“So boring!” young Blaire cried, flailing her limbs.

Cole dropped the book on his pretzel crossed legs and stared at her with sympathy.

Blaire rolled onto her stomach and faced him, only some inches of space between them.

Since Blaire was lying and he was sitting, he was taller. But even standing he had a good few feet on her and she hoped always would. If he was shorter then his job as a sidekick would be pointless and Blaire really enjoyed him as her sidekick.

“Are the adults really so dumb?” Blaire asked, dismayed.

She had raced to Cole’s house with the storybook stamped against her chest, recording all “true events” of monsters and supernatural activities taking place in their town. But there was no way, no way, any of it was real. Could be real. Blaire was six and knew this.

The Blackwood child stared into Cole’s honey colored eyes. They were warm, sweet, and glued her in one place. 

She hoped that he didn’t believe. No follower of hers could be a nitwit.

“No, ‘course not!” he assured. “It’s just a book of stories.”

Blaire sighed and looked at the ceiling. “A bunch of boring stories. Mrs. Brown lied to me.”

The story of townsmen falling to their deaths at the steep entrance of the town was written and read, but not scary.

Her eyes fell to the nearest window revealing a rare slice of sapphire sky.

It was always so smoggy during springtime. A great inconvenience that Blaire had learned to tolerate for a few months every year.

Blaire heard the distant flipping of pages as Cole browsed the storybook. He was a fast reader, a fast thinker, and a fast runner. But he was slow as a snail when he was tired.

Blaire itched to snatch the book and toss it across the room. Though rare, she had violent outbursts, especially when overly irritated. But that day Blaire only fumed inside like a hibernating volcano.

“What about the taking season?” Cole asked.

“The what?” Blaire turned her head to him.

“You know. The taking season. The reason why no one is allowed to go into the forest.”

Blaire stared blankly. All her knowledge came from her crazed grandfather rampaging about a mad beast.

An impish smile crossed her face. “There’s a story?”

“Yeah.”

“Read it!”

Cole looked from the book to Blaire and her expectant, naïve young self. She knew he was hesitant. He hated the idea of causing his friend any form of pain. But he would get over it for her. He always did.

He cleared his throat and began.

“Long ago, a fearful demon came and laid claim to the woods.

“The demon's snake familiar would appear and bite one of the townspeople, usually young and of good health. If the town's person was not taken to the forest within that day, the selected would die, another would be chosen, and the town would be punished severely.

“Soon, the townspeople realized that they lived on a schedule. The demon asked for only one sacrifice once a year, during the season of Spring.

“Many had considered leaving, but fear of being killed or cursed held them back. Some maimed themselves to prevent from being selected. None, once entering the forest, ever returned.

“And?” Blaire pressed, certain there was more, and Cole closed the book.

Cole shot her an incredulous look. “That’s not scary enough for you?”

“No.” Maybe if it was real, but it wasn’t.

“It’s just a story,” Blaire added by way of explanation. "A very short story."

“Just a story,” Cole agreed, still eyeing Blaire as if she wasn’t human.

“Besides, when was the last sacrificed person anyway?” Little Blackwood challenged.

“Blaire,” Cole scolded gently, “people have disappeared.”

“I thought people don’t…”

“They don’t. Not anymore.”

“So there’s a killer, then. A wannabe demon in the woods.” She was intrigued.

“We don’t know that. It could just be an animal. You know, a beast.” Cole sighed and looked away, then back at her. “Are you really not scared at all?”

Blaire rolled her eyes and stood.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m going to go exploring,” she answered with a wicked grin.

He frowned in confusion. “Where?”

“Where do you think?”

“Now?” Cole reached up and snatched Blaire's hand. It swallowed hers and locked her in place. “You can’t go.”

“I can too and I will so,” Blaire retorted.

“If you don’t return…”

She reached out and clapped him assuredly on the shoulder. “I’ll come back to you as soon as I get out.”

If this was anyone else she had spoken to, she'd have been locked inside her bedroom kicking and screaming.

Cole’s eyes narrowed and he set the storybook to his side.

“I’m coming with you,” he declared, standing.

Blaire beamed at him.

I knew you would.

                                                                …

Cole and Blaire stood before the woods. Her in anticipation, him in building regret. 

She lurched forward and was yanked back instantly. Cole hadn’t released her hand since they left his house.

“Stay beside me,” he ordered.

“Fine!” Blaire snapped, her eyes anxiously seeking behind him for witnesses. Fortunately, no one had followed them, but it was only a matter of time before someone noticed their absence.

