I was up before my alarm went off. I rubbed my eyes and groaned, getting up. I took a shower and ate cereal. After I was finished, I made sure to clean the rental cabin I had been residing in for many days. My luggage is already placed close to the entrance. I had already settled into a slumped on the couch at 5:40, laying my head on it as I awaited the rental cab driver's call.
My eyes were on the verge of shutting as I yawned. Last night, I had trouble falling asleep, and I frequently found myself waking up in the middle of the night. After that, no matter how I moved around on my bed, it was difficult to fall asleep. I may have slept for only four hours.
When my phone rang, I sprang up abruptly. It was 5:50.
"Hello," I said as I saw the rental car company's phone number on my phone's screen, which I had booked last night.
"I'm here now, Ma'am approaching your area" the driver politely informed me.
"Oh, okay then" I hung up the call. I have checked all the lights and windows. Everything is taken care of.
Shortly after, I heard a car pull in front of the house. I walked towards the door and picked up my bags. My face broke out in a melancholy smile as I took one final look at the cabin, which had been my home for the past few days. Taking a deep breath, I opened the door and stepped outside. After making sure it was locked, I did what the home's owner had directed me to do and hid the key in a flowerpot.
With my bags and suitcase in my hand, I went to the car. The driver helped me put my stuff in the trunk and went into the driver's seat. A little voice in my brain prompted me to turn around as I braced the door of the car and was ready to step inside. And I did. I took in the lodge, the surrounding wilderness, and the still-closed houses. They were probably asleep right now.
The driver's voice jolted me out of my reverie and said, "Let's go, Ma'am?"
I nodded, "Yeah, let's go" and entered the cab.
I didn't turn around to look behind as the car accelerated away. My eyes began to well up with a tear, but I quickly wiped it away while inhaling deeply. It wasn't long until I turned my head to look in the side view mirror and noticed a wooden sign with the large lettering GREVIS TOWN, only then did it truly sink in that I was leaving this town and Traian. I've effectively left Grevis Town and am no longer near Traian or them.
I sucked the lump in my throat. Now is not the time for me to cry. There's no reason for me to cry. This is the best path to take. My eyes wandered outside, where the sun was beautifully rising, illuminating the morning sky, and imparting a yellow color. The sight was illuminated by golden sunspots that softly glistened on the path.
The entire journey was smooth as we proceeded steadily along. Suddenly, my phone vibrated. There was a new message when I opened it, which made me frown. As I received the text from my sister, my frown grew even deeper.
‘We're heading there today. Wait for us’
Due to my mistaken belief that they would come here on Wednesday, I did not inform them of my decision yesterday. But in the end, that was a poor choice. Shaking my head, I called my sister in the hopes that they weren't now on the plane. It’s better to inform them that I was leaving today. The call was answered after three rings.
“Jai!” my sister said in a sweet, enthusiastic tone. “I know you're excited to meet us! We are on our way to the airport right now. Possibly later in the afternoon, we have already arrived”
I felt agony in my chest from her enthusiastic mood. My lips pursed in a straight line. “There is no need to come here. I am leaving today. Just come to my flat, I'll see you there”
“What?! How come you're already leaving? ", Jane gasped in astonishment. “Go back, Jaidyn. It would be best if we met at Grevis Town. Wait, does Traian know this? I don't think he'll—”
I cut her off, “Why is it to be at Grevis Town? How do you know Traian? And why the hell does he need to know if I was leaving or not? Tell me, Jane, why?”
When there was a long pause in the other line, I smiled bemusedly.
“I can't tell you right now, Jaidyn. But I promise to tell you everything once we meet later but please go back to Grevis Town”
"I will not go back there," I hurriedly wiped the tear from my eyes and moistened my suddenly parched lips. “I get why—”
The car abruptly picked up speed beyond what we had been doing earlier, causing me to lurch forward and dropped the phone I was holding
I grumbled, "Shit," and scoured the ground for my phone.
When I couldn't find it, I turned to look at the driver to check if we are not going to make a turn anytime soon so I can search for my phone. But the way the driver glistened with sweat and tensely scanned the rearview made me frown. His hands clutch the driving wheel firmly as his shoulders stiffen. He was tense. My heart pounded against my chest.
"Is something wrong?" I nervously asked.
“In an area like this, wolves are prevalent, Ma'am, and I just spotted five of them rushing after us," the driver stated, looking at me through the rearview mirror.
At his words, my heart sank and a sinking feeling of dread swept through me. My heart lurched. My forehead and back start to get cold sweats. I turned to look behind us.
Is it Traian? Or the folks of Grevis Town? But the unsettling feeling in my stomach worsened as the warning of Adam rang in my ears.
And as if on cue, I saw the five wolves that were larger than average ones, running after the car with the large gray wolf in the front. Its gold eyes zeroed in on me as if it could see me despite the distance between us. And when I first saw those eyes, the image of someone instantly came to my mind.
"Lara" I gasped stunned and noticed that the distance between me and the wolves had lessened.