Annia
Today is my thirteenth birthday. I looked in the mirror one last time, adjusting my dress. Mom's screams warned me that she'd come looking for me if I didn't come down soon.
Black
Today is her thirteenth birthday. She's adjusting her dress while her mother is entertaining guests. Her house has large windows, allowing me to see through the trees from the south side of the house.
Annia
I'm tired. Every year, Mom throws a party, and I have to fake hypocritical smiles whenever someone approaches me.
Black
Stupid humans, they never shut up.
Annia
I walked as far away from the house as I could, deep into the trees overlooking the forest. I just needed the silence to relax.
Black
I'd lost sight of her. All because I was hiding from a kid who dropped his ball where I was.
Annia
Why do I feel more tense with every step? I haven't gotten far enough when I notice the figure of a man between the trees. I sneak up on him until I'm just a few feet away.
He's dressed entirely in black and has a hood over his head. I froze when I heard him.
Black
"I can feel you," I said, closing my eyes in complete frustration without turning around. It's not time yet.
"Who are you?" he asked with a hint of shyness I could barely identify. I slowly turned around until I was standing in front of her. Her entire small body shifted once her eyes connected with mine.
Annia
"They're red. Your eyes are red."
Black
I took advantage of my height and, in two quick steps, covered her mouth with my hand just as she tried to scream.
"I'm sorry, but it's not time yet," I murmured, holding her head firmly, without hurting her.
I fixed my eyes on hers and, activating my ability, spoke gently but with irrefutable authority:
"You'll forget you ever saw me and why you came to the forest. When I free you, you'll return home as if nothing had happened."
As I walked away, she could no longer see me. Her eyes scanned the surroundings, confused, not understanding what she was doing there.
He resumed his walk home, but stopped a few meters away, hesitating for a split second. Then he turned around and fixed his gaze right on where I was, as if he could sense me.