Frozen with fear I watched the hag screech. She sounds like she's in pain and I want to scream with her but didn't dare make a sound. I looked across to see that Elena has abandoned me, and honestly I'm hurt but not surprised.

"I will get you!" She screamed at the top of her lungs then cackled cruelly. I held the apple tightly and started backing away from this white haired, bony, ugly old woman.

"I'm sorry please don't hurt me!" I pleaded and the woman turned her head towards me but she isn't actually looking at me. Her eyes are just white no pupil or iris just empty. They say eyes are the window to the soul. Does she have no soul or just no windows? She screeched loudly again and I whimpered.

"She's blind! Stop making sounds!" Someone yelled out in the air. The woman turned her head facing the trees and that's when I started to realise that she was listening out for the sound that I would be causing if I were to run. I turned to look at the trees to see if I could find this certain stranger and found no one. I guess they ran too...

"Where are you?" The hag sang as I started walking away being careful where I step. I never let my back face her for fear that she might sneak up behind me and catch me. I don't want to die like that. "WHERE ARE YOU!!!!" She screamed and again out of nowhere so I covered my mouth to stop me from screaming. I paced soundlessly on the cold dirt then out of nowhere something flew at me. A creature with sharp talons clawed at my hair as well as making loud squawk sounds. I screamed out then it flew to the hags side as she grinned her toothless grin. It's a crow. "There you are!" The hag screeched and came after me the crow seemed to be leading her all the way. I didn't bother waiting a second I ran for my life, heart pounding, sticks scratching my dress to my legs and my too long sleeves getting in my way. Eventually I just ripped the sleeves off at the shoulders and threw them at the hag and the crow. Still they followed catching up.

"Someone help me!" I screamed. How can this woman run so fast? She really must be a witch! And that crow! I need to get rid of it! I started slowly down growing tired and legs aching but I kept pushing myself further until I tripped over a stone and fell face in the ground. I heard the witch cackle loudly and kept my eyes closed waiting for her to get me.

Snap.

Everything went silent. Except for my rapid breathing. I dared to look up and saw the back of the hag kneeling down. I quickly got up onto my feet and got ready to run until I heard her sob. I gazed at the dead crow that lay in front of her, with a stone next to its head, covered in its blood. The woman started crying loudly and whimpering.

"My poor friend. Why you? My poor dear life long friend. How will I continue on without you?" She sobbed in her wrinkled hands and I immediately felt my heart break. I should be running but the more this woman cried the more sorry I felt. She's all alone now, her only friend is dead. I reached into the pocket of my dress and picked out the white rose Adam gave to me. Without making a sound I stepped beside her and placed the rose next to her.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean any harm." I whispered and she tensed up and I thought she was going to jump at me but instead she just kept sobbing. I stepped away slowly then I bolted through the trees going the same way I came. I never want to ever have to go through that again. I wonder who helped me... I rushed through the trees faster than the wind and saw the world run past me in a blur. I'm losing my breath and need to stop to rest before I pass out. With my adrenaline gone I stopped and leaned against a big oak tree, I kept taking huge breaths but they never seemed enough. I stared at the red apple that sat in the palm of my hand, it seemed wonderful when it was on the tree but now it just looks plain and simple. I can't believe I let myself do this, they pushed me into it but I gladly went on with this ridiculous escapade. The apple doesn't even seem magical it is just an apple and I was desperate enough to after this pointless fruit. Those so called friends are not worth me losing my life, especially over some food! All of a sudden I heard a stick break somewhere behind me and I whipped around wide eyed, but saw nothing. Has the hag come to seek revenge? No she can't find me she's blind. Who else prowls in these woods? Or what? I felt something crawl lightly on my hand, I narrowed my eyes at my now filthy hand and saw...

"A spider!" I screamed at the little hairy beast and shook my hand around trying to get it off. I hit it off me and it landed somewhere on the ground squirming its way to a nearby tree. "Ew!" I whimpered and noticed the red bite mark on my hand. I heard a someone chuckle and searched around puzzled. I gulped as I took a step back and heard the sound of dead leaves being crushed on by probably someone's foot. And I will not wait around to find out who that is. I turned around and bolted again and I swear I heard a distant voice telling me to wait but I ignored it and kept on running. Finally after so long I heard the voices of human beings... Yes I'd recognise Annette's annoying pitchy voice anywhere! I reached the clearing and watched the girls run around hysterical and the boys looked worried. Then I saw Annette hush everyone as Elena stood there twiddling her thumbs staring at the ground.

