Episode:4
1082 Words
As María stepped into the inn, the warmth of the afternoon sun was already retreating, shadows creeping into the corners of the common area. The familiar scent of wood and spices filled her nostrils, but today, it felt suffocating rather than comforting. A heavy weight hung in the air, as if the inn itself sensed her turmoil. She could still feel Mateo’s gaze, lingering on her, a reminder of her secret.
Sofia was at the far end of the room, stacking plates from the lunch service onto the kitchen counter, her small frame dwarfed by the task. María approached, forcing a smile, but it felt more like a mask than a reflection of her true feelings.
“Hey, Sofi,” she called softly, trying to keep her tone light. “Need some help?”
Sofia looked up, her brown eyes sparkling with innocence. “I’m almost done! But can you help me with the chairs? They need to be put away.”
“Of course.” María moved to the table and began sliding the chairs in, her mind racing. She couldn’t shake the fear that gnawed at her—a fear that something was lurking beyond the safety of the inn’s walls.
As they worked, Sofia chattered about her day at school, blissfully unaware of the dark shadows encroaching on their lives. “Mrs. Vasquez said we might have a field trip next week! Can you come with me?”
María smiled, though her heart sank at the thought of their town’s growing troubles. “I’ll try, but I have to help with the inn. You know how busy it gets.”
“But you promised! You can’t just work all the time.” Sofia’s tone shifted, her brows knitting together. “You’re always worried. Is it because of those stories they’re telling?”
María paused, her hands stilling on a chair. “What stories, Sofi?”
“About the wolves,” Sofia said, her voice dropping to a whisper. “The ones that have been attacking animals near the forest. Everyone’s saying it’s because of the blood moon coming soon.”
María felt a chill run down her spine. The blood moon—the very thing that fueled her fears. “Those are just rumors, sweetheart. You know how people love to tell tales.”
“But what if they’re true?” Sofia pressed, her innocence cracking under the weight of their reality. “What if something bad happens? I don’t want you to get hurt.”
María knelt down to Sofia’s level, cupping her sister’s face with her hands. “I promise you, nothing will happen to me. I’ll always protect you. You just need to stay close to me, okay?”
Sofia nodded, though her expression showed lingering doubt. “Okay, but I’m not scared, María. I’m just… worried.”
“Worrying doesn’t help,” María replied, her voice steady, though inside, she felt the truth of those words slip away. She turned her gaze toward the window, half-expecting to see eyes watching her from the shadows. “Let’s finish up here, and then we can make dinner together. What do you want?”
“Pasta! With that sauce you make!” Sofia exclaimed, her previous fear melting away as excitement filled her voice.
María couldn’t help but smile at her sister's enthusiasm. “Pasta it is, then! Let’s get these chairs put away.”
As they resumed their chores, María couldn’t shake the feeling that something was indeed lurking beyond the walls of the inn. Each creak of the floorboards seemed amplified, each gust of wind outside a reminder of the threats she felt closing in. The townsfolk were becoming increasingly fearful, and she was terrified they might turn their suspicion toward her.
Once they finished tidying up, María moved into the kitchen, where she began preparing dinner. The rhythmic chopping of vegetables provided a momentary distraction, but her thoughts kept drifting back to Mateo. The way he had looked at her, how he seemed to sense the tension coiled within her—it unsettled her. Would he one day discover her secret? What would happen to her if he did?
“María?” Sofia’s voice broke through her thoughts.
“Yeah?”
“Are you really okay?”
The question hung in the air, heavy with unspoken fears. María turned to face her sister, who had paused in the doorway, watching her with concern. “Of course! Just a little tired, that’s all.”
Sofia looked doubtful, but before she could press further, a loud crash echoed from outside, followed by a low growl that sent chills down María’s spine. She froze, knife poised mid-air, the room suddenly plunged into a suffocating silence.
“What was that?” Sofia whispered, eyes wide.
“I… I don’t know.” María's heart raced as she felt the familiar stirrings of panic. “Stay here, Sofia. Don’t move.”
The growl came again, closer this time, echoing through the trees. María’s instincts kicked in, her werewolf senses heightened. She peered through the window, scanning the dimming twilight, her heart pounding in her chest. The forest loomed ominously, dark and silent, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something—someone—was watching her.
“María?” Sofia’s voice quivered.
“I’m right here,” she whispered back, though her voice felt weak against the threat looming outside. “Just… stay close to the wall.”
With a surge of determination, María moved toward the door, gripping the handle tightly. She couldn’t let fear rule her. She needed to protect Sofia, no matter the cost.
Just as she opened the door a c***k, a shadow darted past the edge of the forest. María’s breath hitched, and her instincts screamed at her to retreat. Whatever was out there was no mere animal; it was something more sinister, something tied to her curse.
She stepped back, closing the door swiftly, locking it with trembling hands. “We need to stay inside. Now.”
“But, María—”
“No arguments, Sofia!” The urgency in her voice cut through her sister's protests. “Please, trust me.”
María felt a surge of adrenaline coursing through her veins. Time was slipping away, and her instincts screamed that danger was not just outside, but already creeping closer. She could feel it in her bones—the darkness was coming for her family, and she had to find a way to stop it.
- Writer
