Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Evelyn

I was curled up behind the front door, silently trembling and gripping my arms tightly around myself. My breathing was shallow, my thoughts a buzzing mess. If my father didn’t come home, what would I do? Who would I call? Who, if anyone, would believe me? Deep down, I knew no one would come running to my aid, and the fear of this knowledge was all-consuming.

The hours dragged on, and exhaustion took over. I attempted to stay awake, but sleep inevitably overcame me. It had been a tiring day. As I drifted off, my subconscious heard the sound of footsteps echoing in my mind. For a moment, a glimmer of hope rooted inside of me. The front door opened with a loud creak and then slammed shut. A figure emerged from the shadows and into the dim light of the hallway.

I must have passed out from exhaustion the night before, because when I woke up it was already morning. I opened my eyes to a strange room I had never seen before and, judging by the dust that had settled on the wooden floor, no one had been in that room for quite some time. The white paint on the walls was almost nonexistent and there was a large mirror in one corner.

Where am I? What happened yesterday?

I flung myself off the bed, suddenly alert and confused how I had ended up there. What had happened last night? I shook my head and quickly got my feet moving. Immediately a wave of dizziness takes over. I steadied myself and gave the room a quick glance before I hurriedly ran outside the room into the hallway.

I sprinted down the stairs, my heart pounding with anticipation as I reached the kitchen. There he was my father. He was standing at the stove, preparing scrambled eggs and bacon without a care in the world. He was whistling the melody of an old country song and had put an old apron on. Except for that, he was wearing the same old jeans and flannel shirt, making him look right at home in the cabin. His carefree demeanor told me he thought yesterday wasn’t a big deal at all. For me, however, yesterday was different.

"Dad!" I ran towards him and hugged him as dearly as I could. He smelled of old pine and forest with a hint of earth.

"What happened to you? Are you okay?" I asked, pulling back to take a better look at him. He looked fine, with no scratches or injuries as far as I could see.

"Yes, I'm fine, honey. Let’s have some breakfast, and I will tell you all about it," he replied, grinning as he flipped the bacon in the pan. I settled into a chair at the kitchen table and watched him, feeling a newfound sense of comfort as I did so. He talked about the fond memories he had of this place, as well as the cottage and his parents. I occasionally nodded or adding a comment of my own. My father had a way with words that made his stories come alive- like you are a part of it yourself.

And then, without warning, he shifted the conversation. He began slowly, and then suddenly changed his tune, ripping off the metaphorical bandage with his words.

“What?” I couldn’t believe what my father was telling me. A pack of wolves he will track has somehow migrated to our cabin. It sounds surreal, but I know nothing about wolves and their migrations patterns. My father's face was serious, and his eyes were wide with determination. "There's a pack of wolves migrating around the cabin," he said anxiously. “We must get them away as quickly as possible. I don’t want you under any circumstances to walk around the cottage without me, for the moment.”

My jaw dropped as I gaped at what he was telling me. I thought there was just a single wolf, the black one we spotted a day ago. That he drove away. But hundreds of wolves in a pack gathered here? It sounded like some horror story, but my father's tone was undeniably serious.

“So, what happened yesterday?” Why did they come here, outside our house? It makes little sense. “And how come there was only one yesterday and not hundreds?”

“The wolf was probably scouting the area. Sometimes they need to be reminded that they have migrated too far. And that is what I did yesterday.”

“And how do you do that?” I’m so confused.

“You force them to leave. I was chasing them off yesterday evening,” I suppress a laugh. It sounds delusional; how do you chase a wolf pack off?

I looked at the man, disbelieving. How had he chased them off?

It sounds insane, but I guess he knows what he’s talking about. He has no injuries from last night and is cheerful and pleased, like always.

I peered out the window of our cabin, thankful for the peaceful silence that had descended upon the forest this morning. Chirping birds and the gentle swaying of the trees in the wind replaced the imaginary howls of the wolves. It looked safe enough for us to venture out, at least for a walk.

My mind had been racing ever since we'd arrived here, and the thought of being able to breathe in the fresh air simply was immensely appealing. The last day of traveling by car and yesterday’s event made my body full of energy and adrenaline. I turn away from the window, barely suppressing a smile as I imagined what it would feel like to wander around this serene place.

