"Sky"

Ed ran towards Skylar as soon as she had stepped out of the wrought iron gates. He was standing leaning on the jeep, looking troubled and the others were waiting inside. Skylar stumbled into Ed's outstretched hands as he neared her. She stumbled not because of any pains in her body, but because of the ache she had in her heart. Leaning over Ed's hands, Skylar slowly looked up at him. His eyes were scrunched up small in worry and he looked troubled.

"Darling..." he mumbled. Skylar felt her eyes start to moist.

"Eddie..." Skylar whispered, and gently holding Ed's hands, she tried to get back onto her feet. Ed helped her, and she closed her eyes tight, staring at her feet. Skylar felt Ed thumb the side of her lips, and a gasp slipped through her lips as the pain stung her.

"What happened darling?" Ed asked slowly, and Skylar turned to look behind him. Ed turned his head and looked at where she was staring. "They are in the jeep, Sky." he said slowly, as Skylar turned towards him, nodding her head.

"Tell me, darling," he said in a pleading voice.

"This is nothing, Eddie." she said in a small voice, touching her lips lightly. She looked up at him and from the corner of her eyes, she saw Reese hurry towards her.

"I got it," she said slowly, as she felt the ache she had earlier come up in her heart once more. "She gave me her heart." she whispered and not being able to control her tears anymore, they started to root down her face.

Ed's eyes grew large as he did not understand the head nor the tail of it. But he knew that if he asked more about it, she would break down more. So, thinking that what had happened can wait, and not being able to look at her tears anymore, Ed pulled her towards him, and she pressed her face onto his chest. She snaked her arms through his waist and cried softly, drinking in her favorite warm smell of him.

"Sky"

Skylar pushed herself off of Ed, and she got back slowly, drying her eyes as she felt a soft hand on her shoulders. She turned behind her and saw Reese standing beside her, worry etched on her face.

"What happened Sky?" she asked softly. Skylar shook her head as Reese gasped, noticing her lips. "Who did this to you?" she shouted, but noticing that Skylar was scrunching up her eyes in pain, Ed shook his head from behind her looking at Reese, asking her not to continue. She understood him and touched Skylar's hands as she tried to narrate what had happened once more.

"No, no, that can wait." she said hurriedly, and gently pulled Skylar towards the car. Ed mouthed a thank you for her, and she nodded giving him a small smile. Together they went towards the jeep, and before any more questions arose, Reese gave them a clear look that read 'not now', and they all fell silent, looking at Skylar. Reese went towards the front passenger seat, and Darla helped Skylar as she got inside. Ed closed the door behind him, and he held Skylar's hand as she leaned her head on his shoulder. She was feeling heavy with all that had happened, and trying to forget everything, she wished she had some peaceful sleep.

The ride back was mostly in silence, and noticing that Skylar was asleep, others whispered while they conversed. Skylar was not completely asleep, but she was too tired enough to not to open her eyes. She felt others whispering behind her, but she did not want to join the conversation. She felt that Ed was nervous and feeling troubled, as he was drawing circles on her hand with his thumb. She hugged his arm with her free hand and at times she even felt Darla patting her knee in a kind manner, as darkness engulfed her.

"Darling, darling," Skylar slowly opened her eyes, as she felt someone pat her on her cheek, calling her. Ed was standing beside her, patting her cheek, trying to wake her up. She did not know when she had fallen asleep, but Skylar woke up with pains in her back.

"We are here, darling." Ed said as Skylar rubbed her eyes, turning to look behind her. They were at her home, as they had planned earlier before they had left for the mission. Skylar nodded as she got down from the jeep. Everyone followed her as she stepped through the kissing gate, and hearing the jeep Henry had stood up from where he was sitting outside the home waiting for them, and he hurried forwards.

"Darling..." he called softly, his voice mixed with fear, as he noticed the side of her lips.

