OliviaThe distant chirping of crickets seemed to magnify in the silence following Angela's suggestion. A light breeze rustled the leaves, as if whispering secrets of its own. We were all taken aback by her sudden proposition.“You can't be serious,” Nathan said, disbelief clear in his eyes. “You really want to lure my dad and Jen away like that? Aren’t you worried about the potential risks?Angela simply shrugged. “I’m willing to face the consequences if I get caught,” she explained. “I’ll just play it off like I was drunk and acting stupid or something. It’s not like your dad has any reasons for suspicion when it comes to me. He doesn’t know how close I am with Olivia.”“It’s not a bad idea,” I ventured, trying to see Angela’s perspective despite how nervous the thought of it made me. “If they’re busy chasing after a supposed ‘monster’, then maybe they won’t notice us sneaking around.”“I don’t know…” Nathan scratched his head. He looked skeptical, and for good reason.But Angela, s
OliviaThe chilled night air sent a shiver down my spine as we stood at the edge of the forest, gazing at the distant outline of the cabin.The moonlight painted the scene before us in soft silver hues, stirring a mix of fear and nostalgia within me. Angela, Nathan, and I had decided to return to the cabin—the place where so many of my childhood memories with Nathan and Alvin took root.“I can’t believe how long it’s been,” I whispered, more to myself than to the others.The cabin had an aura of old, carefree days when life was simpler, back when our biggest concerns were winning hide and seek or roasting the perfect marshmallow.Nathan broke the long, heavy silence that hung over our heads. “It feels like a lifetime ago, doesn’t it? Days of innocence.”Angela took a deep breath, sensing the weight of the moment. She had never been there to experience any of our childhood memories.“Alright,” she murmured, taking a step forward and giving us one last glance over her shoulder. “I’ll sh
OliviaThe night air whistled past the car as we sped down the road, a harmonious blend of dread and relief knotting my stomach.My fingers tightened around the little wooden box, the secret within serving as a physical reminder of the danger we were in. It was smaller than I had imagined, and it had an ornately carved lid. It looked as though Alvin had purchased it overseas during his time in the military.Its contents, however, were of far more interest to me than its exterior; and its oddly disconcerting lightness filled my stomach with an eerie feeling.I had never thought that I would be holding my friend’s severed hand inside a little wooden box that I had just dug out of the ground.In the dim light of the dashboard, Nathan's face was a mix of concentration and worry.“We’re almost at the meeting spot,” he murmured, his eyes darting to the rearview mirror every so often. “I hope Angela got away.”I nodded, praying along with Nathan that Angela had made it to our rendezvous spot
Olivia“Olivia? Are you telling the truth? You kissed Alvin?”The pain on my childhood friend’s face was evident. I didn’t want to tell him about this memory because I knew how deeply it would cut into his heart, but I was left with no choice. Nathan practically had me cornered in search of an answer that I think he already knew.I nodded slowly. “Yes,” I admitted. “Beneath that oak tree. We were only eight, though. It meant nothing.”Nathan’s icy voice sliced through the air, laced with a bitterness I’d never sensed from him before. “I knew it,” he said, his voice so low it was almost a growl. “I always felt you had lingering feelings for Alvin, and I was right.”“Lingering feelings?” I felt a flash of anger. “That’s not fair, Nathan. We weren’t even ten years old yet! It was just a peck on the lips, something innocent that was only born out of curiosity. You’re making it out to be something that it just… isn’t.”His eyes, usually soft when they looked at me, were hard and cold. “So
OliviaThe night was dark, interrupted only by the glint of my car's headlights.I could feel the rage bubbling inside me, overshadowing my usual caution on the road. The argument with Nathan replayed in my mind, a twisted movie that seemed to deepen my anger with every recall.“Why can’t he just trust me?” I muttered, gripping the steering wheel so tightly that my knuckles were beginning to turn white.The image of Nathan’s eyes, once soft but now cold and distant, haunted me.The hurt was visceral. Tears blurred my vision as I tried to navigate the winding roads leading to the witch’s hut.I didn’t love Alvin. Not like that. And while I was still grappling with the true weight of my feelings for Nathan, I knew that I felt strongly for him, more strongly than I had ever felt for anybody. I just wished that I could convey that to Nathan, and that he would believe me.Just then, as if summoned by my distracted state, a deer darted out in front of the car.Heart pounding, I slammed my f
OliviaThe morning light pierced through the gaps in the blinds, chasing away the remnants of the restless night I had endured. My eyes felt heavy, and my body ached from the tension, but I had a job to do.I needed to retrieve my car so I could take Alvin’s hand to the witch and get it over with.I descended the stairs slowly, hearing Nathan's familiar hum in the kitchen. Drawing a deep breath, I stepped in, seeking his attention.“Nathan?”He paused and looked up, his blue eyes guarded but not quite as icy as they had been the previous night. There was a hint of remorse on his face. “Yeah?”“Last night, my car went into the ditch.”Nathan’s eyes widened. “So that’s why…”I nodded. “Yeah. Your dad happened to drive past right after it happened and offered to give me a ride home. Would you...” I hesitated for a moment, trying to find the right words. “Would you drive me there and help me pull it out?”He regarded me for a few long moments. I wondered if he'd refuse, but then he nodded