But we had other things to do first. I glanced around the kitchen, shaking my head. This place was a dump. We needed to fix this cabin up before my mum and sister arrived. It would take some hard work and dedication, but we could get it done.

“Let’s spend the morning cleaning, then head out for a stroll in the area,” I suggested to the man who had claimed to chase away wolves last night.

We worked together all morning, scrubbing surfaces and wiping down dishes. It looked like a different place by the end of our efforts - it was much cleaner and more inviting now. At one point, I had to duck below the counter and grab a tray of glasses that had been left there since when? I couldn’t tell. As far as I was told, no one had lived here sense my dad and mum moved away.

Once we finished, we ventured outside the log cabin to take in the beauty of the early morning. Rays of sunlight glimmered on the lake. The air was still and silent, with a profound sense of peace and tranquility. The birdsong filled the morning sky, and an overwhelming sense of contentment fills me. At last, I was home. This old cottage, situated in a sprawling woodland, with the occasional howling of wolves giving off its presence, was where my heart belonged.

It was strange.

Despite never having been here before, my heart knew where it belonged. It was an odd sensation.

I hadn't felt peace like this in a long time and as I drew near to the body of water; I understood why. For the first time in a while, my mind was clear of Eric and Carrie. It had crossed my mind, but it wasn't like the usual feeling of heaviness that it brought. They had likely by now realized I had left, and a part of me wanted to savor their surprise.

I brought my attention back to the lake when I noticed the sun's reflection dancing across the surface. An inexplicable sense of unity with nature filled me, like I was part of something much bigger than myself. As I watched the sun's rays, I appreciated the beauty of the moment.

After a few moments, the pull of the world I had left behind, reminds me, but this time it wasn't guilt or sadness that tugged at me. It was excitement, a sudden urge to keep going, to continue my journey. This place had given me something I didn't even know I was missing: a sense of peace.

I knew that a part of me would always stay here, in this quiet lake, and I smiled in appreciation of this place.

My dad’s phone rang, breaking the peaceful silence of the lake. My dad stood up and walked away from me, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I looked at the lake and a wave of happiness washes over me. I was grateful and content, having been blessed with a wonderful family.

As my dad walked back towards me, the look on his face was one of puzzlement. He showed me the phone and said, “That was Sheriff Baldwin. Eric has filed a missing person’s report, and he’s looking for you. Do you want to tell me what happened?” He didn't appear enraged or anxious, but I could still sense his feelings hidden behind his eyes. Since coming to Bluehills, I had an awareness of being reawakened, like someone had lifted a fog out of my life that I hadn't realized was there before.

I looked into my dad’s eyes, trying to read his thoughts. Fear made me unsure of what to say. I hesitated; my mouth is open, but no sounds come out. I had to tell him the truth, but I was afraid of his reaction. He had always been so protective of me, and I didn’t want to disappoint him. Finally, I took a deep breath and told him everything that had happened. About all the heartbreak and betrayal.

My dad listened intently as I told him everything that had happened with Eric and what I had done to avoid the situation. His face was unreadable, but his body language showed he was furious.

When I had finished, he paused for a moment before speaking. “I understand why you did what you did,” he whispered. “And I’m proud of you for doing the right thing by trying to stay away from someone who is obviously not good for you. But you should have come to me if things got too much. We could have figured something out together.”

He embraced me and held me close for a few moments before pulling away and looking me in the eye again. “You can always come and talk to me, honey; maybe I can fix it. Or give you some advice. You never told Eric we left?”

“No. I didn’t think he was worthy of knowing.”

“No, of course he isn’t Evelyn. But I’m you father and I will deal with anyone who harms you. Remember that. That punk better pray we don’t cross paths again.”

He inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly, trying to calm himself. “It pains me you didn’t come to me. I know I’ve been distant lately, but there’s a reason for that: the situation with your sister has really taken a toll on us. I promise to be more involved from now on. That’s why we moved: to start fresh and find something we can wrap our arms around.”

