On the flip side, it comforted her. The warm that slowly approached made her feel secure and gradually made her feel ready for her trying days.
Exhale. She sighed, knowing it was time to get breakfast and spend the day in town. Despite how nice the town was, she'd rather stay at home with her parents. On the weekends, they would all make hot cocoa in a large pot, like a cauldron. It made her feel witchy. They’d throw cinnamon, brown sugar, chocolate, hazelnuts, and heavy cream in the pot, stirring until it looked like sweet tar. Her parents were out of town for a while, they trusted her too much.
Layla headed into the living room, where she felt most comfortable and had the best memories. It was stuffed to the brim with soft, downfilled pillows and blankets. It was very cold where she lived, and the living room was the warmest room in the house. She took a deep breath in, picking up every scent from the sweet corn in the pantry to the thick smell of dogs on the couch.
She opened the front door, went outside. It was freezing, and she had to get to town quick. Too many things happened on the road leading to main street. The road was nothing but dirt, and was almost completely emcompassed by the towering coniferous trees. It gave Layla and her friends the spooks. They always heard stories about people disappearing and turning up dead all over the place. Their parents probably told them that to keep them out, but it was still dark and cold.
Layla arrived in town and ducked into the local coffee/bakery, it didn’t have a name, they all just called it by the owner’s name, Dan’s. Dab was a nice guy, he taught Layla how to sail one summer.
“Just a plain, no sugar, please.” Layla told Dan and Dan nodded. The guy really never talks.
As she waited for her drink, she sat down and gazed out at the people bustling around. The town was by no means small, but it couldn’t be more than twenty thousand. There were a lot of new unfamiliar faces in the crowd. It set Layla on edge.
“Layla,” Dan. “It’s done.”
She smiled as she picked it up and left. It was like holding someone’s hand, nice and warm. Leaving the shop, she saw something that caught her eye for a moment. Someone was wearing a very odd looking jacket, with a dried material that almost looked crunchy. They certainly weren’t from around here. Then that person turned, and Layla made eye contact with the most malevolent eyes she had ever seen. She recoiled and turned away. She felt something, and turned back, but all she saw was a figured being swallowed by the foliage.
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