บท 2: THE BOY IN THE WOODS

ARIANNE (13 years ago)

I felt fear all over my body as I heard the news of the beasts. I guess that explains all the commotions outside.

"They attacked sometime around midnight, there were three of them" Uncle Fred said holding his gun.

"One of them attacked old Joe but we shot him dead."

"Two others are still at large but injured, I suspect" Uncle Leonardo informed with a gleam in his eyes.

My dad sighed at that, "Well then we have to search for them, injured or not they are still dangerous."

"Of course, let's go!" Uncle Fred ordered and the men nodded on agreement.

"But wait, what about the kids?" My dad asked looking upstairs and I moved backwards to make sure I was very well hidden.

Uncle Leonardo smiled dismissively, "I'm sure Christine already has them hidden already."

My dad nodded his head in agreement, "Yes, yes, of course."

"Now, let's go" Uncle Leonardo ordered and together the men and my dad all went out. Each of them armed with guns, none of them stopping to check if we are really protected from the beasts.

I stepped out from my hiding place and I looked around. I couldn't hear anything from inside the house. Just the yells of people from outside. I looked up the stairs again and there was no movement in the hallways, which means Christine and Rissa are probably protected somewhere but I wasn't, I was left alone.

I pulled my cloak tighter around me and decided to go outside. The snow was falling now and I pulled my hood over my head to protect myself. People walked around carrying guns and torches but no one spared me another look, not that I mind anyway. I just wanted to find my father, then maybe perhaps he could take me to where Christine and Rissa was.

I trudged into the snow trying to find my father admit the chaos happening around me. I couldn't find him anywhere and I was starting to get far away from the house. I didn't stop, I just continued walking till I found myself in the woods.

I continued walking, keeping my eyes sharp and alert in case there were any beasts lurking nearby. I was still walking when I noticed a stain on red on the snow, it looked like blood! Confused, I looked around me but I didn't see anyone. I cocked my head to the side and that was when I heard it, a low growl.

I stood frozen to the spot in fear. There was an animal with me in the woods. I waited a few more minute, waiting for a wild animal to spring at me, but nothing came out. It was just me and my breaths which were coming out in clouds of smoke due to the cold.

Thinking I must have been confused, I continued my walk when I heard the growl again but this time it was more like that of a wounded animal and it sounded closer too. I pulled my cloak closer and walked towards where the sound was coming from. The more I walked, the more I noticed there were more patches of blood on the floor. I also noticed the scratch marks on the tree.

I traced the scratch with my fingertips trying to figure out what kind of animal it was. I was still lost in my thought when suddenly a black beast suddenly appeared in front of me and let out a almighty roar, raising it claws at me.

"ARGHH!" I screamed as I fell down on my butt into the snow.

The beast was as black as midnight with two glowing yellow eyes! Long teeth protruded from it mouth and it claws were very long and sharp! I've finally come face to face with a real life beast! After I came to that shocking confirmation, I picked myself up and ran just as fast as my small legs could carry me.

I could hear the growl of the beast behind me and I pushed myself to run faster but even I knew that there was no way you could outrun a beast. Nevertheless I pushed myself to run faster and I was still running when I tripped on a rock that was hidden in the snow.

A whimper escaped my lips as my body hit the ground and I scrambled to get a look behind me to see if the beast was still after me but it wasn't, because it was directly in front of me now staring at me with big bright glowing eyes!

I stared up at the beast feeling the fear all the way to my bones as I waited for the pain of sharp teeth digging into my skin. The beast stood there, still growling at me and just when I was about to piss myself in anticipation of death, it slumped down to the ground!

With a small scream I scrambled backwards, picked myself up from the ground and tried to ran. I ran as fast as I could hoping to get into my house and sit by the fire with a cup of hot chocolate in my hand so I could forget this horrible night. But as I ran, I chanced a look behind me only to see that the beast still laid in the snow, not moving.

I stopped running and looked at the beast which was taking deep slow breaths, it was hurt! Before I knew it my feet were carrying me towards where the beast lay. It didn't move when I got close to it or even when I sat next to it. I was about to poke it with a stick when the strangest then happened, the beast slowly began to transform and I watched in horror as it transformed into its human form, a boy!

I moved closer to look at him and I saw that it was a boy slightly older than I was, maybe eleven or twelve. His clothes were torn and he was also bleeding all over. He was badly hurt and I needed to get him somewhere safe! I thought to myself.

I hooked my arms around him and tried to drag him but I crumpled into the snow, my breath going 'oof' as the boy's arm landed on my stomach. I saw the boys eyelashes flutter when I turned to look at him.

I leaned towards him, "Hey, look I'm going to help you, you've been badly hurt and in order for me to get you home, you need to help me, okay?"

A groan fell from the boy's lips in response. Satisfied that he understood me, I stood up and pulled him along with me. He was less heavy now and didn't lean all his weight on me, just enough for me to support him and walk him to my house.

Thankfully, not much people were on the street. I was able to lead the boy to my house without getting noticed. Resting my hand on his shoulder so as to support him, we began to climb up the stairs to my room and as soon as we were inside, the boy collapsed on my mattress with a groan.

"Shhh, you need to be quiet!" I hissed at him but he just continued breathing heavily, I needed to get his wounds cleaned up.

"I'm going to go downstairs and get something for your wounds, so stay here" I informed him as I stood up and after giving him one last look, I dashed out of my room.

