Chapter 3
1490 Words
The school bus pulled up at the lavana resort, nestled deep in the misty oakwood alps. The sight was nothing short of breathtaking.
Ella got off the bus looking, her eyes wide in awe, the place looked like it belonged a fairytale dream, a dream she wouldn't mind having again and again.
A resort guide in a green uniform led them across a stone path. The students were assigned to their rooms and left to unpack.
Ella got a whole bunk to herself. No girl wanted to be close to her, especially not after the Eric incident.
Later, they gathered around a campfire, roasting meats, marshmallows, and other camp foods. Then out of nowhere, a girl began telling a tale in a low voice, "Have you heard of the Oakwood wolf?" The fire crackled with each word.
After a few hours, they gathered up around a campfire surrounded by trees. Students roasted sausages, marshmallows and other camp foods. The smoke moving towards the darkening sky.
“Have you heard of the tale of the oakwood wolf?“ Out of nowhere, a girl started a tale in a low, deliberate voice.
The fire crackling after each word she uttered.
The chatter stopped.
Everyone tried to top each other's horror tales but this one caught Ella's attention.
“For the past decade," she continued, her voice lowering into a hush "females have been disappearing all round the mountains of oakwood alps”
Everyone leaned in.
“It's said that men... no... creatures bigger than the size of your average wolves roam around the woods in the night. And on nights like this, when the stars and moon align, they come. They take females of all ages, women or teenagers, it doesn't matter. Some turning up dead; some never return. Some say the beasts take them as mates, while others believe they eat the females to gain immortality and strength. Many believe they're not real, but I think they are ; waiting deep in the woods, biding their time to strike."
Everyone around the campfire fell silent, even the teachers and the guide didn't say a word.
Then_
All attention was brought back when Ella laughed loudly.
“That sounds silly.”
The sneers and scorn came fast. Everyone narrowed their eyes at her.
The guide cleared his throat awkwardly, "Food's ready." He said, trying to clear the tension.
Ella's gaze fell to the floor, the joy draining from her face. That was the main reason why she stayed quiet, Why she hid her bubbly personality. Everyone hated her for her mere existence, her cheerful personality only made it worse. She was better as a wall flower.
After getting her food, Ella moved away from the campfire but not too far but far away to be alone. She sat on a rock below a tree.
“Hey” A voice came above her.
Ella looked up to find a girl from her class, but she couldn't quite place her name.
“Hi.” Ella replied with a brief smile.
“You know I think the disappearances are probably just some animal attack.” the girl said, sitting down beside her.
“Right!“ Ella said in agreement, momentarily forgetting her self.
“I'm Jessie.” the girl said with a smile.
“Ella.” Ella responded.
Ella and Eric walked for a while until they reached an old, forgotten back gate of the resort that led out into the woods and mountains.
As they got into talking, Ella realized they had similar interests, Jessie also wanted to study business administration at Harvard, and loved history too, she was full of skills to say the least. For the first time, Ella was herself.
While they were talking Eric walked over to Ella his hands nervously tucked in his pockets.
“Ella can I show you around the place now?“
Ella glanced at Jessie, hesitant to leave her new friend behind.
“It's alright I'll be here” Jessie said, warmly.
“You sure?”
"Yeah, don't worry." Jessie reassured her with a smile.
They both walked in silence for a while until they reached an old, forgotten back gate of the resort that led to the woods and the mountains.
“Where are we going?“ Ella asked, feeling uneasy.
“My family and I were here last summer. There's this amazing creek that I want to show you.. it's not far, I promise.“ Eric assured her.
Ella nodded. Her instincts were screaming at her to turn around but she kept walking.
They walked deeper, the trees growing thicker by each mile. Finally they stopped at an old shed standing alone in the middle of the woods.
Ella looked around them, the resort was no longer in sight.
“So where's the c_ creek?“ Ella asked, her voice trembling.
Eric smiled.
Not nicely.
A sinister smile was plastered on his face. The kind of smile that reeked of betrayal.
Out of nowhere, figures emerged. It was students. Her classmates.
It was a trap. And shadows were closing in on her.
She saw an opening in the trees, and sprinted towards it. But then she stiffened, her heart tightened. She grasped her pocket. She needed her inhaler.
She needed it fast.
They used the moment.
Hands gripped her tight. She yelled, fought, but to no avail.They dragged her into the shed and tied her wrists together.
“Please…let…..me go” Ella said, struggling with each breath.
Eric squatted beside her.
“Did you really think I'd like you?" He said, laughing mischievously"You w***e?“
“Why?…” Ella asked, "why the lies and the hate."
“Why not?“ Eric chuckled.
“Let's leave her for the wolves or whatever's taking the girls. At least her death would be mean something. Her life didn't.”
The girl who told the campfire tale said.
They tightened the ropes. Then they left. After a few minutes or hours, she couldn't tell, the shed flew open and a figure emerged making their way to Ella.
It was Jessie.
Ella was relieved. Someone came. Someone cared.
“Let me help you out," Jessie said kneeling beside her. "How could they do this to you?“
Her hands moved on the rope, not to untie but to tighten it more.
Ella froze.
“Sorry i couldn't resist” she laughed “everyone had their turn, I wanted mine.”
She leaned close.
“You really thought you had a friend? Harvard? You have big dreams for a p********e. Then maybe you could sleep your way up.“ Jessie said getting up.
Ella was filled with anger. She'd never done anything to warrant such hate.
“Don't get it wrong, it's not me it's you” Jessie said walking out of the door, laughing hysterically.
She locked the door behind her with multiple locks.
Seconds after she stepped out the door, Ella heard a piercing scream. It was Jessie's.
Then howls came after. It sounded deadly, inhumane. Something felt off.
Fear surged through her.
“Not today” She repeated Arya Stark's words.
She struggled with the ropes. Her wrists bled. The ropes were almost untied when something hit the door.
She pulled at the ropes harder and finally yanked the ropes with her teeth. She searched the dark and her gaze fell on crates that were beneath the window.
She stacked the crates, and climbed them, then crawled out the window. The door burst behind her.
She raced across the dark woods and toward the tree line. Her heart was pounding in her chest.
Ella ran faster than her legs could take her. But they were faster. Branches snagged at her clothes but she didn't stop. She knew they were gaining on her.
Five.
Five wolf-like ferocious beasts, with green hungry eyes.
One of the beasts leapt at her but she managed to wiggle out of his grip. Her clothes ripped at the attempt.
She stopped at a clearing lit by moonlight. She searched for an exit, but she was too late.
She was surrounded and there was no place for Ella to turn to. She turned around to face the wolves, blocking the light. Five sets of eyes glinted in dim light.
One stepped forward. He was large, he dipped his head and parted his lips revealing his fangs. A strange howl pierce the air.
She froze spinning around, the werewolf circling slowly around her. The light shifted, and she saw the werewolf in it's full form. His black and white fur gleamed under the moonlight and a huge c**k stirred between it's legs.
She then recalled an old tale about werewolves; werewolves never share mates. They share prey not mates.
If she ended up a prey, she dies but if she ends up as a mate, she survives but she gets bred.
Now the tale about werewolves she laughed about earlier didn't sound funny anymore.
- Writer