"Dad," Skylar said softly, and as though looking at him had given her a new energy, she hurried her foot steps and went towards him. She hung her head down and stood before him. Confused, Henry gently touched her head and Skylar felt as though she was washed down with a cold bucket of ice cubes, which washed her body away from all the wounds, pains and scars. Seeing that all of the others were waiting for them, Henry guided Skylar inside their home and she plumped down the sofa, closing her eyes and leaning her head behind. Ed came up with her and he sat opposite her, as Henry sat beside her. Reese sat on Skylar's left, and they waited until she was ready to reveal everything that had happened to her in the Versels mansion.

Sighing, Skylar sat back straight and emptied the cup of water that Darla had placed in front of her. Taking a deep breath, she turned towards her father.

"Dad," she started. Henry nodded, letting her know that he was listening.

"The mansion was so big, dad." she said, and started to narrate her story. She did not stop for any gasps or surprised whispers, or even questions and she continued further, because she knew that if she stopped, she would never be able to reveal everything once more.

"She did WHAT??" Reese shouted in surprise, and Darla fell down her chair, as Skylar had narrated the part about Ethel pulling out her heart and placing it on her hands. Looking hurriedly to check whether someone else had noticed, and blushing ashamed as Ed stood up to help her, Darla hurriedly sat back on her chair once more. Her cheeks were red in shame and she gave a small sheepish smile to Skylar, as she saw that she was looking at her. She smiled back in return, and turned towards Reese.

"She gave me her heart." she said once more, but Reese's eyes were looking confused.

"I mean, did she just put her hand inside her chest and pull out her heart?" she asked, raising her shoulders. Skylar nodded. She shuddered as her mind replayed the images like a reel and her lips pulled up into a side. "I mean, that's disgusting." Reese added, and Skylar nodded, agreeing with her.

"Then what about after that?" she asked. "I guess she was dripping blood." she added matter of fact. But, Skylar shook her head no.

"No Ree," she said. "She wasn't." but Reese turned towards her, silently asking how was that even possible. Skylar took a deep breath and continued again.

"I told you, right. It was like she was putting her hand inside her chest, like it was molten butter," she continued. "And once she had pulled her heart out, there was nothing damaged. Not even a fold in her dress was moved to the side."

"But darl -" Ed started but stopped himself noticing Henry. "But Sky," he started once more, thinking it should have gone unnoticed to Henry. "Did you ask her directly to her heart?" he asked.

Skylar shook her head once more. "No Eddie, I didn't." she said, and continued. "She knew that it was the one thing that would help me. Your heart and others' will help you." she quoted, turning towards Ed.

He nodded understanding, realizing what the sentence meant. "It meant the hearts of others, not other people." she explained, turning towards Reese who had not understood the sentence. She nodded slowly as understanding dawned on her.

"That was it then." she said slowly. Skylar nodded.

"Anyway," Henry prompted her to go on. "What did she do after that?" he asked.

*

"She told me that other times won't be as easy as this." Skylar sighed, but Darla nodded.

"Yeah, Sky." she said in her soft voice. "I think she was right. I don't think that anyone would give their heart to you willingly." she finished as the others nodded in agreement. Skylar glanced towards her.

"Yeah Dar," she said. "I think the other situations will be much more complicated." she sighed.

"What did she do after that?" Jacob asked, raising his voice after a long time. Skylar bit her lip, and remembering that it was wounded, she hissed as pain shot through her body once more. Ed's eyes scrunched up noticing her pain and discomfort.

"She gave it to me." Skylar said very slowly, and Reese shuddered. Darla looked as though she would faint.

"Was that the reason behind the blood in your hands?" Reese asked once more, after composing herself. Skylar nodded.

"Yuck," she said, and scrunched up her nose. A shiver ran down through Skylar's spine as she still felt as though the heart was throbbing in her hand.

"What did you do with it?" Jacob asked grinning, as a cunning smile went up his face. Skylar shrugged.

