Shock

Willow

The wind stings my eyes as I pace back and forth between the towering trees.

Liam should be here already. I have never spent more than ten minutes in this forest without him magically appearing, but tonight, it has been an hour.

I stop in my tracks at the sound of cheers and clapping. My heart starts beating at 500 beats per minute, warning me that I have moved too far into the forest and no one would find me if something happened to me.

My curiosity gets the better of me, and I let my ears guide me to the source of the noise. I take small, careful steps, while praying that it’s not a cult and I might have arrived at a time when they need a human to sacrifice.

As the cheers get louder. I find myself staring at the beauty of the garden, decorated in lights, flowers and mostly white linen.

My gaze averts from the crowd to the makeshift altar where the happy couple is kissing. The groom holds the bride’s hand, and they face the crowd with their beaming faces.

My eyes widen, my head feeling dizzy. I blink, hoping to wake up from this nightmare, but every time I open my eyes, I discover that I’m still in the dark and Cursed Forest, dimly lit by the crescent moonlight.

“Liam?” I whisper, and his head darts in my direction within a second, as if I screamed his name. Did I scream and not hear myself? I try to get my legs to cooperate with me, to run, but all I manage is a gasp.

My eyes focus on Liam, who is glaring at me, his pupils dilated and his eyes dark. I feel my stomach churn. This time, it is the opposite of butterflies that I usually feel for him. I turn to run, but within a few feet, I bump into a gigantic wolf with black fur.

“Good doggie,” I say in a trembling voice.

The wolf utters a low growl.

“Good wol...”

The wolf growls louder, and my instincts choose flight. After running for what feels like a marathon, I wince, the pain in my chest prompting me to stop. I decide that this is my fate, this is when I die. I close my eyes, and the wolf passes me at the speed of lightning.

My body stiffens, and I slowly turn my head around, my heart racing. There is nothing except the trees surrounding the forest, but Liam suddenly shows up next to me. His glare feels more threatening than the wolf’s growl. I look at him for any sign of affection in his eyes, but all I see is rage.

“Liam, bbbbbabe...” My voice trembles.

He doesn’t say a word, and instead, he is still glaring as if he is somehow possessed. Oh My God! The Carkeek Park might be really cursed. I turn back around, and I run from him. I hear the rustling of leaves, indicating that he is chasing me.

I try to pick up the pace, but I trip over a rock and fall with my palms touching the ground first. I sit on the ground, giving up my life for the second time tonight.

“Willow, what are you doing here?” he puts his hands in his pockets, as if it is a normal night and we are having a normal conversation.

“What do you mean? We always come here. I w...I wanted to surprise you. I have just arrived.” My heart beats faster as I try to stop my heavy breathing.

“What did you see?” His voice is cold and threatening.

“Nothing.” I vigorously shake my head.

“What did you see, Willow?”

“Literally nothing.”

“Really? Why were you running away then?” He asks in an icy tone.

“I was running away from the large wolf, but then I think it saw you, so it ran away and disappeared.”

“How did it look?”

I feel anger building up within me. “Why are you more concerned about how a wolf looks than asking if I’m okay?”

He grinds his teeth and glares at me again.

“It was huge with very dark fur,” I roll my eyes.

“Are you sure?”

I nod.

“Are you really sure?” He sniffs, his eyes studying the ground, and then he eyes me suspiciously.

“Why are you sniffing like a dog?”

“What did you just say to me?” he snarls.

“I’m sorry, it was a joke. Why are you so touchy tonight?”

“It was a bad joke!” he growls.

“What were you doing there? Are you married to Lucy?”

“You said you saw nothing!”

“I watched you kiss a woman who hates me!” I snap.

“I’m going to do what I should’ve done ages ago. You won’t feel the effects of it, anyway.”

“What are you talking about?” I feel the fear returning. I won’t feel the effects? Is he going to kill me? I take a few steps back, but he remains on the spot.

He takes a deep breath and closes his eyes. “Willow Gordon, I rej...”

Liam suddenly gets knocked to the ground. He gets up and growls at the wolf, and it growls back.

They growl at each other for about what seems like forever. Seemingly in a huge argument. I keep looking back at where Liam came from, wondering if the crowd is waiting for him and if I should make a run for it already.

“Is it a pet?” I glance at Liam.

The wolf snarls at me, and Liam laughs like I have just cracked the funniest joke on Earth.

“Yes, isn’t it cute?” He asks between laughs.

“It is. Can he visit me sometime?”

“You can play with him anytime.”

The wolf growls again, and I find myself laughing, despite the situation.

“I like its sense of humour. You taught it well.”

“I have a specialty in animal communication.” He smirks.

The wolf shakes its head, and I wonder if what I saw is real or whether I imagined it.

“Baby, you have to go. It’s not safe here.”

“I’m not your baby,” I glare at him. “Are you really married to Lucy?”

“Willow, you have to leave. I will talk to you later.” He glances at the place where I had just witnessed the marriage ceremony.

“I thought we were soul mates,” I sigh, trying to keep my voice steady.

“We are, babe.”

The giant wolf growls.

“Willow is my girl, not yours.” He says to the wolf. “Just leave, Willow.”

I walk away, with the wind blowing my hair around my face, making me angrier. I call a cab when I get to the edge of the forest.

My phone rings as soon as I’m seated in the cab, and I smile when I see my older brother’s name flashing on my screen.

“Marcel, it has been only seven hours since I left home. Do you miss me already?” I try to sound cheerful.

“Your brother and I are in an ambulance, and I don’t know what to do. He asked me to call you, but he passed out again,” my mom says on the other end of the line.

My heart drops into my stomach, “I’ll be right there, Mom, hang in there.”

I search the Internet for the next flight to Minnesota, and I book a plane that will be leaving in three hours. Damn! It’s ten, and I will be at the hospital tomorrow at five in the morning.

“Please wait here while I get my bag. I will pay extra.” I say to the cab driver.

He nods, and I run to my room. I take my backpack and I pack essential needs.

When I open the door, I come face to face with Professor Brown’s towering figure, his knuckles raised as if he were about to knock. His black hair is unkempt, and as usual, his probably permanent scowl doesn’t leave his face.

What is the man that I hate the most on campus doing here?

“Can I help you?” I mimic his frown.