I needed to get back to that house.

I snuck out my window, climbing down the tree planted outside it. I paused to see if anyone had noticed, and when I was sure, I began to run.

My feet pounded on the concrete at a steady rhythm. The sun beat down on my back with such a high intensity. I took a deep breath as I began to build up a sweat; trying to quickly reach my destination.

I slowed as the house came into view. I walked over to where I assumed I woke up. Then I remembered the creepy garden gnome, that had waited for me before and turned around, nearly toppling into the street.

There was a huge horde of them waiting.

And was it weird that I almost wanted to touch one?

I was about to reach out when I noticed a parcel near my feet. I knelt down to look at it more closely, and decided to open it.

And kicked it away when I did.

It was a replica of me, but it was like those creepy gnomes. I looked at them upon impulse, and I saw them to begin to move. More than just blinking; walking around.

I opened my mouth to scream, but nothing could come out. I scurried over to my replica, and breathed a sigh of relief when it didn't move.

I stretched out a hand and brushed its smooth face when I got a sudden jolt of what felt like the biggest dose of dizziness possible.

I gasped, and realized I was facing the sky. I massaged my temples and got up, to stop.

This day was just too crazy.

I took in a sharp intake of breath as I slid out from under the large hand. I staggered back until my back was against the fence of the house.

I began to scuffle sideways, and hands grabbed me from behind. I let out a screech, and they released me. It was two girls, one with straight black hair, the other with strawberry blonde hair that formed bouncy curls at her shoulders.

They spoke, but I couldn't hear them. It was just silent mouths moving, it was a horrifying sight.

I tried to turn and run away again, but they held onto me, their grip tightening ever still.

A boy came forward, staring at me with the deepest sadness I had ever seen. His mouth moved in silent words, and he reached out to me.

When he made contact, everything became clear. Memories flooded into my mind, and emotions clouded my thoughts.

"BARRY!" I cried, "BARRY!"

My eyes welled up in tears, as I reached as far as I could to touch him. He was so far away, so out of reach, so distant.

A tear slipped down his cheek, but I couldn't reach him to wipe it away. He spoke, but yet I still couldn't hear his voice.

"I can't hear you!" I voiced, and Barry's face dropped. He let go of me, and pulled out a paper. He began to frantically write on it, and handed it to me.

Why did you leave me?

I stared at Barry in shock. I didn't even think about how he thought of everything. It must have been crushing.

"I'm sorry! Barry please forgive me!" I sobbed, a new round of tears brimming my eyes.

Barry showed a small smile and passed me another written note.

We'll talk about this later. Switch back to your human, and go to the fence, opening the barrier. I think we can come out as our gnomes, and switch to human automatically.

I set the paper down, and began to reluctantly let go of Barry. I walked over and switched back to my human, doing as Barry had said.

I stepped through the barrier as a feeling of unease washed over me. The horde of gnomes came closer to me, Barry in the lead.

But it wasn't my Barry.

The small humanoid figure morphed into a taller, life size human being. A young lady stared at me with a devilish look in her eyes.

"You shouldn't have left, Chloe." Ms. Withertop sneered. She was so young, but somehow I still recognized her from the pictures I had seen online. I had no idea what to say or do.

"Why can't you just let us leave?" I pleaded.

"I need you. You need me. I share with you what I have, and the people, they are what keep me young, and my husband alive. Their spirits supply us. And they all stay. I knew that you would come back, after I took your memory, this would be the only possible place for you to get answers. It really was a shame that such a horrendous car crash befell your friends shortly after you came here. What a shame. But it really was a good cover-up. Now, how about you just stay, and we can all be happy."

"Was that your fault? Did you kill my friends!? You will pay for that! We don't need you. You need to let go and die like everyone else, not collecting more innocent people to live your life longer for no purpose. You are just gathering more and more people, for no reason at all!"

"I am a collector. Much like you would collect candy or books. I have a purpose, but it is not one you need to know yet. The people are content here, and none have wanted to leave."

"People are not like books. You can't just collect them." How was I going to fix this?

"Yes, I can."

Darkness quickly flooded my vision before I could respond.