Yeah, it's odd how my mum was perfectly fine with me having an older boyfriend but flipped out when I snuck out to a party. But according to her she sensed an air of sophistication from him and saw him as someone charming and responsible. Just because he complimented her skin.

Mums, right?

I knock on Gaia's door and wait for a reply. Jack's jacket is bunched in my arms. I have to return it today and clear things out concerning what happened that night with my mum.

The door flicks open and a familiar face pops out. "Hello I'm Cassi," I tell her. She nods at me enthusiastically. "I know that."

"Oh," I reply. Wait how do you know that? "I'm here to see Gaia... if that isn't too much trouble." She opens the door wider for me to step through. I do that and walk into the living room. "Gaiaaaaa!" I jump and glance at her in shock. "Someone's here to see youuuuu!" She then turns to me with a smile. "You can take a seat over there," she adds politely, gesturing to the couch. Yeah, this is her sister.

I nod and go to sit down. Then immediately Gaia comes racing down the stairs. "What is- oh hey Marie," she grins. "Marie?"

"Yeah, I'mma call you that now," she adds and fluffs beside me. What's with people and giving me nicknames? "So what's up?" she asks.

"Well, I was just wondering if you knew where Jack lived." She furrows her brows. "Jack as in Jack Wonder?"

"You know how my mum found out that I snuck out."

She winces. "Yeah sorry about that again... I kind of feel like all that was my fault."

"Well, it doesn't matter now... I just hate how she scolded Jack for no reason at all... which is why I have to clear things out with him."

"Yeah, I understand," she nods. I told Gaia everything that transpired that night, from sneaking out to nearly getting raped by Carter, to challenging Jack to a fight and getting caught and grounded for the rest of the year. My mum even seized my phone, threatening to give it back next year in February.

But after inhaling a lungful of her anger management serum— bunny urine, ylang-ylang, sandalwood, and peppermint, she mellowed down and gave it back to me, also forgiving Margo who she planned on kicking out of the house after conniving with me.

Sitting here now, she gave me 2 hours to see Gaia and come back. Although the punishments were supposed to look gruesome, it's no different from how would I normally spend my holidays, indoors, completely isolating myself from the outside world. She just doesn't know me that well.

"But no one knows where Jack lives," she shrugs.

"What? How is that possible?" She shrugs again. "He's a reserved guy."

"Not even his friends know?" I ask. "Well, I guess I could ask Tristan. I think he and Jack are tight."

She pulls out her phone and begins scrolling through her contacts, a smile slithering unto her lips. "Sorry I just recalled what you told me about Jack... how he  threw you over his shoulder and-"

"Whatever, it was no big deal."

"No big deal?" She gets up and begins pacing back and forth. "Do you know what I see?" she asks me. "Uh, what?"

"A future. With you and Jack in it."

"No no no Gaia please don't start with this crazy theory-"

"It isn't crazy and it isn't a theory either. What I just told you is a plain fact, you and Jack are gonna have a thing."

"He has a girlfriend you know."

"Girlfriend?" she spits. "Do you think a girlfriend is going to stop the universe from mingling with your lives? Mia? She's just a bitch who doesn't deserve shit," she snarls. "Well, that doesn't matter... I'm probably not his type," I shrug.

"Oh. My. Gosh. Cassiopeia Gaia Sian-Marie you are the most annoying person alive," she groans, squeezing up her fingers as though she wouldn't mind strangling me right now. "What did I do?" I ask.

"Must you always be so- you know what? Shut the hell up and let's go find Jack." She grabs my arm and yanks me off the couch. "You won't stay for lunch?" her sister asks, popping out of the kitchen as she whisks a bowl of eggs. "Ouuu lunch- no Gaia... you have to restrain yourself!" she scolds as she grips her wrist with a painful grimace. "I wouldn't mind staying for lunch... there's still time," I say.

"Oh really? Okay then we'll stay for lunch," she grins and walks into the kitchen.

•••

After lunch, we proceeded to find Jack. Gaia called Tristan and he was a bit puzzled at first about why she would want to know where Jack lived. Then she told him if he didn't tell her she would shove her pinky finger up his nose next semester.

So he gave us two possible locations. The first one is the playground I always pass by on my way to school. Some kids still go there sometimes but it isn't as lively as a typical one. You could see more teens making out there than toddlers going to play. "So what if he's not at the playground?" I ask Gaia.

"Well he told me where Jack's house is..." she glances at me. "But let's at least make sure he isn't here first." She looked nervous for a moment. Gaia never looks nervous. Maybe I should reconsider this whole thing and wait till I see him next semester. I bump into Gaia, snapping out of my thoughts. Not realizing we've already arrived at the playground. A worn-out sign bearing the words "Welcome to Happyland Playground" hangs lopsidedly on the decaying gate. We step through and take a look around. It's quiet. pin-drop quiet. The silence is only broken by the creaking of the empty seesaw as if lamenting the absence of playful laughter.

