6
1157 Words
ISLA
As I became more immersed in what I was reading, I noticed that something was off.
The air was heavy, like someone was holding their breath in the dark. The room was too dark; I couldn’t see anything clearly. The old bulbs weren’t bright enough to light up the shelves. But I still felt the strong presence in the room with me. As if eyes were watching me from somewhere in the thick darkness.
My skin crawled. Maybe I was overthinking everything. I was probably tired and stressed. Maybe I was just jumping at my own imagination. But the more I tried to pretend that it was nothing, the stronger the feeling grew, tightening my chest until I could hardly breathe.
I knew I wasn’t alone for sure this time.
My eyes scanned the room, trying to catch a shape, figure, anything at all. The shadows shifted in silence and I froze. I hugged the old book close to my chest.
When the air behind me moved, as if something exhaled, I snapped.
I turned and rushed out of the room, slamming the old wooden door shut. When I arrived at the main part of the library, I let out a gasp of air. My heart pounded in my chest.
The old man who had attended to me earlier sat behind his counter with his glasses low on his nose, as if he had been expecting me to come running out.
“You finished already?” he asked with a smile.
“Please,” I breathed, holding the book tighter. “Let me borrow this. Just for a few days. I swear I’ll bring it back. I really need it.
The old man looked at me for a moment like he was studying me. Then, he nodded with a smile.
“Of course, child,” he said softly. “It is rare to find someone who actually wants to know the truth, instead of pretending that the world is simple.”
I blinked, surprised that he agreed to my request.
Then he leaned closer, whispering. “Keep this quiet. Not everyone should know about this. And not everyone wants the truth discovered. Wolves especially do not want people like us poking around.
A cold chill ran down my spine. Why did he say that? Had he seen something or experienced something in the past? Was there something he knew?
I didn’t dare to ask. I didn’t want to know, at least not here, not with the shadows hovering around the windows. So I slipped the book into my bag, thanked the old man and hurried out of the library before the strange weight returned again.
The cold winter wind hit my face as I walked home. The old man’s words continued to replay in my head.
What would happen if werewolves found out that human knows about their existence? Why did Kade tell me who he was? Was he not worried about the consequences? Or did he not fear anything at all?
Snowflakes melted on my cheeks as I arrived at my building. I entered my apartment and closed the door behind me, letting out a huge sigh of relief. I was back in my safe place, a place where everything felt normal again.
I kicked my boots off and collapsed on the bed.
I lay there quietly, the silence comforting me, until a sudden horrible realisation hit me.
I forgot to lock the door.
My heart skipped a beat. I rushed out of bed and to the door, twisting the lock until it clicked. My fingers trembled in fright. How could I have forgotten something as simple as that when I felt watched everywhere I went?
I leaned my back against the door, sliding down to the bare floor, trying to calm my racing heart.
Everything about my life felt so wrong since the night I met Kade. It felt like something was coming for me, as my world had shifted.
I went back to bed, still gripping my bag where the old book was safely hidden. I wanted to go back to reading the book but I couldn’t. I was too exhausted. I hadn’t slept since the previous night. But could I possibly sleep when my life was being watched? Maybe I should read the book. Maybe….
Before I could think, I had fallen into a deep sleep like I was falling off a cliff.
I dreamt, but not gently.
I opened my eyes and found myself in a thick forest, standing, snow everywhere, the cold biting my face. But I was bothered by the cold, the wolves were my concern.
They surrounded me. They growled violently, they were massive with their fangs dripping. Their eyes glowed in different shades of colour, silver and red mostly.
I tried to run but I stumbled. There was nowhere to run to. Their growls had grown louder, echoing in my ears. I panicked and tried to flee again but the snow clung to my feet like thick mud.
“Please,” I whimpered. “Please don’t hurt me.”
Suddenly, a loud roar shook the ground.
The other wolves froze.
A shadow appeared through the woods. It was massive, dark, and powerful. A big black wolf stepped forward, twice the size of the others. His fur shone like obsidian. His eyes glowed with gold as they locked into mine.
Something in me told me I knew who he was.
“Kade…” I whispered.
The way his name flowed out of my mouth without thinking made my heart skip. Like my soul recognised him before my mind even did.
The giant wolf lowered his head, his growl growing deeper, not at me, but at the other wolves that surrounded me. The pack of wolves scattered far away the moment he stepped towards me.
Everything went white all of a sudden.
I jerked awake, choking and sweating profusely. The sweat drenched my hairline and my heart slammed against my ribs. My room was dark, it was late into the night already.
I was safe in my room. I placed my hand on my chest, trying to calm myself. It was just a dream.
“It’s just a dream,” I whispered.
“You’re finally awake.”
A voice came from the corner of my room.
My entire body froze.
I turned slowly in the direction of the sound. And there he was.
The same man from my dreams.
The same man from the forest.
Kade.
He stood in the corner of the bedroom, his shadows clinging to his tall frame, his golden eyes glowing in the dark.
He looked at me as if he had just stepped out of my nightmare.
I lost my voice instantly. I couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t move.
He took a step forward.
“I’ve been waiting, Isla,” he said gently, his voice deep but terrifyingly calm.
“It’s time to go home.”
- Writer
