Into the woods I P U B L I S H E D

You never know what is lurking behind those trees,

Looking at you when the moon shines in the sky.”

- Elizabeth

Elizabeth

After school, I decided to go to the women support group with Ashley, and this time I was the main topic in the group. The other girls asked me questions, and I answered them mostly about my life back in Sweden. I tried to tell them some things without telling them the things I don’t want to talk about.

Like about my family.

And about him. About Jack.

I didn’t even have the guts to tell Ashley that I already know Nicklaus. I’m afraid that I will lose a friend that I just had met.

I like her, that’s why I didn’t want to hurt her. And I also wanted to take a bus, but Ashley insisted on driving me back to my place, and that was where I’m finding myself, in her small, red car in front of my house.

„Don’t forget that tomorrow is your shift at the library.”

„Don’t worry. I’ll be there,” Smiling at her, I opened the door. She smiled back and I could already tell that all the tears she had were all gone.

„If you need help just call me. Okay?” She yelled as I walked to the porch.

I nodded. „I will and thanks for the ride.”

„It’s nothing. I love spending time with you,” She waved. „See you tomorrow at the University.” And then she left with her minion of a car.

I have to say, I started to like that car. It was cute and it was in really good shape for an old car. Walking to the front door, I started to remember the shadow that was hunting me during these days, and immediately my anxiety appeared again. Something was pocking me in my head that someone was watching me from the forest.

My eyes scanned the whole yard and half of the forest. From the forest and back to the porch. The was one there. Not a single shadow.

I thank God as I opened the door, and walking in, I placed my coat on the hanger and walked into the kitchen where Louis and Lena were already sitting next to the table, eating food.

„Hi,” Lena said, standing up and placing a plate on the table.

„Hi,” I sat on the chair where she placed the plate for me.

„How was the first day?” Louis asked as he took a sip of water.

„It was okay, just...” I looked at Louis. „I didn’t know that Nicklaus was from the founding family and he has a brother,” I placed some chicken and fries on my plate. When I looked back at them, they were staring quietly at me.

Louis chewed a few times. „Yes. Three brothers actually. Why are you asking?”

„I just wonder why he didn’t mention who he was and that one of his brothers is Tyler.”

„Tyler?” Louis placed his knife and fork on the table.

„I had met him at the library the other day and was at the University today. Both of them were talking, and then Kathryn told me that they are brothers,” I looked over to Lena who was currently staring at her plate.

„You had met Tyler?”

„Yes? He wasn’t really nice though,” I placed my fork on the table and leaned on my chair. „He was asking a bunch of questions and he was really intimidating.”

Louis closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

„Please stay away from them. Especially Tyler. When something catches his eyes, he will not give up until that something doesn’t end up dead.” I can feel my face turning a shade paler than it usually is.

„I will. Don’t worry.”

„Pancakes for dinner?” Lena asked, changing the subject.

„Sure,” I said.

Louis just nodded, took his phone from the table and walked out of the house.

First my friends and now Louis. Everyone I had asked about the Nightclaw family said that I should stay away from them, but I have a feeling that how much I tried to stay away from them, there will always be a way that I will meet one of them.

~ - ~

Throwing the towel into my laundry basket, I quickly dressed into my pajamas, and looking myself in the mirror, I saw a green-eyed girl who needs some sleep.

I was exhausted. I needed a bed and at least two days of good sleep without someone waking me up in any kind of way.

I walked back to my room and just when I wanted to lie on my bed, Lena walked in with Ronny next to her.

„I’m so sorry for bothering, but could you please do me a favor?” Ronny came to me and licked my arm.

„Sure.”

„Can you please take him for a quick walk down the street so he could pee. I don’t feel well, and Louis had something to do.”

„Go rest. I will take him,” I opened the closet, taking a jacket and threw it on.

Before walking back to her room, Lena thanked me and told me that she would return me a favor when I would need it.

„Are you ready?” I asked Ronny. He wiggled his tail. „Why I’m even asking.”

I grabbed a leash from the hallway just in case. You never know what could happen.

As he walked down the street, peeing at every lamppost, I took my time by looking at the other houses in the neighborhood. There were no lights on, everyone was probably at sleep.

I could hear a few owls that made my goosebumps rise.

After he was done with his duty, we started walking back to the house when my phone suddenly started ringing. Taking it out, I looked at the screen.

Anastasia.

Confused, I picked the phone up and placed it on my ear.

„Anastasia? Why are you calling me?”

„Elizabeth.” Oh. No.

„Jack,” I whispered. „What do you want? Why are you calling on her phone? Did something happened?” I asked too many questions at the same time.

„I took her phone,” He giggled. Was he drunk?

