I wake up under a blanket and a lady damping my head with a wet towel, I got scared and sat up quickly, jumping off the bed and half walking half running out the door. The lady tries to stop me and said that I am far too weak to go anywhere right now; I ignore her and walk out of the house.

My heart started to ram hard into my chest, but this time it wasn’t of fear or anger it was happiness and amazement! I did it! I made it to the other side of the island.

I stand at the door, dizzy and light headed, looking at all the people and houses, the people are looking at me too – normal people. I laugh and then all of a sudden my head starts spinning and the scene becomes a blur, my legs become weak and my body becomes too heavy to keep up and before I know it I collapse again. The lady from inside the house calls for someone named “Jack” and the same guy from the forest picks me up ever so gently and puts me back into the bed as I was half conscious. I must have said something because before he left I saw a smile on his face, the same lady rushing in and taking his spot beside me.

When I wake up again I see the two young girls from the forest.

‘Hello, I'm Leena,’ says the youngest girl in a bright pink dress, golden haired, her face almost perfect – she was cute.

‘And I'm Taylor, I'm 12.’ ‘And I'm 7 and a half,’ beams Leena.

They were both very pretty and nice but I didn’t feel like talking and kept quiet. They said they were sisters and said that I was in their house. They also said that they found me in the forest when they were looking for wood, and their brother Jack had to carry me to their house.

I didn’t talk once and stayed quiet listening, my throat dry and hurting, I only told them my name and said thank you for helping me, barely a whisper.

They said I could have a shower so they gave me a towel and some clothes then left me in the room.

As soon as they left I got up, slowly, and walked to the shower. For a moment I looked at myself in the mirror and thought about how upset Nick would be if he wouldn’t find me, I also thought about Daniel and whether he got fired or not and whether he still cares about me. Did Daniel really say them things or was I just imagining it? Was I really just a brat?

I realise I wasn’t wearing the ruined and dirty jeans and top anymore, a robe over the top of my underwear and bra. The lady must’ve changed me, or was it the girls? Either way I was thankful, but also embarrassed as I remember that I had barged out to the front porch wearing someone else’s pink robe, I probably looked crazy. I feel my cheeks reddening as I also remember Jack having to come out and get me from outside – in this robe. What did I say to him when I was half conscious? My head starts to feel light and I hold on to the rim of the sink. Forget it, I laugh at myself staring at the eyes in the mirror that seemed to stare back intensely, he didn’t see anything, or cared… I hope.

When I finish my shower I put on the clothes they gave me. It was a pretty peach coloured sleeveless dress that comes four inches above my knees, and a pair of black flats. I brush my hair and put it on the side letting it wave three quarters down my stom­ach and stand in front of the mirror admiring my shiny, wavy brown hair .

I stay in the bedroom for a bit wondering whose room it was and walked around a little. It was a plain room but it looked and felt comfortable, there was a bed with blue covers and a white pillow, wardrobe and drawer. I knew it wasn’t just a guest room or a room people barely slept in because I could feel the presence of someone else. I could smell the faint scent of cologne, a nice smell which also lingered with the smell of the forest trees and the smell of the ocean, there was also a feeling in the room that I could feel one I couldn’t place or name. It felt like I was in my own bedroom, my home, the scent of this room made me feel safe – it made me feel home.

I walked to the drawer and looked at the picture in the frames. One of the pictures were of two boys, one was 13 maybe 14, he was holding a fish next to his Dad and smiling like there was no tomorrow, he was cute and looked almost exactly like Taylor but a more bright blue eyes than bluey-grey also instead of golden hair it was brown making his eyes stand out even more. The other boy however looked maybe 16 or 17 with a lopsided grin that looked cocky but kinda hot, he was practically the opposite if the other boy with his blonde hair The next photo was of a guy, that guy that helped me? Jack? I looked closely but realised it couldn’t be Jack, this person looked more like a man, older, wiser – their father?

There was some more but there was only a few that caught my eye. A boy, aged 7 maybe? He was small like any other 7 year old, holding a soccer ball under his arm; It wasn’t his blue eyes or cheeky big grin that caught my eye, nor was it the playground behind him which looked familiar to me, it was his bracelet – it was him altogether.

I felt as if I knew him, as if I’ve met him before. I stared longer but gave up and looked at his bracelet instead, the one that looked exactly like the one I’m wearing now, the one I never take off. Who was this boy? Why did I feel as if I knew him?

I shuddered and heard a whistle type thing outside – it was a kettle.

I walk out of the bedroom and toward the noise in the kitchen, which was where I guessed their Mum was. I found her poring two cups of coffee, she looks at me and smiles warmly, ‘do sit down sweetie, make yourself at home.’ She says softly, care and love in her voice.

I sit down across of her on the table and smile back, everything was quiet then I decide to break the silence.

‘I-I'm Remy. Thank you so much for your help.’ I say grinning.

‘Oh, you’re welcome Remy, my name is Julia Cornwall, I hope you like it here, and do the clothes fit all right?’ She asks kindly her eyes carefully searching my troubled face.

‘Oh, yes, it’s really nice. Thank you,’ I say truthfully, looking away outside instead.

Mrs Cornwall was in her early 40’s she had her brown and blonde dyed hair tied up in a bun, and had a gor­geous golden ring that had writing on it, a quote;

“Loved forever and always – James Cornwall”

We talk for a bit and get to know each other, but I don’t tell her anything about Nick or Daniel not even how I got here. I told her that I have a Dad and no Mum and that she left on my 6th birthday. She said she was sorry and a wave of sadness and anger flew over me with the thought of my mother leaving, though I didn't show it.

Mrs Cornwall talked about her son Jack and her other children Taylor and Leena.

