Two Souls, One Fate.

The trees lit up like lanterns. The sky hung heavy with gray clouds that devoured the moon entirely. The radiant glow of the trees gave a warm, flickering light on the dense undergrowth. Shadows danced and stretched, shrinking amongst themselves as the golden lights pulsed faintly. The air felt cold. Where am I? I thought, looking around, clutching my chest as I tried to recall the tiny fragments in my memory. How did I get all the way here from Paige's bedroom? All I remembered was the two of us, laughing out loud and chattering like drunken idiots, until she passed out, and I, seconds after. I called out for her. "Paige…? Paige." What happened? Were we kidnapped? Or is she pranking me? "Paige?... Paige, come on out, this isn’t funny.” My eyes darted around as I scanned the forest. She wasn't here. The air suddenly smelled sweet. Flowers bloomed around me. Their beauty had me captivated; it felt nostalgic…? A path stretched out before me, winding through a carpet of the blossoming flowers. Painted in vivid purples, blues, and oranges. All so mesmerizing under the trees' lights. The creatures in these woods were no more than the birds and butterflies that graced the air with their dance. But why…. I paused. Have I been here before? Snap! I froze, then glanced to the side, uneasy There was nothing there. But something had changed. The trees dimmed lower, the flowers suddenly withered, and the creatures disappeared. An oppressive weight settled in the forest, and I heard another snapping of a twig, followed by a low growl. Every hair on my body stood up as I slowly turned to the source of the sound, my heart thumping in my chest. Red eyes stared back at me. Stepping out of the shadows, it burned at me in fury. Fangs as sharp as knives gleamed beneath the moonlight. Fur as black as tar covered its massive frame, rippling as it stepped forward. I wanted to scream. Yet all I did was stare back in horror as fear choked the sound in my throat. It wasn't until it roared, so loud and ferocious, that it broke my paralysis and I ran. I ran like my life depended on it. Deeper into the woods, not caring if the sharp branches scratched my skin off as I ran past them. Not caring that my heartbeat was louder than my breath. I ran screaming for help. And the beast drew closer and closer, its roar louder. I pushed harder, my lungs burning, my feet stumbling over roots and uneven ground. My mind raced with terror. What is that? I thought. Why is it chasing me? I noticed the edge of a cliff that came into view. My arm flailed for balance as I skidded to a stop, then stared down. I turned. The beast was now before me. It stood meters away from me. Its eyes burned into mine. I held my breath, glancing back at the cliff behind me, realizing it wasn't looking at me but at it as well. Was it afraid? I knew I had two options. Die by the hands of a beast or off a cliff, and I chose the second. Staring at the monster, I slowly made it to the edge. A growl emitted from its throat. I was too close to falling. Without a second thought, I fell, plummeting into the void. My scream echoed in the wind until I made a soft landing on a bed of flowers. Gasping for breath, I stared at the cliff above me, no sign of the creature. I sat up, my chest heaving, relieved I was alive. That is, until something else caught my eye. A river gleaming like a light lay ahead. Its surface was like liquid glass, reflecting the glowing flowers around it. The sight was so beautiful, yet it made me uneasy. I moved closer, as if drawn to it. The glow of the lake intensified, casting an ethereal light on my face. I leaned at the edge and stared into the water. But what stared back at me was not my own reflection. My hair! I trembled. Once dark, luscious curls were now a white, wavy hue, glowing faintly with the lake. My eyes, once brown and dull, shone violet. “What’s going on? What’s happening to me?” “Luna.” I looked up, suddenly feeling a presence. A wolf sat at the edge of the lake. Its fur looked so white, like a pile of snow. Its vibrant purple eyes locked onto mine, and I couldn’t look away. The wolf stepped closer, its movements graceful and deliberate. My lips parted, words forming on their own. "Who are you?" The wolf didn't answer, but its gaze bore into mine, like it was trying to tell me something. A roar came behind me. The beast was back. I turned back to the wolf. Instead, a tall woman stood in its place. Her appearance was unclear as she wore a mask, only that she wore a blue dress and had long black hair. She smiled at me. “Listen," she whispered, her voice soft and commanding. “To what?” I asked, panic rising as the roar got closer. Her lips moved, but I couldn't hear the words. Before I could ask again, a pair of arms grabbed me from behind, forcing me into the river. I screamed, thrashing, but the icy water enveloped me, and I couldn’t breathe. The last thing I saw was a pair of gold eyes before … darkness. “Wake up, Dilecta.” I stirred at the voice. My eyes widened open, and I jolted awake. “Ah!” My breath ragged as I scanned the room. My body was drenched in sweat. My heart racing. I realized I was back in Paige's bedroom. I sighed a deep breath of relief, closing my eyes to be sure I wasn't still dreaming. So was it just a nightmare? Sunlight peeked from the blinds next to me. There was no sign of Paige anywhere. I held my chest. But …why did it feel so … real?