Chapter 2 – Eyes that Burn
1313 Words
Elara’s POV
“Hey…”
A voice echoed faintly in my head.
My eyes fluttered open, everything was still a bit blurry. A figure hovered above me—male. I couldn’t make out his face clearly, only that he was waving. His lips were moving but I couldn’t hear a thing.
Then it hit me, the red glowing eyes.
Panic surged through me as I shut up immediately but was met with an agonizing pain in my ankle.
“Woah, easy there,” the voice said again, a bit clearer now.
I blinked a few times until his face came into view. He was around my age, watching me with concern. I didn’t recognize him.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Y-yeah… I think so,” I said, my voice shaky.
“What were you doing lying in the middle of the road?”
“Wait…on the road?” I looked around, the streetlights were on, and I wasn’t in the woods anymore.
How did I get here?
“What’s your name?” he asked.
I tried getting up, ignoring his question, but my legs gave out, and I stumbled back down.
“Careful,” he said, offering his hand. “Here…let me help.”
I hesitated, then grabbed it. It’s not like I have a choice.
“Thanks.” I muttered, as he gently helped me up, steadying me with his arm.
“Think you could walk?” he asked.
I nodded, taking a step forward, but it only caused more pain.
“Guess not,” he said, giving a light laugh. “I could walk you home…if you’re okay with that.”
He didn’t seem threatening, and honestly, I was too exhausted to argue.
“I live just around the corner,” I said quietly.
“Oh alright…guess we’re heading the same way.”
He wrapped my arm around his shoulder, supporting me as we limped down the sidewalk. We didn’t talk much and I was glad for the silence.
When my house came into view, relief flooded me as all I wanted was to jump on my bed and forget about this crazy night.
“This is my stop,” I said, stopping at the front gate.
“Huh… I guess I’m your neighbor.”
I blinked. “What?”
“I live next door…you must probably know my grandma.”
“Mrs Witcher?”
“Yup… I just moved in yesterday.”
“Oh… I didn’t know.”
“No worries,” he gave me a soft smile and helped me to the front door.
“Thanks. For everything.” I said genuinely.
“You’re welcome,” he said, then added. “I’m Luca, by the way.”
“Elara.”
Before he could reply, the front door burst open, and my dad stood there, eyes wide with worry.
“Elara! Where have you been? I’ve been calling…” His gaze dropped to my limp and the scratches on my arm, panic shifted to fury. “What happened? Did he do this?”
“No!” I cut in quickly. "I tripped and sprained my ankle. Luca helped me get home.”
His shoulders relaxed a bit. “You should have called me?”
“I know…I’m sorry,” I said.
He sighed, stepping aside. “Come in. Let’s get some ice on that.”
I turned to Luca. “Thanks again.”
He nodded. “See you around, neighbor.”
Later, with my foot iced and propped up, I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.
How did I end up on the road?
Who got me out of the woods?
Or…did I ever make it to the woods at all?
Nothing made sense. But one thing was clear: this wasn’t just a dream.
Something in me felt different, and I was dying to know what it was.
My ankle eventually healed, and Dad only let me return to school after I could walk without wincing. Even then, he insisted on driving me most mornings.
The days since then have been mostly…normal.
Except for the nightmares.
Always the same burning red eyes…watching me.
Sometimes I would wake up breathless. Other times I would walk through the halls at school and feel like someone…somewhere is watching me. But every time I looked, there was no one there.
And then…there was Luca.
Apparently, he was a student here now. I hadn’t gotten a good look at his face the night he helped me, but in the daylight…wow. The guy was stupidly good-looking with his messy dark hair, sculpted jawline like that of a god and his piercing blue eyes that basically made every girl at Willow Creek High lose her mind.
I wasn’t immune to it either.
It didn’t take him long before he became popular. He even qualified to join the school’s football team. But despite all this, he was still really nice to me. We got along quite well and this kind of worried my sweet father.
Another reason why he made sure he drove me home after school.
“Look whose birthday’s coming up,” Grace said, wiggling her eyebrows as she snapped me out of my thoughts.
I blinked. Oh, right.
I had totally forgotten about my 18th birthday that was coming up next week.
“Yeah…” I muttered, trying to shrug it off.
“Girl c’mon, you should be excited right now.” She squealed, grabbing my hand.
I laughed softly. “I don’t…really have anything planned.”
“Well, leave that to me.” Grace grinned as she scribbled something in her notebook.
“We should definitely throw a party,” she added, almost bouncing off her seat.
Ben slid into the seat beside me with a smirk. “Then what, invite your mom’s yoga group? Or your drama club?”
Grace rolled her eyes. “Please, I happen to know a lot of really cool people.”
Ben scoffed. “Yeah right.”
Their usual bickering made me smile…it was entertainment for me.
Then I felt it.
The same tight, burning ache I felt the night in the woods.
I froze. Glancing towards the window, as if searching for something…or someone. But there was nothing.
The pain faded, but the weight stayed, still lingering in my chest.
—
“Elara?” Selene called, hurrying over as I stepped in. “You shouldn’t be here, I thought you were still resting.”
“I’m fine,” I said, with a soft smile. “Really, I thought I would help out today.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Your dad said you sprained your ankle really badly.”
“It wasn’t that bad,” I insisted, spinning slightly. “See, good as new.”
She sighed. “Alright. But the second I see you limp, I’m sending you home.”
I chuckled. “Deal.”
I got to work quickly, attending to the customer at the counter.
The afternoon was warm as I was shelving some books that had just arrived.
“I guess I have some new reads for this week.”
The quiet was soothing until it happened again.
The unfamiliar pain suddenly creeped into my chest. It was sharp, making me gasp for air. I held on to the shelf to keep me from falling, clutching my chest tighter as I inhaled shakily.
“Elara!” Selene’s voice rang out. “Someone’s at the counter!”
With a deep breath, I got up, gently walking towards the front of the store. The once sharp pain was surprisingly replaced by a warm feeling creeping up inside me.
I didn’t know what it was, but I was eager to find out.
As I got closer, the scent of forest rain and fresh pine hit me. The ache in my chest melted almost immediately.
And when I stepped into view
He turned.
- Writer
