I was going crazy.

The blood red eyes I'd seen had disappeared when I took a step into their direction. Without the distraction of immediate danger, I took the time to explore my new environment.

I had stopped walking once my feet began to ache. I plopped down at the base of a tree and leaned against the sturdy trunk, catching my breath.

I had to be careful. I had to be mindful of the energy I was expending. If something happened, I needed to be in top condition.

Other than feeling thirsty and experiencing the aches in my feet, nothing had happened.

Maybe I wasn't in the Weeping Forest. The lingering thought vanished as quickly as it appeared. I covered my face with my palms and exhaled a breath.

What was I missing?

I closed my eyes and rocked my head back until it touched the surface of the trunk. I clasped my fingers together and thought about what to do. It would be useful if someone at least knew I was in here-

I cursed. I did have a way of letting someone know. If Jamison's dreams were truly linked with mine, I would be able to see him when I succumbed to sleep.

I didn't want to fall asleep in the Weeping Forest because this place was infested with eerie vibes. It would leave me open and vulnerable but I was desperate. I had no other choice.

I focused on my breathing and my heart rate, willing my limbs to soften up. It took longer than usual for my body to feel any semblance of relaxation. I eased the tension in my shoulders and slumped against the tree...

"You're back." Jamison approached me with a knowing look. He looked completely relaxed as he took me in from head to toe. There was also a certain smugness laced in his tone as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Just as I predicted."

I blinked, and assessed our surroundings. It looked like we were in one of the vast, nameless fields in the Pack. Jamison was dressed head to toe in his Enforcer gear while I was still sporting the same clothes I had on before I closed my eyes.

"Are we both lucid dreaming?" I asked Jamison.

I couldn't let my guard down. This easily could've been an effect from being in the Weeping Forest. I heard people suffered hallucinations in here.

Jamison closed most of the distance between us. "What's wrong?" He asked carefully. The earlier ease in him dissipated keeping him alert and in tune with my mood.

It was an interesting thing watching his eyes dart from my left to right eye, studying them with an intensity that would've made any other women go weak in the knees.

"Are you really in my dreams?" I asked.

Jamison nodded, "Now tell me what's going on."

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "I think I've wandered into the Weeping Forest."

Jamison didn't react for a few seconds but then he was suddenly in my space, clutching my arms. My lips froze as I took in his expression. It was the first time I'd seen him look so...unsettled.

"Don't joke about something like this." Jamison chastised.

When I snapped out of my thoughts, I shook my head. "I'm not joking. I don't know how long I've been here. I keep hearing water but I don't see any bodies of water nearby."

His grip on my arms tightened. "You're in a very dangerous place Mila."

"How do I get out? You've been here before right? When you took the test to become part of the Elite Enforcers?"

"Everyone's experience varies in the Weeping Forest. I won't be able to tell you anything useful. The Forest tests and torments you with your deepest nightmares. I don't know what those nightmares are for you but you might face them."

"Then I could be here for a while if I can't face it." The thought made my throat tighten in discomfort. "Or I might die."

"You're not going to die." Jamison held my gaze.

I gently pried off Jamison's hands from my arms. "I'm not scared of death. I'm more worried about what I'll see when I return to the Forest."

When I spoke the words, I could feel myself slipping away. My fingers became translucent, and the rest of my body followed. Jamison lunged forward and tried to grab me but I disappeared through his fingers.

My eyes snapped open. Several pairs of blood red eyes watched me.

It was the changelings.

I slowly stood as they watched me intently.

There were about six of them surrounding me.

Rather than fear, guilt bloomed in my chest.

I wasn't afraid of them but there was an uneasiness that came over me as I faced them.

They slowly approached me. Two wolves leapt for me first. The other wolves followed suit, cracking their jaws open. I ducked, dodging their jaws. I rolled away, squeezing my eyes shut as I heard their grunts and low growls. I heard them collide behind me as I picked myself up and sprinted away.

There was nothing but trees in my path. It didn't matter where I went, my scenery was pretty much unchanged.

Think Mila, what could I do?

I kept running, never once daring to look over my shoulder at my impending doom.

I didn't want to hurt them but even I knew in this situation that if I gave in, I would lose my life.

I had to survive.

"Mila."

I faltered, unprepared to hear the dead. I lost footing and stumbled over my feet, crashing to my knees. I cursed and finally looked behind me. The red eyed changelings had disappeared. In place, a man in a pristine white coat stood in their place.

Teal blue eyes watched me intently- the same shade as my own.

Dean smirked, looking down at me from his height as he slowly approached. I loathed his black, sleek shoes and how untouched they appeared.

I closed my eyes, unwillingly to accept that this pathetic man was alive.