“Come on!”

To her joy, Cole allowed her to drag him through the gateway of trees.

Blaire felt a chill of excitement. 

Why hadn’t she come here before? There was so much to explore!

Blaire glanced around.

Trees as far as she could see, splinters of light from above slicing in. The fog, oddly, was weak; practically non-existent. Able to see the ground, Blaire discovered roots rippling through the splotches of damp grass and dirt. Noises, wind whispers and snapping twigs, beckoned from the distance.

“Okay. We’ve seen enough. Let’s go.”

With strength brought on by eagerness, Blaire escaped from Cole’s grasp and bounded into the woods.

“Blaire!” he scolded, his voice echoing.

Having longer legs he reached Blaire much faster than she would have liked and attempted to grab her when she dropped from his reach.

Blaire shrieked as she lost footing and fell down a steep cliff. Her hands attempted to latch onto the thin roots on the wall, but they snapped under her weight and she fell to the ground with a heavy thud.

“Blaire!” Cole screamed fearfully and she gave a pathetic wave of her hand to assure she had survived.

It was much darker down there with the trees less spaced, blocking the sunlight.

Blaire glanced behind her as she heard the sound of dissolving dirt and saw Cole slide to her side.

He pulled her to him by the shoulders, eyes searching her entire body. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah.” I think.

Blaire frowned as she looked at the cliff. The drop felt much shorter with the fall ending so suddenly. But how wrong she was.

Once satisfied that the scrapes on her body were non-life threatening, Cole took in their situation. He didn’t despair as quickly as she had.

“Don’t worry,” he consoled, walking back to the cliff.

Blaire watched as he tested the sensitive wall, looking for a place to start climbing. But he was no spider and there was not a single hole, rock, or stable branch he could use for support.

“It’s fine.” Cole returned to Blaire. “We can find our way home through here. Just need to go that way.”

He pointed to their left, certain that would lead to the direction of home.

Cole grabbed her hand and all fright washed away.

There was no need to worry when Blaire had her sidekick. He knew how to protect her. He was smart. She could trust him.

They entered the darker woods and she straightened. She wouldn’t let a bunch of trees frighten her. She liked to believe that nothing could frighten her.

Cole steered left and they walked in heavy silence.

Blaire wondered what he was thinking, if he was thinking at all. 

Would he be angry when they got out of here? Would he quit being Blaire's sidekick? The thought hurt her.

A few minutes of walking turned into a few hours and Blaire's worry of Cole abandoning her was replaced by a new concern.

“Are we lost?” Blaire whispered.

“Maybe,” Cole answered, frustrated.

She wish he had lied and told her: “No”.

Instead he added, “It’s fine though. As long as we stay together nothing will happen.”

The sound of sliding sand or rushing water passed in the dim light.

Blaire stepped closer to Cole, searching their surroundings as the noise continued to pepper them with its appearance.

“Do you hear that?” Blaire asked.

“Just keep walking,” her partner instructed. “Stop.”

“Do you want me to walk or not?” she snapped.

Cole bent to tie his shoelace and she groaned in frustration. “Forget about the shoe, Cole!”

Suddenly, a serpent lurched toward Blaire from the darkness.

Cole whacked it away with a fallen branch, holding the stick across her like a knight guarding a princess.

“Are you okay?” he asked but Blaire was too shocked to respond.

That was no ordinary garden snake. It was huge, long, lethal. Either it would return, or the children would stumble across its family.

The sound of snapping twigs locked Blaire further into Cole’s protective grip.

“What a surprise.”

Blaire was more dumbfounded than frightened to hear another voice. She should have worried that this man may be a serial killer, but for some reason she thought him to be safer than the snake.

Cole had other beliefs.

“Run,” he whispered in her ear.

“I wouldn’t,” the shadow said as it grew. “Unless one of you wants to die.”

“Are you threatening us?” Cole challenged.

Finally, the stranger appeared.

It was a tall man cloaked in black from head to toe. His sickly face didn’t have a single laugh line and looking into his dark eyes Blaire doubted he knew how to.

This man, she knew, should have terrified her. He was Death greeting Cole and her in person. But she couldn’t fear him. He fascinated her. Blaire had never seen anyone like him; never thought she would.

“No, not threatening.” The man seemed to be observing them with as much fascination as she was. “You must be children from the town. Lost, I assume.”

Cole’s eyes narrowed.

“I can show you the way out.”

“Why would you help us?” Cole asked.

“Not for free; I am not that generous. Children must learn from their mistakes, after all.”