„What do you want Jack?” I stopped in the middle of the street, hoping that I will not get hit by some car.

„I just want to say...” He paused for a second. „I love you, Elizabeth. I fucking love you.” I closed my eyes, my heart was aching. It’s too late to say it right now.

„Jack,” He cut me off before I could even finish.

„Just listen to me, okay?” Letting a sigh, I decided to listen to him.

„I love you. I always had and I’m so sorry for hurting you. Can you please forgive me?” Ronny lifted his head up to the forest, staring at it for a moment before he started growling.

„Ronny!” I yelled at him.

„Are you there?” Jack asked.

„Yes, and I can’t forgive you, Jack. You know that. What you did...”

„Didn’t you just hear what I just had said?! I love you. I will even fly to you and we could start all over again,” Yeah, he was drunk.

„You are drunk,” I pulled Ronny, but he didn’t give up, „Ronny, that’s just a squirrel, let’s go.”

„Maybe I am, but I’m saying the truth!” He yelled. Ronny started to bark more and more, and when the leash finally broke, he ran into the forest.

„Ronny,” I yelled. „I have to go now,” I turned the phone off, putting it into my pocket as I ran into the forest without thinking everything through. There could be a wolf, or worse, a serial killer in there, but I guess my mind didn’t care at that moment.

I ran deeper into the dark, scary forest, the branches were hitting me from every side as I looked for Ronny. But he was nowhere to be found.

„Ronny!” I stood in the middle of the forest. God knows where he was. I didn’t even know where I am. I leaned on a tree, trying to catch my breath. I could feel a few tears dripping down my face.

What will I tell Lena and Louis? How will I return? Will I even survive this? A few horrifying scenarios popped in my mind.

A bark returned me back to reality. Thank God.

„Ronny,” It came like a whisper from my mouth. I started running to the sound of barking, and at the same time, I managed to trip for a few times.

From the distance, I saw Ronny barking at something. Something really big.

Trying to find out what it was, I made a few steps forward, stepping on a branch that broke under my feet. Suddenly, the shadow in front of Ronny turned to me, and the red eyes were looking directly into my green ones.

I had never seen such an animal like this one. At first glance, it looked like a bear, but those red eyes...It looked like a demon.

The demon started walking towards me, and I just stood there like a statue, not moving a single bit. I just looked at those red eyes that will haunt me for the rest of my life.

When the thought of death crossed my mind, Ronny bit the demon’s left leg and the demon let a deep growl, tosing Ronny on the tree.

„No!” I screamed. I don’t know how, but a wave of courage traveled through me. I stood up, picked up a branch and ran to the demon that slowly walked to Ronny, showing off his teeth.

I managed to run between the two of them, looking the demon directly in the eyes.

„If you want him, you will have to go through my dead body,” If I had to die then I will die. I didn’t have anything to lose. The demon made a step forward, still looking at me. When he stepped in front of me, I hit it with every power that was left in me.

The demon let out a whimper and fell down. I think I had killed it, but I don’t want to risk it by checking it. Grabbing Ronny on the remeaning leash, I started to run with him running by my side.

„Hurry Ronny,” I said through the clenched teeth. I prayed that the beast was dead, but I was wrong, he was alive and now he was running after us.

We had to be deep in the forest because the waterfall that Lena told me about was now in front of us. Standing for a few seconds on the top of the waterfall, I tried to decide what should I do.

I don’t have many choices left. If I didn’t jump, I would die by a demon, but if I do jump, there is a chance that I won’t survive the fall.

Without thinking another second, I jumped into the deep, cold water, only to dive up a moment later.

I took a quick glance at the of the waterfall, and the beast is nowhere to be found. I reached the shore and choked out the rest of the remaining water out of my lungs.

Ronny walked to me, licking my face as I started laughing. Maybe because I just survived death or because everything that just had happened. I don’t know how will I explain this to Lena and Louis when they will see me.

I sat there for a few minutes all wet, trying to catch my breath. My whole body was shaking, and from my leg, blood was dripping on the leaves, creating a small pool of blood.

Closing my eyes for a second, I suddenly heard footsteps behind me. Ronny started to bark but turned quiet when the thing was running from bit his leg.

I tried to crawl away from the demon in front of me, but the demon turned his attention on me. He slowly walked towards me and we stared each other int he eyes. I watched him standing above me, looking me in the eyes, and I could swear that I just saw a piece of green in them. The beast looked at my neck, licking his nuzzle.

„Just do it,” I closed my eyes, welcoming death with open arms. I felt his warm breath and wet tongue on my neck.

A few seconds before I let myself to the darkness, I felt his teeth sinking into my neck, and as I screamed, I heard him saying something.

„Mine.”