"Someone has to go and save her!" Barney said and almost look like he's about to burst into tears. No one however offered to save me. After all I have been through! I stormed out of the trees and everyone froze. I felt anger and fear boil through me, I could have died! And they're just standing around like cowards.

"So, do you have the apple?" Annette asked anxious and shocked. That's it? No are you ok? How are you alive? No apology? Just do I have the dumb, stupid, pointless, plain apple! I stood my ground and kept a blank expression. I gazed at Malcolm, to Adam both wearing the same dumbstruck expressions, to Barney and Harry, I stared disappointedly at Elena who looked like a fish her mouth opening and closing looking for something to say then I was back to Annette who stood there too proud for my liking.

"Oh yeah I have your stupid apple!" I growled and threw the apple square in her face knocking her over so she fell on her ass. Everyone gasped but a few accidentally laughed. "There's your apple! I hope you enjoy it you snobby cow!" I screeched just as loud as the blind woman. Girls ran to Annette's aid as she stared at me shocked at my outburst. "You can only push me so far! I cannot believe how cruel you are! I'm also disappointed in myself that I was seriously thinking of being friends with someone like you!" I paused and stared at everybody else. "And cowards like you!" I saw Elena look away shamefully at the corner of my eye. Well good that message is mainly for her. "So you can all hang out together and act as if you own the world I don't care! As long as you keep me out of it!" I said in a lower tone then stalked off leaving them to their gossips. Who knows maybe I'll be their new topic. No one followed me but I don't care. I've never been this mad before, in fact I don't recall ever yelling at someone but she deserved it. Even though I'm the one in the end that walks alone.

"Rose?" A male voice said and I recognised it as Stephan's voice. I glanced up and saw him standing there with a few girls standing behind him watching him dreamily. "What happened to you?" He asked truly concerned. I sighed then sniffled, have I been crying? I gazed at mother's now tattered dress and my eyes got teary eyed. I wasn't crying before but I must stop myself from doing so now. I sighed again and didn't look at him in the eye.

"I've had a really rough day, I just want to go home." I sound like a child, I'm probably going to be so embarrassed after this. "Thank your father for me please Stephan." I lifted up what was left of the dress and started walking off shamefully, getting myself out of sight before he could even object. I made sure of it. I'm done with dealing with the Lawrence men for one day and everyone else for that matter. My right hand started stinging and I examined the spider's bite mark. It's all red and it's swelling. I should have taken this bite more seriously. I let the small fingers of my left hand lightly feel the wound, then for a split second my sight went funny. The world became a blur but I distinctively see the blue veins showing along my arm. I tried blinking a few times and shaking around my head but my eyes never adjusted. I started panicking. I bumped into a tree and fell to my knees as the world spun around me. Dying from a spider bite, I did not see this coming. I can't die yet I still have the rest of my life to live, and who will help Papa on the farm? I haven't even gotten the chance to fall in love yet.

"Someone help me." I whimpered leaning my head against the tree trunk. All alone on the pathway to home. Not ready to die yet but unfortunately God has other plans for me. Maybe this is my punishment for catching him out earlier, no I'm sure he's more forgiving than that. Suddenly in the blurry distance I could make out a black figure coming closer. The grim reaper I suppose. He kneeled down in front of me and I realised he was a person.

"Give me your hand." He said softly. His voice sounds gentle and I feel like I could trust him, I want to trust him.

"I... I can't see..." I stuttered my head feeling heavy so I sighed heavily.

"Don't worry I'll help you." He said taking my hand. His hand is so warm but his skin feels so rough and dry. I tried pulling away but he didn't let go. "Relax if we don't heal this you'll die." That stopped me and made me shiver so I nodded and tried to relax. He got out some green thing from his black cape and rested it on my hand. He grabbed the end of my dress and ripped a piece off wrapping it around the green... I think it might be a leaf.

