C3

The depths of the forest

                                                   It's his home, you don't want to

                                                               To disturb him...

Camila noticed a car coming behind her, but she didn't want to turn around. Gray clouds were beginning to cover the blue sky, a cold blizzard made her skin crawl, the trees in the forest began to move back and forth slowly. He kept his eyes fixed on the road, somehow he didn't feel like looking at the forest.

The car pulled alongside him, Adrien rolled down the passenger seat window.

“Do you want a ride? “he asked, not giving up driving to keep pace with her.

Camila looked at him totally confused, how come Adrien wanted to drive her, she thought. She didn't understand.

“I'm sorry, but I don't know you. “She replied, not looking rude. She stopped, as did Adrien's car. He just smiled sideways and nodded, it was true, they didn't know each other, but this was a good way to do it.

“I'm Adrien," he answered. But Camilla already knew that. I don't have any problem to take you home, I'm passing by, the place I'm going to is up ahead," he lied.

Camila narrowed her eyes, were there houses up ahead? Because as far as she knew hers was the only one.

“And I think it's about to rain, so.... “She muttered looking up at the sky and giving him a look that she had no choice.

Camila also looked at the sky, it was true, it would rain soon and honestly, she didn't want to get wet because she had to go back to school. Biting her lower lip, she walked over to the passenger door, opened it and sat down. Adrien hid a smile and put the car in gear.

There was silence in the air, Camila didn't know what to say, and neither did he.

“I'm Camila, by the way. “She said, looking at him. She noticed that in profile and, up close, he was much more handsome. He was like those models she used to watch on TV, like those romantic and beautiful movie stars she liked to watch so much.

Adrien gave him a quick glance, he already knew.

“Y... What brings you here, Camila? “he dared to ask to make conversation.

“They transferred mom. From work.

Her eyes were on the window.

“This town never has new members, it was a real surprise to everyone that they have new people. “He commented.

“I can imagine.

Adrien didn't seem like a bad person, thought Camila, that bad boy look he had, but it seemed more like a mask to get the respect of others and to avoid people talking to him. In the distance she could notice his house and remembered what Carmen had told her, that had also been Adrien's house, and she didn't know whether to tell him or not.

He parked in front of her.

“Thank you for bringing me... “he said as he opened his door and got out.

He just gave her a tight”mouthed smile, and when he was outside, he went to the door of the house. Seconds later the rain began to fall. He had come just in time. She could hear Adrien's car speeding away, Camila turned around, noticing that Adrien was heading back to school and not where he said he was going. Did he just come to drop her off, she had wondered, but why? They barely knew each other.

He opened the door, stepping inside. She could hear the TV set blaring. He unhooked his bag, leaving it on the sofa, and then took off his jacket, leaving only his long”sleeved shirt. He walked in search of the babysitter, towards the living room. There she was, Jesse was watching some soap opera while Bea was sitting on the floor with a notebook and colors to draw. Everything seemed normal.

“Hi," called the nanny's attention. Jesse startled, holding a hand to his chest as he turned to Camila.

“For God's sake, you scared me," she laughed nervously.

Camila hid a smile, moved forward and sat down on the couch next to him.

“Is everything all right? Has Bea been no trouble? “she asked.

“Oh, not at all, Bea is a very sweet and obedient girl. “she answered confidently. It seems she wasn't lying. Camila's mother didn't trust babysitters very much, since years ago she had had a not very pleasant case with one. Leaving her in their hands, Bea would end up with another bruise at the end of the day, and well, that didn't go unnoticed. It turns out that the nanny was hitting her just because Bea wanted to color and the nanny didn't like her scratching the walls or the floor while doing so. That's why she hit her. So now Camila, Nicole and the mother had to keep an eye on the nannies, since they didn't have any close relatives to take care of her.

Also, the mother can't take her to work and Camila can't take her to high school.

“I know," Camila admitted, as she approached Bea and sat down next to her Indian”style.

“Hi, Bea, how are you?" she asked in a sweet tone. Bea hardly spoke, even though she was old enough to do so. She only smiled, and that was not normal. She didn't even say the word mama.

