I scratched at the black flower tattoo at my back at the thought that I could peel it off.

Useless.

I ran back down the stairs as aunt Beatrice was still glued to the TV.

"Aunt Beatrice! Aunt Beatrice!, I don't know what's happening to me but if this continues I might go crazy" I rushed as I came to a stop in front.

"Slow down Alex, what's wrong?"

I took in a deep breath and right from what happened back at aunt Mille's house to how the flower had just appeared at my back, I spilled out everything as I ended it by turning around and letting her have a sight of the flower.

I didn't hear her say a word, so I pulled my robe back up and looked back at her.

She looked really surprised. I know I rushed up the story but the look on her face had me believe she got it.

She finally spoke.

"Oh-my-god" she looked at me and yelled "You got a tattoo?!"

I slammed my hand into my face real hard, which actually hurt.

"N-no no no aunt Beatrice I didn't...get...a tattoo. Did even get anything I just said?"

"I get you have a tattoo at your back!" She said looking really surprised.

Suddenly, I felt really stupid for thinking aunt Beatrice would believe me. It was too unreal for anyone to believe.

"Were you forced into this? Did someone threaten you? Are you being followed by some of Mille's stupid friends?" She was looking really worried now so I had to take things the other way.

"No aunt Beatrice. I..." I sighed at my total failure "I got this on my own. I guess I loved the drawing I just, had to get one".

"Oh. Oh okay then. Okay. So long as you weren't forced into it"

'Being forced into it sounds even better. At least then you know how you got it', I thought.

"I'm really glad you're starting to spread out into the world and all that but don't you think its a little too early to be getting... a tattoo?. I mean... I'm not angry, its fine if that's what you want but you have to promise me this is the first and last tattoo you're ever going to get"

'This isn't how it was supposed to go'.

"Alright aunt Beatrice. I promise"

'Well I don't actually know how its supposed to go but its definitely not in the direction where my aunt starts acting like a protective mom and oversees the point I was trying to make'

She smiled "You know you didn't have to come up with that story just to tell me you got a tattoo"

She seemed to have calm down.

I faked a smile "Yeah I know right. I guess I'll be... going back to my room now"

I turned to leave and then she said something behind me but I couldn't make it out cause I was too busy realizing... I was really close to my doom.

+++++.

I opened my eyes. It wasn't morning yet, it was still really dark out so I closed my eyes to get back to sleep.

"Alex"

My eyes flung open at the voice and I quickly sat up on the bed. I couldn't see a thing so I reach out for the lamp and tried to switch it on but the light cane from somewhere else.

"Ah!" I screamed but the old man seated on his wheel chair at the end of my bed didn't move an inch. "How did you get into my room?"

Then I realized the mistake. I wasn't in my room.

I was back in his room which was filled with paintings.

"How did I get here" I freaked out and got off the bed without taking my eyes off him. "You're not normal are you?"

"Don't worry Alex. I'm not going to hurt you, I just want you to listen to me".

"I'm out of here" I said and made a dash for the door but when I pulled at it, it was locked.

"I just need you to listen to me"

I groaned and faced him "And why should I do that?"

"Because I can tell you about the mark on your back"

I paused and looked at him suspiciously.

I was still cautious. The old man had made a foggy face on my mirror, his eyes had freaking gone black and he had found a way to get me to his room without me knowing.

He's definitely not normal!.

But even if I was scared I had to know what was happening to me.

"I'm listening" I said, not moving an inch away from the door.

"The mark has chosen you and you cannot run from it. This is your fate"

Great. Now he's deciding my life for me.

"The first mark has chosen you, so now you must find the others and go together to the forbidden forest. In there you will find Kathryn. when you find her, she will guide you for the rest of the journey to stop the heart"

I shook my head with my hand up and my eyes closed "Hold on you're not making sense. What forbidden forest? Who's Kathryn? and are you saying there are others who got this...mark thing? What do you mean stop the heart? Are we supposed to kill someone?"

I had a lot of questions coming.

He broke out in a cough and I was actually worried if he was okay but I didn't get close to him

"I don't have much time left, so I can only tell you the most important things now. The forbidden forest is where the most dangerous monsters are locked in".

'Monsters? Does he mean like poisonous snakes?' I wondered

"Dario, the most dangerous monster. He could control all the monsters and have them kill with just his mind. They would feast on humans and destroy everything. It took a long time, but he was killed. And that made every other monster weak"

"So what's the problem now?" I asked seriously.

"His heart beats"

That sent a chill down my spine. I wasn't really sure what he meant by monsters and all that but I didn't like where he was going.

"His heart had made it through the kill and now, the monsters are trying to get Dario back. If they get his heart going and they get Dario back-"

"-they'll become as strong as ever and its the end line of human kind?". I found myself completing. I couldn't believe I was actually flowing with something that insane. I didn't want to believe him but I don't know why I couldn't.

This must all just be a silly joke, I told myself. But I also found myself being sucked into that joke.

"Wait. Didn't you say they are locked inside the forbidden forest, that means they can't come out, right?"

"The gate keeping them in is weak, if they get Dario to awaken and find a body for him. The gate wouldn't stand a chance. But there is a way to strengthen the gate and end all this before it starts, and that is when you three come in. When you enter the forest and find Kathryn, you must get the five gems and place the five gems on the gate. When you do that, Dario wouldn't even stand a chance"

I nodded as it all made sense to me but then I paused as the smartest part of me took control.

"Hold on a minute, you don't actually think I would go into a forbidden forest with monsters in it? I can't do anything about it. I might just as well step into my own coffin while I'm conscious. Sorry, but count me out"

I said as a matter of truth. I couldn't do anything, I can't even sit to watch a horror movie where the things in it aren't even real but made up, talk less of me standing right in front of one or a thousand.

"You actually can. When you find Kathryn, you would realize how much you're worth. But I must warn you" he looked more serious than he had ever been since he started talking. "You must protect the one who possesses the second mark. The second mark is in more danger than any of the rest of you. The second mark possesses the healing blood which if Dario gets his hands on...Its all over".

"If they're that at risk why can't they just not go. He or she could just stay back"

"This is a journey where all three of you must be present. If something is to happen to any one of you, its also all over. You must also never, ever, ever eat anything from the forest. Ever!" He added and I swallowed. Nothing felt funny anymore.

"Find my grandson, Tyson, He has the third mark"he held out a paper and a key "when you find him give this to him and he will lead you through the rest"

I stared at him and slowly went over and took it from his hand. He wasn't actually as rough and scary as he was in the afternoon. He was...normal?.

I looked at the key and the paper.

"That is the address to find him. He'll know what to do with the key".

"Wait, I never did agree that I'm in for this"

Suddenly, the room got woozy. I shook my head a little but then my eyes got dizzy.

"What's happening?" I asked as my legs went weak and I came crashing to the floor. I could faintly hear his voice.

"My time is up. Please be strong Alex, its up to you now"

With that...I blacked out.

I opened my eyes again and shut it immediately as the sunlight burned in my room. It was really bright and I squinted as my eyes slowly adjusted to the light. I sat up and looked around again clarifying I was in my room.

"All a dream huh?" With that I raised my hand to run my fingers through my hair when I felt it.

I slowly brought my hand back down as I stared at it.

The key and the paper.

It wasn't just a dream.