“Aren’t the trees pretty? They are so tall and mesmerizing. The flowers are pretty too, but don’t touch them, they don’t like it, they only want to be admired. Be careful, make sure you stay on the path, its dangerous to stray from it. Make sure you always walk forwards, there’s nothing behind you that isn’t in-front of you. Never look behind you, its all the same, flowers and trees, and the long winding path. Come along, lets be our way, no use in stopping, no need to turn around. Look ahead, stay on the path, keep walking forward… Aren’t the trees pretty? They are so tall and mesmerizing. The flowers are pretty too, but don’t touch them…” Those were the only words I heard for days, the repeated messages growing blurred together as I followed the girl, never questioning her… until today. I heard a voice calling from behind me, insistent and pleading, calling for me to look, for me to turn around… I refused to listen, believing the girl, that there was nothing behind me that isn’t in-front of me, but then I did. I slowed my steps until I stopped, slowly turning around to see who called me, the words of the girl growing faint as she continued her walk, her words never ceasing. I turned my head, looking behind me, only to see the same scene as was in-front of me, but when I turned back, the girl had returned, her speaking had gone silent as she now faced me, her expression sad, her eyes seemingly lifeless. “I told you to walk forward…” she says quietly, tilting her head to the side. “You didn’t listen…” She whispers, walking slowly towards me, her red cape flowing around her. I looked over my shoulder for a brief second, taking a step backwards, away from the girl, but when I faced forward once more, she was mere inches away, her eyes lifeless as she stares at me. “You didn’t walk forward.” Then the world went black.