Chapter4:The quiet ones move first
1767 Words
ELARA'S POV
“Snakeeeeeeeeeee!” I screamed as I jumped back onto my bed and continued screaming.
“Someone please helpppp—there’s a snake in my room!”
In that moment the people who stood at my window rushed in and crushed it by the head. One of them picked it up and laughed.
“This is what you're scared of,” the one holding the snake asked.
“It's not my fault I can't stand them” I replied still standing on my bed, leaned against the wall.
“And she's supposed to be a threat to the land. One who can't even stand a snake,” The younger of the three wolves laughed. But I found none of this funny.
“Thank you.” I muttered enough for them to hear.
They nodded and left the room—still laughing.
I did not sleep again after that.
I lay on the bed staring at the ceiling, counting the slow creaks of the building, listening to footsteps pass outside my door. No one came in. And that almost made it worse.
When morning finally came, it did not feel like morning. The light that came in through the window was pale and dull, like the sun was tired too. Well that makes two of us.
I sat up and rubbed my face.
“Okay,” I said softly. “You are not losing your mind.”
A knock came at the door.
I flinched for a moment. “Come in.”
A young woman stepped inside carrying a tray. She looked about my age, maybe a bit older. She looked at me quickly then looked away.
“Food,” she said.
“Thank you,” I replied.
She placed the tray on the small table and did not move away.
“So….” I said, “Is it safe to ask questions now or is that still illegal.”
She hesitated. “It depends on the question.”
“What am I doing here,” I asked.
She pressed her lips together. “No one knows.”
“That is reassuring.”
“You scared them,” she added.
“I scared myself too,” I said.
She glanced toward the door. “You should eat.”
“Am I allowed to walk outside,” I asked.
She shook her head. “Yes but not alone.”
“I’m not surprised.”
She left immediately after that, as if staying longer would have been a bad idea.
I ate slowly. The food tasted normal, which felt strange considering the night I had. When I finished, I stood up and moved around the small room.
“I need air,” I muttered.
I opened the door carefully and stepped outside.
No one stopped me.
The settlement looked different in daylight. Less threatening. In fact almost peaceful. Wolves in human form moved about, talking quietly, working, and pretending I was not there while still very much aware of me.
Kael stood near one of the buildings, speaking to an older man. He noticed me instantly.
“You should not be wandering,” he said as he approached.
“I was not told I was locked in,” I replied.
“You are not,” he said. “You are contained.”
“And that is worse.”
He ignored that. “Did you sleep.”
“A bit,” I lied. “There was a snake.”
His eyes narrowed slightly. “And you screamed your head off.”
“No, no I didn't—okay maybe a little bit, but snakes can be dangerous.”
“You were screaming hysterically in the middle of the night. That itself was dangerous.”
“Maybe if I wasn't stuck in a forest I wouldn't need to be screaming hysterically.” I grumbled.
He gave me a long look, then gestured. “Walk with me.”
“Am I allowed now,” I asked.
“Yes,” he said. “With me.”
We walked through the settlement in silence for a while.
“Everyone keeps saying I feel off, unnatural, wrong—name it,” I said. “What does that even mean.”
“It means you affect us,” he replied.
“I don’t want to,” I said. “I didn’t ask for this.”
“I know.”
I was about to argue but stopped in my words, that surprised me. “You do?”
He stopped walking. “You did not come here on purpose.”
“Finally—thank you for noticing.”
His gaze shifted past me, toward the larger hall.
“The elders are divided,” he said. “Some want you gone.”
“And the others.”
“They are curious.”
“Is that also bad?”
“Yes.”
We reached the hall. And Kael stopped at the entrance.
“I will speak to Malrec,” he said. “Do not enter.”
“Why,” I asked.
“Because he is interested in you,” Kael replied. “And that is not always safe.”
I frowned. “You don’t like him.”
Kael said nothing.
He left me standing outside.
I leaned against the wall and waited. If I had a cup right now eavesdropping would have been a lot easier. But regardless I was still able to hear a few voices.
