CHAPTER 3

I woke up at a sideroad, still feeling disoriented. 

I looked around to see where I was, only to realize that it was still close to our village. Memories from last night started to flash in my head… My father and brother had been murdered by our villagers.  I am all alone and have nowhere to hide. My family must be cursed, but what have we done to deserve this fate? All we did was figure out how to get by each day. How could this life be so cruel to us?

While brushing away all the tears that had begun to pour from my eyes ceaselessly, I realized that there were no signs of my injuries last night. Aside from that, the bruises that I received from being punched last night were also gone. I'm positive that yesterday left me battered and hurt. My clothing being covered in dried blood is another proof that I was deeply hurt.

Could I possibly recover that quickly? Or did I spend a long period unconscious? The latter, however, seemed to be inconceivable because I had a feeling that it had recently happened.

Upon thought, that raises a question…How did I end up in the middle of the road when I vividly remember that I was left wounded inside a cave? I can recall collapsing even before escaping from that infamous and dreaded cave. It was also strange how I managed to survive after entering the cave. 

Wait... I can remember feeling cold hands on my shoulder that evening, along with a sting on my neck. I instantly got to my feet and checked my neck after that. I felt a small amount of pain as I put my hands over the bite. There is unquestionably something wrong with my neck.

Damn, nothing makes sense at this point. At this rate, I'm going to start losing my mind. 

I am still pondering about what really happened when I heard several voices coming towards me. I sprinted as quickly as I could away from those folks out of dread of getting harmed once more. I had to leave this place right now. After learning that my father is a werewolf, they won't spare me. 

Luckily, a crimson car sped into view not far from where I was standing. I waved my hands in a desperate attempt to convince the driver to stop and help me to leave this situation. He luckily stopped in front of me.

He stopped, opened his car door, and stared at me right away. 

The only thing that came out of my lips as my eyes started to tear up again was, "Please...help me."

He opened the door to the passenger seat right away, perhaps feeling sorry for me given how I looked. I hopped inside the car without hesitating to ponder. Without asking any questions, he sped out of that place.

He didn't speak until we were far away from the place, after which he handed me a pair of slippers he had found under the seat next to his and said, "You shouldn't be running around without any slippers...you could use this."

I blatantly accepted it. I'm terrified of saying anything that may irritate him and cause him to leave me in an unfamiliar setting. Still, he offered me some slippers that appeared to be completely new. Because of his kindness, I bit my lip and tried not to cry.

He is most likely the same age as my father. His kindness towards me makes me reminisce about the good times that I had spent with my father. I cannot help but miss him…I cannot believe that he was slaughtered by them. 

I noticed the blood from my running feet. I took an effort to wipe away the blood with my hands so as not to ruin this expensive car. 

“Where are you supposed to go?” The man questioned. He cast his gaze in the rearview mirror.

I fidgeted with my fingers while biting my lip, muttering uncomfortably, "I-I," as I realized that I had no idea where to go. I only knew our village, I have never been to a town since my father forbade us. 

I said truthfully, "I-I have nowhere to go." 

He turned his gaze back to the road and asked, “Where are your parents?”

I bit my lip again, trying to stop my voice from trembling, and said, "I d-don't have." It was just yesterday that my father was by my side. Asking such questions makes my eyes pour tears. It is painful to think that my father and brother were killed ruthlessly. 

His eyes were fixed on the road, as I could see in the rearview mirror. “I could bring you to an old friend. They have always wanted to have a child,” he said. 

“R-Really?” My eyes must be glowing at that.

He gave a nod. “They are good people, you should not be worried.”

Those words gave me solace. There is no one I could turn to right now and he seems nice. I've lost everything, I have nothing left to lose.

I could not help but think of my father and brother. I felt guilty for surviving alone. I should have died together with them. I should have joined them…Do I deserve to survive this? 

Tears started to fall from my eyes at the thought that my family was left cold in the forest. I gripped my hand on my chest… it was so painful. 

I probably fell asleep in the car after that chat due to the fatigued from everything that had just happened.  When I opened my eyes, it was already dark and the vehicle is in front of an unfamiliar bungalow house.

The person that helped me is not in the vehicle. When I turned to look, I noticed him conversing with perhaps a couple. They appear to be the people he was referring to. Due to the darkness, I was unable to see their features properly or hear their conversation.

The man who helped me eventually returned to the car. My seat was next to the door when he opened it. I didn't know what to do, so I simply stared at him.