The lush forest was beautiful, with the melodic sounds of birds and other animals piercing the quiet of the cold surroundings.
The lake flowed smoothly, creating a gentle sound. Beside the lake lay Roseline.
Slowly, she managed to open her eyes. At first, everything was blurred, but after wiping her eyes, she could see clearly. It was a brand new day.
She looked at the ground, trying to remember what had happened and how she ended up here, but her mind was blank. The only thing she recalled was fainting that night when she was trapped by a sudden monster. She gazed at herself and her surroundings again, checking if she was still alive. The monster was supposed to kill her; how could she be here now? Was she perhaps just a spirit in the underworld?
"I think that monster is responsible for my parents' deaths. It has taken so many innocent lives. But why did it spare me?" Roseline questioned herself. "Or am I dead already?"
As she looked around, she noticed a young man standing a bit away, resting against a tree. A hint of fear crept into her heart.
"Who are you?" she asked, panic evident in her voice.
"Am I dead?" she added.
"No, I'm the one who rescued you from death," he replied, leaving her gazing at him with doubt.
As she focused on him, she realized he was handsome. His pink lips added charm to his cute face, and his blue eyes sparkled like the sky.
"Forgive me if I don't believe you," she said.
"You don’t have to. Just go home and stay away from the forest at night; it’s not safe," he advised, then turned to walk away. His words made Roseline believe him even more.
He sounded just like a human, and another thing that struck Roseline was how he had rescued her. He mentioned that she had been in the forest late at night, which was true.
At first, Roseline hesitated, but then she ran after him.
"Hey! Wait for me!" she shouted, causing him to pause and fold his arms until she finally caught up. Together, they began to make their way out of the forest.
"You haven't even told me who you are. How did you know I was in that forest, and how did you know I needed help?" she asked.
"It's a long story," was the only response the young man could give. Roseline stared at him in silence as they walked. It seemed evident from his voice that the handsome stranger had been through a lot.
"Okay, what's your name? Who are you? Where do you stay, and what are you doing in the forest?" she pressed, eagerly awaiting his response.
The young man took a few seconds to think, shrugging his shoulders before halting. By then, they had already reached the highway that led to Roseline's home, just a few steps ahead.
"Well, if you insist on knowing, I'm Sam. I’m a nobody, and I live here in the forest," he said.
Roseline gazed at him from head to toe, puzzled. What he said didn't make sense; he was too handsome to be homeless, let alone living in the forest.
"Come on, don't be silly. Everyone is somebody! Tell me what's the matter with you," she urged, sensing that he was in deep trouble. She hoped it wasn't what she feared.
Maybe he was the monster that had threatened the city and the lives of its people. However, she quickly dismissed that thought. After all, he had physically saved her from the monster. If he could do that, it meant there might be something special about him that she needed to uncover.
"There’s nothing left to tell you, girl. I’ve already shared all you need to know. This is my home..." he began, but she immediately interrupted him.
"This is not a home, dear.... Sam. This is a forest! I've been here before, but I haven't seen you. How long have you been living here?" She asked, her face filled with pity.
How could such a handsome young man be left alone in the forest? It's true she didn't know him very well, but she could feel an unexplainable connection between them.
There was something special about the way she felt toward him, something she couldn’t resist. As she asked her question, she grabbed his hand. The moment their skin touched, a spark ignited within her, intensifying her desire. As she gazed at him, she felt an urge to kiss him as they locked eyes, but she managed to hold back.
"It doesn't matter how long I've been living here. What matters is that I have a place to call home," he replied gently, pulling his hand away.
He then looked toward the main road. "I'm sure you can find your way home from here, but next time, be careful where you go! It's not safe out here," he said, turning to walk away.
"Wait!"
He immediately turned to gaze at her, and she swallowed hard under his intense stare.
"You want a home? You can come with me. I have a comfortable place for you!" she offered, but he shrugged his shoulders.
"The last time I trusted someone, it didn’t end well. I'm glad you want to help, but I'm okay right here. Please do me a favor and don't tell anyone about me. Don't whisper a word about what happened here to anyone. That’s the greatest favor you can do for me."
Sam's request puzzled her, but she nodded her head in agreement.
"I give you my word," she said. He smiled at her, and his smile almost took her breath away; his clean, white teeth sparkled like the ocean.
Her heart raced as she watched him step deeper into the forest.
"Can I at least visit you another time?" she asked, but he stopped and turned toward her.
"No! Don't ever come back to this place unless you want to commit suicide," he replied, his words echoing like thunder.
She wanted to question why he would say such a thing. She knew she would return to see him, but the threat in his voice unsettled her.
Just as she opened her mouth to speak, a car pulled in, distracting her. Rosemary hurried out, accompanied by some police officers.
She glanced back at Sam, only to find he had vanished without a trace. Left staring at the empty spot, she barely noticed as Rosemary rushed over and hugged her tightly, oblivious to the situation.
"I'm so happy you're alive! I thought it's the monster that killed mum and dad that came after you! But I'm glad you're okay! I'm really glad!" Rosemary exclaimed, tears streaming down her face. Roseline didn’t even respond.
Her mind was consumed by thoughts of Sam. She sensed something was very wrong with that young man, and she felt a strong urge to help him.
"Are you alright, miss?" one of the police officers asked. She turned her gaze back to the forest and opened her mouth to speak, but then she remembered his warning: she shouldn't tell anyone about him.
But how could he be helped if she didn’t inform the police? According to what she had witnessed, they were the only ones who could assist him. Torn between her promise to Sam and her desire to help, she swallowed hard and forced a smile.
"Yes, I'm okay! I just came out here last night to have some fun alone," she said, as the police officers exchanged puzzled glances.
"All alone?" they asked.
"Yes! Since my parents died, I've found it difficult to be around anyone. Everything irritates me, even my twin sister. I thought it would be better to come out here and spend the night," she explained, and the officers shrugged their shoulders.
"How are you feeling now?" they inquired.
"I'm okay," she replied, glancing at Rosemary, who was watching her intently. Rosemary knew that everything she said was a lie. They could sense each other’s feelings, and she could always tell when her twin sister was lying or telling the truth.