The Lost Queen

Chapter 17. Soft like a cotton

Kayla

I wandered through the dark wood and a white fog blanket tried to suffocate me while I was completely lost. Damp, chilly air was caressing my skin and I had to rub my numb arms to bring blood circulation back. My tiny clothes looked improper in this kind of setting.

ran down my spine and every small hair stood up on my body. Something felt strange around me and after a second I understood that everywhere was quiet. Unrealistically quiet, like the whole world stopped and I was the one still roaming around. My eyes gazed up but all I could see was white, thick fog. If I were able to touch it, I think it would feel like a soft cotton across my skin.

The feeling was unsettling in my stomach, but with small moves I rowed forward. The ground was made of moss and old tree leaves. I could smell fresh wooden scent which made my head dizzy. Was it from freshness or from something else?

I quickly turned around after hearing some rustling behind my back and immediately felt a harsh tree branch scratching my clothless arm from shoulder to my elbow. I yelped in surprise, but when I saw glowing green orbs I shut up instantly. For some reason, I remembered purple glowing when I was in the orphanage, but quickly dismissed that thought and focused my attention on the strange shine.

“Who is in there?” I questioned, unsure.

“Don’t be scared,” a smoky kind of robotic voice echoed in the open space. I looked around, not being sure where the sound was coming from, but it resonated from everywhere at the same time and more chills came down my body.

“What’s going on in here? Did I sleepwalk again?” I was scared to death of this nerve-racking experience, but I wasn’t ready to give up without a fight.

“Everything will be much clearer soon. You just need to hang on a little bit more.” The white wolf emerged from the foggy veil, and I nearly jumped out of my skin. His fur looked so soft and shiny I couldn’t tear my eyes off. I stood helplessly, the same as a few hours earlier when those other wolves circled me. How many wolves are there in these woods?

“We are not in the woods little one,” Wolf blinked a few times and I stepped back, “You won’t be lonely anymore, but tonight I have to leave you.”

“What?” I quacked wide-eyed.

“Wait for the full moon, then everything will be the way it has to be.” The white wolf passed through me, and soft fur brushed against my leg. It was a phenomenal feeling and that made my breath hitch in my throat.

I turned around quickly but the fog was so intense that I couldn’t see anything more than my feet. I tried to follow but the mist engulfed me in a hug, and I was lost. My breathing became erratic, and I felt how panic seized my whole body.

Unexpectedly, I stumbled over the stiff tree root and fell to the ground, bruising my knees. Shriek escaped my lips and echoed into the unknown. Tears welled in my eyes and an emotional breakdown surfed up from the darkest minds. The fog looked more suffocating than before, and I didn’t know what to do and how to escape.

My mind was occupied by the memories of a black wolf with a golden gaze, and I shivered with excitement. I go out of my mind if I think that he can save me and not eat me. What was wrong with this town and all the wolves around? Why were there so many of them?

Loud howling made me jump and I frantically looked around. Oh no, not again. Something was very wrong with these woods, and I needed to get out of here. Fog was already consuming me piece by piece and I was in an urgent need to scream, but when I tried it, the white mist stopped me from letting the sound out and the fog hugged like a long-lost friend.

Instinctively, I sat up on my bed, but the rope that was on my right wrist tugged me back and I yelped in pain, feeling new bruise on my body. I shifted in my place and looked at my arm in an uncomfortable position and my breathing was loud and uneven. Even my heart thumped erratically, and I tried to understand what was happening. I was in the woods and saw a white wolf. Was everything only a dream? A very realistic dream.

A sigh left my lips and I looked through the small gap between the curtains. The moon softly glowed in the dark sky, and I put my head down on the pillow. I checked my phone wanting to find a message from Ace because I fell asleep faster, but the message never arrived. Uneasy feeling curled in my heart, and I locked my phone. I turned onto the other side and closed my eyes.

It was only after three in the morning, but I was fully awake and still reminiscing about the soft fur on my bare leg. What was that dream about? How could even the wolf talk to me? I know it was a dream and in it could happen anything, but somehow it felt like speaking to a human not an animal. And why should I wait for the full moon?

