Chapter 1
“But watch out if you haven’t learned that tame wolves are the most dangerous of all…”
- Little Red Riding Hood
Running, I am almost out of breath. I can’t see anything around me due to the darkness and the fog that descended in just minutes. When I had gone to the car for only a moment to look for my phone, Ethan was very much alive and breathing. I had misplaced my phone somewhere, and I couldn’t find it. For some reason, I thought I heard its faint ringing outside. When I walked back to the cabin, I didn’t think twice when I saw the bloodbath that waited for me. My boyfriend, well what was left of his body, painted the walls and the floor a bright red.
Snap. I hear the crunching of twigs and the rustle of leaves. Ducking behind the tree next to me, I barely make it before the flashlight runs across the spot I was in moments ago. Ever since I fled the cabin, I noticed that someone was chasing me. Correction, someones. I have counted four beams of light, but we were supposed to be alone out here. The park ranger said this place isn’t a favorite this time of the year, which only added to the appeal for us. Both Ethan and I had been working long days and hadn’t spent much time together. I understand why no one comes out here. The signal is spotty here in the wilderness, and there isn’t a town for over ten miles. The temperature is dropping fast. The snowstorm is supposed to come in the next twenty-four hours from what the ranger told us.
I can already feel the chill seeping into my bones. I need to keep moving before they find me. Looking around the pine tree, I check to see that they are heading away from me. Climbing to my feet, I take off running — to where I don’t even know since I left my map in the cabin. I’ve now lost track of which direction is which, but I know if I get to the creek I can follow it to town.
The hooting of an owl draws my attention back to the worn path in front of me. I shouldn’t follow this because someone has used it often, but I’m hoping that the night covers my
tracks. I can faintly hear the creek nearby, turning in the direction of the sound, I’m surprised a few minutes later to see a small fire and a tent along the bank. Creeping closer, I can see a woman sitting outside of the bright green structure. She is alone, but she doesn’t seem dangerous.
Taking a chance, I rush out, “Please, help me,” as I come into the clearing.
“Oh dear! Here ma’am, have a seat and get warm,” she says giving me a worried smile.
Looking around, I sit down next to her and take the drink she offers. Peeking into the cup, I see that it’s only water.
“I’m Nadine. Are you from around here? Are you lost?” she asks, looking at me.
I would be questioning a random woman coming out of the woods in the middle of the night too. I shrug my shoulders, not understanding why she would be out here.
“I’m Lily. I think someone is chasing me. They… they killed my boyfriend,” I rush out, taking a small sip of water.
Smiling at me, Nadine pats my leg and gets up to walk over to the creek bank, “It will be alright. Don’t worry about a thing.”
I feel queasy, sleepy, and like I’m underwater all of a sudden. Laughing draws my attention to Nadine. I drop the cup to stand, but my legs feel weak. Falling to the ground, I brace myself with my hands, rolling onto my back. My vision is blurring, I see her above me sporting a sinister smile. I can faintly hear leaves crunching to the right and the murmuring of a male voice. I’m fighting to keep my eyes open, but I see the man talking to Nadine, he is handsome. Tucking her hair behind her ear, he looks from her to me with a wicked grin.
Chapter 2
I’m groggy, I feel like I have a hangover even though I haven’t ever drank alcohol in my life. Trying to bring my hand up to rub my eyes, I realize that I can’t. My hand is bound to the metal table I’m lying on. Tugging at the restraint, I see that all of my limbs are tied down. It’s dark in this place, but I hear the voices coming from somewhere close. Pulling my hand as hard as I can, I attempt to get the cuff to budge.
“Ah, that hurts!” I whisper-yell, barely loud enough to hear.
My skin is red and irritated from the metal. I drop my hand, the cuff clanking against the table. Movement near the door catches my attention. The knob is slowly turning. Someone is coming. Hopefully, it isn’t that man I saw earlier, he was handsome, but there is an evil to him, I can tell. The door creaks open, and I’m met with the gaze of a young woman. Pushing a cart into the room, she stops next to me. Reaching up for a chain hanging a few feet above me, she tugs, causing bright blinding light to force my eyes closed.
“Open,” the woman commands, tapping my jaw.
Keeping my mouth closed, I slowly adjust to the light and open my eyes to see her. She is gorgeous. Her long blonde hair is pulled high in a ponytail, her crystal blue eyes are intense, but it’s the burned skin crawling up her arm that draws my attention most.
Looking at where I am staring, she smiles, “Don’t worry about that. If you’re good, then you will be fine. Now, open your mouth. I would hate to force you,” she goes on, smiling as if this is entirely normal.
Opening my mouth, she grabs a tool from the cart. I can feel her picking at my teeth, I can’t understand why she is doing this. Humming to herself, she finishes rummaging in my mouth. Dropping her tool, she smiles at me. Good, maybe she’s someone that can help me leave whatever this place is.
“Nadine will be coming by in a bit. She needs to check out a couple of things. Oh! I completely forgot, my name is Chloe,” she rambles.
“Lily,” I whisper.
Patting my hand, Chloe gives me one last smile, pushing her cart back to the door. “I know. I saw your license earlier.”
My license? I didn’t have my license on me, I left it back at the cabin with the rest of my things. Back with Ethan’s body.
Chapter 3
I’m lying here lost in thought when I hear the knob turning again. Chloe has been gone for a while now, but at least she left on the light. The soft footsteps let me know that the person is coming closer. I turn, meeting the gaze of Nadine.