We walked hand-in-hand into the warmth of the shack and it's cozy four walls. Never have I witnessed the particular look on Owen's face as he paced back and forth in front of the untidy bed, but a glimpse of the other night flashed before my eyes when I looked into his. Both looks shared a similar, unnerving vacancy.

Ethan stepped away to close the door and fasten the makeshift lock. Only the sound of heavy footsteps and the sense of dread echoed throughout the room.

The sight of the blue bandana folded neatly in the center of the bed among the disheveled sheets caught my attention, reminding me I had once been entertained by the ominous piece of fabric and Amanda died by it.

So much for the beautiful knight that charmed his way into our lives. Owen had no trace of that man left in him or in his demeanor. Even his words and the way he spoke changed. He no longer seemed like an innocent, young peer, but more like an experienced, calculated manipulator. In fact, he resembled the ugly trolls hiding under a dark, damp bridge than any knight. His once attractive hair now reminded me of an unkempt nest of sun-dried hay atop his head. With every step, back and forth, the creaking wood beneath his feet matched the grim fairytale scene in my head of a vile ogre stalking the grounds for his next meal. I expected Owen to unhinge his jaw and swallow us whole at any moment.

Instead, he paused and stared ahead at nothing, eerily stilling the room. "We have to do something about Allison."

"What?!" I gasped and immediately turned to Ethan, my true knight. "What is he-?"

"You're becoming a nuisance," Owen interrupted, he finally turned to me and the hollow look in his eyes sent an icy chill down my spine. "It's really starting to wear on my patience."

"You better not lay a hand on her!" The power in Ethan's voice startled me. "In fact, don't even mention her." His lengthy dark hair framed his face like the mane of a strong and fierce lion.

Owen shook his head, clearly irritated. "Every time I get close, so close, she's there to stop me."

Ethan narrowed his eyes. "Close to what?"

"To you!" Owen scoffed, obviously annoyed that Ethan was unable or refused to connect the dots. "Can't you see it?"

"She's worried and scared, Owen." Ethan went to my side. "You scare her. Don't you understand? You scare me too."

Owen's jaw dropped and the room went silent. "I scare you?" He pressed his thumb to the center of his chest. "Me? You guys are scared of me?"

Ethan nodded. "You give us plenty of reason to be."

Owen huffed and shook his head in disbelief. "Remember the time we spent taking the long trek back to the shop? Remember the crazy shit you confessed to me along the way? If I were like everyone else and didn't understand you, I would be a heap of mess trying to digest the messed up images you embedded in my fragile little head. But luckily, I'm not a delicate little thing and I do understand you. Luckily, you and I are two sides of the same coin. I'd swear we were twin flames, meant to take the world by storm, but there is that one thing desperate to douse that flame." He glared at me.

Ethan moved forward, positioning himself in front of me like a human shield. "I would never forgive you if you hurt her. Never. I would blow out whatever spark you think exists between us before I let you hurt Allison."

Owen's stern glare softened into smile and his cheeks flushed. "Damn, I like the way that came out your mouth."

"I mean it, Owen." Ethan remained serious, his lips taut, his stare fixed.

"I know, I know. Lighten up." Owen chuckled, seemingly changing his behavior at will before relaxing on the edge of the bed. "I'm not suggesting doing anything sinister, you know, especially to your beloved sister."

"Then what are you suggesting?" Ethan stood firm.

"I think she should have a friend." Owen ran his fingers along his jawline, caressing the stubble as if it were another's. "She needs someone to preoccupy her while we're preoccupied. You know?"

"We can't go out there again." Ethan's voice shook with concern. "Look at what happened the last time we did."

"Ethan, imagine what we can do together." Owen smiled when his eyes met Ethan's and the determination and passion oozed from his body language. "Imagine the force we'd become if we were partners, allowing ourselves to indulge in every urge we refuse to suppress." He glanced to me and I couldn't help but wonder if one of those urges was murder. His smile slowly faded. "And then imagine what would happen if you guys were discovered and people started poking around this place and poking around your past." His frown was so exaggerated, his twisted facial features was borderline grotesque. "Now that's one fairy tale that wouldn't result in a happy ending."

There was no mistaking the blatant threat. If Owen didn't get what he wanted, he wouldn't hesitate to put sole blame on us for the horrors our frozen lake concealed. And if anyone started poking around in our past, they wouldn't hesitate to blame us either.

I cleared my throat, at the same time willed my nerves to settle.

Owen ran his hand through his hair, trying to tame the wild strands. "Allison, do you have something to say?"

I took a deep breath, imagining the air that flowed into my lungs carried some sort of magical dust that would instill me with courage. "I think ..." I gulped. Say it, damn it. Just say it. "I think Owen has a good idea."

Ethan turned to me, one eyebrow high on his forehead. "What do you mean?"

"He's right," I went on, trying my best to bring some sort of truce to the table. "I could use a friend. Someone to occupy my time so I'm not such a nui-nui-"

"-Nuisance," Owen finished, shaking his head.

"We all can go to the tourist area and find the perfect person." Ethan gave me a look. A sense of hope filled my chest as I knew he understood my plan. This time, with Ethan's help, I can get past the barrier of trees that frightened me so much and finally get as far away from this place and Owen as we could. There was no doubt, Owen frightened me more than any part of society or authority figure.

We had never considered leaving, didn't think we'd really have to, even though we had prepared for it. We didn't like to entertain the idea, but we always suspected there was family in Arizona. In his drunken and jealous rage, Mr. Bryson often mentioned a half-brother he had called Robert who was raising a daughter out in the Valley of the Sun. We didn't know much about him and didn't have an urge to, but if all else failed, he could possibly be our last resort at a real life or escaping this one.

I gulped, trying my best to stay calm and keep it together. "What's the plan? What if we go and find someone, but he just wants to hang out for a while and not stay? What if he wants to leave like Amanda did?"

"That's the problem." Owen sighed and rubbed his temple. "You're full of what ifs. And they would be a she not a he."

Of course, he would want to bring another female he could manipulate and possibly keep hostage if it came to it. Someone he thought would be "fragile" and weak, and couldn't fight back. Did he have an issue with women in general? If so, what? Did it have anything to do with his "uncontrollable urges?"

"We have to prepare and ask what-ifs to be safe," Ethan said. "We don't want what happened to Amanda to happen again."

Owen's snapped his head in Ethan's direction. "I thought we weren't gonna talk about Mandy anymore. She wasn't the right person. A mistake, a lapse of judgment on my part. That's not gonna happen again. Trust me, I know how to spot the perfect person."

"Fine." I nodded. "So, when are we going to do this?" I needed to prepare myself for the drastic change. No more shack. No more frozen lake. No more hiding out.

Owen shook his head. "You're staying here."

My jaw dropped. "But-"

Owen massaged his temples. "Leave the planning up to me."

Disappointment flushed Ethan's eyes and he couldn't bring himself to look at me. It was obvious me and Ethan's plan wasn't going to work. So now it was time for plan B. I wouldn't allow another person to take advantage of us and force us to do the terrible things they conjure in their sick head. Things they think they could get away with and wouldn't ever have to pay for.

Never again.

I stepped toward the bookcase, ready to grasp the rusted hatchet, but paused when I discovered it was no longer there. My heart raced as adrenaline and fear drummed through my body.

Owen stood, retrieved the blue bandana from the bed, and stuffed it in his pocket. "I'm all too familiar with keeping your enemies close and your murder weapon closer. If I were you, I would keep that in mind next time."

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