Finally around noon I meet Jack, I was expecting someone that looked like Mrs Cornwall; loving, fragile, and average looking but in a good way. His appearance took me by surprise and I realised he was definitely not fragile or just average looking. He is nearly the same height as Daniel and well built, he has long brown hair that’s layered and comes above his shoulders; his face is like his sisters but more of a strong chin with a slight dimple, and mature version. He was broad all over; his shoulders, his arms, his hands. I had to admit he was pretty hot; he could probably fit into one of them magazines Nick gets me every now and then, one of hot guys and girls and gossip...

He comes in with big logs just cut from the forests – his days’ work – his hair bouncing in the light. He smiles at his Mum and says ‘hello’ without even realising I was there the logs covering his view from me.

I look at him and see that he was wearing a white singlet, his muscles showing, his skin perfectly tanned. It was so hard to look away but I knew I had to – for my sake.

His Mum is looking at me now with a grin on her face, hazel coloured eyes sparkling in the light like an angel. I look at her smiling and look down at my mug filled with hot tea the slight steam floating up, the sweet scent filling my nose. When I look back up, still a smile on my face, Jack is now looking at me a small appealing smile on his face.

It stays quiet for a while until Mrs Cornwall introduces me to her son. ‘Jack , this is Remy.’ She says with an edge to her voice telling him this was the cue to say something.

I get up and grin, saving him from any embarrassment as he starts to glare at his mum, ‘Remy Shantello,’ I say for some weird reason. He looks at me awkwardly and I wanted to slap myself – Why’d I say my last name?

‘Uhh, thanks for helping me,’ I say grinning, putting my hand out to shake his and trying to recover from my embarrassment.

He puts the heavy logs on the floor carefully and for some reason the memory of when he laid me down on the bed gently came into mind.

I blush remembering what I was wearing, don’t think about that now! I told myself not wanting Jack seeing me blush for no reason.

‘No problem,’ he says his voice a soft and calm murmur, he wipes his hands onto his pants, smiles and shakes my hand.

We stand there in silence, not sure what to do, then Mrs Cornwall asks if I’m staying for the night, puling both me and Jack’s eyes away from each other.

‘I'm not sure – if it’s okay with you I guess,’ I say, eyes downcast and hoping it wasn’t too much to ask, she grins and says I should stay for the night even for the week and that she wouldn’t mind at all. I beam and say thank you but I was still too embarrassed to hold any of their gazes.

When she leaves I stand up and give her small hug and whisper another thank you, before walking off to put my mug in the sink.

Jack follows me and stops at the fridge to grab something to drink. ‘Uh… thanks… for everything,’ I say before walking past him. ‘You don’t have to thank me Remy, it’s alright,’ I look at him with my brow furrowed, feeling bad that he did this all for someone he’s never met before. ‘But you’re welcome,’ he says before taking a swig from the juice carton. I smile and swallow hard before turning around to the mug again.

‘So how did you get so far into the forest? Don’t you know there are people there?’

‘Oh, um… it’s a long story I’d rather not talk about it.’ I say softly rinsing my mug. ‘By people what do you mean?’ I ask trying to change the subject.

‘You don’t know who the people are?’ he asks, I shake my head slowly, confused. ‘A story goes round the town that there are people on the other side of the island, that are bad; real bad and you wouldn’t want to get mixed up with them.’ I look at him starting to feel my stomach churn.

‘And it is said that the people who go deep into the forest never come back and it will be the last time you will ever see them again...’ he looks down solemnly. I stumble a bit walking out of the kitchen and toward him; he looks back up at me, face and eyes blank.

‘Nobody knows who they are but it is also said that they do some “special” business; bad business with other people from around the world.’ I look at him holding his gaze, now noticing that he has bright blue coloured eyes ; just like the boy in the picture.

We stand there for a bit and I couldn’t help but stare at him taking in as much as I could; his full lips, his gorgeous eyes, his broad shoulders, his strong jaw line. I stop staring realising how weird I must’ve looked. I look away for a moment trying to pretend it didn’t happen and then back again but it seemed like he didn’t even notice.

‘So if nobody goes into the forest how did you find me?’ I ask.

He blushes slightly, ‘oh well you weren’t that far in, it’s just that most people don’t go that far. I heard noises, running, huffing, and when I looked in your direction, I saw brown hair flinging to the ground and then a girl – you. I called my sisters over and they said to bring you home.’ He explains, now walking gracefully outside with me following.

He brings the logs he brought in from before and puts them on the front porch. He grabs a few and puts them next to a bench type thing where he puts only one log on top and before I knew it Jack’s hacking the log in half with a small axe.

He made it look so easy like even the weakest person could do it. I stand near the door watching his hand firm and strong on axe, his bare arms stiff with each hit – strong and powerful, his shoulders and muscles taut as he now works on the second log forming a beat that I could never find.

As I watched I couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to have his arms around me. Embarrassed I shook my head and got scared in case I might have said that out loud or he somehow read my mind. ‘You and your family are very kind people,’ I say instead, eyeing off his muscles showing. ‘Thanks,’ he chortles hacking his last piece of wood, I stand there waiting until he finishes.

He puts them all in the fire place and leaves it there for the cold nights to come.

‘So, uh, where do you live? Obviously not in this side of the town, or I’d have known you already.’ I stand there not noticing that he was talking to me, he watches me for a moment. ‘Oh, sorry, um I live-’ I stop not sure what to say ‘-well I sort of don’t live anywhere right now,’ he looks at me confused but doesn’t say anything.

‘Well, it’s almost time to go to bed the girls are already sleeping, so I'm gonna hit the sack,’ he says, his voice that same soft and calm murmur, ‘good night.’

‘Night,’ I smile, and walk off.