2 Chapter 1

I woke up with a piece of brown hair in my mouth. With a groan I stood up wiping the hair out op my face, and checked the time on my phone. It was already after noon. Twelve thirty to be exact. I cursed myself in the mirror for the incident the day before. The thought of going back into the forest to get my inhaler made me nervous. 

I went to wash my face and brush my messy hair. I ate a piece of toast even though I wasn't hungry. My dad waltzed into the kitchen in a surprisingly good mood.

 "Hey Leona, you slept late today huh," He said smiling. 

"Yeah, I was really tired Yesterday. What are you doing today?" I asked in attempt to make a conversation. My dad rambled on about his architecture plans, but I only listened with half an ear. I tried doing everything to avoid going to the forest. An hour later I finally got the courage to step out of our front door. Leaving the safety of our marble kitchen behind.

Today there were people outside at least, doing normal things. I felt more relaxed now that people were nearby. I could always run to them for help. In five minutes time I reached the forest again. My stomach turned and I felt fingers lingering around my lungs. I needed to find my inhaler quick before another asthma attack. I took deep breaths in and out and stepped onto the footpath bending and twisting around the tree's. I followed them until I reached the ruins I tripped over. I saw the red inhaler among the leaves. Quickly I grabbed it and was about to turn around when I heard a noise behind me. 

I knew I had to get out of there, but a nagging feeling kept my feet on the ground. The noise came from the tree house  above me. My heart raced and I curiously looked above me. I wanted to run but my feet were glued to the ground. The wooden planks above me creaked again. I picked up the nearest rock in case needed. The door to the tree house opened.

To my surprise a girl looking my age peered out from behind the little door. Her red locks stood wildly around her head, and her piercing green eyes looked more frightened than I was. For a few moments we only stared at each other. The girl's clothes looked too small for her, and a big scar crossed her cheek. Finally I got the courage to speak.

"Excuse me, What are you doing in the forest? You gave me such a fright," I said, but it came out like more of a wheeze. I breathed in the gas of my inhaler again, and my lungs relaxed. 

The girl climbed down the tree. She looked used to climbing tree's, as she came down without any hesitation or trouble. She came to stand in front of me holding out her hand. 

"I am Derora," She whispered. I was careful to shake her hand. Even though she looked innocent she could still be part of a cult. It could be their way of luring me in. I almost laughed at myself, the thought was ridiculous. I shook Derora's hand in return. 

"Okay, but that still doesn't explain why you're up in an abandoned tree house in the middle of the woods, also trying the fact that you tried to throw me with a rock yesterday," I said in confusion.

Derora looked startled, and i backed away carefully. Then she shook her head and smiled.

"I'm sorry for scaring you. My cat ran away and I was looking for him, I thought he might be up here. However I wasn't here yesterday, so I didn't try to throw you with a rock. Sorry for the misunderstanding," she said and wanted to turn around and walk away. 

I grabbed her by the shoulder, "Wait! I can help you find your cat, I have nothing else to do anyway." I didn't know why I said that. I didn't even know this person, but the words already escaped my mouth.

She hesitated, then deeply studied my face. I knew this was a bad idea, and was about to make up an excuse for me to go, but she answered, "Uh Okay."

She still looked hesitant and I cringed. I didn't even tell her my name, how more awkward could this get.

"My name is Leona by the way," I finally said as we started walking deeper into the woods. Derora just nodded. We walked in silence for a few minutes, and I felt awkward so I tried asking her questions. 

"You live around here? Or are you on vacation?" I asked. Derora seemed to tense up for some reason. I couldn't blame her, we only just met. 

She looked at her feet.

"I live here somewhere in the town," she mumbled. Again we walked in complete silence. I noticed that the terrain was getting more rocky and steep. Derora didn't look like she knew where she was going either. I stopped. 

"If you live in town, I think the chances that your cat could be wandering there would be higher," I said desperately trying to  get off the rocky ground that already made me stumble a few times. Derora looked tense again. Then a tiny squeak escaped her mouth: "Sure."

***

The town was busy today and it was hard to get around without people bumping into you. Derora looked absolutely terrified, and constantly brushed her hair over her face, as if not wanting to be recognized. I found it a little odd, but kept looking for a white cat in all the buildings nooks and cranny's. We stumbled into a part of town where I have never been before. The place wasn't as crowded as in the center of the town. I saw Derora relax a little. We walked for another while, and at this point I had given up hope for Derora's cat. I was just looking at all the cute little shops. One in particular caught my attention. 

"Barry's antique shop"

It stood hugely printed above the door. Something about the shop made me feel an extreme urge to go inside. I didn't know what was wrong with me, I didn't even like antique shops. 

"Derora, I think a little break might do us good, let's go inside of the shop," I said looking inside curiously.

She looked around her nervously and nodded. Derora was acting really strange, but I didn't want to ask her about it. We weren't friends so why should I bother?

As I entered the shop a little bell above the door rang. An old man came towards us. 

"Could I help you ladies?" He asked. Politely I declined his offer. I felt the nagging feeling again and I followed it towards the bookcase. Derora just stared at me weirdly. I felt bad, because she must find it rude that I was going into shops instead of helping her search for her cat as I said I would. But I just couldn't help but wanting to find out what this weird feeling is trying to show me. 

I made my way towards the bookshelf at the back and looked at the lined up books. Something didn't feel right...