I could see the house ahead in the distance, I let out a sigh of relief. I had been walking for hours on this seemingly endless path and the sun was just starting to set. I was cold, hungry and tired and seeing that house up ahead gave me hope that I could finally get some rest.

I picked up the pace a bit and continued down the path when I suddenly heard rustling near by. I stopped and turned in the direction of the sound of movement in the field, standing there was a man, tall and slim. He was far away so it was difficult to make out any specific features, but he seemed familiar. He was looking at me too. We stood there for a while staring at each other and I felt uneasy. _Is he dangerous? _I thought. I looked away from him and set my eyes on the house again. If I could get there, I could be safe.

I started walking along the path again and I heard the rustling again. He was definitely following me. I took off running and so did he. My lungs started burning as I inhaled the sharp, cold air. I kept running, not daring to look behind me. The house got closer and closer until I finally reached the gate. I put my hand on the metal handle.

“Stop!” I heard a man’s voice say. It was him, the one who had been following me. “Don’t go in there!” He continued. _Wait, I know that voice_ I suddenly realized. It was Jeremy, my high school sweetheart. He was my first everything, including my first devastating break up.

“Jeremy?” I asked as he approached me. I hadn’t seen him in 14 years. He was still as handsome as he was then with smooth, thick chestnut brown hair, dark brown almond shape eyes, and delicate freckles splashed across his face. However, he also looked different. Not just 14 years older different, but a strange, can’t-quite-put-your-finger-on-it different.

“You can’t go in there.” He said again, seemingly ignoring this crazy coincidence of us running into each other in this almost desolate field, on this run down path in the middle of nowhere.

“What? Why?” I asked, registering his distress.

“You will die in there if you do.” He said. My heart gave a jolt.

“What are you talking about?” I asked.

“Come with me.” He said, offering his hand.

“Go with you where?” I asked, frustrated and flabbergasted. I was scared, hungry, and cold. My patience started to meet its end.

“Please, just trust me. I don’t want it to happen to you, too.” The look in his eyes told me he was deeply serious, and deeply worried. Despite my better judgement, I took his hand. A look of relief flashed across his face. He started guiding me back down the path, in the direction from which I came.

“Jeremy, answer me, please. What is it you know? What makes you say I would die in there?” I asked, following behind him, still gripping his hand. It was ice cold, but soft. A memory of us walking hand in hand on our way to my house after school flitted across my mind.

“I know because,” He paused. It was clear he didn’t want to say what he was about to say.

“Because what?” I asked, not even trying to hide my flustered tone.

“Because I died in there.”