Chapter 11

Annie POV(Present)

I think I hear something. It’s not like the other noises it’s getting closer. I quickly hid in a bush and close my eyes. I’m scared. Whatever it was runs past me and I wait hoping it doesn’t come back. I hide for as long as I can, until I hear the noises again. Not like the thing that ran by, but the ones that are always around. I gotta go before something bad happens. I try to get out of the bush but my hair and dress gets caught. My dress rips a bit and some of my hair gets pulled out. The pain makes my eyes tear but that doesn’t matter. I feel it. There’s something out there looking at me. I’m not alone and I’m scared.

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Annie POV(Past)

When we get to Uncle Rays the first thing he does is to pick me up, toss me in the air, and catch me. It’s what he always does whenever he see me. He gives a great big laugh and says “There’s my favorite little runt! 10 years old and still too small to even see over the counter!”

I pout and respond “You’ll see one day when I get big, I’m going to pick you up and throw you as hard as I can!”

He just laughs at my serious threat and says “I’ll tell you what if you can ever pick me up and throw me, I’ll teach you to be a blacksmith and leave the shop to you.”

My eyes go wide. Being a blacksmith would be awesome they always have work and I’ve always enjoyed making things. It would be a dream come true.

Mom scolds him saying “Stop joking around, were here to pick up Annie’s gift.” Uncle Ray doesn’t seem to mind it though and picks me up and carries me off into the workshop.

“Here Annie this from the three of us. Your parents bought the metal and I shaped it. It’s mostly just iron and not anything fancy but… what’s wrong?”

Uncle Ray is holding out a beautiful necklace like the rich kids wear. It’s even got a bright red stone on it. I realized after Uncle Ray asks that I’ve started crying. “Nothing I’m just so happy! This is the best Birthday ever!”

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Annie POV(Present)

I’ve been walking for a while since whatever it found me. I can’t get away from it. Sometimes I’m walking and I hear it in front of me so I move and go another way. Though it’s still there watching. I start to smell something I don’t know what it is but I don’t want to go that way. Every time I try to go somewhere else I can hear the thing making noises ahead of me. Eventually I push into a clearing.

I throw up. It’s awful. I can’t look. I want to run away but it’s behind me I have to go past this. I start to walk when I see it. The bracelet mom always wears. Dad gave it to her when they married. I don’t understand why is it here.

I throw up again. I force myself to look at what’s here. The first thing I see is the blood that’s everywhere than the bodies that are torn up and eaten. Mom is here and I see dad and Uncle Ray and Frank. I can’t think I gotta leave but I can’t. Everyones here. Everyones dead.

Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?

It’s my fault. They were looking for me. It’s all my fault.

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Annie POV(Past)

We spent awhile at Uncle Rays. It was fun. Uncle Ray even showed me how he makes a dagger. It was so cool. When we get home I tell mom that I’m gonna go play in the forest by the house. She says it’s okay but I have to stay by the edges since the forest is dangerous.

I wanna find some flowers so I can make something for mom and dad like the necklace they made for me. After about an hour of picking flowers and trying to make them into bracelets I finally succeed. I can’t wait to see mom and dad’s face. I hope they like it.

I take out the necklace and hold it next to the bracelets to look at it for a second. I’m so happy. As I start to get back up something snatches the necklace out of my hand. I turn and see a little red thing running off into the forest with my necklace.

“That’s mine! Come back here!”

I chase after it, leaving the bracelets behind.

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Annie POV(Present)

I move away from the bodies. I can’t be near them anymore. I’m covered in my parent’s blood from trying to bury them, but I couldn’t even do that. I’m too weak. What am I going to do? Everyone who would look for me is dead and even if they find me what then. I’m alone.

I walk up to the nearby tree and sit against it. I grab my knees and put my face in them. I don’t cry. I don’t have any tears left. I hear the noise again. This time it’s coming right at me slowly. I don’t look up it doesn’t matter. It’s all my fault.

It stops in front of me. It stands there, just waiting. I don’t wanna look up. I’m scared. I’m alone and I’m afraid.

Slowly I look up and see it. It’s small but I don’t think I can win if it attacks me. Its wearing a dark blood stained robe with a hood on it. I can’t really see what inside except for two glowing red eyes. Am I going to die?

Just when I decide to run it reaches into its robe and pulls out an apple and holds it out to me. I don’t understand, why is something that looks so evil giving me an apple? Then I remember what dad said, that just because a person looks bad doesn’t mean they are…

After a moment that seemed like years I slowly reach out and take the apple. It tastes so good it's like I haven’t eaten in years. When I finish I just look at the monster and say “Thank you.”

The monster tilts its head for a second and then reaches out and pokes my shoulder through the torn dress. I instinctively shudder when its sharp nail(claw?) touches my skin. I don’t move though, I don’t want it to get angry.

Unique skill Gamer Is being shared with restricted access due to the bond being formed.

What? What is this?

Demonic Contract between the human Annie and the demon A#@&%@. Terms: Equal Partnership no one member will have power over the other. Do you agree to the terms and wish to accept a familiar contract with the demon A#@&%@?

I don’t understand. Familiar like what the mages do, but I’m not a mage. Can I even have a familiar. I look at the monster. No I look at the demon in front of me. I look into it’s glowing red eyes and it looks like they start to narrow, like it’s getting impatient. It looks so evil… but I don’t want to be alone.

“I accept.”

The message fades and I can hear something, if it was human I would almost say it was giggling. This isn’t that though, this is just sounds so wrong and creepy. I get a cold chill run down my back and I start to think maybe being alone would have been better.