"I vanished the heart." she said in a small voice. "It's placed safely, somewhere." she added, and leaned her head back on the sofa. "That's all."

Ed nodded and looked at her face. "I think the wound needs to be treated darl – Sky." he said, and Henry too nodded, but Skylar shook her head no.

"I can take care of it, Eddie." she said, and rubbed her forehead. Ed nodded, but did not press anymore.

"So, who was the woman there?" Darla put out the question that had been nagging her for a long time. All eyes turned towards her.

"Ethel," Skylar said. "It was Ethel."

Darla looked confused. "The daughter who had the power of," she thought loudly trying to remember.

"Light." Ed said loudly, helping her. He was staring at his fingers, and his face looked troubled. Skylar looked at him and she nodded thankfully, as though she had just remembered Ethel's power at that moment.

"Yes, the daughter who had the power of light." she repeated. Skylar nodded and turned towards her father.

"Dad," she said. "I am too tired, shall I go up to my room please." she asked, and he nodded understandingly.

"Yes darling, yes. But please, before you go have some food." he said, and looking at his eyes, Skylar was not able to say no to him.

Taking that as their cue to leave, all of her friends stood up at once. They bid goodbye to Skylar and asked her to rest more, as she tried to stand up to bid them goodbye. Ed was the last to leave, and glancing towards Henry, he leaned forwards, and pulled up Skylar's hand as she reached for his hand. Ed pressed his lips softly to her knuckles, as she gripped his fingers tightly. Ed gave her a worried look, and left the home after bidding good night to Henry.

Locking the door behind him, Henry turned towards Skylar. She was laying down on the sofa, and her eyes were scrunched up in pain. Shaking his head, worried about his daughter, Henry went to the kitchen, and prepared her favorite pancakes.

"Sky," Henry gently held Skylar's shoulders and shook her. She had fallen into a disturbing sleep and was woken up by him. Blinking to get a clear view, Skylar nodded at her father and she ate the dinner her father fed her with love. Sighing once more, Skylar stood up and climbed the staircase up to her room.

Even though the bed looked inviting, Skylar knew that she would not be able to sleep with blood in her hands. So, she hurried to have a hot shower, and rubbed her palms hard, until her skin turned red and raw. Thinking that it might do the trick, Skylar got out of the shower rubbing her head. She stared at her reflection in the mirror and she touched the birthmark behind her neck, which was hidden by the tattoo.

She was able to solve some of the mysteries that were surrounding her, and she wondered whether she would even find the reason for her birthmark. Knowing that only time will tell, Skylar got back to her bed and plumped her head onto the pillow, as her eyes drooped and sleep came towards her.

*

Skylar was walking through a deep dark forest once more. Only the sound of the rustling leaves as she walked over them was heard. She turned her head to the sides, searching for an escape.

Was she afraid?

She started to run as a slithering sound of a snake was heard. Her feet got hit on a laying brick and she stumbled, losing her balance. Skylar fell hard onto the ground, over the thousands of leaves and stones. She hissed in pain as she felt her cheek cut to the rough stones. She cursed in anger and tried to stand up once more. But as much as she tried, she was unable to do so. She felt as though someone who was heavier than her was sitting over her body. She gritted her teeth and tried once more. But her hands and body was not obliging her. She turned her head to the side and stared behind her. No one was sitting on her, and only the air was visible around her. She tried once more. But still the results were the same.

Sighing angrily, Skylar took enough strength into her skinny hands and she raised herself up, rolling to her side. This time it worked, and she felt whatever that had been pushing her down, stumbled to the side beside her. With a victorious smirk, Skylar stood up straight and patted down her body for remnants of dust, stones and leaves which were adorned over her. She searched through the darkness, and tried to check whether there was someone, but she was not able to notice anything. Shaking her head to the side, thinking that it was just a part of her imagination, Skylar turned behind her, trying to take a step forward.

A shriek slipped through her lips as a blinking light showed someone standing nose to nose with her. She shook her head once more and stared around her. But no one was there.

