Ayla’s Destiny

Chapter 6: Secrets of the Meadow

Just as I was about to speak, I heard something moving quickly nearby. Before I could react, I saw Walter grab Ezekiel’s collar with his right hand, lifting him off the ground. Although Ezekiel was very tall, about six feet, Walter was slightly taller and more muscular. He seemed to effortlessly lift Ezekiel and, just like last time he did to the vampire soilders, threw them aside. Ezekiel immediately raised both hands and said, “Relax, relax. I didn’t bring the vampire army this time. I’m not here to fight. I only want to talk to Eliza.”

Walter said fiercely, "Eliza? There's no Eliza here."

Ezekiel took advantage of Walter's distraction, quickly retreated a few yards, and shouted, "Nimbus!" Then they flew away.

Walter watched them leave and then turned to look at me. I was right behind him. This was the second time he stood in front of me, shielding me with his large frame. He asked, "How did you get into this place? Is your name Eliza?"

I said, "Walter, I don't know why, but today, as soon as I started dreaming, I ended up here."

Walter was surprised. "Walter? You remember my name is Walter? You still remember what happened the night before?"

I replied, "The night before? Didn't it just happen this morning?"

Walter asked, "How could this be? I erased your memory. How do you still remember everything that happened here?"

I said, "You erased my memory? This wasn't a dream? You're real?"

Walter replied, "Of course, I'm real!"

Walter stopped talking and sat down on the grass with his arms crossed, deep in thought.

Since Walter was sitting quietly, I didn't feel the need to speak just to respond to him. I also sat down a few meters away, pondering all the events that had transpired. If this wasn’t a dream and everything was real, what about the pack? The vampire army found you through me; will they attack again? How did I get here, and how do I leave?

I couldn't figure out the reasons or the answers. I had an idea to exchange information with Walter, hoping we could better understand the situation and plan accordingly.

I called out, "Walter, I don’t know how I got here. How about I tell you my side, and you tell me yours, so we can discuss this properly?"

Walter said, "Alright, I'll go first. A few months ago, I started tracking Ezekiel. Our pack has been isolated for a long time. In this era, only about dozen of us werewolves are left. A few months ago, I noticed some lone vampires circling near this town, as if they were gathering information. So, whenever I had the chance, I quietly followed Ezekiel to see what they were up to. Until the day before yesterday, I followed him to the boundary meadow, which is the barrier to our pack. Normally, humans can enter the meadow without any problem, but they won't find our pack. Somehow, Ezekiel seemed to have found something unusual about the meadow. In my urgency to report back to the village, I saw you in the center of the meadow. Then I noticed the sky changing, a sign that the vampire army was preparing to invade. I needed to quickly warn the pack members, but I couldn’t leave you there alone because vampires are cold-blooded and would crush you like an ant. I couldn’t let a human see my abilities either, so I turned invisible, picked you up quickly, and then a series of events unfolded. I didn't think much at the time; I needed to inform the pack members and save you. That's why I brought you into the pack without asking. Unfortunately, the vampire army somehow discovered me and found the pack. We're still figuring out how they located the entrance so easily."

I said, "I understand."

I thought, "Oh no, they were doing something so serious, and I stumbled into this world by accident. My reason for being here isn’t grand at all." Embarrassed, I explained, "Here’s my situation: Today, I woke up and went to school as usual. Since I didn’t sleep well last night, I felt sleepy during class and dozed off. When I opened my eyes, I was in the meadow, and the series of events you know happened. You said it happened the night before, but in my timeline, it happened this morning. When you said you erased my memory, I woke up and went to class, had lunch, and then attended my least favorite physics class. I fell asleep again, and now I’m here, experiencing everything that just happened. I have no idea how I got here or how to leave."

Walter, seemingly uninterested, said, "If that's the case, your information doesn’t count as intel... I suggest we keep the fact that your memory wasn’t erased a secret. If you come here again, don’t mention entering the pack or the memory erasure to other pack members. Luckily, all the pack members are at work today, so no one is in the wooden cabin. Additionally, Ezekiel's behavior today was strange, and for some reason, I feel he won't harm you. You can relax; the vampire army likely won’t take your life for now."

I asked, "Didn't you say you were isolated from the world? Do you all have jobs?"

Walter replied, "These things aren’t important. You don’t need to know so much. I'll take you out of here now."

He was right; there was no need to worry about their matters. The vampire army didn’t seem to pose any immediate threat to me. I nodded and followed Walter.

We started walking from the grassy area by the lake and ventured through the forest until we reached a large meadow. It was the same meadow I had seen in my dreams both last night and this morning. Walter led the way, and I followed. The meadow seemed endless, and after crossing a bridge, we found a small path. We continued along this path for what felt like an hour or two, and I was growing increasingly exhausted. To my surprise, the path led to the forest I usually walked through on my way to school from home. As I was about to ask Walter where this path led, I heard the sound of the classroom bell. The scene in front of me seemed to compress, and many objects flashed before my eyes. I closed my eyes, and when I opened them again, I was back in the classroom.

Kelly looked at me with an exasperated expression and said, "Ayla, how long can you sleep in a day? You've exceeded human limits." She said it mockingly.

I had just woken up, rubbing my eyes groggily, and replied, "I don’t know, but physics class is really boring. I fell asleep again, haha."

Kelly said, "Daryl and I are thinking of going to the café for a coffee before heading home. Do you want to join us?"

I said, "No, I don’t want to be a third wheel. Besides, I still feel like I haven’t had enough sleep. I think I’ll just go home and rest."

Kelly replied, "Alright, take care of yourself. See you tomorrow."

I said, "See you tomorrow."

After that, I gathered my belongings and prepared to go home. I reflected on what had happened. If that wasn’t a dream, then the forest I saw between home and school must be the place that leads to the meadow and the pack. Although I usually wouldn’t venture into the forest alone, today I had to find out the truth.