The girl looked at her and smiled.

“What are you drawing?

“asked Camila.

Bea showed her the sheet of paper, Camila took it, but first she placed a kiss on her temple. She grabbed the sheet of paper and looked at it. The smile she had faded little by little as she saw what her sister had drawn. He didn't know if it was a coincidence or if someone had simply told him about it.

Bea had drawn a man. But not just any man. He was a tall man, dressed in black, he had no face and his hands, they weren't his hands, they were like.... They were like tentacles. It can't be, thought Camila, feeling her breath hitching. What was all that? Bea couldn't do that drawing, she couldn't.

Next to her, Jesse was bent over looking at the drawing.

“Oh, no, that's not good. “the girl muttered.

Camilla immediately stood up and looked at her.

“How did she do this...? “Did you tell her about this stupid legend?

Jesse frowned, puzzled, and stood up as well.

“I beg your pardon? No, of course not. She's just a child and it's my job to take care of her, not scare her. “She defended herself, saying it so confidently that it seemed true. But maybe he wasn't lying.

“So...? “he wanted to know, looking at the sheet of paper.

Jesse shook his head, implying that he didn't know anything. Camila knelt down in front of Bea and showed her the drawing.

“Bea? Who is he? “she asked casually, hoping in vain that he would answer her, but she knew he wouldn't. Only a miracle could make her talk. Only a miracle could make her talk.

Bea just looked at her, then pointed to the window. Which just happened to look out on the forest.

Camila looked, but there was nothing but forest, so she turned her eyes back to her sister.

“Is she there? “she asked, with a lump in her throat.

The girl nodded, then stood up and went to play with the other toys she had at the other end of the room. Camila took a deep breath, snorting afterwards. That story wasn't real and Bea had only drawn that by pure chance, she tried to convince herself.

“Did you know about the legend? “Jesse asked her.

“It's just that," he answered, looking at her and standing up, "A legend. It's not real.

With that, he walked to his room.

Hours later Nicole had arrived, Camila could not attend school anymore because the rain had not stopped, she had missed the other hours of class. However, she was not looking forward to receiving them.

“Camila, I have news! “Nicole opened the door of the room, without knocking, exclaiming those words.

Camila was reading a book, already in her pajamas. And she gave her a dirty look.

“Nicole, next time knock, will you? “she mumbled.

Nicole rolled her eyes and flopped down on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

“Carmen told me she was coming over in an hour to go to a party at some Adrien's nightclub and that you were ready. “she informed.

Camila looked at her in horror. She didn't want to go to any party, let alone Adrien's disco, and does he have a disco, she had wondered.

“Of course I won't go. “she replied. She didn't feel like going out at night.

“Of course you will. “Her mother let him know, as she entered the room with Bea in her arms.

Camila looked at her questioningly.

“I'm sorry? “She couldn't believe her own mother was telling her she was going to a party. At night. Her mother was definitely not normal.

“Come on, Camila, I want you to go out and have fun and not just be locked in your room reading," she replied. “I'm not saying don't read, but go out in real life and look for real guys.

“That's right," said Nicole.

“Let me get this straight," Camilla closed the book and looked at them, "You want me to go to a party looking for boys? Tell me what kind of mother you are," she laughed.

The mother looked at her with boredom.

“Mommy, you haven't been out to a party since..... “she was about to say, but stopped herself in her tracks when she found out what she would say since her father had died. 

“You know that's not it," Camila let him know.

“Are you going or what?

Camila thought about it, those two girls wouldn't leave her alone if she told them no. So all she did was nod.

“Good.

The girls clapped and laughed, leaving her alone in the room. In an hour she had to go to the party. And worse, at one of Adrien's bars. She would see him again. That much was obvious.

An hour later, Carmen was in the living room of her house, waiting for Camila. Camila was already ready, she had put on the same clothes she wore to school, they were clean and, since she didn't want to go, she didn't bother to look for something better. She went downstairs in search of her coat. When she found it she put it on, buttoning up her jacket.

