CHAPTER 3
1949 Words
ZOE ROSSI
The rain is heavy outside, and the sound of drops against the windows fills the cabin as I try to focus on the movie.
The plot is suspenseful, but my mind is restless, torn between the screen and the constant noise of the storm.
I'm curled up on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, sitting next to Josh. I glance at him and notice he's holding his phone, typing something with a concentrated expression.
"Is your dad coming?", I ask, trying to sound casual, but I can’t help the twinge of worry in my voice.
He should already be here.
"Yeah, he’s coming.", Josh replies, not taking his eyes off the phone.
I nod slowly, even though his response doesn’t reassure me.
I rest my head on his shoulder, seeking a bit of comfort. He locks his phone shortly after, adjusts his position, and goes back to watching the movie with me. We stay like that until the credits start rolling.
"It’s getting late, and you’re tired from the trip.", he comments, turning to me with a smile meant to convince me.
I shake my head, refusing automatically.
"I can wait.", I say, even though I know he’s right.
My leg is starting to hurt more, the recent scar throbbing with every movement.
"Go to bed, love. You’re in pain, and I’m sure my dad will understand.", he insists.
I let out a defeated sigh.
"Fine. Aren’t you coming with me?", I agree, leaning in to kiss him before carefully standing up.
Josh smiles—that calm smile he always uses to soothe me.
"I’ll tidy up the kitchen and be right there. I promise."
I give him one last glance before heading upstairs.
Every step is a reminder of the pain, but I finally reach the bedroom.
I stop in front of the glass walls, watching the rain trickle down as if the world outside is crying.
There’s something almost hypnotic about the storm, an energy that seems to pulse in the air.
I start undressing, my eyes falling on the scar on my thigh.
It’s still red and tender, a reminder of the accident that changed everything.
I step into the bathroom and turn on the shower. The hot water is an immediate relief, streaming down my hair and skin and washing away some of the tension.
I expect Josh to join me, as he often does.
He always finds excuses to accompany me, saying the hot water feels better with me. But tonight, he doesn’t show up.
When I finish, I dry off my body and hair, slipping into my pajama shorts.
I step out of the bathroom, but stop as soon as my hand touches the door handle.
A sharp sound makes me freeze. Glass shattering.
I remain motionless, trying to hear more.
The silence that follows is even more unsettling.
"Josh?", I call, my voice trembling, but he doesn’t answer.
My heart begins to race.
"Josh, is everything okay?", I shout again, but only the sound of the rain replies.
A sense of unease washes over me.
I turn to the glass wall, my eyes fixed on the storm outside.
Something in the darkness catches my attention.
A shadow. Standing near the forest, as still as a statue.
My eyes widen as I notice the intense red glow staring back at me.
It can’t be.
My body freezes, and the memory of the car accident flashes through my mind. I saw something like this that night, right before everything fell apart.
"Josh!", I scream, panic overtaking me.
I turn quickly, ignoring the pain in my leg as I try to run out of the room. The stairs feel endless, and every movement is agony. My foot slips, and I fall, tumbling down to the bottom.
My head throbs when I finally stop.
I groan but manage to get up, my eyes darting straight to the kitchen.
Shards of glass are scattered across the floor, and the front door is wide open, letting the rain pour in.
Josh isn’t here.
Fear consumes me entirely.
I grab the nearest umbrella and a flashlight from the counter, my hands shaking as I try to think of what to do.
I step outside, the cold rain hitting me with force.
The wind nearly tears the umbrella from my grip as I run across the muddy ground.
Both cars are still parked, but there’s no sign of Josh. Or the security guard.
My heart pounds so hard it feels like a drum in my chest.
I look toward the forest.
That’s where I saw the shadow. It’s where I need to go. I grip the flashlight tightly, ignoring the fear threatening to paralyze me.
"Josh! Where are you?", my voice echoes in the storm, but it’s swallowed by the roar of the wind and rain.
The forest ahead is dark and feels alive, the branches moving as if trying to stop me.
I step in any way, my eyes fixed on the beam of the flashlight. Every step is a struggle, the muddy, slippery ground making it hard to move.
I suddenly stop.
Something moves between the trees.
