The forest that lies on the south part of the town has been known to be cursed. It was said the forest took one victim every year on the summer solstice and that person that was taken was never seen again. Ever. At first, I didn’t believe it one bit, especially because the summer solstice just happened to be my birthday. But then, 2 years ago, my friend went missing.
I waited 2 years to go after my friend. People always thought I would go after my friend, they were right. But, they never thought I would still try after 2 years. So now, it has been exactly 2 years since my friend went missing. It is the night of the summer solstice. And my 16th birthday.
Quietly, in my room, I dig in my closet. I find my favorite boots, and a thick fleece sweatshirt. I lace up my brown, leather, and boots, zip up my sweatshirt, and grab my bag. “Time to head out” I thought to myself. I opened my bedroom door. I looked around. I hear the sound of my parents sleeping and my annoying, but loveable, little sister Casey, snoring. “Good, everyone is asleep. And as far as they are concerned, I am too.” I tiptoe down the hallway, trying not to make the floorboards creak. I make it to the back door of our house. “Bye mom, bye dad, bye Casey. I’ll be back.” I thought with a soft smile on my face. I stepped out the door, closed it and locked it. I start walking, trying not to make a sound as I walk on the cobblestone path on the side of the village, “Now, I head south, to that forest”.
I arrived at the forest. I stare at the darkness that lies before me, the menacing trees moving their arms in the wind. I start fiddling with the sun necklace that seems to be only half of the necklace, like there is another part waiting to be found. I realize what I was doing and stop playing with the necklace, “Geez what am I? A little kid? I shouldn’t be fiddling with my necklace while I should be looking for my friend!” I take a deep breath and I enter the forest and the darkness seemed to swallow me whole. I take a few steps and........ SNAP! I stepped on a twig and gasped. There were kaws, deep growls, and roars. All the monsters of the forest woke from their deep slumber. I see many glowing eyes staring at me, “What did I DO?!?” I break into a sprint, running for what seemed like forever. I don’t know how far into the forest I am anymore. All of a sudden, I stop dead in my tracks when I hear a familiar voice call my name, “Iris!!”


I turned around and saw her. My friend. I could not believe my eyes. It was Bailey. “Iris!” she called out again and held out her arms. “Bailey!” I cried out as I ran to hug her. Just before I could hug her, I pulled back when I saw that she morphed into this big black... horrifying thing.... this, this monster with sickles for hands! I took a step back. No. This isn’t Bailey, not anymore. I bit my lip to keep the tears from flowing out. I took a step back. The monster lunged at me with vicious intent. I closed my eyes. I waited for the slash, the pain in my chest. The pain never came.


I opened my eyes just to see a boy about my age standing in front of me. He had snow-white hair; white clothing and a cape lined in blue that seemed like it belonged to royalty, and ice blue eyes that captivated me. He held a sword in his right hand. Did he kill that.... thing? But there was no trace of blood anywhere. “...Ok?” “Huh?” he snapped his fingers in front of me, letting me realize that I was totally checking him out. I blushed. Did he catch me? Oh god... he probably did. He said to me, “I said, are you ok?” “Oh, um... yeah. I’m fine,” I replied. I lied. I was totally freaking out. He looked me up and down. He muttered under his breath, “So this is whom the council chose this year... Not very impressive.” I felt my face flush. “Wait, what do you mean “council”?” I asked. He shook his head and said, “ You really don’t know anything do you?” My anger was almost at its boiling point. “HEY!” I yelled. He looked at me in surprise. “Just because I’m average looking doesn’t mean I’m stupid! Just because you are good looking, doesn’t mean you have the right to be rude!” I gasped. I did not just tell him that he was good looking. He laughed at me, his face got closer to mine, “So you think I’m good looking?” My face turned as red as a tomato. I closed my eyes, thinking he was going to kiss me. But did he? No. He backed away and just laughed. Again.


“Don’t you even realize where we are?” I opened my eyes and looked around. I gasped. The dark, horrifying forest full of dead trees and vicious creatures that I ventured into disappeared. Now here we are, in what I assumed to be a whole different world. The forest seemed like it was out of a fairy tale, everything was encased in a thin layer of ice. It was breathtakingly beautiful. He grabbed my wrist, “Come on, we have to hurry. Or do you want to freeze to death?” “Huh? What do you mean? I’m not cold at all!” He looked at me like I was crazy, “You’re not.... cold? At all?” I replied, “Honestly, not at all.” He muttered something under his breath and then yanked me by my wrist, “ We have to get going, now.” He said it with such power and authority, for some reason I felt obliged to obey. He started walking, tugging on my wrist and seeming to have to intention to let his tight grip lighten up.



As he pulls my wrist, walking at a brisk pace, my thoughts overcome my feeling of awe of the forest. What am I doing? Why did I try to find Bailey when I obviously knew there’d be difficulties.....? I snap out of my trance. I had to know more about my situation first. First of all, who was this guy? And what does he want with me? “Hey.” I say to him. He just ignored me. I tried again, “Hello?” Still no response. “HELLO I AM TRYING TALK TO YOU!” I yelled at him. He looked at me in surprise. I put my free hand on my waist and spoke, “So who are you?” “My name is Vincent. That is all I can tell you. For now that is.” He replied with what I am guessing is his signature smirk. Vincent spoke again, “Well here we are.” He twirled me around and released my hand. I admit, it made me giggle a little bit. I turned just to see the most beautiful piece of architecture I have ever seen in my life. “Oh my god.” It was the grandest castle I have ever seen. The door was huge and had delicate hand crafted rose motifs all around the crest on the center. The windows were almost just as grand. The windows were simple, but they had and eerie air of beauty about them. They too had rose motifs, but around the edges of the windows. The one thing that really made it breathtakingly beautiful is that it seemed, or maybe actually was, made of, ice. It seemed like diamond because of how it shimmered and gleamed in the dimming sunlight for it seemed like it was almost night here.