Was that just a part of her imagination?

Skylar tried to go forward but the light blinked once more, and it kept on blinking as Skylar screamed in fear. A girl who was about ten years old was hovering in front of her, and she was wearing a pearly white dress that went down to her knees. Her skin was also white and that highlighted the fact of her attire as well. She was wearing black shoes and slowly Skylar looked up at her face. The little girl was literally inches away from her nose and her bushy eye brows were over her blind eyes. Only a shadow of a dot was visible in her eyeballs and her nose was broken in two, as though she had knocked her head, face first through a wall. Her lips were lopsided and her cheeks were missing as the bones beneath it were also visible.

Skylar felt a shiver go down through her spine, as the girl opened her mouth and white smoke issued from out of it. Skylar tried to move away, but the girl blocked her path. She held Skylar's shoulders and she tried to shake her away, but she was too strong for a little girl.

"Leave me alone!" Skylar shouted, but the girl just shook her head. Skylar felt the fear start to creep up her mind once more. "Please." she added in a whisper. But still the girl shook her head now, turning her head down and only turning her blind eyes towards Skylar. Her pigtails were banging the sides of her face as she shook her head ferociously. Skylar heard her heart beat faster. She knew she did not have an escape from the little girl.

*

Skylar looked beside her from the corner of her eyes. She glanced at the girl in front of her once more, and saw that black liquid like blood was oozing from the side of her lifeless lips. Skylar stared at it disgusted as she noticed a large star sign on the side of her hollow cheek. She leaned her head to the side and tried to get a clearer look. But understanding that Skylar was trying to poke her nose into unwanted business, the little girl in front of her raised her hand up and she grabbed and held Skylar's hair. Skylar screamed in pain as she felt her strands break contact with her skull. She tried to grab the little girl's hand, but only air was beside her. She was not able to hold on to anything. So, thinking to try out another method which would help her, Skylar moved her hands through the dark night, towards the girl's body. Noticing what she was about to do, the girl started moving, while still hovering and Skylar groaned as she missed the girl by inches from her finger tips. Anger started to pick her mind as the girl's grip tightened on her hair. Not being able to digest the pain anymore, Skylar leaped forward, and she won, as she grabbed the little girl from around her waist. She was surprised because she was not able to hold her hands and she wondered how she was able to hold her body right now.

Pouncing on the little girl, the sudden force made her break her hold on Skylar's hair, and while falling down with her, Skylar pinned her to the ground. She kneeled over the girl's chest and stared down at her, patting her aching head. She pushed her knee more, trying to hurt the little girl. But she did not at least whimper in pain, and stared at Skylar through her blind eyes.

"What are you?" Skylar hissed. The girl's black dot in her eyes got smaller. Skylar squinted her eyes.

Who was she?

"Tell me!" Skylar shouted once more, and at once Skylar felt her knee start to burn. Stinging in pain, Skylar hissed but she did not stand up. Still pinning her to the ground, Skylar looked angrily at her. The little girl's hair was sprung up on all sides and her pigtails were loosened as well. Skylar saw a stabbed mark on the side of her stomach and her eyebrows furrowed wondering what was the reason for that. The mark was like a black hole, and a liquid similar to the black blood that was oozing from the side of her mouth was leaking from the wound in her stomach as well. Skylar looked up at the girl once more. She was still staring at Skylar with a blank expression on her face.

"Aaargh"

Skylar hissed in pain, holding her head as she suddenly felt someone else grab hold her hair from behind. Wincing in pain, Skylar felt herself being pulled off the little girl, and her shins scraped the floor as she was dragged through the rough ground. She tried slapping the hands that were holding her, but it was in vain, as she felt as though her body was frozen like a stone. Her heart was too loud in her ears and Skylar wondered what was happening to her.

