Secrets of the Willow

Chapter 19 - Protector and the beast.

“Why do these weekend visits always come around so quickly!” Yas moaned as we all stepped onto the bus.

“Well get this for a shocker… my parents are actually going to be home this time”. Natalie said as we took our seats and looked out the windows to see several of the Sheriff’s officers getting ready to leave in their cars.

“Wow, so you’ll be spending some quality time with them?” Yas responded with enthusiasm.

“Hmm, we’ll see. They’ll probably just ask me a few questions about how my classes are going, but I expect that’ll be about it”. Natalie replied before she turned her attention on me. “Are you ok?” She asked sweetly. “You’ve been quiet all morning”.

I sighed as I looked at her with a downcast expression. “I just… I always feel awkward when I go home, and it’s going to be even worse now they know that I know about all the deaths and missing people. We’ve barely spoken since that night I was in the forest”.

“Maybe you just need to be more upfront with them. Tell them about what you saw and make it clear that you won’t put up with them constantly trying to hide things”. Natalie suggested and I nodded in agreement, although I didn’t really see much point in it, but I figured it was worth a shot.

We spent the rest of the journey dozing in and out of sleep on the bus as the radio played quietly in the background. We pulled up at the high street and gave each other a tight squeeze before we parted ways and walked home.

As soon as I turned the corner and saw the forest, I sighed with dread. Even though it was a lot creepier at night, I had a new fear of walking past it during the day and picked up my pace as I walked the long and narrow path toward my house. I reluctantly kept glancing at it, not wanting to, but to put my own mind at ease, I had to know the monster wasn’t there watching me.

Then just as I looked again, a breath of relief escaped my mouth when I saw the familiar wolf standing beyond the trees looking at me, as if it recognised me just as I recognised it. I smiled at it, hoping it would know I remembered what it did for me, and that I wasn’t scared of it’s presence. Even when I reached the gate to my front yard, I looked back to see it still watching me. I walked up to my front door, slid the key in the lock, and there it was, still waiting and still watching. I wasn’t sure if it was trying to look out for me or if it was just intrigued, but either way, my fear had vanished when I knew it was there.

“Hello darling”. Mother cooed as I stepped into the house. “Do I get a hug?” She asked holding out her arms as she approached me and wrapped them around me.

“Hi mum”. I greeted half-heartedly.

“How are you doing? Is college going ok? And your classes?” She asked as she pulled away and rested her hands on my arms.

“Yes, it’s all going fine. Although it’s still weird having so many patrol officers there. Most of the students are still on edge”.

“Ah, well, they’re just doing their job and making sure you’re all behaving”. She responded as she dropped her hands and suddenly walked off into the kitchen.

“No, you know why they’re there. Because of the attacks”. I corrected her with irritation as I followed her.

“Yes, we heard there was another wolf attack, or possibly a bear. I don’t know why they’re insistent on leaving the forest when they have the whole place to themselves”.

“It’s not a wolf or a bear doing this, and you know it”. I sniped back with a frown.

“Oh don’t be silly”. She chimed with a smile as she came over and put her hand on my cheek. “They can be quite aggressive, but as long as you leave them alone, they’ll leave you alone”. She added but I could see the fear in her eyes.

“It’s not a wolf or a bear!” I rebuffed through gritted teeth. “I saw what’s really out there. In fact, I want to talk to you and dad about something important”.

“Oh, well, I wish we could have that talk now, but your father is already at work and won’t be finishing until late, and I have to leave for my shift now too”. She replied as she wandered off yet again to the front door and rushed to put on her coat and grab her handbag.

“Well when will you both be back?” I asked in annoyance.

“Not until after midnight darling, so don’t wait up. Your father has to pop out tomorrow aswell but I’m sure we can find time to talk”. She said as she blew me a kiss and disappeared out of the door before I could utter a reply.

I shook my head with frustration, but instead of dwelling on it, I made myself a quick snack then headed up to my room.

I opened my eyes to see my room was in complete darkness, realising I must have dozed off whilst reading my book. I turned on my bedside lamp then checked my phone to see two missed calls from Natalie.

I rang her back immediately, knowing she must already be feeling just as annoyed as I was about being home.

“Well hello”. She greeted. “Everything ok? I was starting to worry when you didn’t answer”. She added with a concerned tone.

“Mmmhmm, I’m fine”. I replied sleepily. “I was reading and fell asleep. I’ve only just woken up”.

