Running. 

All I could do was run.

        There I was, running in a thick forest. It felt as if I had been at this for days and I could feel my legs about to give at any moment. Something told me that I had to keep going, I didn’t know why exactly but I knew something was chasing me. I refused to look at whatever was chasing me, I knew that was the number one thing people in horror movies should NOT do. 

        Instead I tried to take in more of my surroundings, feeling the adrenalin pumping through my veins. The sky was dark, I assumed it was the dead of night but something about the sky felt off—for one I couldn’t find the moon. What the hell was going on?!

        Just as I thought this, one of the tree roots tripped me up making me stumble a bit. Luckily, I didn’t fall but it did make me pause my running to regain my composure.

        An screech gargled out from behind me making the blood pumping through my veins turn ice cold. I held my breath, listening for the monstrous noise but only silence fell in the eerie forest.

”Emalee.”

        At that I jumped and turned; standing just a few feet away from me was a small girl—someone to be in her early or late teens. Her face was fuzzy to to me but I did take note of her bright red hair that seem to be too unnaturally red.

I take a step back, trying to keep some distance between the two of you. “Who…Who are yo-!”

        Before I could finish, in a blink of an eye she was standing in front of me—hand slapped across your mouth preventing me from no longer speaking. 

        “There’s no time.” I could see some of mouth frown, her eyes were still blurry it was almost as if I couldn’t look at her all that well. “You need to leave. Run far from this place!”

        'I thought that you was running', I almost wanted to shout this however whatever control this girl had on me made me freeze in place. She continued, voice trembling a bit as she did; “You won’t survive if you don’t run.”

        The corner of my eyes grew fuzzier and fuzzier—the world almost shifted and it was just me and this girl. Just as I found the courage to close my eyes I could hear one last sentence from this mysterious red haired girl;

”They will kill you.”

         I woke up from my dream with covers tossed off of me and sweat dripping down my forehead as if I broke a fever. 

        This nightmare had been plaguing me for a while, maybe a month or so ago. I had originally thought it was stress from loosing my job and having to pack everything from my little apartment that I could barley afford anymore and move right back in with my parents—but it I keep having them.

        This dream was a bit different though, that girl. With bright red hair she seemed familiar but I couldn’t put my finger on it…maybe it was someone my subconscious has seen before? I wasn't quite sure…

        The blaring sound of a phone sounded through the room again, making me realize that it had been ringing and I was too engrossed in my own thoughts to even notice. Someone was really trying to get ahold of me…

Picking up the cell phone, I answer only to get a loud screeching that made me hold out the phone.

”Where the hell are you right now?!” This sounded from the phone, a voice shrill and all too familiar.

        “Charis..?” I was still half a sleep thinking, but I didn’t have to ask twice to know it was my older sister who was currently berating me.

”Were you asleep?? Do you even know what time it is right now?!” 

        Of course I knew, I had my alarm set last night to 10am so that I would be ready for Charis’ dress appointment today. So why was she asking this?

        I look at my phone’s internal clock and pale slight as 10:54pm read in white numbers. 

Crap.

        I was quick to make my way down the busy streets of area; dodging the rushing people coming in both directions and occasionally bumping shoulders with someone. I wasn't shocked however since it was the busiest month of the year;

The Analistia Festival was in three weeks.

        This was a special festival that lasts a whole month and was to celebrate our royalties that were to be coming of age. Originally it was created by the people of Themol to celebrate their current queen at the time: Queen Analistia Aphelion; who at the age of 21 became the sole ruler of Themola after her father had tragically passed away. 

        Later, as the Queen grew older she made the celebration more for the people and the future matriarchs when they came of age. 

        The rich used this as an excuse to throw extravagant balls, host lavishing parties, and drink to their hearts content. With each century getting more and more fancy then the last…Something that is still current with modern day society as they rich people of Themol seem to party like it’s no tomorrow even before the official celebrations.

        I, however, have been fortunate—or unfortunate depending on who you asked— to experience six festivals in my life since there were seven royal matriarchs of this generation. This would be my seventh, and maybe final festival…

        And oh boy, I hoped so. If I had the opportunity I would personally tell the royal family to keep their royal genetics in their pants AT LEAST until I was good and gone. I was so sick of these festivals back to back…

        That and all these festivals did was bring in foreign tourists who increase prices on our food and just were overall a nuisance since the world viewed the country as “a blast from the past” since not a lot had of the landscape had been touches and most of the buildings hadn’t changed since the 1800 century.

        Although, it seemed like I was the only one that really thought this. As I turned the corned dodging a man who spoke into his phone, I could feel the energy everyone festive gave off as they prepared for the festive season.

