HADES: FATED TO MY EX'S DAD

CHAPTER 3

ZOE ROSSI

The rain beats hard outside, filling the cabin with the constant sound of drops against the windows.

I’m on the couch, curled up under a blanket, with Josh beside me.

He’s holding his phone, typing something with a focused expression.

“Is your dad coming?”, I ask, trying to sound casual, though a growing concern envelops me. He should have arrived by now.

“Yes, he’s coming.", Josh replies, not looking up from his phone.

I nod, even though his answer doesn’t ease my worry. I rest my head on his shoulder, seeking a little comfort.

Soon after, he locks the screen and adjusts his position, going back to watching the movie. Time seems to drag, and the tension builds inside me.

“It’s getting late, and you’re tired from the trip.", Josh says with a soft smile, trying to convince me to rest.

I shake my head, rejecting the suggestion.

“I can wait.”

Even so, I feel the pain in my leg intensify, the scar making itself felt with every movement.

“Go to sleep, love. You’re in pain, and I’m sure my dad will understand.", he insists.

I sigh, defeated. “Alright. Won’t you come with me?”, I ask, leaning in to kiss him before carefully getting up.

Josh smiles reassuringly. “I’ll take care of the kitchen and be right there. I promise.”

I cast one last glance at him before heading upstairs. Each step is a reminder of the pain, but I finally reach the bedroom.

I stop in front of the glass wall, watching the rain streak down outside. The storm seems almost hypnotic, as if the world is paused, feeling the same anguish I do.

I slowly remove my clothes, my gaze lingering on the scar on my thigh. It’s still red and sensitive. With a sigh, I step into the bathroom and turn on the shower. The hot water is an immediate relief, running down my hair and body, easing some of the tension.

I hope Josh will come in, as he usually does, making excuses to join me. But today, he doesn’t appear.

When I’m done, I dry my hair and body and slip into comfortable pajamas. I leave the bathroom and reach for the door handle. A sharp sound makes me stop. Glass breaking.

I freeze, trying to listen more. The following silence only makes me more tense.

“Josh?”, I call, my voice trembling, but he doesn’t respond. My heart races.

“Josh, is everything okay?”, I shout again, but only the sound of rain answers. The discomfort grows.

I look at the glass wall, my eyes searching the storm outside. Something in the darkness catches my attention. A shadow, standing near the forest, still as a statue. My eyes widen as I see the intense red glow. It can’t be...

A shiver runs down my spine. The memory of the accident returns with force. I saw something like that that night, before everything happened.

“Josh!”, I scream, panic taking over. I turn quickly, ignoring the pain in my leg as I try to run out of the room. Each step is agony, and soon I tumble, rolling to the bottom of the stairs.

The pain in my head hits hard, but I manage to get up. My eyes go straight to the kitchen. Glass is scattered on the floor, and the front door is open, letting the rain in.

Josh isn’t here.

Fear takes over completely. I grab an umbrella and a flashlight from the counter, my hands trembling. I step outside, the cold rain hitting me hard. The wind nearly rips the umbrella from my hands as I run across the muddy ground.

Both cars are still parked, but Josh isn’t here. Neither is the security guard.

I look toward the forest, to the place where I saw the shadow. That’s where I need to go. I grip the flashlight, trying not to succumb to fear.

“Josh! Where are you?”, my voice echoes in the storm, but it’s swallowed by the rain and wind.

The forest ahead is dark, the branches moving threateningly. Still, I step in, my eyes fixed on the beam of light from the flashlight. Each step is a battle against the slippery, muddy ground.

Suddenly, I stop. Something moves between the trees. Fast and large, disappearing before I can focus.

My body freezes, but I don’t turn back.

“Josh!”, I shout again, my voice filled with desperation.

I hear a noise to my right, but all I see are shadows dancing between the trees.

The flashlight in my hand flickers, its light trembling as I try to illuminate the path ahead of me.

The shadows of the forest dance with every lightning strike, creating grotesque silhouettes that seem to watch me.

My heart is beating so hard I can feel the echo in my ears.

"Josh!", I call again, but my voice is swallowed by the roar of the wind and the incessant sound of heavy drops hitting the leaves.

The ground beneath my feet is wet and slippery; each step is a struggle against the fear growing inside me.

My hands tremble, and the flashlight nearly slips from my fingers.