Death-as Blaire chose to call him-gazed upon her with amusement. “It is unfortunate that I must choose. It’s been awhile since I have seen a human I find true interest in. Not to mention two.”

“What are you talking about?”

“One of you may leave, the other must stay,” Death explained.

“Cole can’t leave me,” Blaire blurted, latching onto her partner. “He’s my sidekick.”

“Then you can leave him.”

The black-and-white snake appeared again. This time Cole was too slow to stop the bite. 

Blaire watched in horror as it sank its fangs and marked her friend.

He clasped his arm and knelt to the ground.

“Cole!” she shrieked, collapsing beside him. 

“Blaire,” Cole said through clenched teeth, “I need you to run as fast as you can.”

“No!” Blaire shouted stubbornly.

“Blaire!”

She stared defiantly at him, her lower lip wobbling. Blaire was close to tears, but she refused to cry. 

“Well,” Death joined in, “I guess the boy will have to do.”

“What will you do to him?” Blaire shot her head upward, tears streaming down her face. “Are you going to kill him?”

“No,” Death assured, but Blaire couldn't tell if he was being truthful. “I believe a deal has been made.”

Cole blocked Blaire again, with a grimace, as the snake slithered near.

“Don’t worry. She will not be harmed,” Death assured him.

“You swear?”

“I do.”

Blaire clung onto Cole confused, scared, sad.

What was going to happen to Cole? What was going to happen to her?

As Cole lessened his protective stance, the snake snagged Blaire's skin.

“Blaire! Blaire! Blaire!” Cole hovered over her as she collapsed to the ground, having a much stronger reaction to the bite than he had.

Blaire stared at Cole’s terrified face, feeling dizzy and queasy as he shook her by the shoulders.

...

Blaire blinked and found herself staring at the twilight sky of a hazy orange and pink.

She lay there for ages trying to gather her senses. Her sanity.

Where am I?

The woods.

The entrance of the woods.

How did I get here?

“Blaire! Blaire! Blaire!” a voice echoed desperately in her mind.

Blaire winced as she shot to a sudden sitting position.

Cole. Where's Cole?

“Cole?” she asked weakly, receiving no response.

Blaire climbed unsteadily to her feet and began shrieking, “Cole? Cole?! COLE!”

She could barely hear the rising sounds as adults swarmed her. Her heart was too loud. Everything, her head, her bones, hurt too much.

“Blaire!” Her mother, Liz, appeared before her and gripped her by both arms.

With hollow eyes and a drawn out face Liz looked wretched. “Thank God you’re alright! Where have you been?! How did you get here?!”

Blaire looked at her arm, finding it clear of any bite. No evidence of what had happened remained. No evidence except-

“Where’s Cole?” Blaire croaked.

“We’re still looking, Honey, but don’t worry,” she cooed. “For now, let’s get you to the doctor.”

…

The frantic search for the two missing children had lessened once one of them had been found. Knowing that the discovered child was “unharmed”, belief that the other one was remained strong.

But days passed with no sign of Cole and Blaire sat on her bed gazing listlessly out the window for a boy she knew would not return.

Death had stolen him away from her. That’s what Blaire had told those who asked.

She said they had fallen and come across a snake and the evil man, Death. He agreed to show them the way out in an exchange.

Blaire hadn’t realized, hadn’t considered, the possibility that the adults translated her confession into something else entirely.

Cole had been kidnapped by an outsider and she had been saved. The adults admired and pitied Cole, believing Blaire was the original victim but Cole convinced the kidnapper otherwise.

Blaire wasn’t comforted by this. Neither were Cole’s family or her own. Grandfather Henry was furious, adamant it was the demon beast. Grandmother Valerie was on her husband's side but wisely kept silent. Blaire's parents were more focused on their daughter's health than the truth.

Blaire wasn’t eating, she wasn’t sleeping, she was hardly talking. Cole was out there somewhere and she was there in the comfort of her own home. It wasn’t fair. Blaire was the one that forced him into that situation. She should have suffered the consequence. She should have gone with Death.

It wasn’t much longer when Blaire's parents decided to move to her mother’s hometown in Oregon, America. The change of scenery would do her much better than life so close to such tragedy, and she "deserved" a fresh start.

Blaire was conflicted when told she was leaving her hometown. This was where her memories with Cole were. But somewhere out there in the big world Cole had to be waiting for her.

Staying here she would be useless to him. But with a detective’s license Blaire could find him anywhere. 

And she would find him, no matter where he was, no matter what it took.