Chapter Two: The Boy Who Vanishes
747 Words
The morning air in Moonridge was crisp, carrying the scent of pine and fresh rain.
Lena stood in front of the bathroom mirror, brushing her long chestnut hair into a loose ponytail.
"You'll be fine," she told her reflection.
Yesterday had been... strange.
She couldn't stop thinking about Kai.
The way he'd looked at her.
The fear in his golden eyes.
Then he had simply walked away.
"Who does that?" she muttered.
---
By the time she arrived at Moonridge High, students were already filling the hallways.
Emma waved excitedly.
"Lena!"
Lena smiled.
"Morning."
Emma linked their arms.
"Come on! I'll show you around before first period."
As they walked through the halls, Lena noticed something odd.
Every time Kai passed by...
Students moved out of his way.
Nobody greeted him.
Nobody smiled.
Nobody even whispered loud enough for him to hear.
It was as if everyone feared him.
Kai kept his hands buried inside the pockets of his black hoodie, his expression unreadable.
For a split second...
Their eyes met.
Again.
His golden gaze lingered on her.
Then he quickly looked away and disappeared around the corner.
Emma sighed.
"There he goes."
"Does he ever talk to anyone?"
"Not really."
"Has he always been like this?"
Emma shrugged.
"Ever since his parents died."
Lena's heart softened.
"Oh..."
"I heard he lives with his grandfather now."
Before Lena could ask another question, the bell rang.
---
History class felt longer than ever.
Lena couldn't concentrate.
Every few minutes, she found herself glancing toward Kai.
He hadn't written a single note.
Instead, he stared out the window at the forest behind the school.
Almost...
As if he were waiting for something.
---
The final bell rang just after three o'clock.
Students poured out of the building.
Emma smiled.
"My mom's picking me up."
"Lucky you."
"What about you?"
"I'm walking."
Emma's smile disappeared.
"...Don't take the forest trail."
Lena laughed.
"You sound just like everyone else."
"I'm serious."
Before Lena could ask why, Emma hurried toward a waiting car.
---
Instead of taking the main road home...
Lena chose the shorter path through the woods.
"It's just a forest," she whispered.
Sunlight filtered through the towering trees, painting golden patterns across the ground.
Birds chirped overhead.
Everything seemed peaceful.
Until...
Crunch.
She froze.
Someone was walking behind her.
Slowly.
Matching every step she took.
Crunch.
Crunch.
"L-hello?"
Silence.
Her heartbeat quickened.
She turned around.
Nothing.
Only trees.
She shook her head.
"I'm imagining things."
She continued walking.
Crunch.
The footsteps returned.
Much closer this time.
Fear settled in her chest.
She broke into a run.
Branches whipped against her arms as she raced through the trees.
Then—
A low growl.
Not from behind.
From in front.
Lena skidded to a stop.
Standing in the middle of the trail was a massive black wolf.
Its silver eyes locked onto hers.
It was bigger than any wolf she had ever seen.
Its lips curled back, revealing sharp fangs.
Lena couldn't move.
The wolf took one slow step toward her.
Another.
Another.
Tears blurred her vision.
"This can't be real..."
The beast crouched...
Ready to attack.
Suddenly—
"STOP!"
A familiar voice echoed through the forest.
Kai.
He stepped between Lena and the wolf.
His face was calm, but his voice carried a command unlike anything she'd ever heard.
The wolf growled.
Kai didn't move.
Instead...
His golden eyes seemed to glow.
For several tense seconds, neither one moved.
Then, with one final snarl, the wolf backed away into the darkness of the forest and disappeared.
Lena's knees gave out.
Kai caught her before she hit the ground.
"Are you hurt?"
She looked up at him, breathing hard.
"You... you saved me."
His jaw tightened.
"I told them this would happen."
"Told who?"
He ignored the question.
"You should never walk through these woods alone."
His voice was gentle...
But filled with urgency.
Lena frowned.
"How did you know I was here?"
Kai hesitated.
"I..."
He looked toward the trees.
"I have to go."
"What? Wait!"
Without another word...
He ran into the forest.
Not toward the road.
Into the deepest part of the woods.
Within seconds...
He was gone.
Lena stood there in stunned silence.
Then she noticed something lying on the ground where Kai had been standing.
A small silver pendant shaped like a crescent moon.
She picked it up.
It was still warm.
Little did she know...
That single pendant would uncover a secret buried for generations.
- Writer