Suddenly, as quick as it had started, Skylar was stopped. She felt the hands leave her head and she fell backwards to the floor, her head banging onto a brick behind her. Closing her eyes in pain, as stars started to shine through the darkness of her eyelids, Skylar composed herself and she tried to raise up with her elbows. But, a force suddenly pushed her down as she felt someone jump over her chest and press their knee onto her chest, just as she had done to the little girl. Skylar shouted in pain, and she squeezed shut her eyes not wanting to look around her anymore. She waited, hoping for the person to get down, but it did not work. She slowly opened her eyes and closed them at once as a giant blood dripping face was just a centimeter away from her nose.

Curiosity won the war between fear, and Skylar found herself opening her eyes once more. Her eyebrows were scrunched up in worry and she started to scream in horror mixed with pain, but sound did not issue through her throat. She felt choked and she brought her eyes down, to look at her neck. She saw the large woman who was sitting over her body, was pinning her to the ground by holding her neck tight in place. The woman was very old and gray strands of hair were protruding out from her large drum like bald head. The flat face was asymmetric and only one of her eyes was opened. The other eye was closed shut, and Skylar realized that that eye was stitched with the skin below her eyes. Skylar gulped down in fear and she saw that the woman's nose was also broken in two, just like the little girl's had been. Her lips were wrinkled inside and only half broken brown rotten teeth stood out from her mouth. Her cheeks were hollow and Skylar knew that if she turned her head to the side and stared at it, she would be able to see what was on the other side of the dark forest.

Skylar shut her eyes in fear as she saw the woman inch closer towards her. She waited as she felt the ragged hot air touch her skin, and Skylar tried to open her eyes once more, as she wanted to look at what the woman was doing. Skylar felt a hot muscle touch the side of her cheek, and she felt it slither over her cheek, licking the side of her face. Skylar shrieked in horror as she felt the hot throb of the tongue. Skylar started to struggle under the woman's hold and she started to smell rotten eggs issuing from the woman. Skylar struggled once more, and finally she was able to loosen the hold of the woman. The woman who was still licking the blood that was oozing from the cut from Skylar's face, had noticed that she was trying to push her off. Skylar took a deep breath, and with one huge force, she was able to push the woman off her body and she stood up once more. She was released at last.

Skylar looked down at the woman once more, and pulled her sleeve across the side of her cheek. Her blood, mixed with the woman's saliva was on her sleeve. Looking at the woman with disgust, Skylar started to run through the dark night. Only after she was about two miles away from the woman and the little girl, did she stop to even at least catch her breath.

"Give me my heart Skylar..."

Skylar stopped dead as she heard the words. The voice was ringing through the dark night and she panted trying to stop the loud heart beat that was deafening her.

"Give me my heart Skylar..."

She heard it once more and she knew that her imagination was too wild for her own good. Shivering in fear, she tried to stop her racing heart as she heard stones knocking on a glass.

Stones knocking on a glass? But which forest had glasses?

*

Skylar twitched and opened her eyes slowly. She was right. The sound of stones knocking on the window was actually heard. Skylar rubbed her eyes and she woke up, shivering as she still felt the woman's tongue on her cheek. Wiping it in disgust, trying to erase the horrible feeling, she turned towards the mirror and stared at her reflection. She looked the same from last night, and she sighed as she realized that it was just a bad dream and not an actual nightmare. Skylar started to shiver as she heard the voice once more. The voice of Ethel ringing horribly through the dark night.

A stone hit her window again, and squinting her eyes in worry, Skylar opened it. A huge beam went up her face as she saw Ed standing below her window. Winking at her, he started to climb through the pipe that was fixed beside her window. Skylar moved to the side and let him come inside, trying to erase the echoing voice from her mind.

"I was worried about you, darling." he said worry etched on his face, but before he was even finished, Skylar had put her arms around his body, pulling him into a tight hug. Smiling, Ed rested his chin on her shoulder. They remained in each other's hold, as Skylar's racing heart came back to normal and she was able to slowly remove the voice from her head.