i  was seventeen years old… i was with my friends jeremy,alex, and zero..we were playing mario kart on our DS..jeremy said he heard a sound coming from outside..alex looked out the window….and went outside to the backyard to check, for the backyard….was where the noise came from…..a few hours later alex had not come back..i was worried...so me, zero, and jeremy…..we went outside...we saw footprints in the snow….there were 2 sets of footprints….one came from our doorway...and one….came from the woods…….we saw the footprints from the woods went to the footprints from our doorstep….we knew the doorstep footprints belonged to alex...alex’s footprints staggered back near the wall...and there was a body shaped print in the snow near the wall….it was the same shape as alex….the forest footprints led to the body shape print….and there were drag prints that led into the forest...it  seemed that what happened was alex got into a fight with a creepy guy that  emerged from the  forest knocked him into the wall and dragged him into the forest...there was also alex’s winter hat on the ground….with blood on it..it seemed to have been a bloody fight…..we quickly ran into the house and locked the windows and doors…..then….we heard the sound of movement in the attic….it couldn't be my parents...my parents were busy on a trip...it couldn't be my friends….they were right next to me…..that's when i realized…..we never locked the attic window…me and my friends split up…..jeremy….went into the attic….never came out....we had heard a gunshot up there…..me and zero held hands and ran into the woods to hide….i looked at zero as we ran….her face was filled with fear...when we got to a safe point i comforted zero….telling her that i’d keep her safe...her eyes were filled with tears
i hugged zero tightly as very little moonlight filled the darkness because the woods were filled with dark trees...then i heard a voice in the distance..it said.”where are you~.”...i instantly grabbed zero’s hand and ran….not letting go of her..we later ended up on the street on the other end of the forest...the street was a bit dark...very few cars passed us...when ever i waved for their help they just passed us...like...they were ignoring us...i looked at the sign on the side of the road..the sign said..”welcome to grimsborough”....my eyes widened...this was the bad side of town where  criminals were common..”zero, we need to move quickly...this is the bad side of town…” i said in a shaky voice.... “S-should we go somewhere?”....zero said to me…”i don't know zero….but i know we cant stay near the woods...it’s too dangerous” i said to her looking at her with her scared eyes...by the look of her eyes...they told me “i'm scared”.. I took zero’s hand and calmly motioned her to stay close to me...and we walked down the street at a quick pace….getting far from the woods…..when we got far from the woods….i saw a silhouette of the man walk out of the woods and walk the opposite direction we went….”z-zero….th-that man walked out of the forest…” i said in a shaky voice…”i-is he heading towards us…” she replied…..”no….he went the opposite direction…. If he comes to us i'll keep you safe...ok?” i said….”o-ok..” she said shakily….a few hours later we were at a store just leaving the store….we were getting some food to supply ourselves….. We then got pulled by someone into an alley way…..it was the man..he held his hand on my forehead to hold me in place….he wasn't holding onto zero anymore…”RUN” i shouted at zero….the man put his hand over my mouth and slowly said… “shhh~” he said to my horrified face….”i found you~” the man said…i blacked out…i  woke up who knows how long later...zero had ran away..i was on the ground...in the alley way...the man was gone...i noticed...that there was a 357 magnum next to me...i grabbed it...luckily there was  a sack of ammo next to it…. I took the ammo….i ran out the alley….i saw zero running from the man….i shot the mans leg...and he collapsed to the ground “COME ON ZERO” i yelled….she ran to me...and i took her hand and we ran together….we had run  far from there .and i called the police on the man….. The cops arrested him...we went to our house to find more evidence…..we found jeremy and alex’s dead bodies….the attic was filled with blood….we saw the attic window was open….that had to be how the man broke in….me and zero now live far away from that town...still shook by what had happened...i will never forget the day that man scared the living life force out of me….i will forever protect  zero after what had happened...but i still remember when i woke up in that alley that day…..there was a plague doctor mask next to me.