Scared.
__________________

Run. Somethings coming. Run. Someone's here. Danger. Danger. RUN.

Voices screaming in her head, a painful migraine already forming. Sharp pains pulsing at the back of her skull. Meredith groans in pain, hands grasping at her head, doubling over in pain. She could feel familiar cold hands on her shoulder, but she was in too much agony to process what was quite happening at the moment. It felt as if her skull was slowly being torn into two pieces, the pain not enjoyable at all.

The voices kept repeating like a broken record and it was as if her body had a mind of its own as she took off running, the opposite way of where she felt that eerie presence. Her body took her deeper into the forest, her chest heaving as her legs burn from running so far and fast, she was sure she heard Wednesday following her but the deeper she delves into the forest, the quieter her surroundings became. Instantly, the pain in her head stopped and the voices halted, surrounding her with absolute silence. No birds, no wind, no bugs, and no voices, Meredith could feel her heartbeat faster than it normally would, her pulse spiking, and her hands became clammy at the familiar eerie presence she felt before.

Meredith turns sharply to the left at the sound of twigs snapping under someone's boot, black fog beginning to surround her. Her chest heaves, as she clenches her fist, glaring into the darkness, "Whoever you are, stop being a weenie and show yourself!" She shouts angrily, turning to the other side, becoming overwhelmed with the left and right, "And stop going left to right, it makes me dizzy" She spitefully mutters, rubbing her head.

A dark laugh echos through the forest, "My, oh my, how much you've grown and how funny you are" A rough voice fills the forest, echoing from different locations to steer Meredith from pinpoint the actual location.

Meredith frown at the sound of a male's voice, the raspiness and depth, sending goosebumps across her entire body. A feeling of absolute unease filling her, making her uncomfortable with the foreign feeling. She didn't like the way this situation was making her feel, her powers in such with her emotions, begin to vibrate around her.

"Aw, scared little doe? You're shaking like one" He cackles, black fog becoming so heavy, Meredith was sure that no one would be able to see.

Her eyebrows furrow as she tenses, "Me? scared, no, you seem like the scared one to me. You're the one hiding behind all of the fog. I mean c'mon, man, this stuff better not be toxic because I'm breathing it in, and I would love to avoid lung poisoning at all costs" Meredith grumbles, trying to blow the black fog away from her but suddenly, something wraps around her leg. She lets out a surprised yelp at the stinging sensation, pain pulsing around her ankle.

"Stop making jokes!" He shoufs, echoing throughout the forest as Meredith puts her hands up in mock surrender, "aye aye caption, no need to have a stick up your bum" She rolls her eyes, trying to seem brave, because in reality she was absolutely terrified. It was as if her body knew this person was a danger but she didn't know why or how.

The burning sensation becomes worse and she lets out a groan, feeling her power become weaker. Not entirely weak but definitely enough for her to notice something was wrong. Her eyes observe as the fog becomes darker as if absorbing her powers from whatever clung to her ankle. Her eyebrows furrow as she tries to get out of the grip with pure strength but that wasn't working.

"Just stay still and this will all be over in a second, my dear. Maybe I'll keep you around... hmm, maybe not..." the voice cackles, sending cold shivers down Meredith's spine.

It's time to get serious, she knew she was in danger especially with this tentacle like thing wrapped around her ankle. It was as if it was absorbing her powers somehow, and she couldn't let that happen. Meredith closes her eyes, one long inhale and one big exhale, c'mon just focus Meredith, you can do this.

She could hear a very faint heartbeat, as if the person was on the verge of death yet the blood pumping through it's body proved otherwise. Her eyes snap open, revealing glowing red ambers instead of the sweet blue that they normally were. Her hands begin to glow as she stares ahead toward the darkness, her senses heighten as she zones in one particular spot, a smirk forming on her face.

"Found ya" she smirks, her hand stretches towards him, chants falling from her mouth as she tilts her head staring into the dark fog. Her eyebrows furrow as a male appears before her, the fog lightening up as he comes forward and the grip on her ankle disappearing.

He was tall and lanky man, bones noticeably peeking out from beneath his skin. His skin was sickly pale, the blues and purples of his veins seen clearly from where she stood. She glances up meeting his sunken black eyes, an evil smirk spread across his face despite being trapped beneath the spell she cast.

"Who are you?" She growls out, rolling her shoulders and fisting the outstretched hand she had to tighten to invisible grip she held over the unknown man. Her senses told her he was dangerous, but her visuals made him appear fragile and vulnerable. How could such a lanky man pose such a threat to her? she laughs in her head but remains guarded.

"You don't remember me?" He questions, not seeming fazed over her tightening grip on him, seeming quite overjoyed at her attention being completely on him. Meredith tenses at his raspy voice, slowly shaking her head. Obviously I don't know who are....

"I'm sure your father can tell you everything about me... maybe even Maximus?" He questions, eyes darkening at her sudden alertness.

Meredith could feel her heart drop at her brother's name, body tense and alert, "why do you speak his name?!" She sneers, stepping closer to jerk the man who became mute, "Are you stupid, deaf, or both? What about Maximus?!" She shouts, invisible grip on the man becoming tighter, resulting in a chocked laugh to erupt from the man.

"Oh, poor little Meredith, always the last to know" He fake pouts, as he chokes out his sentence from underneath her spell, " I know who you are... but you don't know who I am" He laughs hysterically, echoing throughout the forest as if this situation was the funniest thing that could happen. Meredith sneers, trying to hide how creeped out she was getting from his hysterics. She glances back at him, eyebrows furrowed as she tried to recall if she ever met him before.

"Meredith!" Someone shouts from behind the fog, a familiar voice that causes Meredith to lose focus as she turns to where she heard Wednesday's voice.

"Try to remember me Meredith, I'll be expecting my name the next time we meet" He chuckles as her grip on him loosens from the distraction. His cold fingers graze her forehead, sending shivers throughout her whole body. She quickly jumps away at the icy feeling spreading throughout her body, quickly turning around as she reaches towards him. The fog seemed to crawl back towards the man, engulfing him until he was gone in the blink of an eyes, "Wait! No!" Meredith shouts, shooting a fireball towards the spot where he disappeared.

Her shoulders sag in defeat as his form disappears along with the black fog, Wednesday suddenly appearing in front of her along with Eugene who seemed out of breath. Meredith was far too confused and cold to understand what Wednesday was saying as she falls to her knees, soddenly faint.

"Meredith! Are you alright?" Wednesday questions but her figure became blurred

Meredith's eyebrows furrow as she starts to tremble from the icy cold feeling running through her body, "Since when did you have two heads, day?" she could hear herself mumble before everything became black and silent, eyes rolling back as she collapsed.

"Meredith!" Someone shouts, a warm pair of arms catching her unconscious body.

Oh, the mega headache she was going to have would be the end of her.

_________________________

unedited

Hey y'all, back again to serve you guys with this new chapter!! Did you guys like this one?! It was a bit shorter than others, so I am sorry about that, but I've been trying to get out of this writer slump I'm in :(