Some myths and legends came into my mind, and I chuckled from my own thoughts. Maybe someone will try to sacrifice me for some demonic ritual and those wolves will finally get a piece of me? I nuzzled into my pillow and inhaled deeply. Something was missing in my heart, and I felt longing for things I never had. When one of the sentences struck me like lightning, I sat up again, and the bruising process was repeated. Why don’t I still untie myself? I shook my head, forgetting after the pain subsided, and opened my phone. Opened the browser and searched for the next full moon.

Oh s**t. It’s next week, Saturday, if I’m being accurate with timing. The first week’s full moon will be next Saturday, so do I have to wait for a week till something happens? Or should I run? I rolled my eyes, dismissing idiotic thoughts and once more opened messaging app. I gazed at my lonely message and felt unsure if it was a good thing.

But why did Ace call then? Why make efforts and then ignore me? Did I misunderstand everything? I locked my phone and tossed him somewhere in the bed and fell back onto the sheets. In small movements, I untied my right wrist and gently patted bruised skin with the tip of my finger. I really needed to get some ointment for that because if it won’t heal properly, everyone will see it, and I will have to explain my craziness and random things that I’m scared of.

I will do it tomorrow; it will be a good chance to explore the small town a little bit more and maybe get some coffee because today I just stared at it but didn’t drink and when it was cold I didn’t even want it anymore. My gaze fell on the darkness outside my window, and I watched small stars flickering and trying to be more visible till the abyss swallowed them.

Morning came suddenly. When I opened my eyes, the sun was already shining brightly, and my head was heavy. Did I catch a cold after being in damp weather or was it last night’s awakening? I tried to shake it off but when I sat up I heard a quiet thud and then remembered my phone and the feeling of being stood up crept into my mind.

My lips pressed into a thin line, and I instantly felt doleful. Why was I so pathetic? I won’t lie, Ace was the first guy who showed some interest in me, and I let myself forget that I was an antisocial kid with communication dysfunction who always made everything awkward. My opinion was too harsh and honest and that kind of negativity no one liked.

The sigh was louder than I liked but I couldn’t contain my disappointment and with that I stood up from bed and went to the small shower believing that I could wash those difficult thoughts with stinking shower gel. I need to throw that out the same as I did with meds and buy a new one. Of course, I should do it discreetly because if Ruth finds out, she will call the orphanage, and I would have a lot of problems.

Today will be the last time that I’m showering with it and today I will rid everything that’s reminding me about lonely nights crying my eyes out. With that determination, I turned the hot water on and closed my eyes believing that I was stronger than seventeen years memories.

When I was ready to go into the town, Ruth smiled, happy that I was making efforts to infiltrate into the new life. I looked at myself in the mirror and examined my long sleeved creamy dress with purple flowers. I hope that kind of look was appropriate. White tights soften the whole look and a short brown coat should keep me safe from the wind. I didn’t own many clothes, but I managed to match some into wearable sets and this one was the best one of those I have. My wild hair was braided and decorated with shining clips. I tried not to overdo it, but I liked how I looked and with one last smile I waved to my foster mother.

“I will eat something in the town,” I chirped, opening the front door. Ruth nodded and I left in a high spirit, ignoring every negative thought and enjoying the dry air. Even if it was cold, it wasn’t damp like yesterday, and I could breathe a little easier without catching a cold.

The town centre wasn’t really far from the house, and I managed to reach it in fifteen minutes, all the way fighting with the wind and my long braids. When I reached the small shops and some higher buildings, the weather was calmer and with an exhale I looked around. Streetlamps aligned with the pavement remembered lanterns and it looked magical. Sidewalk was made of small bricks and looked like I went into the vintage times when everything wasn’t modernized. People liked bright colours on the buildings and small details in nature created things. Short trees grew near every small shop and each one of them had a different blooming colour. It was strange because in January it shouldn’t be so colourful but here we are.

I started moving past people who enjoyed their time and after reading a dozen shops' names, I quickly realized that a lot of them are specifically devoted to heavenly things; Moonlight sweetness candy shop, Lunar bookstore, also Artemis café. Almost every name was related to the moon and other celestial bodies. Somehow, I felt overwhelmed but also hyped because some names were really sweet and mystical, and I liked a little bit of it.

I stopped in front of the Shine, like a sunny beauty store, and looked through the window inside and, after hearing a pitchy voice, I felt how my whole body shivered.

“Hi Kayla!”

When I turned around, I smiled nonchalantly, but in my head was ringing anxiety bell, stimulating me to run away as fast as it was possible.