A Human Mate; A slayed Christmas Wish

Chapter3.

The door creaked open, revealing an old, grumpy-looking man whose face seemed to have been carved by time itself—an appearance only a mother could love. Slowly, he beckoned me inside with a voice that was both spooky and inviting.

“Come in, my beauty. I have been waiting for you,” he ordered, his tone sending an uneasy shiver down my spine.

Before I could think twice about stepping over the threshold, I peered inside. A fireplace crackled warmly, and a cozy-looking chair waited invitingly beside it. It was exactly what I needed, but the man’s unsettling demeanor made me hesitate. He looked as though he could cause me more harm than good, a thought that twisted in my gut.

“I’m here to see my mother. She lives at this address,” I managed to explain, my words stumbling out as I was distracted by the patch covering one of his eyes and the single tooth jutting from his mouth.

“Who is your mother, my dear?” he asked, his attempt at politeness feeling forced, almost sinister.

“Her name is Kelly Young. She sent me a letter about a year ago from this address,” I clarified, my heart racing with each second I lingered there.

“There is no one by that name who has ever lived here,” he said, his Italian accent creeping under my skin with each word.

“You look cold, my dear. Come inside; I can warm you up in no time!” Before I could protest, he grabbed my hand with surprising force, pulling me inside the house.

A surge of panic gripped me. My instincts screamed that I was in danger; I could not let him pull me any further.

“No, no!” I cried out, fighting against his grip, my voice tremulous with fear.

In a desperate attempt to break free, I kicked him hard in the crotch. The man staggered back, his eyes wide with shock as he released me. Seizing the moment, I grabbed my suitcase and dashed down the short flight of stairs. I glanced back to see him kneeling in agony, an expression of disbelief etched onto his face.

Not knowing which direction to flee, I veered to my left, sprinting with every ounce of strength I had. The night and the snow was growing thicker around me. Every second I ran felt like an eternity. After reaching a safe distance from the house I stopped to catch my breath.

The streets were eerily silent, resembling a ghost town, with only a few scattered houses visible through the swirling snow. With what just happened to me I was too afraid to walk up to another door to seek help. I walked aimlessly, hoping to flag down a taxi, but the streets remained deserted.

My phone service was disconnected, rendering me unable to contact my father to let him know my current situation or even my mom to let her know I was in Venice searching for her.

“What have I gotten myself into?” I lamented, frustration and despair bubbling over. “I shouldn’t have took this trip in the first place!” I cried. “It’s my first time in Venice. I should have just checked into a hotel like a normal tourist! I’m so stupid!” I trudged on until my knees began to feel stiff and I finally collapsed in the snow.

I needed to find shelter soon, or frostbite would claim me. Struggling to my feet once more, I pulled my heavy suitcase behind me, the weight of anxiety settling on my shoulders.

Suddenly, amid the howling wind and swirling snow, I heard a strange sound—deep growls followed by a haunting howl that sent chills racing down my spine. My heart pounded as I clutched my suitcase tighter, my body trembling uncontrollably.

“What the hell was that?” I whispered to myself, trying to pierce the darkness with the weak light of my phone.

“Who’s there! Hello?!” I called hearing the footsteps approaching closer.

Fear washed over me as I instinctively pressed myself against a nearby tree, my breath quickening. I struggled to control my chattering teeth, but the biting cold made it nearly impossible.

With every flicker of my flashlight, I listened intently, aware of footfalls approaching, accompanied by those terrifying growls.

In a flash, a massive creature—something akin to a bear but far too swift—darted across my path. I froze, my breath caught in my throat, as my hands shook uncontrollably while I directed the light frantically around, desperate to confirm what I had seen. But the beast had vanished into the dark, leaving only faint footprints behind.

Tears began to stream down my cheeks, warmth contrasting sharply with the cold.

“God, I know you didn’t bring me to Venice just to be eaten by a bear!” I whispered to myself , panic swirling within me.

Just when I thought my heart couldn’t race any faster, the creature sped past me again, a blur of fur and power. How could a bear move so quickly? I cursed my fate, wishing I could meld into the trunk of the tree I pressed harder against its wooden structure.

I shut my eyes and turned off my phone light, my heart racing as the wind roared around me. My only solace was the hope that whatever had stalked me would move on.

But just as I thought I might be safe, a voice came from behind me, sending terror lancing through my veins. “Boo!”

I didn’t have the strength to respond—my body simply collapsed into the cold embrace of the ground, darkness enveloping me like a heavy blanket.

As I drifted in and out of consciousness, I could suddenly hear voices nearby.

“You should have seen her face. She probably peed herself!” one voice laughed, a lilting tone that held a hint of mirth.

“You know better than this! You always play too much,” another scolded, sounding more serious.

“She is fine like wine” the first voice chimed back, teasingly.

“You mean she’s pretty cold. We should get her warmed up.” The second voice interjected, its tone authoritative.

“Donavon, you can’t be serious. You’re taking the human home?” the first voice questioned, rife with incredulity.

“What do you expect me to do, leave her here to freeze to death?” I assumed was Donavon’s voice, steady and firm.

My body remained too weak and frozen to respond, but I could feel my consciousness ebbing away again as a strong, muscular figure lifted me effortlessly from the icy ground, pulling me toward the warmth of his bare skin. Giving me a sense of protection and comfort I longed for.