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I lay in bed for the third time and closed my eyes, but I still could not sleep. It is almost midnight, but I am still wide awake. I looked out the window and got curious if Caleb was right. I tiptoe and ensure no noise until I reach the window; my forehead wrinkles as I sway the light green curtain. Caleb had already fixed it outside, and it was locked. I sigh and look around the room. In so much boredom, I check the cabinet. No things anymore as well the sketch pads and other paintings are all gone. He is indeed wise. My guts are telling me that he is hiding something. Another glimpse strikes in my thoughts, and I collapse on the floor. It is painful to see the blood on the ridge. I shook my head, trying to remove the image in my mind, but I could not. Until a loud growl echoed around the mansion, and it followed the splash of broken glasses. I got up, running on the door, but I gawked. The door was also locked outside. Did he lock me in here? My heart is pounding fast as the noise
Caleb’s face leans at my back, which gives shivers down my spine. I should push him away. He saw me with nothing, and it was wrong. He is still a man, and I am a woman. He touched my back as I was about to run at the door.“Is it hurt?” I shake my head. “Where did you get these red spots on your back?” I exhale as I realize he is not into me but concerned about me. I turn around and face him. My eyes narrowed as I eyed his broad shoulders and arms scratches. He cleared his throat, and I averted my gaze to his eyes. “I... I have no idea where did I get it.” I halted, trying to stop myself from asking about the minor cuts on his body, and added, “Did you carry me on the second floor last night?” His face flushed, and he glared at me.“N-No!” He yelled, walking away. He is too obvious; we are the only ones living here. I shut the door and take a cold shower instead. I felt hot after I saw him. No, it can’t be! I keep murmuring to myself as his image keeps popping into my mind. Why could
Caleb and I stared at each other for a few seconds, and my heart skipped a beat. It is getting strange even more the effects he brings to me. I look away first and move backward.I cleared my throat and asked, “What help do you need?”He went to his cabinet and pulled out a medicine kit. “Get the bandage here and wrap my hands. I got wounds on the shattered glass.” He pointed to the scattered glasses on the floor. I followed him silently and checked his wound. My eyes narrowed. I see it clear earlier that the injury was gone, but it shows a cut now. I shook my head and put on the bandage. We fell silent until I finished putting in the gauze. I did not say a word, but I carried the medicine kit and returned it to his cabinet. “Are you alright?” He asked. “I am good,” I answered, walking near the door, then stopped and turned around. “Eat your lunch now.” As he did not answer, I went out and rushed downstairs. I put my hand on my chest, and my heart pounded fast. I ran my finger thro
Caleb’s Point of ViewI don’t understand myself. As weeks passed, I became kind to Eliana and couldn’t hide her effect on me. I thought we would get along, but she asked a nonsense question. She was curious why Charles was not visiting me. My head hit the boiling point again. It is just a simple question, but I got pissed. I stared at the mirror. It was almost four days that I did not go out, but still, Eliana never bothered me and always prepared my meal on time. I shook my head and looked at her outside the window. She always made time to go to the garden. I smiled as I saw her speaking to the flowers, but my eyes caught the black Lycan nearby. He was too close and focused on observing Eliana. I jump on the balcony going to the trees. As I dashed to check the Lycan, it vanished. Suddenly I heard Eliana screaming. I ran into the garden and saw her on the ground. She lowers her gaze and hugs herself. I took the opportunity to chase the black lycan. I bite his neck and shout to Elian
Eliana’s Point of View I lowered my gaze and stared at the blanket. A blurry vision of a man appeared in my thoughts, but I shook my head and pulled myself up. I am no longer dizzy, but I only remember when the man told me I looked like someone. I tilted my head and stared at Caleb. He was still silent and staring blankly at me, but still standing firm with a wrinkled on his forehead. “I..” I deepened my sigh and cleared my throat, “I can’t remember anything,” I lied to him. He nodded and walked out of the room. I frown and turn around. Did something happen before I woke up? I look around his room. It is darker and gloomy, the same as his mood. I sigh and walk near the window, and open the gray curtain. As I looked down, I gasped. It was the same spot in the garden where I felt the pain—my head spinning while my legs were like noodles and my shoulders slumpy. Is it poison? But how? I did not even eat anything in the garden. That is as far as I remember. As I kept thinking about wha
Diana did not lower her gaze and kept glaring at me. Even though it was meters away from the gate to the garden, she still knew me well enough to keep glaring, and then she pointed to someone and shouted. I was shocked that Josh was standing near her. I turned back and hid in the bushes. “Hey! Josh!” She shouted, even though she was just a meter away from Josh. “What now? Can we go back to the orphanage?” I heard it loud and clear, so Caleb lied to me. I looked up at his balcony but the window was already closed. He said that the orphans would have a camp beside the mansion. My head boiled as I recalled that he just lied to me. I marched to the door. “Look at the girl in that mansion, she looks like Eliana!!!” Diana's stern scream hit my ears. I halted and could not move on my stand. “Diana keeps those nonsense words. Headmistress Rosie was looking at us!” Josh answered. I was still standing in front of the door and listened carefully until the footsteps were gone. As I turned ar