The cracked and sun-bleached plastic of the slides is covered in a layer of snow and so is the roof of the jungle gym. It has its paint peeling and metal bars exposed to the elements. I glance at the rusted swings and turn my entire body to face it. These swings... I stare as they sway back and forth in the wind. There's something about them. I take slow steps toward them, reaching my hand out. "I've... I've..." I reach towards the chain. "Marie!" I snap out of my trance and turn to Gaia. "What were you about to do?" she questions with a raised brow.

"Uhh... I just wanted to touch the swing," I reply. "Why?" I shake my head. "I don't know they just... attracted me."

She rolls her eyes. "Stop being weird... Jack isn't even here," she sighs. "No one is."

"So we're going to his home now?" I ask. "Yeah but..." she starts itching the back of her neck with an uneasy expression. "Do you have to give him that jacket urgently?"

I nod. "I also want to clear things out with him... you heard what my mum said to him that night." She releases a groan. "Ugh whatever... let's go." We exit the playground, but I look over my shoulder to get one more look at the swings. Something happened there.

I shake off the thought and trail behind Gaia. "So where is this place?" I ask her. "It's along Willow Lane." I pause in my steps. "Willow Lane?"

She nods. "Yeah... is there something wrong?" Isn't it obvious already? "No one lives there anymore... don't you think there's a reason." She shrugs like there's no chance of us dying. "If Tristan said it's Willow Lane then we'll go to Willow Lane... since you so urgently have to clear things out with him." She turns and continues walking. I wish I had her level of courage. It's like nothing can scare her. I follow behind her, taking a deep breath. I just hope we don't stumble across him.

Willow Lane

We walk down the quiet street, Gaia leading the way. As we pass Ace's house I don't even want to turn my head towards that direction. I just have a feeling he's staring at us through his bedroom window.

It almost makes me forget how to walk right. Suddenly Gaia veers into the next house and starts walking towards the backyard. "Gaia?" I call out to check if she's still sane. She turns and gestures for me to keep following her. "I don't understand... why are you going to the backyard?"

"Stop asking stupid questions and follow me," she states and turns on her heels, proceeding with her walk. I reluctantly follow her to the weedy backyard. I notice a door on the fence. Don't tell me we're going through that door. From what I see all that's behind that door are trees. Moorwood isn't the best place to go exploring in the woods.

Gaia kicks the door open to reveal a narrow, meandering trail that leads into the depths of the dense forest. "You know what? I'll see him next semester." I turn around, attempting to run away but she swiftly grabs my arm and pulls me back. "I'm a very lazy person... so you should understand how difficult it was for me to walk all the way here. I'm not going back until you give him that jacket." She pushes me through the door and marches right behind me.

So I'm doing this. I'm going down a mysterious path we found in a dead person's backyard. At this stage, I'm starting to question Tristan's instructions. This is too far. What if he's just trying to do away with Gaia? Maybe she offended him in the past and I'm not aware. I turn to her. She doesn't seem daunted at all. "Gaia-"

"Hey look," she places a hand on the back of my head and pushes it downward. My eyes follow the movement of her finger, tracing a path of footprints in the snow. "See? Someone was here a while ago."

"What if this someone wasn't Jack?" I shudder. "Oh shut up and let's go." We begin trudging through the woods. The only thing preventing silence is the crunch of our footsteps in the snow and the occasional rustle of unseen creatures.

The path seems to wind endlessly leading us deeper into the heart of the woods. The air grows colder and a shiver runs down my spine. Suddenly I catch a glimpse of something dangling in the air. It's a skeleton hung from its neck on a high branch. My breath hitches and I back away. "Gaia l-look," I stutter and grab her arm. "Can you stop being so theatrical," she whines. "But-"

"Come on they taught us about these things in history class... how they would hang cultists where they were caught as punishment for their evil deeds."

"Oh... they did teach us that in history class." I never actually imagined the things they thought us to have taken place. And I also never imagined someone like Gaia paying attention in history class. She tugs on my arm and nudges her head forward. "Let's go... just ignore it," she says. I nod and keep my eyes on the ground, ignoring the ten more that came right after the first one. Now I know I wasn't exaggerating when I said Moorwood had the highest count of cults. The deeper we go, the harder it is for me to believe Jack lives somewhere here.

But all my doubts are cleared when we get to the end of the path. We're both staring at a small cabin in the center of all the foliage. It's not dilapidated like it would usually be in a horror story. It's very intact. It's weathered, yet sturdy, with an A-frame roof and a large stone chimney rising from the center. The exterior logs are warm and rich brown, and a small porch extends from the front, adorned with a rustic wooden bench.

