CHAPTER SIX-- The Silent Protector
733 Words
The afternoon sun was beginning to disappear behind the mountains when Camilla left the college.
She walked toward the parking lot with her backpack hanging from one shoulder, still thinking about the conversation she had with Mason beneath the tree.
She had only known him for a short time, yet talking to him felt surprisingly easy.
Her phone vibrated.
Mason: Don't forget to tell your dad I'm coming for dinner.
Camilla smiled.
Camilla: I won't. See you tomorrow.
She put her phone away and continued toward her car.
The parking lot was unusually quiet.
Most of the students had already left, and only a few cars remained.
Camilla unlocked her car and opened the door.
Before she could get inside, she heard something.
A faint rustling came from behind the trees.
She stopped.
"Hello?"
There was no answer.
Camilla looked around.
The sound came again.
This time, it sounded closer.
She slowly stepped away from her car.
"Is anyone there?"
A shadow suddenly moved between the trees.
Camilla froze.
Then something rushed out.
She screamed and stepped backward.
A large animal stood several feet away from her.
It was difficult to see clearly through the trees, but its eyes reflected the little sunlight that remained.
Camilla's heart began beating faster.
"Go away."
The animal growled.
She turned around and ran.
She didn't know where she was going. She only knew she needed to get away.
Her foot caught on a tree root.
She fell hard against the ground.
Her phone slipped from her hand and landed several feet away.
The animal moved closer.
Camilla tried to stand, but pain shot through her ankle.
"Please..."
The growl became louder.
Suddenly, a figure appeared between her and the animal.
Mason.
He stood completely still.
His back was facing Camilla.
"Mason?"
He didn't answer.
The animal growled again.
Mason took one step forward.
"Leave."
His voice was unusually low.
The creature stared at him.
For a moment, neither moved.
Then the animal suddenly turned and disappeared into the forest.
Camilla stared at Mason in confusion.
"What... was that?"
Mason turned toward her.
"Are you hurt?"
"My ankle."
He immediately crouched beside her.
"Can you stand?"
"I think so."
Mason carefully helped her up.
Camilla leaned against him while testing her injured foot.
"It hurts."
"Don't put too much weight on it."
She looked at him.
"How did you know that thing was there?"
Mason hesitated.
"I heard it."
"You heard it?"
"Yeah."
Camilla frowned.
She hadn't heard anything until the animal was already close.
Mason picked up her phone from the ground and handed it back to her.
"You shouldn't be walking around here alone."
"I wasn't expecting a wolf to attack me."
Mason looked toward the forest.
"It wasn't a normal wolf."
Camilla stared at him.
"What do you mean?"
He didn't answer.
Instead, he helped her walk toward the parking lot.
Camilla kept looking at him.
There was something different about Mason.
Something she couldn't explain.
"You know, you're acting strange."
"I'm just trying to help."
"You were really brave."
Mason gave a small smile.
"Anyone would've helped."
Camilla shook her head.
"I don't think so."
He didn't respond.
When they reached her car, Mason made sure she was able to stand properly before letting go of her arm.
"Call your dad."
"I will."
"And don't come back here alone."
Camilla nodded.
"Okay."
Mason turned to leave.
"Mason."
He stopped.
"Thank you."
He looked back at her.
"You're welcome."
Then he walked away.
Camilla watched him disappear among the trees.
She couldn't understand what had happened.
The animal had been enormous.
And somehow, Mason had stood in front of it without fear.
As Camilla drove home, she couldn't stop thinking about him.
She didn't know that Mason had stopped much farther down the road.
He stood beneath the trees, staring into the forest.
His expression had completely changed.
His eyes were darker now.
He could hear something moving in the distance.
The same creature.
Mason clenched his fists.
It had come too close to her.
He knew exactly what that meant.
Someone—or something—was watching Camilla.
And Mason wasn't going to let anything hurt her.
He had no intention of telling her the truth.
Not yet.
For now, he would remain her friend.
Her silent protector.
And he would stay close enough to protect her, even if she never understood why.
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