"How is this supposed to..."

"Shh!" He shut me up rudely. I can't believe it I'm really going to die, well at least it's not by a hag. My hand felt like something was sucking on it and I immediately tried to shake the thing off. "Stop it! It is just sucking out the venom." He ordered and I my sight started getting better.

"Is this magic?" I asked taken aback.

"No. Well, sort of." What does he mean sort of? It's either magic or it's not. Finally I could see his face but his head is covered by the black hood. I have never seen this man in the village. I thought I new everyone in the town, he must be new. His eyes are strange but a vibrant green with sky blue surrounding the iris if his eye. He has a strong jaw that looks like it could rip a head off a chicken, his lips are pink and dry, you can just see the cracks on them. Bushy brown eyebrows so he must be a brunette, high cheek bones and a pointed out nose. And then there's the dirt smudged on his forehead, his skin dark making his eyes pop out. "Tell me, are you feeling any better?" He asked staring at me intently.

"Yes, you have the most strangest eyes." I commented and he edged away pulling the hood down to try and hide his face.

"So I guess you can see again." His shoulders are broad but he's not big and buff, I say he must be close to the same age as me.

"You think?" I mocked playfully then stared down at his handy work. "This amazing. I don't how I'm going to..." I looked up to see him gone, not even a footprint on sight. "Thank you." I breathed out then something fell onto my head and rolled off in front of me. It's a red rose this time also no thorns so I easily picked it up. I stared up at the sky to see where this rose had fallen and saw the man up on the tree branch.

"You never saw me." He said before he disappeared again in a blink of an eye. I stared down at the rose and tipped my nose into it smelling it's sweet fragrance. 

~{*}~

I finally arrived at the door of my house after an hour of walking, the sun just beginning to set. I kept the rose as a memory of that odd looking stranger, I have a feeling that I won't be seeing him again. However I would love to repay him, he saved my life! And after an hour of thinking about it I have an idea that maybe just maybe he also saved me from the hag. It's just a thought it may not be true. I reached for the door handle then staggered back when my mother abruptly swung it open with the guest standing right behind her. She looks flushed and kept breathing heavily, but with a smile plastered on her face as she stared at him. I still can't see his face. What is with strangers and cloaks? I examined my mother and caught her buttons undone so her bustier was showing. And my mouth fell open.

"Thank you for coming my Lord." She said almost breathlessly as she fixed up her messy hair. She... She didn't. She wouldn't. She couldn't. No she...

The creepy stranger stepped out of the house ignoring my mother but she didn't seem to care because she walked back inside out of sight. He stood in front of me and I could feel his eyes look all over me even though I can't see them. However the sunlight is helping me see part of his face. A smirking grin with a blond stubble that you can faintly see. "I'm sorry about your father's farm." He said with fake sympathy. "What do you mean?" I questioned confused but he just smirked then stared at my bandaged hand. He took my hand forcefully and ripped off the bandage and the leaf and I could see the bite mark that has not fully healed yet.

"Child's magic..." I heard him whisper. "Allow me." He rested his other bare hand onto it this time the skin is soft and smooth and pale. He whispered some words I couldn't understand and I felt my hand start to burn.

"Ouch! Stop it!" He ignored me and I kept trying to tug my hand away but he gripped harder forcing me to stay put. "Please." I begged then it just all stopped. The pain, the burning gone. He finally let go and my hand was completely healed and flawless even my fingernails looked clean.

"Have a good night my dear." He said in this cold voice that made me shudder inside. Then he walked away and I'm thankful that he's leaving. This man gives me the shivers.

"What have you done to my dress!?" I heard my mother bellow. Oh no I forgot about that. "Honestly I cannot trust you with anything, you're so pathetic!" She yelled gesturing for me to come inside. I'm pathetic? What about her!? I may be careless when it comes to fashion, clumsy and perhaps even hopeless but there is no way I could be worse than her.

"Mother?" I called out as I walked inside the dark house and saw everything in the same spot as before, except for the dining table which had some plates with half eaten food and a little small violet coloured pouch. My mother grabbed the pouch and tucked it into her apron pocket. "Who was that man?" I questioned hesitantly.

"A Lord and my guest." She said fixing something up her dress.