I hurried downstairs to where the first aid kit was kept. I opened it and grabbed some bandages, a scissors and a bottle of antiseptic. I hid everything inside my pockets and I was about to climb upstairs when I remembered something. I went to the kitchen and pulled out a box of chocolate cookies. I was about to go back to my room when I collided into someone, I looked up only to see Uncle Leonardo standing directly in front of me, Oh God!

"What are you still doing up?" He asked peering down at me.

"I uh...I..." I licked my dry lips as I searched for an excuse, "I couldn't sleep, not with all the noise going on outside" I finally said.

Uncle Leonardo cocked his head to the side, "You are supposed to be with Christine and Rissa."

"Yeah, but Rissa was a bit hungry and I was craving cookies" I held the box of cookies up and silently prayed my uncle would believe me but he just stood there staring at me for a minute before he finally ruffled my hair.

"Alright, get on out of here" He pushed me away and I let out a breath in relief and hurriedly went upstairs.

I got to my room and shut the door, locking it. I then went to check on the boy and thankfully he was still breathing. Emptying the contents in my pocket, I dashed into the bathroom to get a clean bowl of water and a towel.

Dipping the towel inside the water, I began to clean the boy's wound till I couldn't see any blood and the cuts were visible now. Then I began applying the antiseptic to disinfect his wounds and I applied the ointment on it. I removed the bandage and made the boy sit up so he was resting on me.

I wrapped the bandage around his body till I was sure I had covered all his wounds. When I was done, I made him lie back down on my bed and made sure the blankets were wrapped tightly around him. I cleared everything and made a mental note to burn the towel first thing tomorrow morning. I quickly shut the windows and I sat down on the floor next to the bed, watching the boy.

Now that his wounds were clean and he was no longer bleeding, I could see his face clearly now. His hair was black, just as black as the fur I had seen in him. He had perfectly shaped eyebrows and long eyelashes that would make Rissa jealous. His lips were full and red in colour but they looked dry and chapped.

Even with all that, there was no denying the fact that the boy was very handsome, though I suspect that has something to do with what he is. Everyone knows that the beasts were better looking in their human forms. I've heard stories about how they use their beauty to lure unsuspecting humans to their deaths.

I quickly averted my gaze from the boy, I didn't want to stare at him any longer. I was about to walk away when the boy reached out to squeeze my hand. Blinking, I turned to look at the boy who had his eyes opened now and I saw that they were a gray colour, very beautiful and captivating.

"You saved me" The boy rasped out, "Why?" He demanded.

I shrugged at him, "I don't know, because it was the right thing to do I guess."

"But you don't save a werewolf and you even brought me to your home" The boy spoke again but this time one word caught my attention, werewolf.

"What is that? What's a werewolf?"

"It's what I am, what my kind are" The boy answered groaning as he pulled himself up Into a sitting position.

"You refer to us as beast but we are just half human-half wolf."

I cocked my head to the side, "Wolf? No, no, you are a lot bigger than an actual wolf."

"Hence the name werewolf" The boy commented dryly and I nodded my head, digesting the new information.

"So tell me, what is it you want human?" The boy asked regarding me with a bored look.

I frowned at what he called me, "My name is Arianne, not human."

"Arianne" He said to himself and for some reason, I liked the way he pronounced my name.

"So what's your name?" I decided to ask him.

The boy scoffed at me before looking away, "Humans aren't worthy of my name."

"Oh kayy" I drawled out eyeing him warily but I shook my head, deciding it didn't matter.

I looked away from the boy and pulled the box of cookies closer to me. Inhaling the sweet sugary smell, I plopped one into my mouth and savoured the sweet taste. I was about to eat another one when I noticed the boy was looking at me.

"Want some?" I asked thrusting the box at him.

"Get that thing away from me" He pushed the box away from me and I narrowed my eyes at him, he wasn't nice at all.

"You are mean!" I told him and he just rolled his eyes at me while I pouted looking at the ground, feeling tears well up my eyes.

"Are you crying?" I heard the boy ask but I didn't look up just continued to stare at the ground, "Shit, you are crying!"

"I'm not" I sniffed wiping away my tears that were rolling down my cheeks.

The boy let out a sigh, "Fine, I'll eat just a little" the boy announced and I smiled at him.

I hurriedly handed him the box of cookies and he scoffed at my excitement but he ate the cookies. I grinned at him when I saw that he was gobbled the entire content of the box. He caught me smiling and he looked away after sliding the empty box at me.

"So you are all alone kid?" The boy asked and I wrinkled my face at the way he called me kid, he wasn't much older than I am so, who was he to call me kid?

"Yeah but my stepmother and sister are in the house, somewhere" I said bringing my knees to my chest.

The boy smirked at me, "And now you are all alone with the big bad wolf? Not very smart of you kid."

"I know you won't hurt me or at least I hope you won't" I said looking at the boy who cocked his head at me, "Besides, I helped you because I don't like people getting hurt" I added with a shrug and a yawn escaped my lips. I was tired and starting to feel sleepy.

"And you think I'm worth saving? Aren't you going to regret this?" The boy asked me.

"No I won't" I said curling myself to sleep on the floor, "Everyone's worth saving, even beasts" I mumbled sleepily.

"Someday," In my haze of sleep I heard the boy speak, "Someday you are going to regret it Arianne" I heard him say but I was already asleep by then and when I woke up the next morning, I met myself on the bed with the blanket around me.

I got up from the bed searching around my room for the boy but he was nowhere to be found. He was already gone!

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Hey guys, what's your thought on this chapter? I really look forward to reading honest opinions about this book?