5. I finally found you!

The light of dawn seeped into my room making me frown in my sleep.

“Close the damn curtain, Nick. I can’t sleep! The sun rays are troubling me!”

“Nick!! What are you doing? Close it!!” No response.

“I’ll wash all your dishes this morning, I promise. Will you please block the sunlight for me? Pretty please?” I pleaded. Still no response. I was perplexed.

“What’s wrong with my brother today?” I thought. He usually comes to my room and opens all the curtain in the morning just so he can somehow manipulate me into washing his dishes for him. He absolutely detests washing dishes and thinks it’s disgusting.

I slowly opened my eyes. The sun was bright up in the sky. I looked around to find my brother, but he was nowhere to be found. I heard a familiar sound coming from the left and that’s when everything seeped in. I then realized the position I was in. I got kidnapped.

I started panicking. My head hurt and I could feel the adrenaline rush inside me.

“It’s okay, Aiv. It’s nothing. Just think of it as a scene from a movie, you’ll definitely find a way out of here. There needs to be a way out.” I murmured impatiently.

My legs were moving cautiously. I couldn’t figure out where to go and so, I kept wandering in the middle of the woods like a lost child. Just as I was passing by a huge brown Oak tree, I heard a huge Hooded Pitohui screeching high up on the clear blue sky and into the perfect little fluffy white clouds scattered here and there by the light breeze.

For some reason, I decided to follow it. It was rare to see a bird that kind in a not-so-famous forest. I followed it, deeper and deeper into the forest. As I wandered, I noticed things I had not noticed before, the trees were magnanimous with rough barks and golden brown leaves that twitched and crunched after every touch. I could hear the birds chirping and creating a beautiful melody. It would have been music to my ears, if I hadn’t been in this dreadful situation right now!

My sneakers stepped on some dry twigs, alerting the animals around me. I could hear a faint rustling from the nearby moss rose bush and squirrels scurried with their nuts and bunnies darted into their holes.

My presence must’ve scared them. Poor little things.

Just as I was passing by a small bush, I saw someone dash off from across a fence. I know I must be hallucinating, but something inside me told me that there was something fishy going on.

“Should I go take a look?” I asked myself. Without realizing, I reached the fence, and barely crossed the pointed fence, internally praying for it to not electrocute me. I noticed something move again and silently followed it.

I was now in front of a small building that looked like it just got demolished. An abandoned building in the middle of such a beautiful forest, how strange is that? I reached for the porch of the door and entered. A cold gust of wind welcomed me and I stayed there shivering for a moment in an attempt to get a hold of myself.

Then, I slowly paced around looking at the unique yet weird stuffs in the deserted room. A tiny purple crystal hung around at one of the corners of the room, protected by what looked like a combination of steel and a glass lock. I placed my hand on the box admiring how exceptional and pretty it looked when someone spoke from behind me.

“What do you think you’re doing?” I stood there frozen. My mind started racing and I couldn’t feel my limbs anymore.

“Look at me!” he growled and I timidly turned around to face him.

“Woah!” I thought. “How can someone look so unreal? Is he a prince? A rising model? How can he look like a Greek god?”

Stop swooning, you idiot! This is not the time to run your imagination wild when you’re in so much trouble. You don’t even know who that creature is and what he is capable of.

I slowly lifted my head and stared at those dark emerald green eyes. His jet black dishevelled wavy hair was cut shorter at the sides, but still looked so silky. From the way he was leaning against the door with his arms crossed, I could tell he was quite arrogant and rude. But, just a quick look at him, and I could tell that he was well built, quite attractive. Stop it, you idiot!

He stared back at me, and my heart dropped into my stomach. He looked familiar. He had the same little scar on his left neck that the guy had that night. He was about the same height, six foot and two inches. I remember him being humongous towering over me, while I stood just at five foot and three inches. Too petite, I know.

“You… I finally found you! Where were you? And why did you run away from me? You promised me and just left me like that. Do you even have a sense of responsibility? You’re horrible! How could you?!” I ranted, staring right into his eyes. Enough was enough! I looked for him for all those months while he should’ve been the one coming after me and staying by my side.

“What on earth-” he started, but I didn’t give him a chance to speak. I was not done yet.

“Don’t act innocent, you prick! I know it’s you. I recognize you.” I breathed.

He lowered his eyes and turned his head elsewhere, crossing his arms.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I just met you for the first time today. By the way, who the hell are you? And who do you think you are to shout at me and blame me for the things I don’t even know about?” He walked closer towards me and pinned me against the wall. It sent chills down my spine.

I heard a little shuffle behind the bushes and a wolf appeared out from the bushes and I immediately hid behind his back and clutched his shoulders peeking out to see what it does.

“Hey, what do you think you’re doing?”

“Hiding. Can’t you see that? There’s a wolf out there. It’ll tear us apart.” I muffled peeking out through the guy’s shoulders.

“Are you serious? And you think I’ll protect you? You’re being naïve.” he chuckled.

The wolf growled and came closer showing its sharp long fangs and was now gnarling at us, almost ready to attack any second.

“If you have a sense of responsibility, you will.” I challenged. “Ooops, okay just as you believe, say we’ve never met before, yet you’ll have to protect me cause I’m clearly your guest right now, since I’m at your place, and you ought to keep your guests safe.”

“Guest? Do you think I invited you? Nah…you’re just a little thief who dared to get into my property!”

“Don’t be such a jerk, and protect me!” I ordered and he narrowed his eyes even more.

“You should be more scared of me, not him.” he smirked. And I stood there dumbfounded.