I was screaming at her by the end. Instead of waiting for her to respond, I turned and ran. Not really caring where I went; just needing to get away.

  This te in the year, the sun was already past the horizon. The st rays lit the few clouds above a deep red-orange color. There was barely enough light for me to see by in the forest. None of the city lights penetrating this far into the forest that bordered half the town. Still, I ran.

  Running until a house came into view. A house that I knew only from the outside. One that calmed my racing heart and caused me to slow my pace as I approached. Just inside the clearing, I took a second to catch my breath.

  Stepping on the porch, I raised my hand to knock just as my phone vibrated. Not that I needed to look at it to see who it was texting me. Ignoring my mother, I knocked on the door. Practically bruising my knuckles on the thick wooden door.

  As the door opened, the light of the front room spilled out to cover the porch and the ground beyond with white. Mixing with the orange that the outdoor lights gave off in odd ways.

  Victoria stood there, holding the door open. The light giving her a corona around her head. Smiling, I stupidly said, “Hi.” Yeah, I know. As I said, it was stupid, but I was just stunned by how she looked.

  Based on the smile that filled her face, it didn’t bother her. “Hi. Did you get in a fight with your parents again?”

  Nodding, I was about to ask if she could come out and talk when her mother walked up to stand behind her daughter. “Victoria. You know how I dislike guests so te at night.” Her mother acted like what I would expect royalty would in a fantasy story, stuck up.

  Victoria stiffened as her voice became the most respectful I had ever heard it. Though I was fairly sure it was tinged with a bit of fear. “I know. Is there any way you can forgive him?”

  “I will this once, but only because you asked. Now invite him in.” A shocked look crossed Victoria’s face as she spun around to look at her mother. Her mother smiled a bit, losing the stiff royal act. “From what you have told me, he has been keeping you on the straight and narrow as well as helping to cook your food.”

  “Reheat,” I muttered.

  “You want me to take back the offer?” She said to me with raised eyebrows.

  “Thank you, mother!” Victoria said, bowing to her slightly before grabbing my hand and yanking me into the house. Practically running up the stairs and to the door at the top.

  “Dinner should be done in an hour or so.” Her mother called up as Victoria opened the door. The room inside was covered in fantasy creatures and artwork. Most of which were of dragons or wizards of one sort or another from various books and shows. Honestly, the room fit her perfectly.

  Whirling around, she looked at me expectantly. “It’s very you. Except for the ck of snacks, that is.”

  She ughed as she reached out for a door that likely led to a closet. Opening it revealed shelf after shelf of various chips, candies, and drinks. Sitting on the ground was a fridge that I had to assume kept various sandwiches. Yeah, this room fit her perfectly. Taking a bag of chips, she offered one to me before sitting and demanding the story.

  So, I told her. Hiding nothing. She tended to be the one that helped me get through whatever they had done to upset me. However, she also always seemed to mutter something about wishing she could just deal with them herself.

  Unlike other times, she actually cursed my parent's actions. Leave it to her to hold it together when my parents practically beat me on a weekly basis, but then lose it when they threaten to keep me from going to school and seeing my friends. Finally, she calmed down and said, “I sometimes wish my mom would let you stay here.”

  I shook my head the instant the words left her mouth. “My parents would be over here before I even settled down for the night to drag me off. I am fairly sure that you nor your mother can stand up to either of them. Let alone both.”

  Her gre told me that she doubted that. She probably thought I overblew just how strong the two of them were and figured that her mom was able to handle them. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the chance to correct her as multiple things seemed to occur so close to each other so as to nearly be instant.

  The bell on the door rang a few times as her mother called up that she would get it. As soon as the bell stopped, everything went silent. The constant humming of the fridge in the closet vanished as the vents went silent. Branches outside that had been tapping and scratching at the siding suddenly stilled. As suddenly as the noise stopped, it was repced with a scream.

  A scream so loud that I nearly mistook it for a roar, but there was nothing capable of such a noise. The floor vibrated under me as the creature cried out. Victoria’s face went pale as she made to get up. Moving toward the door at a sprint. Before she could open it, the air itself vibrated as a loud crack shook me to my core.

  Around me, everything seemed to twist. Leaving not even my stomach alone as things bent and warped. Snapping back an eternity ter. Or at least it felt like an eternity. The sounds of Victoria’s feet pounding down the stairs meant that it had been less than a dozen seconds, given how fast she was moving.

  Chasing after her, I froze as my feet hit the stairs. My brain shorting as it tried and failed to process the scene below.