The Human Mask
The evening shadows were falling over the old red-brick buildings of Oakhaven College. A chilly September wind was blowing dry leaves across the ground.
Aliana adjusted the heavy bag on her shoulder and took a deep breath. Her heart was beating fast. She knew she had to keep control of herself every single second.
Living like a normal human was never easy for her. Her inner wolf strength and sharp senses were always fighting to come out, but she had to hide her true self behind a human mask.
"Aliana! Walk faster, or we’ll miss Professor Carter’s bus and end up stuck here compiling hospital reports until late tonight!" Mia said, pushing back the hair blowing across her face as she hurried to catch up.
Aliana offered a faint smile. "I’m walking fine, Mia. You’re just rushing for no reason."
"I’m not rushing, I just want to get out of this quiet campus as fast as I can," Mia said, wrapping her arms around herself to stay warm. "Haven't you heard? Strange things have been happening near Blackwood Forest the past few days. People say they hear terrifying growls coming from the edge of the woods at night."
Aliana’s heart skipped a beat. She pushed her wolf instincts down, but her eyes flickered for a second. She knew Blackwood Forest all too well. That quiet, dark forest held her biggest secret and her most painful past.
"It’s just rumors, Mia," Aliana said, keeping her voice as calm and casual as possible. "People see shadows in the dark and get scared."
"Maybe..." Mia shrugged. "But looking at those woods still gives me a weird feeling."
Both girls walked out of the main campus gate. The air was getting damp, and a light drizzle began to fall. Aliana put her right hand in her pocket and clenched her fist tightly.
It took immense effort every day to control her power. Walking slowly like humans, pretending something was heavy, and ignoring her sharp hearing and smell—it was a constant struggle.
A little while later, she stood at her doorstep. As soon as she opened the solid wooden door, the rich smell of freshly cooked food hit her.
"Mom! I’m home!" Aliana called out as she walked into the hall.
Rose came out of the kitchen with her usual warm, gentle smile. She wiped her hands on her apron, walked over, and placed a hand on Aliana’s shoulder.
"You're back, sweetie? You look exhausted. Was college that tough today?" Rose asked, her voice full of motherly love.
"Yeah Mom, just a lot of work in the chemistry lab," Aliana smiled, setting her bag down on the corner sofa before sitting down. "Where’s Noah?"
"He’s upstairs in his room, busy with something," Rose said, heading back toward the kitchen. "Go wash up, I’ll get the hot food ready."
Aliana took a deep breath. Rose wasn't her birth mother, but after her biological mother, Elena, died under mysterious circumstances, Rose had raised her and Noah just like her own children. Rose was a human, and even though she knew the truth about Aliana, she remained her biggest shield.
Soon, the whole family gathered at the dining table. Dad (Adam) set his newspaper aside and sat down, while Noah walked in, typing something on his phone.
"Noah, put the phone away at the dinner table," Rose said in a loving but firm tone.
Noah made a slight face, slid the phone into his pocket, and sat across from Aliana. There was a serious look in his eyes that Aliana didn't miss. Noah was a wolf too, and like his sister, he had learned to hide what he was.
"The air near the forest felt off today, Aliana," Noah said quietly over his food, so Rose and Adam wouldn't worry.
"What are you talking about?" Aliana asked, taking a bite.
"I saw some strange tracks near the Blackwood border today," Noah’s voice dropped. "They weren't regular wolf tracks. Something was different... something felt toxic."
The spoon in Rose’s hand paused for a second. She quickly looked down and focused on serving the food, but Aliana noticed her fingers trembling slightly.
"Noah! You promised me you wouldn't go near those woods alone!" Rose’s voice suddenly turned sharp with fear. "That area is dangerous, and both of you need to stay away from it!"
"Mom, I was just hiking," Noah tried to explain.
"I don't want any excuses," Rose said firmly. "You both know how fast things are changing in this town. I just want to keep you safe at any cost."
Adam placed his hand over Rose’s. "Rose is right, Noah. There’s no need to dig up painful memories from the past. We’re starting fresh here."
Aliana ate her food in silence, but her mind drifted back to that dark night when her mother Elena’s bloody body was found on the forest floor. She had never forgotten the terrifying silence of that night—or the sharp, strange chemical smell in the air.
It was midnight. The whole house was fast asleep, but sleep was miles away from Aliana’s eyes.
The rain had stopped, but cold gusts of wind blew through the window, gently moving the curtains. Aliana lay in bed staring at the ceiling, her heart heavy with an uneasy feeling.
Suddenly, a faint but sharp sound reached her ears.
It was a rustling sound... coming from the backyard.
Aliana instantly sat up. Her wolf senses kicked in within a fraction of a second. She closed her eyes and focused her hearing.
Step... step... step...
Heavy, deliberate footsteps were moving across the wet grass. But these weren't human footsteps. Along with the sound came a cold, harsh chemical scent in the air—the exact same smell she had felt fifteen years ago on the night her mother was killed.
Aliana’s breath hitched. Her blood ran cold.
She jumped out of bed and rushed to the window. Carefully pulling the curtain aside, she looked down into the dark yard.
It was pitch black, but Aliana’s wolf eyes could see the figure clearly.
Standing under the thick shadow of the trees was a tall, mysterious figure wearing a long black coat. His face was hidden in the darkness, but his eyes... his eyes were glowing in the dim moonlight with a terrifying, strange Sulphite glow.
He was looking directly up at Aliana’s window—as if he already knew she was standing there.
Aliana’s heart beat so fast it felt like her ribs would break. She reached for the window handle to open it, but as soon as she slid the glass open a c***k, a cold, strange gust of wind blew inside.
And before she could make sense of anything... the figure below slipped backward into the thick shadow of the trees and disappeared.
But outside, right on the wooden frame of her window, a dark, smoke-like stain was left behind—releasing tiny sparks and a sharp, bitter smell.
Aliana’s lips trembled. Only one word left her mouth:
"Sulphite...?"