OliviaThe witch’s hut was an enigma in and of itself. Nestled amidst thickets of age-old trees, it felt both inviting and ominous. The cracked voice of the old woman and her single, milky eye that peered out from behind her mop of gray hair were equally as ominous.“I’ve been expecting you,” she said.She opened the door a little wider. Casting a nervous glance at one another, Nathan and I stepped inside.The dim lighting cast an ethereal glow, which shimmered against the dense canopy of dried herbs and trinkets hanging overhead.The atmosphere was thick, punctuated by the burning incense and an underlying note of aged wood. The aroma of burning sage and other unknown herbs wafted through the air, slightly dizzying yet rejuvenating all at the same time.Despite its unassuming appearance, the hut emanated a power that was palpable.The witch, a woman with a weathered face, her silver hair braided intricately and adorned with gemstones, looked up from where she stood.Her age was indis
OliviaAlvin’s house loomed before us, the windows devoid of light, casting shadows that seemed to dance with the wind.After parking a little ways down the street, we stood outside for what felt like hours, anticipation and anxiety creating a storm within me.“I really do appreciate you helping me after all,” I whispered. We were crouching in the bushes outside of Alvin’s house, waiting for the single dim light downstairs to shut off, indicating that he had gone to bed. I glanced over at Nathan to see that he was already looking at me. He quickly looked away.“It’s nothing,” he said quietly, although he knew I was lying. “It’s what friends are for.”I swallowed. “When the witch said that it would be difficult for you in particular…”“Witches say lots of things,” Nathan interjected, his face darkening somewhat. “Don’t take everything she says too literally.”I didn’t believe Nathan, but I chose not to pry any further; besides, the light finally flicked off, which meant that we would b
OliviaI gripped the edges of the podium, my knuckles whitening from the strain as I stared out over the sea of faces. All eyes were trained squarely on me, awaiting my words. But I was frozen.A tremor of nausea wormed its way up my throat as I stared out at them. What was I thinking—how could I have ever agreed to this? Speaking to crowds had never been my forte; that was Nathan’s arena, not mine. I was just the woman behind the scenes, the young mom who had never gone to college, the one who had been handed her job by her husband…Suddenly, a flicker of motion off to the side caught my eye—Nathan, standing just at the edge of the stage with his arms folded across his chest. Even from this distance, I could feel the weight of his steady gaze, that piercing Alpha stare that always seemed to see straight into the depths of my soul.He must have sensed my faltering because, slowly, deliberately, he offered me the faintest of smiles and a single, reassuring nod.And just like that, the
Olivia I looped my arm through Nathan’s as we stepped down from the podium, the applause from the crowd and the flashing of cameras having finally subsided after what felt like an eternity. “It’s over,” Nathan beamed, giving my arm a squeeze. “That wasn’t so bad.” I couldn’t help but grin back at him. “No, it wasn’t. You were great up there.” And he really had been great; the press conference had been an overwhelming success—any lingering doubts or trepidation we had harbored before had been utterly blown away by the sheer force of the crowd’s enthusiastic response. For so long, it had felt like we were fighting this battle alone, like the victims who had suffered under Dan’s horrific operation were little more than nameless, faceless casualties. But today, we had finally given them a voice. Their stories had reached the masses, had resonated and struck a chord with everyone who watched. Nathan had handled all of the questions that were thrown his way with poise and ease
OliviaI rapped my knuckles lightly on the door to Nathan’s office. A moment later, his voice called out, “Come in.”Stepping into the room, I placed my hands on my hips upon seeing the scene in front of me: Nathan was standing in front of the mirror, his shirt still untucked and his tie loosened. His desk was a mess of papers and folders, and it was clear that he had been checking over his notes last-minute before the press conference.
OliviaI wiped a bead of sweat from my brow, slowly turning to survey the progress that had been made in the park. The banners we had hung were a bold purple color, signifying our support of the women who had been affected by the trafficking ring.I couldn’t help but smile a bit as I looked at our progress. With the press conference today, followed by a festival to help raise funds for the shelter we were building, the park was bustling with activity as our pack members worked hard
NathanI leaned back in my chair with a weary sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose in a futile attempt to stave off the encroaching headache. Spread out on my desk was an array of file folders, legal pads scrawled with notes, and printed transcripts—a minefield of information that would need to be carefully navigated on the day of the upcoming press conference.It had been two weeks since Dan and Montgomery’s bodies were found in the confinement pit, and it had been a dizzyin
OliviaMy hands shook uncontrollably as I stepped up to the edge of the pit, clutching the metal grating until my knuckles turned white. A thick, cloying stench wafted up from the darkness below—the unmistakable reek of death and decay.Despite the waves of nausea already roiling in my gut, I leaned forward for a closer look.
OliviaThe air coming through the open windows smelled like the fresh sea breeze as we made our way from room to room, touring every nook and cranny of the newly completed cottage. It was perfect—cozy and quaint, while still boasting all the modern amenities one could want. But more than that, it was a sanctuary, a haven.A fresh start.
OliviaThe sound of power tools outside streamed in through the window while I folded the laundry, a distant backdrop to my swirling thoughts. I had grown used to the sound, and actually kind of enjoyed it. It was a reminder that life went on, that our family was growing.It had been a couple of weeks since I had made the decision to take a temporary leave from work in order to really focus on my family—on rebuilding that long-severed bond with my mother—and I was glad I did.
NathanI couldn’t stop the rage from simmering just beneath the surface as I made my way through the darkened forest toward the confinement pit. No one knew I was here—I was coming under the cover of night, my hair and face concealed by a hood.But I had to come. I couldn’t stop thinking about Dan and Montgomery, and I needed to see them.