"What did you do with him?" I asked before thinking. Her eyes darkened and her hands became fists.

"I beg your pardon?" She asked through clenched teeth.

"What was his business here?"

"How dare you question me! Go to your room!"

"Don't I deserve an answer?" I yelled back.

"That's it you go to your room and you can forget about dinner you spoiled little brat!" She screeched. Turning away from me, so I ran to my room and slammed the door shut. I tore what was left of this dress off and stood in front of my mirror in my nightgown. I almost died today, twice in one day my life was threatened but will she care? No if she heard it from someone else's mouth she'd probably just shrug. I shall never be like her, I will never treat anyone like the way she treats me. Of poor father, how could she just do something like that with another man? I may not be a genius but I'm no fool. However I wonder if papa would even care, I've never see them show affection ever in my lifetime. Would he get mad? I sighed and collapsed onto my pillow face into the straw pillow. After a few seconds I turned my head facing the room so I could breath and saw the red rose just lay there where I had just dumped it on the floor. I picked it up and held it close to my chest so I just smell it's scent. I don't know why but I feel a connection to it. Even if it came from a certain stranger, it holds the memory of my life being saved. There was also something about that man that I liked, he's mysterious. And he saved my life but I don't understand why. That's my question. Why would he save me? He could of left me and let me die slowly but he didn't. I will always remember him even when this flower drops its last petal. Call me crazy but I want to see him again. He may be a little odd looking, however those eyes definitely captured me. I went back to my bed and lay the rose on my lips so I could smell out every last bit of it until the scent is all gone. My eyes trailed out the window and though the sun is just setting I can see the moon is not quite full yet. Which means only one thing, the beast will come out tomorrow night. It's still a myth but one can never be too careful.

~{*}~

I opened my eyes when I heard a light knocking on my door. Gosh where am I? Right  I remember I was sent to my room and I fell asleep.

"Rose?" I heard my father's voice outside the door. I searched my bed for the rose which is hard when the only light you have is the moon.

"You can come in father." I said and tried looking under my bed but all I see is eternal darkness. Which got me scared so whipped my head away and sat up properly as my father walked in holding a lit lantern and a bowl of what I think is soup.

"I brought you something since you went to bed without dinner." I can faintly see his tired expression and he set down the bowl in my hands and continued to hold the lantern. As I started eating he simply sat on my wooden chair and watched.

"How was your day Papa?" I asked after taking a mouthful. I can't believe how hungry I am.

"Fine, got enough money for us for now." He said and rubbed his eye with a clenched fist. "Dare I ask what you did today that got you sent to your room?" He asked curiously then gave me this odd look which I couldn't read. I don't think I have the guts to tell him everything that's happened today.

"Well I... Um..." Nope I can't, I just can't.

"I saw Mr Lawrence on my way back." He stated and I just gulped down the last part of my soup and stared at the, oh so interesting bowl. "He said him and his boys took you out into town." I hope that's all he said. Please let that be all he said I kept repeating in my mind. "Then I spoke to Barney and he told a very interesting story about you." 

"Alright papa I get it! Are you disappointed?"

"Did you get the apple?" He asked surprising me.

"Yes. Then I realised how stupid I'd been and..."

"Did you throw the apple at another girl." He questioned but I can see his mouth forming into a smile.

"Yes, I know there's no excuse for it but I was upset and..." Before I could finish he burst out laughing and I sat there stunned.

"You're not mad?"

"I just can't believe it. My little Rose..." He laughed again. "I wish I were there to see it." He said wiping away a tear from his eye then he got all serious. "But I never want that to happen again, and no going off on your own either. Understand?" I smiled at him and nodded. He walked over to my bed and gave me a kiss on my forehead then looked down at the floor. He bent over and picked something up and I saw in his hand the rose from the stranger. "Who gave this to you?" He asked almost glaring at it. 'You never saw me.' The stranger had said so I guess he will be my little secret.

"No one did I found it." I lied in a innocent tone. He nodded then left it on my pillow and walked to the door leaving me in the dark.

"Good night Rose."

"Good night Papa." I said as I lay my head down next to the rose waiting for sleep to come back and take me. I do hope tomorrow will be better than today.