The Things That Lurk Around These Woods

Daisy. That's my name, in case you asked. You may not have, but thanks anyways.

The story I'm about to tell you is of the time my life was changed forever. The story that most people wouldn't believe. The things that led up to me being a hero of my town, and possibly the world.

First off, I'll begin with the day that changed it all. The fatal day that I lost my parents.

Most of what I can remember of that night still haunts my memory.

The noise wasn't the only thing dead that night. There was no blood. No poison was found. No allergic reactions. Nothing.

It was like the killer and all the evidence of what killed them was invisible.

This was after I had gotten home.

Oh? You wanna know what I was doing at the start of the day? Psh. Okay. Fine. I'll tell you...

I woke up to the annoying sound of my alarm clock ringing.

"Brrrrriiinng! Brrrrrriiing! Brrrrrriiing!"

I had to give it a good slap before it would stop. Slipping into my slippers, I shuffled down the hall and down the stairs to meet mom smiling at me behind the counter in the kitchen.

"Hey honey" She smiled at me.

"Hey mom" I replied, smiling back at her.

"She must be in a good mood" I thought.

She just continued smiling. Even after I moved, she was still looking in the direction that I had first started at. No other actions. Nothing.

At that point I had been upstairs and had brushed my hair, bathed, and was ready to get up and go to the miserable place of learning, I just needed to fetch my backpack on the couch by the front door.

After I had walked back into the living room, I noticed mom, still standing there behind the kitchen bar, smiling.

I slowly picked my back- pack up, and slung it on my back.

"Bye...mom. I'm going to school now", I said.

She just continued to stare off into space, smiling. Like she was locked onto something that I couldn't see. I got the goosebumps just looking at her blank stare.

I looked back over to the door handle and grabbed to open it.

"There is no school today." Mom yelled.

She had scared me half to death and broke the silence.

Okay? I'm pretty sure there was but I guess not!

I didn't know what to say, so I put my backpack back on the couch and walked back to my room, mom still standing there.

Half-asleep and reaching for my rooms door handle, I hear her again.

"Come on!" She screamed, "The bus is here!"

I ran back down the stairs and out the door to find the bus right in my face.

"Daisy! Hey girl!" My friends in the back of the bus scream at me, through the open windows.

I hopped onto the bus and walked back through the aisle.

All familiar faces, especially Alice's face.

Alice had been my best friend since first grade, and we were inseparable!

At least so I thought.

"Hey girl! I need to talk to you about something! Come here!" Alice squealed.

I sat down next to her and lip synched the word what.

I..

I don't know if I want to remember what she said.

Or do I choose not to, to avoid my pain?

To avoid the beginning of everything that happened that day?

All I remember is she was laughing, and I ran off the bus crying.

I tripped on my way to the bathroom, crying, and she just laughed harder.

"Loser!"

Loser. A loser? What made her turn against me for no reason like this? I looked up, embarassed, and tucked my short, black hair behind my ear.

My pin! My flower pin had fell out of my hair and was now on the floor!

"Here"

I looked up to find Miss Sherry holding her hand out with my pin in her palm.

"The principal needs you as well", She said in her calm, soft voice.

I nodded, wiping away my tears.

Getting up, I breathed in and back out, faked a smile, and made my way to his office.

I knocked on the door.

"Come in", Someone behind the door awnsered.

I grasped the door handle and turned it.

It was silence as we looked at each other awkwardly, my face all red.

"What happened? Oh, nevermind me. That's not the point. Daisy.. Your...parents. They have passed."

"WHAT?!"

I burst out into tears weeping.

Was this just a dream? I wish someone woke me up just like it was a nightmare.

I was escorted by the police to my house, where they told me to pack my most needed belongings.

They also told me to ignore the scene in my parent's room.

I wish I did, but it was too late.

"WHAT IS WRONG WITH THEM?!" I screamed. All I saw was their skin lying on the floor. Like it was the shed skin of a snake. No bones. No blood.

The people in the room looked at me. I assume they were government officials.

"Take her out of here!" One of them shouted, pointing at me.

Someone behind me awnsered "I've got her." It was a deep, male voice.

I felt hands around my hips, but I was too stunned at the sight to turn around, and suddenly, a sharp pain in my right arm. It was all dark after that.

Were they trying to erase my memory? Did they drug me? Do they realise it won't work on me?

So many questions..

But, before I knew it...

I was on a one way trip to Oregon to live with my aunt for the rest of my miserable life.