I yawned, stretching up high to the sky then down low to my toes as the gym instructor had explained for us to do. I liked having gym class in the mornings. If I couldn't wake myself up in the morning, gym class and exercise always woke me up. Of course, drinking water helps too, but not as much as gym class.

"We always start by taking deep breaths and clearing our minds. This exercise is called Pranayama. It's quite useful for clearing the physical and emotional obstacles in our body and freeing our prana, our life energy."

Our yoga session with the yogini happens right before we get on any machines and the yogini explains that when you do yoga, it makes you more connected to god and happier to free yourself from any bad energies.

Myself, I don't believe there is a god, but to each their own. Breathing deeply, I closed my eyes and connected with my inner me, and opened my mind.

So many things in this world to discover... why do I feel there is so much I haven't learned yet? It's like... it feels like I'm being hidden from something...

Just then, the gym coach, Ms. Kat blew her whistle. "Alright, I want the girls on the treadmills, and ellipticals and the boys lifting weights! Let's go!" She clapped her hands twice, loudly, and everyone ran off to work out.

I started slow on the treadmill, then picked up the pace to a jog, my heart rate going close to 150. I smiled, feeling proud of myself and also surprised that I had that much energy.

Huh...I guess those yoga sessions must be helping, my heart rate never goes this high.

Ms. Kat seemed impressed, as I slowed the treadmill down after one hour. "Well done! I'm proud of you for not passing out this time." I smiled at her. "Thanks, coach. I'm off to shower." After a quick shower, I was dressed in blue, capri jeans and a pink and white striped crop top and I tied my hair into a bun.

I waved goodbye to the gym coach and the yogini and continued my classes, which also went well. I'm surprised I was even able to focus during geography and even got an 'A' on my test! I happily skipped to the lunchroom and bought myself a veggie pizza as a reward for passing the test. Sitting down, I took out my homework to finish so I could take it easy when I went home for the day.

As I walked home, I sensed a menacing presence. I whirled around to find Bryan behind me and stopped dead in my tracks. His eyes were bloodshot as if he hadn't slept in days. My heart rammed in my chest. He looked badly hurt. Abrasions on his arms and his face were deep; he was losing blood.

"Oh my god...are you okay?!" I quickly took out some thick napkins from my backpack and pressed them to his arms and face. He winced, clearly in pain. "What the hell...??" He rubbed his forehead, in a daze. "What...happened? Sofia? What are you...??"

I trembled, scared, but also wanting to slap him at the same time. "You freaking scared the crap out of me, you asshole! What the hell do you think you were doing, creeping up behind me like that?!"

He was sweating. "I-I'm sorry...I didn't mean to frighten you...I...wasn't in my right thought process—Ow!" I pressed the napkin harder on his cheek. "Shut up, you moron. What did you do, get into a fight?" He pushed my hand away. "It's none of your business...I can take care of myself. It's not like you owe me."

I rolled my eyes and went to press the napkins to his arms, but stopped short.

How in the world...?? The cuts aren't even there!

I looked up at his face. The cuts are already healed...?? What the hell...?? How hard was I pressing?

"You okay?" He was gazing at me, his eyes soft. "Um...yeah, I guess. I'm fine." I rubbed my forehead lightly. He gingerly touched my forehead. "How are your injuries? From yesterday, I mean." My cheeks were getting hot. "I'm fine, but-" He cut me off. "You should be getting home. When darkness comes, evil appears."

He walked away from me, his eyes serious. I ran after him and grabbed his arm. "Bryan, what do you mean? What kind of evil?"

"I can't tell you. I'm not allowed to."

There was an oddly chilly breeze in the air, and I hugged myself tightly to keep warm, even though it was eighty degrees outside. Maybe that meant that winter was starting soon... I mentally slapped myself. Come on, Sofia, what the hell? Winter? In the middle of summer? Oh yeah, THAT'S realistic...Great, I'm imagining things, again!