I shut my mouth and said nothing, but Caleb was still standing beside me. Does he really think that I have a relationship with Josh?“Josh has been my friend since I grew up in Safe Haven Orphanage. When the other orphans bullied me, he was the one who saved me.” I turned around and faced Caleb. His face is blank and he seems to be listening to me attentively. “I don’t know why but the bullies love to mock me. Perhaps, because I am different.” He furrowed.“How you became different from them. You are all orphans.” He answered. I took a deep breath and walked into the living room to sit. Suddenly, I felt his presence. “Can you tell me more?” My eyes lit up at his remarks. He became more curious about me. Am I going to tell him everything?“Something weird happening whenever—”“Caleb!” A loud voice echoed in the mansion. “Go to your room!” Caleb said, running to the door. I ran to my room and locked the door. As I looked out the window, the sky turned gloomy and rain started pouring. I
Caleb seems suspicious. I am sure of it. I can still recall everything; I saw the wolf with my own eyes. He moved closer and tapped my back. Without any words, he went out. The soft wind captured my relief. A reassurance echoed in my mind as I surveyed the serene room. I took a deep breath, attempting to dismiss the haunting memories of the night. Moving my back to the wall, staring at the ceiling puts me at ease for a bit. "Are you sure?" I whispered to myself, feeling the weight of uncertainty lingering in the air. As if on cue, the door swung open, and Caleb entered with a smirk. His eyes held a mix of determination and secrecy, adding to the mystery that surrounded him. "Are you okay now?" he inquired, his voice smooth like a gentle breeze. I hesitated for a moment, contemplating whether to share my doubts with him. "Caleb, what's going on?" I finally asked, my gaze piercing through the veil of mysteriousness. He sighed, his expression betraying a hint of unwillingness. "There
The morning light filtered through the thin curtains of Gonzalo's cabin, casting soft rays across the wooden table where Eliana sat, nervously picking at her breakfast. The air was thick with an unspoken tension, starkly contrasting the warmth of Gonzalo’s unusually kind demeanor.Gonzalo poured coffee into a cup with his customary charm and placed it before Eliana with a smile. "I hope you slept well. I noticed you were restless last night."Eliana smiled, her thoughts still reeling from his harsh command the night before. "I’m fine, thank you."Gonzalo's gaze lingered on her, his eyes shadowed with a hint of possessiveness. "Did you get a chance to go outside yesterday? I know you like fresh air, but staying safe is important."Eliana’s pulse quickened at his words. She had ventured out for a brief walk, but his subtle inquiry made her uneasy. “Just a short walk,” she replied, trying to keep her tone neutral.As they ate, Gonzalo’s conversation was casual, but his probing questions
I stared at the wolf. It seemed unharmed and just looked at me. I gulped and moved my feet backward. He moved forward, and I was alarmed. I ran without direction until someone grabbed me. I shouted and pushed him."Eliana!" I was stunned when I heard Gonzalo and faced him. "What happened?" he asked with a worried face. My heart beat so fast, and I didn't know if I could trust the man in front of me."I... saw something... scary," I said and collapsed on the grass.—I settled into a routine at Gonzalo's place, finding comfort in the peaceful solitude of the forest surrounding his cabin. Gonzalo continued to be kind and supportive, offering me guidance and understanding as I processed the revelations about Caleb's world. But still, I couldn’t open up completely to him—about the wolf I saw and about Caleb. I would deal with it myself.Days passed in a blur of chores and quiet contemplation. Gonzalo kept busy with his tasks, often disappearing into the woods for hours at a time. Despite
I settled in well at Gonzalo's place. He explained everything to me, even providing lists of instructions on how to clean his house. It wasn't as big as Caleb's mansion but incredibly peaceful. Despite being literally in the middle of the forest inside there was no trace of eerie sounds or the growls of werewolves. I paused. Could the wolf I heard at the Orphanage have been Caleb? Goosebumps prickled my skin, adding to the pain already gnawing at me. How could I feel so emotionless?Gonzalo had been kind and patient since bringing me to his secluded cabin. He seemed to understand my need for space and solitude, giving me time to adjust to my new surroundings. His presence was reassuring, yet I couldn't shake the unsettling feeling that lingered beneath the surface.As days passed, I fell into a routine of cleaning and maintaining Gonzalo's home. The tasks kept my hands busy, but my mind wandered incessantly. Memories of Caleb haunted me—his smile, his touch, the secrets he kept hidden