It’s fast and big, disappearing before I can focus on it.
My entire body freezes, but I don’t turn back.
"Josh!", I shout again, my voice heavy with desperation.
A loud noise to my right makes me spin the flashlight, but all I see are shadows dancing among the trees.
The flashlight in my hand flickers, its light trembling as I try to illuminate the path ahead.
The shadows of the forest dance with each lightning strike, creating grotesque silhouettes that seem to watch me.
My heart is beating so hard, I feel the echo in my ears.
“Josh!”, I call out once again, but my voice is swallowed by the roar of the wind and the incessant sound of heavy raindrops against the leaves.
The ground beneath my feet is wet and slippery, each step a battle against the fear growing inside me.
My hands are shaking, and the flashlight almost 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 beam weakens even more.
My heart tightens as I hit its side, silently pleading for it to keep working.
Another lightning bolt cuts across the sky, illuminating the surrounding forest, and something on the ground catches my attention.
Amidst 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 is blood smeared across the ground, mixed with the mud.
“No…”, I murmur, my voice trembling as I grip the flashlight tighter.
My legs almost give out, but I force myself to continue.
Every step toward the trail of blood is a battle between the need 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 it even harder to breathe.
The world around me feels like a blur, my focus entirely 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 sprawled among the leaves and mud, motionless, blood streaming everywhere.
My eyes widen, and my hand flies to my mouth to stifle a scream threatening to escape.
“Oh my God…”, I whisper, feeling hot tears streaming down my cheeks.
I’m paralyzed, unable to look away.
Who is he?
Before I can finish the thought, a strange sound cuts through the air—something between a low growl and the snapping of branches.
I jerk my head abruptly, still on the ground, and see something in the dark.
A pair of red eyes, glowing like embers, staring at me.
“No… no…”, I murmur, shaking my head as I try to back away, but my body won’t respond.
My hands are trembling so much that the flashlight falls beside me.
The figure moves slowly, emerging from the shadows.
It’s not human.
Its skin is pale, its sharp teeth glinting under the flash of another lightning strike.
My mind screams for me to run, but my legs are frozen with fear.
“Josh! Josh!”, I scream, my voice shrill, blending with the storm.
The man-monster gets closer, his eyes locked on me, and I know there’s no escape.
I try to move, but he’s faster, grabbing my shoulders and pinning me down again.
His face is inches from mine, his teeth gleaming as he growls.
“No! Let me go!”, 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 savage.
The man freezes for a moment, then is violently thrown off 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, crawling away as the creature howls again.
The werewolf attacks the red-eyed man with ferocity, the two of them engaging in a violent fight.
The sound of claws tearing flesh and bones and snapping is almost unbearable.
I have to get out of here.
I have to find Josh.
Ignoring the pain in my leg, I force myself to stand and start running again.
The forest seems endless, and every step is torture, but I can’t stop.
I know something is chasing me—I feel the weight of its eyes on my back.
“Help me!”, I scream, my voice breaking, but I don’t wait for a response.
I trip again, rolling down a hill.
The impact makes me cry out, and I feel something cut my arm.
The pain is searing, but not as overwhelming as the panic consuming me.
I stop, lying 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 pull away.
The red-eyed man is back, a terrifying smile on his face.
He grips my arm tightly, leaning his face closer to mine.
“Josh! Josh!”, I scream desperately, but no one comes.
The pain is unbearable as he bites into my wrist, and a piercing scream bursts out of me.
It feels like fire is coursing through my veins, burning everything in its path.
Another sound cuts through the air—a gunshot.
The man is thrown to the side, and I fall back, clutching my bleeding wrist.
My vision is blurry from tears and pain, but I see a new figure approaching.
The man who fired doesn’t look like Josh.
He shoots again at the red-eyed man, who tries to rise but collapses, lifeless.
My strength is fading, and my vision begins to darken.
He kneels down and picks me up in his arms.
The expensive cologne he wears is familiar, but I can’t place it.
“I’ve got you…”, he says, his deep voice almost comforting.
I try to speak, but all I manage is a whisper:
“Who… are you?”
Before he can answer, the world around me fades into darkness.
- Writer