"Closing your eyes won't do you any good. I'm real. I'm here. Why don't you open your eyes dear niece and show me your fear?"

Fear?

He thought I was scared? I snorted, wiping my cheek as I stood. "Those days are long gone asshole. You may exist here in this Forest but everywhere else, you're nothing. The hunters that came across the labs couldn't even uncover a single strand of your hair. I did that."

Dean craned his neck. It reminded me of those creepy porcelain dolls. "You've changed Mila. You no longer cower beneath my gaze and you have no problem holding it now... a steep difference from when you were my subject."

If he had spewed these words years earlier, I would've raged and been hasty with my actions without a single coherent and sane thought in my mind.

I'd changed since then.

Despite the thunderous beat of my heart, I kept my stance firm. I hid my clenched fists behind my back, obscuring the fact I wanted nothing but to grab the man's neck and wring it.

"I guess a I'll have to condition you again to heed my orders." Dean pulled out a syringe from his coat, holding it up.

My immediate reaction was to flinch but only my eye twitched from seeing the large needle. "I'm not scared of you."

"Don't be too self assured." The man lunged forward. His speed surprised me. Dean was never this quick on his feet. He didn't have the agility. His mind had always been sharp but his body had never seemed to catch up considering he had a weak heart. He mostly remained behind a desk, eyes fixated on a screen as he did research. His lack in this aspect always angered him and I had always been careful to not put attention on his disadvantage.

Dean jabbed the needle in my direction, aiming for my neck. I swiftly caught his wrist and forced it into an odd angle. Dean grunted in pain as his grip loosened. I pilfered the syringe from his hand and cast it aside. Dean grabbed my neck with his free hand, cutting off my oxygen.

My wolf was infuriated, demanding that I cut our interaction short.

I gripped his neck, using my strength to crush his windpipe with a single move. His eyes rolled back as his chest stuttered from the abrupt interception of air flow. There was only a whisper of his last breath as I let his body slump piteously at my feet.

His body suddenly dispersed into black orbs that vanished like airy bubbles. I wiped my hands against the fabric of my jeans. "You no longer have any hold on me Dean."

"You showed him no mercy."

I went rigid.

Why was Jamison here?

I warily eyed the man as he slowly clapped, smirking wryly at the empty spot at my feet where Dean had disappeared. His eyes were dark as they eventually took me in. "I'm impressed. I see you find no issue in killing your own kin."

I kept my lips sealed.

Dean was no kin of mine.

When he died, I didn't shed a single tear for him.

"But then again, those burn marks on your back testify of the horrors you suffered at his hands."

My body flinched as he mentioned my scars.

I told no one about them. They were my shame and secret. Although the scar tissue no longer hurt, the memory of how I obtained them remained engraved in my mind like a persistent haunting.

"Why so shy now?" Jamison asked quietly, coming closer.

I took a step back.

Jamison stilled, noting the small movement with a spark of interest. "Interesting, you have no fear for the man that suffered you and committed horrible acts upon you but in front of this man, you cower away like a little child."

I wasn't cowering away. I was simply cautious. I didn't know why Jamison's image was here in the Weeping Forest with me. I wasn't scared of him-

"Did my rejection of you affect you as much as the abominations that man made you suffer?"

My cautiousness of fake Jamison didn't stem from his rejection but I wasn't going to share this detail with him.

"You don't talk much."

"Leave me be. I'm tired and find myself falling asleep listening to you ramble." I nonchalantly waved my hand. I barely stifled the yawn I felt creeping up my throat.

Fake Jamison snorted. "So if it isn't the rejection or fear, why do I see this man in your nightmares?"

I shrugged. I wasn't going to answer all his questions for him. It took away the slight fun I had interacting with this particular Enforcer, even if he was merely a delusion crafted by the mysterious depths of the Weeping Forest.

"I'm not scared of you."

"Lies. You're scared of this man but I'll find out. You can't hide anything while you're trapped here. The first thing that goes when you're here long enough is your mind. It'll become a mess of mismatched memories and fractured dreams and hopes."

"Save the bullshit. I know you're not real."

Jamison erupted into laughter. It was the type of laughter that had his whole body jerking from the fullness of it. "If that is true, prove it."

"I'm not interested."

I had every intention of walking away but Jamison blocked my path. He peered down at me. "I said prove it. I want to see this bravery first hand."

"I already told you-"

"Here, a lovely knife." A sharp dagger appeared in his hand. He took my hands and gently placed the hilt in my palms. Fake Jamison didn't retract his hands from mine immediately. He kept covering my hands with his, watching me with a crazy glint in his eye that inspired chills down my spine.

"What do you want me to do with this shitty knife?"

Jamison laughed, " I want you to pierce me right here." He positioned my hands in a manner that had the tip of the dagger aimed at his heart.