“She affects the Moon,” Malrec said.
“That is impossible,” another voice replied.
“She was present when the boundary shifted.”
“Then she should be removed.”
“Or studied.”
I swallowed. I felt cold all of a sudden. While goosebumps began to form on my skin. And I quickly pushed off the wall. That's enough eavesdropping for a day.
“Hello,” I called softly. “Kael.”
No answer. So I turned to leave.
But behind me I felt someone's presence, I quickly turned to see a figure step out between two buildings.
He was tall, older, and his expression was calm.
“Lost,” he asked.
“No,” I said. “Waiting.”
“For Kael,” he said.
“Yes.”
He smiled faintly. “He is busy.”
“I can see that.”
“You should not be alone,” he said.
“That has been the theme of the day,” I replied.
He stepped closer.
I took a step back.
“Relax,” he said. “I only want to speak.”
“I’m spoken to enough,” I said.
“You intrigue us,” he continued. “The land reacted to you.”
“I hear that a lot.”
“You feel familiar,” he said.
My stomach tightened. “Again with the riddle words.”
“You remind me of a mistake,” he added.
“That sounds personal.”
His smile faded slightly. “Do you feel drawn to the Moon.”
My breath caught. “Why does everyone keep asking me that.”
“Answer,” he said.
“I don’t know,” I replied. “Maybe. I like the night. That’s not a crime.”
“It might be,” he said quietly.
He reached out. And out of instinct. I moved back fast.
“Do not touch me,” I said.
“You do not belong here.”
“I’m aware,” I snapped.
He stepped closer again.
“You should not exist,” he said.
I opened my mouth to respond, but a hand grabbed my arm and yanked me backward.
“Get away from her.”
Kael stood between us, his grip was firm on my wrist.
The older man straightened. “I was only asking questions.”
“You were crossing a line,” Kael said.
“You protect her too much,” the man replied.
“I protect what is under my watch,” Kael said.
The man’s gaze moved to me. “Be careful, girl.”
He walked away without another word, but it left my legs shaking.
Kael looked down at me. “Are you hurt?”
“No,” I said. “Just tired of people treating me like a mystery box.”
“You should not wander alone,” he said again.
“I was bored,” I replied. “And scared.”
He sighed. “Come.”
He led me back toward my room.
“Who was that,” I asked.
“One of the elders,” he replied. “Not Malrec.”
“He didn’t like me.”
“Few do.”
“That doesn’t bother you,” I said.
“It does,” he replied. “Because they move quietly.”
We reached my door.
“Stay inside tonight,” he said. “And lock it.”
“Do I get an explanation eventually,” I asked.
“Yes,” he said. “When it is safe.”
I went inside and locked the door. Nightime fell faster than I expected as I lay in bed staring at the ceiling again.
I began feeling my chest getting warmer. Am I running a temperature? I touched my forehead, but it wasn’t warm. If anything it was cold. But my chest was really warm and it seemed to be spreading.
I sat up quickly. Took off my shirt, dipped it in the bowl of water on the small table, and pressed it down on my chest. Can any night in this place not be normal?
I kept putting the cloth on my chest as I watched moonlight shine through the window, brighter than before. I held my breath for a bit without noticing it.
A quiet voice that sounded a lot like a whisper filled the room.
“Elara.”
I froze. I can't be hallucinating.
“Elara”
I heard it again. And my breathing became shorter. I couldn't breathe properly. I'm having a panic attack!
“Elara calm down.” I spoke to myself trying to get myself to calm down.
Outside, I heard shouting and running. Which wasn't making my situation any easier.
My door rattled violently.
“Stay away from the window,” Kael yelled from outside.
The weight on my chest was getting worse. And my vision started fading. No. No. No. This can't be happening.
“Breather Elara breathe” I started crying, I hated this feeling.
My vision became worse and I began to lose consciousness. The last thing I saw was Kael bursting into the room, while his voice faded into the dark.
- Writer
