Chapter 5

• To be honest, I had never thought about death before. All I believed was that I would grow old and die next to the person I love. But it seems that death is right in front of me. The huge wolf growls with hatred, as if it has me. Behind him, three more wolves appear. Desperation, fear, terror invade me. I will die, it's obvious, and I will be torn apart by four wolves. There is no worse way to die than this. I am still sitting on the ground, cornered.
• My breathing quickens and I feel like I'm running out of air.
• "Please, no..." I murmured, as if that wolf would listen to me. He approaches me with determination until he is in front of me. His eyes are black, very black, and I could swear I've seen them before. But where?
• The three wolves behind also approach growling. Maybe I should find something to defend myself, a branch, something... I can't make it easy for them.
• The wolf in front of me walks, circling me. I searched for something on the ground with my hand, a stake or something, and I find it. I grip it tightly to me to be ready. I don't even know the way back.
• He positions himself in front of me again. I crawl away from him, which only angers him more and he growls louder. I stop, now he is determined to do something to me.
• Strength, Caro, you can do it, you just have to stab him with the stake and run. I listen to my mind and, as soon as the wolf approaches, I stab him in the shoulder and run away. I could hear him lamenting and the other wolves howling behind. Surely calling for more wolves or lamenting for their friend.
• I ran, ran, and ran. I don't know where I am, my feet hurt and I'm getting tired, I don't hear anything following me so I stop to catch my breath, there is silence around me, only my exhausted breathing is heard.
• "Help..." I mumble, knowing that no one will hear.
• Suddenly, footsteps behind me put me on alert, I turn around to find one of the wolves standing in front of me, but this one is not coming to do the same as the other, he ran determined to throw himself at me but, as he jumped, another black and much larger wolf pushed him forcefully. The other wolf cried out in pain and stood up. The black wolf positioned himself in front of me as a shield, growling at him.
• The other wolf gave me one last look and left. Okay, one less, now I just have to find a way to escape from this one. The wolf turns around to look at me.
• I can't believe they are fighting over me, they all want to eat me. I must not taste good.
• "Please..." I pleaded. Maybe he will understand me, maybe he will see my terrified look and let me go. Maybe he's not a carnivorous wolf, maybe he's a vegetarian.
• What crazy things I say.
• The wolf approaches me, to my face, and wipes away a solitary tear running down my cheek. He's savoring me, I know it. I hope I smell bad so he won't want to eat me.
• I looked into his eyes... They are black, but they don't provoke fear in me like the other wolf, no, this one gives me a sense of being protected. I think.
• "Let me go," I whispered.
• My heart is racing, my breathing is shallow, and tears threaten to fall. The wolf turns around and walks away. Relief washes over me. Not entirely, I have to get out of this forest. Before turning around, the wolf looks back at me and nods his head, as if he wants me to follow him.
• Obviously I won't, I don't know if he will take me to his favorite place to kill me or take me to his wolf friends to share me or... The wolf growls again and makes the same gesture with his head.
• "Alright..." I murmured, walking cautiously towards him and standing beside him.
• We start walking, everything is silent. I admit I am scared to death and super nervous, there is not a moment when I don't look at the wolf, at any moment he could pounce on me. But for some reason he hasn't, however, this wolf gives me security... Peace. I feel calm being with him.
• Maybe he is my guardian.
• We walked several kilometers until we arrived in front of my house. What a relief. But I still can't breathe easy knowing that I have a wolf beside me... Maybe he gave me a chance to say goodbye to my things, to my mom, before mercilessly killing me.
• I walked cautiously to the porch of the house and turned to see the huge wolf looking at me with... sadness? Maybe he felt sorry for me and that's why he lets me live. He turns around and starts walking towards the darkness of the forest.
• "Thank you..." I whispered, knowing he wouldn't hear. Somehow I have to thank him for saving me and letting me live.
• When he is far enough away, I hear him howl. A howl that reached my heart. As if he wanted to tell me something with that. I stood there, watching where he went until I remembered that there are wolves wanting to kill me and I entered the house, locking the door. I closed the windows and back doors. I went up to my room and stayed there, sitting on my bed, waiting for my mom.
• I heard an annoying noise, I tossed and turned in my bed and buried my face in the pillow to avoid hearing it, but it's not enough.
• The damn noise comes from my alarm so I opened my eyes slowly and the sunlight invaded me.
• Is it already morning? I fell asleep all night. At least I am more calm now for everything that happened yesterday. I wrinkled my face remembering that it's Friday and I have to go to school. I walked to the bathroom, took off my clothes and let the water run over my body, but I let out a muffled scream when I felt it was super cold.
