Chapter 3: Ethan’s Dilemma

Lila’s POV 

The shadows flickered and danced among the trees, their presence ill-intent threatening to thicken into a tangible aura. Ethan stood in front of me, tense and alert as if he might leap to the left or right at any second. I felt my heart beating in my chest, adrenaline pumping through all of me as we watched the strange movements in the forest. 

There was something about Ethan that both intrigued and frightened me. The way he had tamed the wolf so effortlessly, his eyes briefly changing to that unnatural gold—it was as if he wasn't completely human.

But he as looked at me, and for some reason I feel safe standing here with him right now.

“Follow me,” he murmured, his voice resonating deep and thus commanding. That was the third time he said it, and I couldn't help but spark a little bit of nerve still hearing that overly protective tone in his voice. I was no damsel in distress, but I knew for sure not to argue with someone who clearly knew more about what we were facing than I did. 

“What do you think it is?” My voice barely above a whisper, I asked. The shadows halted in their motion and the forest fell quiet, as if all of its existence was trying to hide and protect itself.

"I don't know" Ethan answered without looking away from the trees. “But it's not friendly, whatever the hell that is"

We stood there while our spines frozen over. As tense as it could be, I felt my heart beginning to race. And then, without any warning at all, the shadows burst into motion once more. Ethan took hold of my hand and pulled me back to the clinic before I even had a chance to respond.

“Run!” he shouted, And then we ran across the clearing and a cold wind stung my face as I followed him.

I felt the thing behind me closing down, a dark oppressive shape that surrounded us tighter and tighter as we raced to get inside of the clinic.

We flung open the door, and Ethan shut it back behind us with a bolt. Breath filled my lungs as I tried to catch my breath. 

“Are you okay?” Ethan asked, his voice filled with concern.

I nodded but my lips were so tense that in the pit of every word I felt like there was liquid adrenaline. “What was that?”

“Hard to say,” he answered in a somber tone. “but it looked dangerous, and it after us" 

I turned my head to the unconscious wolf on the tray. Somehow this thing was connected to everything odd in Silverwood. And weirdly, I also felt related to everything.

Ethan presence beside me was both comforting and confusing . There was that gravitational force or whatever you call it, I could feel a pull towards him, something in me telling me “yes right here” I felt as though my essence were attracted to him, I couldn't describe this in more detail. It was more than just the circumstances, it made me feel both safe and unsettled at the same time. 

“Lila,” Ethan started, evenly and cautiously "Have you ever felt like there's Something different about you? Something you can't explain?"

His question caught me so off guard and I kind of frowned, trying to figure out what he was getting at “What do you mean?”

"Do you feel out of place sometimes, as if there is more to your existence than what you have been told"

I paused and was not certain how to answer. “Sometimes,” I admitted. “Especially lately with all those weird things happening in the woods and everything getting sick. I sense a relationship with it, but don't know how or why"

Ethan expression darkened, and I could see the concern in his face. "We need to figure this out", he said calmly. " There’s more going on here than we realize, and I think you're at the center of it". 

I watched him in silence, my mind racing. “What are you saying, Ethan?”

"I am saying that we need to stick together,". he said to me as his eyes looked at me making my heart skip a beat. "Whatever is happening, we'll face it together". 

I nodded, feeling safe just having him by my side “Okay. What’s our next move?”

“First up, let find out more about this wolf,” Ethan said, looking to the body on a table. “While also not losing sight of the woods.Those shadows aren't going to magically disappear."

For the rest of the day we performed tests on the wolf and kept eyes on the forest, ready for anything to come. But slowly, I found myself seeing ethan as someone o can rely on and no longer a stranger or an intruder and much more. There was something about him that soothe me, although my brain chanted questions of who is he really was and why was he constantly in my mind. 

With the sunset, casting long shadows in clinic everything was turning into tension. There was something he wasnt telling me, like he was holding back something important from me. Even though I wanted to press him for answers, it was clear he had wrestled with this as well.

"Lila" he said, suddenly serious.

Then I glanced up from the microscope, intrigued. “What is it?”

Ethan was about to answer but the door of my clinic swung open and a large presence stepped inside. Then I noticed the expression Ethan wore— one of recognition and dread. 

“Hello, Ethan,” the man oozed menacingly. “Fancy meeting you here.”

Ethan stepped forward to put his body between me and the stranger, muscles tight as he prepared himself. “What do you want, Dominic?”

But as he took a step closer, Dominic's eyes shone with something dark and dangerous. "I have come to see what all the fuss is about. heard you have quite the unique wolf. I want to personally see it"

“Dominic, this is not your territory,” Ethan snarled out the words low and grumbling. "Get the hell out of here while you still can" Ethan threatened ready for a fight. 

A cold, hollow laugh of his sent a shiver down my spine. "You are such a good guy, Ethan. Always playing the hero but you can't protect everyone" 

His eyes exploded into a bright, unnatural red as I had no time to react before darkness crashed over me. Just when I thought it could do no more damage my head erupted with such an intensity of searing agony that I clutched at my temples, biting into myself to stop from crying out.

Ethan snarled, his own eyes glowing with the same strange golden light I had seen before. "Get out, Dominic or I will make you". 

Dominic smirked, stepping away from him. “This isn’t over, Blackwood. Not by a long shot.”

With that, he exited the room leaving silence echoing in the clinic. My head was killing me and I gasped for air as though only the act of breathing would calm it down while simultaneously trying to comprehend what happened.

“Are you okay?” Ethan asked, his voice filled with concern as he rushed to my side. 

Weakly, I nodded my head still shaken. “What was that?”

 “Dominic.” Ethan said bitterly, his jaw tightened in anger as he mentioned the name “He’s dangerous. You need to be careful.”

I glanced up at him, the dread and determination warring inside me. “I will be. Fuck, we have to stop him Ethan. We cannot let him do this to anyone else" 

Ethan steeled himself with a nod. “We will, Lila. I promise.”

When evening turn to night, I knew that the worst was yet to come. Ethan watched over me as I worked, which was reassuring but also slightly disturbing; he clearly had his own demons to wrestle. Whatever was happening in Silverwood, it was far from over and I had a sinking feeling that I was at the heart of its all.  

After the clinic had closed for the night and small town streets grew silent, I decided to head home later that evening. I had been exhausted with everything that went on during the day but I wanted to be ready for what was coming next. Ethan offered to walk me home but I insisted that I would be fine. 

"It's all right, Ethan," I replied with an exhausted smile. "You have done enough for me today". 

He paused, obviously not thrilled about leaving me alone but finally agreed. “Alright. But be careful.”

I nodded, thanking him again before stepping out into the cool night air. 

Most nights, or days on my walks home it usually quiet and peaceful but tonight every shadow screamed a predator was near and rustling leaves warning of danger. It felt like someone was watching me. 

My nervous hands twisted the key as I approached my front door. I glanced over my shoulder, half-expecting to see something or someone?—lurking in the darkness. However, the road was empty only a whispering noise of wind from the trees.

I finally managed to open door and stepped inside, letting out a sigh of relief. 

However right when I was about to shut the door behind me, something caught my eyes. Those glowing red eyes watched me from the darkness, basking in the dim light of the streetlamp.

My heart jumped to my throat as I slammed the door close and bolted it quickly whilst leaning onto it, shaking with adrenaline. Who was watching me? And what did they want?

I stood there, the fear being replaced by a slowly blossoming resolve as I began to realize but one thing for certain—it was still not safe outside and all this danger had just begun.