Chapter 3 Strange Day

• The sky was waking up, still tinted with the soft hues of dawn, when Ellie opened her eyes. A sigh of happiness escaped her lips, as if her body were still absorbing the echoes of the previous night. She got up with unusual lightness, as if the stars from the night before were still floating above her.
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• The kitchen, as always, smelled of coffee. Ellie prepared a simple breakfast: toasted bread, scrambled eggs, and a steaming cup in her hands. She savored her breakfast in silence, but something unsettling fluttered in her chest, like a distant echo.
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• How is he? she thought, a sigh escaping her lips as she remembered the wolf. Bitter Chocolate, she corrected herself mentally, with a slight smile. Last night had been a jumble of strange emotions, of magic and unspoken things. She wondered if he had found his family, if he was okay, or maybe...
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• But time caught up with her quickly. She put on her coat, grabbed her bag, and left the house. The cold air enveloped her, but something at the entrance made her stop. A pile of things rested in front of her door.
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• Her eyes widened, and she blinked several times, processing what was in front of her. The pieces were puzzling. Thick, soft furs that would have been perfect for the cold; a piece of meat wrapped in leaves that looked primitive; and, what confused her the most, a pair of polished stones that gleamed faintly under the sun, as if they had a life of their own.
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• What...? she murmured, approaching cautiously. She crouched down, taking one of the stones with trembling fingers. It was smooth, heavy. Nothing spectacular at first glance, but there was something strange about them. Something that made her feel... watched.
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• She looked around, but there was no one. A chill ran down her spine.
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• "Who would leave this here? And why? "she thought aloud.
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• The feeling of confusion overtook her. She sighed, and after a moment of hesitation, decided to leave the gifts where they were and continue with her day.
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• The village was already in motion when Ellie stepped out, but something in the air felt different. The looks. They weren’t obvious, but they were there. Whispers that quieted when she passed. Quick glances that turned away as soon as she looked at them.
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• Had she done something? What was happening? She felt as though something was watching her, as if her presence were a topic of conversation in every corner.
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• She quickened her pace, trying to ignore the strange feeling. Could someone have seen the wolf? Or had the hunters' taunts spread beyond the forest?
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• But the oddness didn’t end there. Throughout the day, inexplicable things began happening. A vendor gave her too much change, a stranger held the door open for her with excessive kindness. And when she tripped in the street, a hand appeared, catching her before she fell.
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• Ellie couldn’t help but hug herself, a knot forming in her stomach. This isn’t normal.
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• She thanked the person quickly, trying to carry on with her routine, but something in her chest tightened more with every step. What is going on?
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• When she arrived at the restaurant, the small normalcy she had longed for seemed to return. The kitchen was her refuge, the only place where she could put her thoughts on pause. And she did, until lunchtime. There, in her quiet corner under the shade of a tree, she awaited the rest she so desperately needed.
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• But today, something had changed.
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• The sound of heavy footsteps broke the tranquility she had found. Ellie looked up, and the sun was eclipsed by a massive figure standing before her. It was a man, tall, gigantic. His presence was imposing, effortless. His dark hair fell messily over his weathered face, marked with a deep scar on his cheek.
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• He wore a strange outfit, with a peculiar cut, and a fur cloak that seemed more like armor. But what truly caught Ellie’s attention were his eyes. Dark. Intense. As though he were looking at her with more depth than she could understand.
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• Her heart raced, and before she could react, the man spoke.
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• "Are you okay?
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• His voice, though deep, didn’t sound threatening. Something in his tone, in the softness with which he had spoken, confused her even more.
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• "Y-Yes... thank you... why? "Ellie replied, seeking refuge in the question.
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• He didn’t answer immediately. His gaze grew more intense, as though he were evaluating her.
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• Ellie, feeling uncomfortable, tried to look away and stand up quickly. Her instinct told her to leave, but before she could move, he turned his head, his expression changing in a single gesture.
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• "I’ll walk you back.
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• The words came so naturally from his lips that Ellie didn’t know what to think. What? She wanted to refuse, but couldn’t understand why her body wasn’t reacting.
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• "No... it’s fine, really. I’m okay... nothing’s wrong."
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• She tried to smile, but confusion took over her. Why is he saying that? She didn’t know him. She didn’t even know his name.
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• But when she took a step forward, a sound made her stop. Something was following her. A chill ran through her body.
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• "Hey!
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• Before she could react, he gently grabbed her wrist.
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• Her heart skipped a beat. The pressure of his grip wasn’t hard, but it was firm.
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• "Don’t be scared —he said, his voice softer, calmer". It’s not safe around here.
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• Something in those words made her mind cloud over. Not safe? The feeling of not understanding what was happening overtook her. Who was he? Why was he acting as if he knew her?
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• When she tried to speak, he was already guiding her down another path, away from the busier streets. Ellie couldn’t do anything but follow him, as if there was something inevitable about it.
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• When they arrived at the restaurant, he released her with the same gentleness with which he had held her.
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• "I have things to do "he said, watching her with an intensity that bewildered her even more". But we’ll meet again.
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• A chill ran down her spine. Those words sounded like a warning, and Ellie wished she hadn’t heard them.
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• The rest of the afternoon grew even stranger. People began arriving at the restaurant. They weren’t ordinary travelers; their clothes, though simpler, resembled those of that man. They didn’t seem like regular customers. They moved strangely, as though they were waiting for something.
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• The worst part came when Ellie noticed that everyone was ordering food, but... specifically hers. Each one seemed to know her name, her favorite dish.
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• A knot formed in her stomach. What was going on?
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• She watched them cautiously as she distributed the dishes. They ate, spoke in hushed tones, but didn’t leave.
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• One, with a fixed gaze, slowly stirred his spoon in the bowl, while another tilted his head, as though listening to something beyond the noise.
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• And when their eyes met, the feeling was unmistakable. They were staring at her.
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• Ellie swallowed, trying to remain calm. Something inside her told her this wasn’t normal
• , that it wasn’t a coincidence.
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• And as the night wore on, that feeling didn’t disappear.