        “Woah, sorry!” I shout out the grumbling woman who ran past me with bags filled to the brim with streamers and all sorts of decorative item.

I couldn’t wait for this to be over.

        I shake my head at the encounter, the woman cussing me out before walking away, and finally I made my way to a small little dress shop. There stood a large pregnant woman with dark hair and a scowl.

“Emalee.”

        This was my sister, Charis. She was obviously pissed at me and yet I hadn't even said anything yet. I did feel guilty for being a few minutes late but there was no reason for her to be this grump.

        “Charis...” I repeat as I approach her with slight caution. Even if she is definitely pissed off at me; I didn't want to aggravate the almost 6 month pregnant woman anymore than I wanted to.

        “Remember how I ask you to make the 11am appointment for our dress fitting and to have them send me a confirmation email?” She says this while crossing her arms, the scowl on her face not changing.

        “Yes, I vaguely remember something like that..?” I answer back with hesitation, obviously that why I told her to met around 10am—Hell, even if I was late it only was by a few minutes! So I didn't understand the issue.

        “Okay, so tell me;” Charis digs into her purse and pull her cell phone then holds it up for me to look at it. “Why is the appointment email saying it's for 9am instead?”

Crap.

        I grab the phone for her hands and scroll to the bottom of the email. 9am was written in bold letters. Fuuuuuuu— “I swear I made the appointment at 11. I must had accidentally miss-click or something...I'm so sorry sis—”

        “Sorry not going to cut it, Em!” Her hands were balled her side as she stared me down. “We got this appointment last month so I could have a dress fitted for the ending ceremony! Where are we going to find another shop that custom makes 7 month maternity clothes in eastern Themol!?”

“We could make another appointment—”

“The festival is in three weeks! All the appointments are booked until the end of the month, Emalee!”

        “Okay well how about this,” I clapped my hands together and give my older sister a (not) confident smile. “Let's have cousin Rina ship something from the States. They have a lot more clothing options up there so—”

        “Are you insane?! Do you know how long that'll be!?” The woman screeches this flaying her arms about. I rub my fingers against my forehead. “I need something for the ceremony, Emalee—and obviously I can't fit into my dress from last year!”

        “Well, I do have one more idea.” I take a deep breath in fully ready for Charis to yell at me once more after I said this. “How about I go up to the capital? There's got to be someone up there that sells custom dress up there that isn't slam packed up there—and before you say anything, if by some how they don't; I just pick up materials up there and make the damn dress myself.”

        After finishing my sentence I fully expected some response like 'There's no way you will find someone!' or 'Even if you make my dress you're not a professional!' but there was just silence. Then a reply came;

“Okay, sounds like a great idea.”

I gave her a skeptic look and she rolls her eyes, “I mean it, that's probably the best plan we got so far.”

“But you're not worried that it's too far?'” I ask this with slight hesitation but my sister only chuckled.

        “I've been to the capital before and it's not that far away. You can take either take a 4 hour train ride or a 2 and a half hour flight and be there lickity-split so I'm not worried.”

        “Okay...I guess I'm going to the capital Monday then.” I sigh defeatly, taking out my phone and and look up hotels to stay at. The two of us begin to walk in the opposite direction of where I came. “You better hope not all of the rooms are booked at the hotel with it being a holiday and all...”

        “Why don't you just stay with Jamey's family? They live up in the capital.” Charis suggests this as she walks closely beside me. “You technically their family-in-law so I'm sure they wouldn't mind.”

        I give her a flat look, “Yeah and it wouldn't be awkward at all to have their daughter-in-law's kid sister staying in their house for a day. I wouldn't we surprised it they were as weird out as me right now.”

         "Oh don't be like that!” She slaps my arms hard and I reel back a bit from it. “If they can stand me, you'll be god-sent.”

        “I don't know, didn't you say that your father-in-law was out of town so it's only Jamey's mom and sister?” I rub my sensitive arm as I said, “Won't I be bothering them? Besides, I can just buy a hotel room and save them the trouble.”

        Charis stops in her tracks and sighs deeply, she turns to look at me with a frown. “At least let me see what they at least say, I'm sure they won't mind—here let me text Mari!”

        Without another word, Charis pulled out her cell phone once more and began to glide her fingers across the screen. I begin to panic.

        “Nonono stop it, Charis!” I try to reach for her phone but she blocks me with her whole body. “I'll just book a hotel I don't—”

“And it's sent!”

“Son of a b—!”

        “You're going to love Jamey's parents.” Charis interrupts me abruptly, a smile bright on her face. “They're the sweetest people you will ever met.”

“...” I was silent for a moment, then began to walk away from my sister without another word.

“Emalee!? Em?? H-hey wait for me!”

This was it.

This was all because of a dress.