I try to ignore the cold creeping over my skin and the panic threatening to take over.

Suddenly, the flashlight’s light weakens even more.

My heart tightens as I tap the side of it, silently begging it to keep working.

Another lightning bolt cuts through the sky, illuminating the surrounding forest, and something on the ground catches my attention.

Among the soaked leaves, something red stands out.

I blink, my eyes filling with tears. It can't be what I'm thinking.

But as I get closer, the truth is undeniable: blood. There’s blood spread across the ground, mixed with the mud.

"No...", I murmur, my voice trembling as I grip the flashlight tighter.

My legs nearly give way, but I manage to force myself to keep going.

Each step toward the blood trail is a battle between the urge to find Josh and the fear of what I might discover.

I begin to follow the trail, my heart racing as the rain seems to intensify, making my breathing even more difficult.

The world around me seems to blur, focused only on the red stains guiding me.

Suddenly, I trip on something and fall to the wet ground, a groan escaping my lips.

My hands sink into the mud as I try to sit up.

That’s when I see it.

A body.

It’s lying among the leaves and mud, motionless, blood flowing everywhere.

My eyes widen, and my hand flies to my mouth to stifle a scream that insists on escaping.

"My God...", I whisper, feeling hot tears run down my cheeks.

I’m frozen, unable to look away.

Who is he? Could it be...

Before I can finish the thought, a strange sound cuts through the air—something between a low growl and the snapping of branches.

I turn my head sharply, still on the ground, and see something in the dark.

A pair of red eyes, glowing like embers, are watching me.

"No... no...", I murmur, shaking my head as I try to move away, but my body won’t respond.

My hands tremble so much that the flashlight falls beside me.

The figure moves slowly, emerging from the shadows.

It’s not human.

Its skin is pale, and sharp teeth shine under the flash of another lightning bolt.

My mind screams for me to run, but my legs are frozen by fear.

"Josh! Josh!", I scream, my voice shrill, merging with the storm.

The monster-man gets closer, his eyes fixed on me, and I know there’s no escape.

I try to move, but he’s faster, grabbing my shoulders and knocking me down again.

His face is close to mine, teeth glistening as he growls.

"No! Let go of me!", I scream, struggling against his strength, but it’s useless. He’s too strong.

Just as he leans in to bite my neck, a howl cuts through the night, deep and wild.

The man stops for a moment, then is thrown away from me with brutal force.

I lift my head, gasping, and see the new figure.

It’s enormous, covered in dark fur, with golden eyes glowing in the darkness.

A werewolf.

"No... this can't be happening...", I whisper, dragging myself away as the creature howls again.

The werewolf attacks the red-eyed man with ferocity, the two engaging in a violent struggle.

The sound of claws ripping flesh and bones cracking is almost unbearable.

I need to get out of here. I need to find Josh.

Ignoring the pain in my leg, I force myself to stand and start running again.

The forest seems endless, and each step is torture, but I can’t stop.

I know something is chasing me; I feel the weight of eyes on my back.

"Help me!", I scream, my voice breaking, but I don’t expect an answer.

I stumble again, rolling down the hill.

The impact makes me scream, and I feel something cut my arm.

The pain is excruciating, but not as much as the panic that consumes me.

I lie on the ground, groaning in pain, unable to move.

Another howl cuts through the air, closer now.

I try to force myself to stand, but before I can, a hand grabs my wrist.

"No!", I scream, trying to break free.

The red-eyed man is back, a terrifying smile on his face.

He holds my arm tightly, bringing his face closer to mine.

"Josh! Josh!", I scream desperately, but no one appears.

The pain is unbearable as he bites my wrist, and a sharp scream explodes from within me.

It’s like fire is running through my veins, burning everything in its path.

Another sound cuts through the air, this time a gunshot.

The man is thrown to the side, and I fall on my back, holding my bleeding wrist.

My vision is blurry from the tears and pain, but I see a new figure approaching.

The man who shot doesn’t seem to be Josh.

He shoots again at the red-eyed man, who tries to get up but falls dead.

My strength is at its limit, and my vision starts to darken.

He kneels down and picks me up in his arms.

The expensive perfume he wears is familiar, but I can’t place it.

"I’ve got you...", he says, his voice deep, almost reassuring.

I try to say something, but all I can manage is a whisper:

"Who... are you?"

Before he answers, the world around me disappears into darkness.