Dear, aspen.

Chapter one

It's so strange to think of humans as being strong because after all we were just made of flesh that can be cut, and bones that could be broken. Naturally, I have never really thought of myself as being strong, mostly because I was the shy girl that no one noticed. I was not outspoken or brave, always shadowing the people I admired or feared.

I was an average-looking girl, my complexion was fair and smooth, and my cheeks were always a bright rosy color. I had eyes that were a dull blue, and a height that came to a total of five foot six. My hair was a soft brown color that rested on the middle of my back. It was wavy and untamed with bangs that fell just above my eyes.

I stare at the ceiling above decorated with glowing green stars as thoughts start rushing to my head, and racing back out before I can think too deeply of them. With my mind running a mile a minute, I knew I would be getting little sleep tonight. I rolled onto my side and stare out the window lit up by the moon's glow.

I pick up my phone from the nightstand and text my friend to see if she is still awake. When she doesn't reply, I put it back down and watch the tree sway gently knocking on the window. I pull my covers to the side and sit up. Then I get an overwhelming urge to be outside with nature. It would do me good to get out of this house, maybe if I did it would help with my sleep insomnia. Walking always calms my mind and keeps me at peace, it was a wonderful feeling to go and just be free. Free of responsibilities, free to be the true me, free of judgemental faces, free in general. You get to feel like you are on top of the world, with the stars to guide the way. And fewer people are out and they just go on their way to get to their destination not caring who you are or what you are doing.

Stretching my arms, I rest my feet on the ground. Then I put on my shoes and sneak out of my room, past my sleeping parents and little sister. Tiptoeing down the stairs, I grab my jacket off the coat rack, heading straight for the back door. I unlock it and slip out closing it gently behind me, as I move silently over our neatly manicured lawn. The night airs blow around me whipping my hair in my face. November has always been my favorite month to go walking. I never knew why but I had loved the cold night air, the bare trees, and the world getting ready for winter. Ever since I was a kid I couldn't seem to get enough of November. It was also the month to be thankful, which I was. I had a kind loving family and a weird, funny, protective best friend who kept me sane in this crazy world. A little sister with a mind so bright the stars dimmed in its presence. Even though we don't get along all the time, I wouldn't trade it for the world.

The wind blows some more as I walk further and further away from my nightmares. Or away from myself, I would like to think, but we all know that I can't escape mine. And I certainly can't stop my nightmares from taking over my head. I hated to fall asleep only to be confronted with monsters and humiliating scenarios.

Soon I realize I'd been too deep in thought and I have wandered further than I would have liked. The sky roars with thunder and cracks with lighting as I curse quietly under my breath because of my unavoidable stupidity. I reach in my pocket searching for my phone, even though my mom will kill me when she knows I have been out night walking again. Especially when she is going to get a call at 4 am in the dead of night. And to top it off I am not supposed to go anywhere without letting someone know first. But when I feel no phone anywhere on me, my heart drops and I whisper "no" about fifty times. A few drops of rain fall on my cheek, followed by an army. The sudden Noah's Arc downpour makes it harder to see a few feet in front of me. Soon my jacket is soaked through with rain and my clothes are sticking to my skin.

Frustrated, I continue walking forward because there is a store where I can wait out the storm. And at this point, it is closer than home and probably safer. As soon as I see the glowing sign of Walter's Wonders I instantly relax, feeling safer already. When I look in the window of the store no one is in there except for the cashier. Who was intently reading a magazine with a concentrated expression?

John's Pov
His cold eyes bore holes into my head as we sit in the car discussing the important matters. The rain pounds harshly on the window, and the windshield wipers work furiously to get the water off. The windows fog up and the air is cold and suffocating.

"So you owe me bigtime, John."

"Yeah, I know, your annoying presence reminds me every time I see you."

The words slip out of my mouth before I can even blink. My eyes widen as I wait for Silas's response, out of the corner of my eye I see his jaw clench. He tightens his grip on the steering wheel then he exhales softly releasing his hands. He rolls up his white sleeves to his biceps, revealing the bottom part of his tattoo. Silas sighs, rubbing his chin thoughtfully then he gets the familiar look in his eyes.

The crazy look he gets when he has a ridiculously, stupid idea. He stares straight ahead at Walter's Wonders I follow his eyes and feel my heart sink straight into my shoe. A girl stands outside soaked, with her arms protectively wrapped around herself "Do you see that girl?" Silas says tearing his eyes away from the girl to me. I nod
"This deal I am about to offer you is a once in a lifetime offer. I will never offer it again so you better choose carefully. It will set you free of whatever you owe me and you will never have to deal with me ever again. But only if you take it, otherwise it is off the table and I will do it myself. And you will still have ties to me which means if I go down you do too. Now I know you have seen that girl, I want you to go and offer to buy her an umbrella. Be a little bit like a creeper, make her scared of you." He emphasizes the word creeper and I know exactly what he means.

"So you can?" I drag out the words hoping there is some rational excuse for this deal.

He rolls his eyes at me tapping his middle finger on the steering wheel.

"That's for me to worry about and for you to never know. Now do you take the deal or not?"

He keeps his eyes on the girl. I nod my head not caring if he saw or not, then I reach for the handle and open the car door. The cool rain splashes on my face, droplets blending into my cotton long sleeve shirt. I don't know what to feel, I am excited yet nervous, a bundle of emotions inside of me just threatening to explode. Excited because I would be free of Silas but nervous because the fate of this girl was resting in my very palms, or more like Silas's twisted ones. As I walked closer something ticked inside me, I couldn't do this to that poor girl. She has so much life left to live and it shouldn't be in Silas's grasp. When the store's neon glow shines in my eye I know what I have to do. She looks up startled and backs up a bit, moving out of the way of the door.

I smile at her "Hey, uhh" my voice gets stuck in my throat, I collect my thoughts "What's a girl like you doing out here all alone?"

I take a step forward to her and leaned close to her ear trembling.

She tries to step away but I grab her wrist "don't make any noise or both of us are going to be dead. I am supposed to offer to buy you an umbrella and be creepy so you think I am dangerous because there is someone out there waiting for you."

Her mouth hangs open as she pulls her wrist from my grasp, fear swirls in her eyes.

"Wha-" I shush her, straightening my back and turning away from Silas's general direction.

"I am going to help you escape, alright but you have to wait for me."

She nods her head and I walk into the store nonchalantly, hope the freshest thing in my mind. And I do truly hope she will listen to me for the sake of us all.