“Ready? “Carmen asked with a smile.

“I think so," answered Camila. Before they could leave the house, Nicole and the mom appeared in their field of vision. They were smiling, but when they saw Camila dressed in the same clothes their smile faded. 

“Not even a dress? “questioned the mother.

“No," Camila answered, opening the door and leaving. Carmen came after her. Outside the weather was freezing, she was grateful to be warm.

“You're going to Adrien's bar. “Carmen told him, getting into the main seat.

Camila got in the passenger seat.

“Does he have a bar? His own?

“Oh, yes," he answered, starting the car. He has a lot of property, the parents are separated, each one has a huge house. Adrien only lives in an apartment because he wants to, if he wanted to he'd have one of those fancy houses and all.

It looked like Adrien had a lot of money, but that didn't interest Camila, if he did, he must have a lot of girls after him. Super better and very pretty.

“Good for him," she deigned to say. They were halfway through the forest.

But Carmen kept telling him how great Adrien was:

“A couple of years ago, he lived with his father, but then he moved out only when he could support himself and when he started earning his own money. They have a hotel downtown, that's where we'll go, that's also where the nightclub is. Let me tell you, my friend, it's the most popular in the area.

Camila rolled her eyes, it seemed that Carmen was in love with Adrien because she talked about him in an obsessive way.... Obsessive. But she didn't blame her, Adrien was handsome. Very handsome.

“It's okay, Carmen, we don't have to talk all the way about him, do we? “He looked at her, acting normal. And, obviously, hoping she wouldn't be offended.

“Of course," she laughed, "I'm sorry, it's just that Adrien Hoffman is the guy any girl would die to have.

Camila nodded, putting her lips in a single line.

“Too bad that girl hasn't come into his life," she added.

“Doesn't he have a girlfriend? “Camila casually questioned.

“No, well, he does have women who spend the night with him and all that, but no official ones. They're just women for one night and that's it.

Camila raised her eyebrows, obviously he had them. Minutes later they were arriving downtown, at night it didn't look bad at all, it was all lit up and the people and couples in the streets were evident. They arrived at a huge building, she assumed it was Adrien's hotel, Carmen parked in a corner, looking at the parking lot was super full, there was no space at all. They got out, walking and down some stairs to Adrien's bar.

Music started to play, electronic music. The entrance was jammed with people waiting to get through. Camila could notice that there were two guards dressed in black at the entrance.

Adrien's friend Chris was getting out of his car, he didn't have to wait in line or anything, he just entered through the main doors of the hotel and got to the bar. He noticed that the entrance was full, the last people in line were Carmen and Camila. He could recognize her immediately. As he also noticed that today his best friend Adrien put Camila in his car and was driving her home, knowing that his friend didn't do that with any girl. Then he knew she was special. He approached them.

“Good evening, ladies," he greeted.

Camila and Carmen turned to him. Camila recognized him, he was Adrien's friend.

“Hi, Chris," said Carmen.

“What's up, Carmen. “He half smiled and then looked at Camila, "I'm Chris, nice to meet you.

“Camila," she replied.

“You don't have to wait in line, if you want you can come with me to get in at once. “Chris told them.

Carmen smiled from ear to ear.

“Really? That would be great! “she squealed.

Chris smiled.

“What do you say, Camilla? “He looked at her. Are you coming?

Camila nodded, giving him a tight”mouthed smile. They started walking towards the entrance of the hotel, they entered without any problem. They walked down a hallway until they came to a red door, Chris opened it, the music echoing super louder. They had reached the bar. They walked through, being at the top of it, there were several people there, but they only looked fine, however, downstairs were everyone else. Where they were supposed to be.

“There's Adrien. “Chris told them, pointing to a boy sitting in a chair, looking down, and smoking his cigarette. Camila looked at him, he was pensive. He was smoking, while with his other hand he was drinking some kind of liquor.

At night, and with all that lighting, Adrien looked so handsome and cute that Camila couldn't stop her heart from compressing.