Bryan disappeared around the corner and I started walking to my apartment. I looked around as I got closer to my apartment, as I didn't want any more freaky surprises. Just then, I heard a voice.

Is that Bryan?

I crept slowly around the corner to avoid detection, putting myself as close to the wooden fence as possible and listen in. Is he talking to someone in person...or is he on the phone...??

I can just make out two voices, one is Bryan's and the other...is that a British accent?

Just then, a homeless women without legs wheels by on a wheelchair, holding a plastic cup and shaking it, begging for money. I smile, sadly, at her. "I'm sorry, I don't have any money." I think for a second, then pull out a ziploc bag, with a half eaten egg sandwich with potatoes and put it in her cup. "I hope that will help." She looks at the sandwich, smiles at me, then wheels on by. A small tear falls from my eye but I wipe it away and carry on listening.

"What do you want from me, you psychopath? I already gave you my answer." The other voice sighs. "You're going to have to tell her eventually, you bloody idiot." I can hear Bryan grit his teeth. "She's not ready." The British voice chuckles. "Then why is she listening in?" Bryan turns around and catches me watching.

I let out a small squeak, and turn to run in the opposite direction, when I bump into a hard chest and fall on the pavement. "Argh!" My elbow gets slightly scraped and I wince, blood dripping from the cut. The pale-looking gentlemen gives me his hand, speaking with the same British accent I heard earlier. "Are you alright, love?" His mesmerizing eyes...his voice...something about this man seems so familiar...

I shake my head out of the daze and take his hand as he effortlessly helps me to my feet. "I'm fine." A blush creeps upon my cheeks. "Thank you." He grins, showing perfectly white pearls. "You're welcome, love."

Bryan gives me a tight hug from behind. "You okay?" I laugh at him. "Yes I'm fine, I just said so." A hypnotic voice cuts through my thoughts.

Look into my eyes, my angel.

As I forcibly turn my head to the man in front of me, I quickly realize I have no control over my body. As if someone put me in a trance. What the hell? Bryan closes his eyes.

There, there, little one. You are so tired...you must go home and rest now...just relax...forget what just happened here, forget what you saw...sleep now.

The mesmeric voice in my head makes me so drowsy and caresses me to sleep, my body growing weaker, and soon everything turns black.

When I awake, I'm in my room laying down on my pink duvet cover, the fan is turned on, and I'm in my tie dye pajama shorts and tank top. I sit up, groggy. What the hell? What happened to me? I look over at the clock. Five o'clock. It's nearly time for dinner. I rub the sleepiness out of my eyes, and go down to the kitchen, the carpet ticklish to my bare feet. Oddly enough, my tennis shoes have been laid out and my socks hung to dry. How weird...I don't remember doing laundry...or changing my clothes...

I get to the kitchen and get a glass of milk and half a brownie that I saved. While I eat the delectable dessert, I try to recall what may have happened earlier today but nothing comes to mind. Actually only one thing does come to my mind. I need to go shopping. I yawn and stretch, putting my dishes in the sink and washing them.

I lazily turn on the tv, and just stare blankly at the Jeopardy show. My mind is so foggy, I don't even know what's what anymore. Maybe a walk will help clear my head. I change into some blue jeans and a yellow crop top, put my shoes on, and head out the door, keys and backpack in hand.

I would carry a purse, but I find it easier to just carry my backpack around. I find it's more convenient that way. Once I got to the store, I immediately started searching for fruit. I loved eating fruit and banana nut muffins in the morning. It always gave me an extra energy boost to get through the school day.

After I picked up my comestibles, and laundry detergent, I walked through the juice aisle, searching for some mango juice, my very favorite. Bending down to pick up the last carton from the fridge, I saw a little girl next to me, holding her hand out. I looked at the carton of mango juice, then handed it to her with a smile. Her eyes lit up, she gave me a hug, and ran off to show her mom.

I sighed wistfully. Helping people always felt nice, even if they meant I had to give up what I enjoyed. But honestly, I feel like if it pained me to give up what I enjoyed, I just wouldn't really be me.