I moved my feet gingerly and blinked against the bright sunlight filtering through the dense foliage. Its warmth enveloped me, contrasting sharply with the cold fear lingering in my chest. As my eyes adjusted to the light, I cautiously scanned my surroundings, each glimpse bringing back fragmented memories of the night before. A werewolf? The thought made me shudder involuntarily, and I hugged myself tightly as if to ward off the lingering chill that threatened to pierce through my skin.“Ouch!” I exclaimed, more surprised by my touch than the pain it caused. The forest was eerily quiet around me, broken only by the rustling of leaves and distant bird calls. Suddenly, the stillness was shattered by approaching footsteps.“Are you okay?” A deep voice cut through the silence, making me jump. I turned around and looked up, my eyes meeting those of a tall man who seemed to tower over me. His presence was unexpected, his expression a curious mix of concern and amusement.“Hey, beautiful wo
I turned around, but no one was there. I shook my head, and before I could go out, Caleb came inside. He shook his head and smiled.“What is it?” I whispered.“It’s just a cat,” he said, pointing to my bed. “Go to sleep.” I nodded, and then he went out. I went to my bed and closed my eyes, but the voice I heard earlier made me feel anxious. I blinked my eyes multiple times, but it was still the same. I sat down and hugged myself.“When you have difficulty sleeping, think of happy thoughts.” My tears flowed down my cheeks. It was Miss Rosie's reminder for me. I miss her so much. She’s like my older sister. Suddenly, a thunder roared, followed by rain. I lay down and pulled the blanket over myself until I fell asleep with tears on my face.“No!” I shouted after an hour, and fear lingered in me. What was that about? I couldn’t recall my dream, but my body was shaking with fear. Caleb ran inside to me. He hugged me, and it calmed me down.“What happened?” he asked. I shook my head. I coul
I did not say anything and just looked at Mrs. Higgins. Caleb and Charles walked into the dining room. I followed them quietly. The atmosphere was tense, charged with unspoken words and hidden emotions that seemed to press down on us all.Mrs. Higgins had prepared three meals: fish, chicken, and pork. Each dish was meticulously arranged on the table, a testament to her culinary skills. The aroma of the food filled the room, but none of us seemed to notice. We ate silently, the only sounds being the clinking of cutlery and the occasional scrape of a chair against the floor. It was a far cry from the lively meals we used to have, where laughter and conversation flowed freely.As I picked at my food, my mind wandered to the events of the past few days. There had been an air of secrecy around the house, with whispered conversations and doors closed quickly when I approached. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was being kept from me, and it gnawed at my insides like a persistent i
I blinked my eyes multiple times and found myself in my room. The familiarity of my surroundings felt jarring after the chaos of my dream. I took a deep breath, trying to ground myself in reality. The sunlight streamed through the window, casting warm patches on the floor. I got up quickly, my heart still racing from the vivid images in my mind, and ran outside.In the living room, Caleb and Charles were engaged in a lighthearted conversation, their laughter filling the room. The normalcy of the scene was almost unsettling given what I had just experienced.“Where is the monster?” I blurted out, my voice trembling. They both turned to look at me, their expressions shifting from amusement to confusion, and then they laughed.“What are you talking about?” Caleb asked, a hint of concern in his voice.“The creatures... The wolf!” I exclaimed, my desperation clear. The vivid memory of the wolf’s eyes and the eerie silence of the forest lingered in my mind.They both stopped laughing, their
I lay in bed for an hour, unable to sleep. Caleb still hadn’t finished talking to Charles. I got up and walked to the door, hesitant to go outside but uncomfortable. Something inside me needed to be checked. I went downstairs and saw Mrs. Higgins in the living room. She smiled at me.“Do you need anything?” she asked.I smiled back, walking toward her. “I can’t sleep,” I answered.Mrs. Higgins motioned for me to sit next to her on the couch. “Would you like some tea? It might help you relax.”I nodded, appreciating her kindness. She got up and headed to the kitchen, leaving me alone with my thoughts. The house was quiet except for the faint murmur of voices from Caleb and Charles’ ongoing conversation. I wondered what they were discussing so intently at this hour.Mrs. Higgins returned with a steaming cup of chamomile tea and handed it to me. “Here you go, dear.”“Thank you,” I said, taking a sip. The warmth of the tea began to soothe my nerves. Mrs. Higgins sat back down, her presenc
Charles stood in silence, his gaze fixed on Caleb. I waited, expecting him to say something important, but minutes passed with only the weight of silence between us.“I thought…” I began tentatively, but Charles cut me off with a chuckle before I could finish my thought.“No, nothing serious. I have to go, Al—”“Caleb,” Caleb said smoothly, his voice calm yet authoritative. “Let’s step outside,” he suggested, casting a glance in my direction. “Eliana, take some rest. Tomorrow, you can begin cleaning the mansion.” He chuckled softly at my disappointed expression before leading Charles towards the door.Left alone, I took a deep breath, feeling a mix of curiosity and exhaustion settling in. Deciding a refreshing shower would clear my mind, I walk to the spacious bathroom adjoining my room. The marble floors were cool beneath my bare feet as I turned on the water, adjusting it to the perfect temperature. Steam filled the room, carrying with it the soothing scent of lavender from the gard