“Oh, well, I suppose there’s nothing else to do. No ones really going out tonight, so I guess we’re stuck in. Did you think anymore about talking to your mum and dad?”

“No. My dad wasn’t here, but I did tell my mum we needed to talk but she kind of shrugged it off. She knew what I wanted to talk about, but I won’t be surprised if they tip toe they’re way around actually having to have a conversation”.

“Well, I suppose everyone around here just wants to accept it and not think of it as a big deal”.

“Yea, clearly! But it’s just so frustrating”.

“I know”. She sighed. “To be honest, even if there were plans to go out tonight, I don’t think I’d want to anyway. The thought of going out now when it’s dark terrifies me”.

“It scares me too”. I replied with understanding. “And being here just makes it….” I suddenly paused when I tensed in alarm from the sound of rustling and the sounds of snapping coming from my back yard that my bedroom window overlooked.

“Eva…. Eva are you still there?” Natalie called out through the phone.

“Yes”. I whispered as I stared at the window from my bed. “I think I heard a noise outside”.

“What kind of noise?” She asked with worry.

“Like something’s moving around out there”. I replied, but just as she was about to speak, my window suddenly smashed causing me to scream out loud and scurry further back against the headboard of my bed.

“EVA! EVA, WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?” Natalie shouted. But I didn’t answer as I held the phone against the bed, my heart pounding as I stared wide eyed at all the broken glass covering the floor and a large, thick branch was lying across it.

“EVA!” She screamed again with panic. “EVA TALK TO ME!”

My hand shook as I slowly put the phone to my ear, not taking my eyes off the now bare and smashed window. “A…. a branch just smashed through my window”. I told her as my voice trembled.

“A what?” She asked in confusion. “Did you say a branch?”

“Uhhuh!” I responded with panting breaths.

“But… how the hell did a branch come through your window? It’s not even windy out tonight!” She stated with worry. “Eva, are you ok?” She asked and I could hear her own voice shaking.

“I… I don’t know”. I replied as I took a deep gulp. “Just… just give me a second”. I told her in a whisper as I kept the phone to my ear and hesitantly moved across the bed, carefully putting my feet on the carpet to avoid the glass, I stood up and gingerly stepped closer to the window. Each step, my legs felt like jelly and my breaths were short and raspy as I made my way closer to the window until I could see the yard outside.

My breath hitched with a whimper when I saw the monster staring at me next to a tree that was now missing one of it’s large branches. “Oh f**k”. My voice croaked in a whisper as a tear rolled down my cheek.

“WHAT? WHAT’S GOING ON?” She screeched down the phone.

“It… it’s here”. My voice shook with terror as I tried to reply.

“WHAT!” She responded hysterically. “I’M CALLING THE SHERIFF, EVA! I’M CALLING HIM NOW ON THE HOUSE PHONE. JUST DON’T HANG UP!” She screamed and I could hear her pacing through her house.

The monster growled, keeping it’s red eyes fixated on me. My mind was fighting with what to do… to make a run for it or stay in the house. Either way, I felt completely exposed to it.

I stared back at it through blurry eyes filled with tears as more rolled down my face. A relieved sob left my mouth when I heard a sudden barking coming from the left of the yard. The monster instantly turned around and darted away as the familiar wolf ran through the yard, chasing after it. When they both disappeared out of view, I stumbled back to my bed and began to burst into loud cries from the fear and relief that once again, I was so close to being its next victim, and I silently thanked the wolf for coming to my rescue just in time.

“EVA THE SHERIFF IS ON HIS WAY!” Natalie shouted down the phone.

“It’s… it’s gone”. I told her as I tried to speak through my heavy sobs.

“What can I do, Eva? I’ll come to you! I’ll come and stay with you”. She rushed her words in a panic.

“NO!” I quickly declined. “We know it’s out there, so don’t you dare leave your house”. I replied, not wanting her to put herself in jeopardy.

“But I don’t want you there alone”. She replied as she sniffled and blubbed with a cry.

“No… no I’ll ask the Sheriff to bring me to yours. There’s no fricking way I’m staying here”. I assured her, but even just waiting for him to get here was keeping me on edge.

I knew now, without a shred of doubt, this thing…. this monster was definitely after me and I was absolutely terrified of what was to come, and if he’d finally succeed at adding me to his s*******r list once and for all.