When I woke up the next morning, it surprised me by how quickly my father was moving forward. My father's announcement about the college came as a surprise. I had been expecting that he'd make some plans for us over the weekend, but nothing this sudden and drastic. He had decided that I should enroll in college for the summer semester to take some courses. It was a sound decision, but the prospect of having to navigate the unfamiliar terrain of a new town filled me with dread.

I was still apprehensive. I was trying my best to take in the peculiar situation I found myself in–the dilapidated cottage I stayed in, the pain that still lingered, but also a growing sense of peace. Much to my astonishment, I quickly grew comfortable at Bluehills. My dad had convinced me I had nothing to fear from the wolf pack and that it was time for me to start a new life in the town of Bluehills.

When I asked him what had changed since the day before, he said he had been thinking about it for a while and had made up his mind. Still, I felt a mixture of emotions–fear, curiosity, and a vague hope that something would come out of it. The thought of having to socialize made me cringe. All faith in humans left me the day I found out about Eric and Carrie’s betrayal. All social media was erased, and my number was replaced. I would not give them closure or explain why I left. I had no intention of confronting them either. Ghosting them was the harsher punishment they deserved. After all, they had no conscience, and I saw no point in attempting to confront them.

So, I set out to build a new life away from them. My energy was shifting, my senses on high alert. Something was coming, and I wanted to be ready for it. I had faith that I'd find something eventually, something that would make me happy, something that would rebuild my confidence in people and life.

“I’ll give you a ride to school, Evelyn, and pick you up a couple of hours later,” my dad told me.

I wanted to be independent, so I figured I needed to find a car if I was going to stay in school here for a while. My dad was always busy, and so I didn't want to be too much of a burden on him. I’ll give it a few days before searching for something suitable. The college and high school were all in the same building, which was just a 30-minute drive away. The town of Bluehills was typical of small towns—a few stores, a city hall, and the other necessities. Most of the residents lived outside the town in small or large groups, my dad said. Everyone here knew each other…except for me.

The sun had just risen, but already the morning was becoming hot. I hopped into the car, dressed in a pair of tight-fitting jeans and a white tank top, my blonde hair loose around my shoulders. I grabbed the folder that held my registration forms and prepared myself for the day. I was going to register and do some research at the library.

As I got in the car, my dad looked puzzled. He stroked his beard and leaned against the driver's seat. He turned on the engine of the car and drove forward, heading towards the school. The radio was turned low, and the air was filled with the scent of forest, earth, and nature. He fiddled with the radio before voicing his concerns.

“Keep your distance from those Mountains, boys. They are not good. Maybe you could join some sports team or something? You were always an excellent runner. Perhaps the track team?”

“I’ll think about it,” but I had no such intentions. I desired to stay out of the spotlight, staying away from others. I had no confidence that I could build relationships or even act amicable towards people I just met.

 Instead, I take it step by step, making sure the people I came across were dependable. The wilderness was far away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. I had a newfound sense of freedom, and I would not give it up without a fight. I would, however, try if the situation arose, but I wasn’t planning on looking for friends.

I hadn't taken two steps out of our car before I noticed them. The guys I was supposed to stay away from. They spotted me too and fixed their glares on me. They all were wearing hoodies, and I could barely make out their faces underneath the shadows of their hoods.

I took a deep breath and steeled myself for whatever was going to happen next. I didn't want to look, but something inside of me urged me to give them another glance. When I looked at them, their expressions were determined and unwavering, as if they were challenging me to take action.

Their reaction was confusing. I hadn’t really done anything to piss them off, but the aura they were sending towards me was not friendly.

I glanced away quickly, but it was too late. I had seen enough. They had seen me, too. Something cold settles deep inside of me, like a deep-seated fear that had been festering beneath the surface for years.

But was it really fear? Or was it fear of being noticed?

So, I meekly kept my head down and shuffled towards the college's main entrance. If I made it through this encounter without turning back, I could make it through anything. The taste of determination coated my tongue as I walked, my steps sure and deliberate, a way of showing the hoodie guys that they did not intimidate me.

I am more flattered than uncomfortable by their attention. Five somber men followed my movements, never taking their eyes off me. Like I was important or something.

My heart beats wildly in anticipation as I approached the entrance of the college, a physical reminder of the stakes of this challenge.