I can't believe it. I can't believe this is where the Jack Wonder lives. I always expected to see a mansion towering over the others. I guess not all the popular kids are rich, but Jack? Maybe this is just his holiday cabin or a place he goes to for peace. The most popular guy in school can't be living here. Once again he's going against the stereotype. "This should be it," Gaia says and turns to me. "Are you sure?" I ask.

"Oh... you're shocked too?" she chuckles. "We'll talk about it later... for now just go in and return the jacket."

"You're not coming with me?" She rolls her eyes. "I've done enough for you already. Now hurry I'm waiting out here... it's frigging cold."

I run up to the porch and knock on the door, waiting for an answer. No one. I look back, pleading to Gaia for help with my brows. "Just go in," she shrugs. Easy for you to say. I push the door open and step into the living room. The musty smell of the old wood mingles with the earthy scent of dried leaves and moss. The light filters in through the cracks, illuminating the dust particles dancing in the air.

A worn couch with a few throw pillows and a grey blanket sprawled over it sits behind an old table in the center of the room. A worn armchair sits beside a fireplace, while an ancient bookshelf holds an assortment of tattered novels. I turn to my right and see a quaint kitchenette with wooden tables and on the counter is a half-eaten bowl of cereal. I hope he's okay though. It's strange how someone who's scared of the dark is staying in a place like this.

I walk into the adjoining room. It's a bedroom. A simple, handcrafted bed stands against one wall, a weathered nightstand sitting next to the bed, its surface adorned with a flickering oil lamp. A small, intricately woven rug lay on the floor, adding a touch of warmth and color to the room. I spot a photo frame leaning on the nightstand. I pick it up and stare at the picture— a younger Jack and two adults on either side of him. I'm guessing his parents.

I place it back on the nightstand and walk towards the frosted window. I simply love the intricate patterns made by the snow, like they were carved by an artist. I place my hand in the cold glass and smile.

Then suddenly someone grabs my neck. Oh no I got distracted. I raise my head, seeing Jack's reflection in the window. I can barely make out the expression on his face. "Um, Jack... it's me... Cassi."

He slowly nods. "I know it's you, Cassi."

I swallow my saliva and attempt to turn my neck. But I can't move it with his grip so tight. "You know? Then uhh... why are you still squeezing my neck?" He raises his second hand and places a knife on the side of my face, gently running the flat metal surface down my cheek. "Because why are you here?"

"Uhhh... I came to return your..." Where is the jacket? Why isn't it in my hands? I immediately start to relive the last thirty minutes of my life. I must have left it at Gaia's. "My what?" he asks.

"Well... I came to return your jacket but I just realized I left it somewhere," I mutter. "Please can you at least let go of me?"

He peels his fingers off my throat, making me send out a breath. I turn to him and gasp. His eyes are bloodshot. His hair is mussed like he just got up from a nap. His shoulders slouched as if carrying the weight of the world on them and resents any intrusion upon his burdened existence. Where did he even come from? A back door maybe? Doesn't explain why he looks crazy though. Hot too... but mostly crazy!

"Um... I just wanted to apologize for what my mum said that night... she's always acting like that... I'm sorry you had to take all that after helping me get home... and I promise I'll bring the jacket next time-"

"No. There isn't going to be a next time," he states and points at the door. "Get out of my house."

I feel my stomach sink. I can't believe I went through all this trouble just to have him act like a jerk. I turn towards the door and take a step forward. But there's something wrong with him. And I'm not going to leave without knowing what that is. He's completely different from that night after the party. "But... are you okay?" I ask, turning to face him.

"I'm fine-"

"But you don't look that way... you look crazy," I blurt out. He stares at me without a word, his breaths becoming unstable. He's angry. Maybe I shouldn't have put it that way. "Okay I know that was a bit rude but you have to look at yourself in a mirror... and why the hell are you holding a knife?"

He shakes his head. "Is that your business?"

"Yes, it is... you were rubbing it on my cheek and that is very concerning!"

"Whatever! Just leave!" he hollers at me. "Jack... I'm just trying to help you because you helped me that night." I take a few steps towards him. "Please just let me help... I know something is bothering you-"

"Nothing is bothering me. Leave."

"But you're living out here... all alone in the woods and-"

"Cassi leave my house."

"I won't leave until you..."

With one swift movement I find my back pressed against the wall. Jack is leaning over me, breathless as he stares at my shoulder. His knife is in it. Cassi stay calm, Cassi just relax.

How can I friking relax when there's a knife inside my shoulder?

"Oh no... why did I do that?" he mutters as he warily runs a hand through his matted hair. "C-Cassi" he stutters. I ignore him, trying to think of cotton candy and lollipops. Anything that won't make me think of what's happening right now. "Cassi-"

"What!" I scream. "I'm so sorry... I don't know how that happened I swear-"

"Does that matter! Does that really matter!" I holler.

The door creaks open and we both turn our heads to see Gaia gaping at the scene. "What... the hell."