.

"Not again." I winced.

Exhaling I crawled out of bed, and tiptoed to the bathroom. Since school let out for the summer I frequently startled awake with no apparent reason. Now with the fall semester in full swing, I've had no reprieve from these long nights. My twin sister Zoey appeared to be sound asleep, not at all disturbed by my fitful sleep during each night. As I moved softly toward the bathroom, I brushed a strand of Zoey's hair away from her face. Her sleepy expression, peaceful.

Flipping on the bathroom light, I quietly shut the door behind me and walked towards the counter. As I leaned against the bathroom sink, I stared into the mirror. Dark circles had begun to creep under my eyes from the lack of sleep, but I had no idea what was causing my terrible insomnia nor my starts during the night. Certain it wouldn't help but determined to try, I swallowed one of my sleeping pills from the pale pink case beside the sink. With no feeling of tiredness, I took a quick shower to get rid of the sweat and changed my pajamas before crawling back into bed. When I went to lie down, I found Zoey awake, sitting up and staring at me through the darkness of our room.

"How long have you been awake?" I asked softly.

Zoey shifted in her bed, "That's what I was going to ask you. How many nights has it been?"

"What do you mean?"

"How many nights has it been since you slept without taking a shower at two in the morning?"

"Oh, I thought you were—"

"No. Besides, you're not the only one having trouble sleeping."

I turned to look her in the eyes. "You too?"

She sighed, "When you wake up, so do I. And then I don't fall asleep until you do."

"Would you say it's a twin thing?" I asked, trying to lighten the mood.

"Not this time." Silence followed and we sat together without another word for quite some time.

 "Try to sleep." Zoey said, and began to settle back into her covers.