chapter 6

CHLOE'S POV

I inhaled some breaths of fresh air as I walked into the dark woods. The crisp autumn air sent chills down my skin. I could feel the sound of the dried leaves as I stepped on them with my feet, a symphony of nature welcoming me home into a new life.

Leaving the Mayhill pack was a decision that weighed heavily on my heart. The togetherness I once shared with the only woman who took me as her daughter, my grandma, rang in my mind like a haunting melody. Her wise words, the warmth of her presence, and the shared moments lingered in the air as I went deeper into the woods.

My departure wasn't just leaving a pack; it was bidding farewell to a piece of my identity. The Mayhill pack had been my family, my refuge, and my home. But sometimes, the path we must take diverges from the one we've known, and in that divergence, we find ourselves.

I couldn't shake the ache in my chest, knowing that I had left behind the safety and camaraderie that had been my sanctuary. My brother Scott, though not as close as I wished, held a special place in my heart. The unspoken love between us, a bond that transcended distance and differences, left a void that seemed to grow with every step I took away from the pack.

My throat started getting dry as I walked deeper into the woods. Suddenly I came across a running stream and went ahead to bend my neck to wash my face as I drank water to quench the burning desire of thirst. The burning desire in my throat pushed me forward, and I knelt by the stream. Cupping my hands, I scooped up the cool water and brought it to my lips. The first sip was a revelation, a moment of pure bliss as the refreshing liquid quenched the parched feeling that had settled within me.

Suddenly, I heard a sound of footsteps coming from the woods. A rush of adrenaline ran through my veins as I quickly grabbed my backpack and sought refuge behind the sturdy trunk of a nearby tree. The silence that followed was heavy with anticipation as I strained my ears to find out who had heard the sound of the steps.

The forest held its breath, as if holding a secret that only time could unveil. I crouched in the shadows, my heart pounding in my chest. Fear gripped me, unfamiliar and paralyzing. For all my life, I have been protected by my grandmother since I started learning how to walk and crawl.

The footsteps drew nearer, each one echoing with an urgency that resonated through the trees. At first, my imagination painted vivid pictures of giant animals prowling the woods, but as the steps came nearer and the shadows became clearer, my fears gave way to surprise.

A young girl, around 20 years of age, burst into view, running towards the stream. Her unkempt appearance spoke of a disastrous journey, with blood stains marrying her clothes. Panic and desperation were etched across her face, and her eyes held a moment of vulnerability that tugged at my empathetic instincts.

Caught between the shadows, I hesitated for a moment, torn between revealing my presence and maintaining the safety of not showing up.

“What could have caused her so many blood stains like that? Is she an escapade just like me?" I questioned myself before considering my next line of action.

The girl reached the stream, collapsing to her knees, and I could no longer stand idly by.

Leaving my hiding spot, I approached silently, my footsteps betraying my presence. The girl's head snapped up, her wide eyes locking onto mine. Fear and relief danced in her gaze as she processed my presence.

"Who are you?" I asked, my voice a gentle reassurance. "Are you okay?"

She pants out loud as she gasps for air before giving me a response.

“They are coming and..." She coughed out blood as she was about to complete her sentence.

Without wasting so much time, I moved closer, holding her by her trembling hands. "Easy, take a breath," I said, my voice a soothing anchor in the chaos of the moment. The reality of the danger she faced and the need for swift action weighed heavily on both of us.

She locked eyes with me as she clinged onto my hands tightly before uttering a word. "They won't stop. I can't go back," she managed to gasp out, her words a desperate plea.

I squeezed her hands gently, giving her a sense of peace and reassurance that I could come in as her safe haven. "You've got me. We'll figure this out together. But first, let's get you somewhere safe."

“I don’t think I'll be able to make it this far. I know you want to help, but I don’t want to put you in a mess that you won’t be able to get out of without getting hurt.” She spoke to me in a weak voice.

“Shhh! Don’t say that, dear. As long as I’m right here with you, you will definitely make it out with me. I can’t watch you stay here all alone in the woods."

“I’ll advise you to continue your journey and leave me alone. Let me face my cross. They are on their way, and they’ll still be here. I don’t want you or my enemy to be their captives. They show no mercy in their territory.”

“Please, who are these people?” Out of curiosity, I questioned her.

As she was about to provide an answer to my question, I heard the resounding footsteps of people coming in our direction. Without anyone telling me, I could possibly guess that there were up to a dozen people walking in our direction.

"Run! Run! Run! They are coming!" She shouted at me, her voice edged with desperation. The weight of her words hung in the air, a stark reminder that danger was closing in and we had little time to spare.

I looked at her with a mixture of confusion and self-pity in my eyes, unsure of the gravity of the situation. But as her gaze bore into mine, a silent plea for action, I summoned up the courage to run after my life.

I left her on the dark side of the woods as I picked up a race to save my life from the unknown danger. My legs ran faster than my body, as I couldn't stand and face death without seeing my grandmother first.

“Liam, Wherever you are, you’ll also face the pain that you are making me go through. If not that you were unable to control those little things in between your legs, I wouldn’t be in this mess that I find myself in.” I cursed him as I kept running without direction.

I came to a forceful halt as the piercing sound of a gunshot shattered the air. The sudden explosion of noise echoed through the forest as the birds flew across the air, jolting me to a standstill. Panic surged through my veins, freezing me in place as I strained to process where the gunshot had come from.

The bag that was with me dropped on the floor at the sudden sound of the gunshot. The woods, once a haven of mystery and solace, now harbored a new threat that hung in the air like a storm about to unleash its fury.

"Did they...?" I couldn't bring myself to complete the thought. The mere possibility that they might have harmed the girl sent a shockwave through me. A heavy sense of dread settled in my chest as I imagined the worst.

As the seconds ticked by in agonizing silence, my legs wavered beneath me. The shock of the gunshot had robbed me of balance, and before I could understand what was happening, my legs betrayed me. I stumbled, the forest floor rushing up to meet me with a jarring impact.

I fell down and rolled across the hills. I was so foolish that I started shouting for help as I saw myself rolling across the river. My leg hit a rock, and that gave me the balance to stop rolling further, even though it was quite painful. My subconscious state still hasn't recovered from the mystery of the gunshot.

“Was it that the girl possessed some mysterious power in her that they wanted her dead so much?” Another question popped into my mind.

I rose from the ground, brushing off the dried leaves that clung to me, starting from my hair down to my toes. In the midst of the wilderness, I recognized that it was a jungle, and only the strongest survived. I was trying to demonstrate that even without Liam, I, Chloe, could shape my own destiny and become the person I aspired to be.

As I prepared to continue on my journey, I heard a deep masculine voice that resounded like thunder.

“Stop right there! Young lady.” He ordered.

I proved to be stubborn with him, so I tried picking up a gun, but he fired a gunshot into the air. Instantly, I came to a halt without turning around.