• "It's freezing..." I murmured.
• The pipe where the hot water passes must have been damaged. I grabbed the soap and ran it over my body and then put shampoo in my hair. I gave myself gentle massages and then rinsed off. I covered my body with a towel and left the bathroom.
• I searched my closet for something comfortable to wear, chose some jeans, a short shirt that showed my belly button, and cotton boots that reached almost to my knees. I grabbed my coat that reached below my thighs and put it on. I brushed my hair leaving it loose, lined my eyes, and finally put on lip gloss.
• I was ready. I grabbed my backpack and then went downstairs to have breakfast.
• There was no one in the kitchen, then I heard footsteps behind me.
• "Carolina, are you ready?" Mom approached, sleepy.
• I sat in the chair and rested my elbows on the table.
• "No, this is how I always wake up," I replied sarcastically.
• Mom rolled her eyes and I laughed. She doesn't like my sarcastic way, but sometimes they ask questions that are not relevant.
• "Aren't you going to work?" I asked, noticing that she was still in her bathrobe.
• "Yes, but I go in the afternoon. I came home very late yesterday, so they gave me the morning off today."
• I nodded.
• Mom gave me my cup of coffee along with my toast. She sat next to me and started to eat. I took a sip of coffee.
• "By the way, I met one of the neighbors yesterday," she said, looking at me.
• I almost choked on my coffee.
• "Neighbor? Who?"
• I just hope it's not Kayler.
• "I think his name is Kayler," she replied. "Nice guy."
• I raised an eyebrow at the last thing she said.
• If only she knew he's an idiot, arrogant, womanizer.
• "Yeah, sure," I whispered.
• She gave me a questioning look.
• "Do you already know him?" she inquired.
• I shook my head, downplaying it.
• "Somewhat."
• I don't need to know him much to realize the kind of person he is. I hate that he's my neighbor, I would have preferred Paige as a neighbor, I just hope not to run into him today. Arrogant.
• "Last night he helped me with the car. If it weren't for him, I would have walked here, the car broke down halfway, luckily he was passing by and he revived it," she said with a relieved expression.
• I furrowed my brow as much as I could. Is that Kayler? Really? Because I don't think so. And what was he doing so late on those lonely roads? That boy is really strange.
• "Well... Lucky, right?" I lied. I don't want my mom and him to have to see each other. And I will try my best not to get close to him.
• Kayler means trouble and that's something I don't want to have.
• "Yes, in fact, he offered to take you to school today."
• I spat out the coffee I had just sipped, and it landed on my mom's face.
• I opened my mouth, amused.
• "I'm sorry..." I covered my mouth, trying not to laugh.
• She glared at me.
• "Carolina!" she scolded. "Look what you did."
• She grabbed a cloth and wiped her face.
• "Tell me you didn't accept..." I asked, referring to Kayler's offer.
• She thought about it for a moment.
• "Yes, I accepted," she whispered. "Look, he's arriving."
• She looked out the window. And then the sound of a car warned me that, indeed, Kayler had arrived.
• This day won't be nice either.
• "Mom!" I groaned.
• I can't believe I said yes to stupid Kayler to give me a ride to school. I honestly can't believe it. She just shrugged and went to open the door. I just stood there with my arms crossed. The front door opened, revealing a smiling Kayler, as always, with his airs of grandeur.
• "Kayler, dear, come in," my mom said. I gave my mom a dirty look when she called him "dear." Oh, God.
• "Good morning, Mrs.," he smiled.
• He was wearing black jeans, a t-shirt that fit his body very well, and a black leather jacket. His hair was, as always, messy, making him look sexier than usual. How could he be so good-looking.
• "I'm not going to school with him," I replied, not taking my eyes off Kayler.
• He just looked at me playfully and winked.
• "Come on, Carolina, you don't want to walk, do you?" he questioned. "We don't know what kind of animals are in the forest. Besides, I feel safer if you go with Kaylersito."
• I almost laughed at "Kaylersito." Kayler was the same. And yes, if there are animals... And wild ones to be exact. To think that last night I was about to die, but thanks to that wolf that took pity on my poor life, I am alive. Although, to be honest, I wouldn't want to see him again.
• I thought about it for a moment. If I arrive at school with Kayler, all eyes will be on us, and, to be honest, I don't like to attract attention. And I can't imagine how Paige will react if she sees us arriving together. I don't want more problems. But I also don't want to go alone, maybe I'll ask him to drop me off a little before we get to school. Yes, I think that will help.
• The two people in front of me are waiting for my answer.
• "Fine."
• Mom smiled and Kayler did too.