Chapter 4

Eve’s pov

       The morning comes slowly when you don't sleep at night. I rolled out of the bed and went towards the bathroom. As I looked at myself in the mirror I saw how swollen my eyes were. I had nightmares all night and cried myself to sleep. The effects are clear on my face.

              I brushed my teeth and went to my vanity to do something about my dark circles. The return of my nightmares is not something I was expecting. But lastnight i had one of the scariest nights I have ever experienced.

                    After finishing with my breakfast I quickly got ready for school. My senior year was good so far, since it's only been two weeks. I love going to class and interacting with students there. I have been homeschooled all my life.

                After my parent's death my grandparents became over possessive of me and they never let me out of sight. But I was happy, I loved to spend time with them. They were the only two families left in my life. But destiny had other plans.

               I was thirteen when they both died in a plane crash. I never got to  meet them for the last time. They were on a trip to china for some business, so they left me with my nana. And never returned. 

          When I heard the news I went through so many emotions at the same time. Shock, devastation but the last thing i felt was scared. I was terrified at the idea of living without them. I was afraid to live alone. They never left me alone my entire life even for a second and all of sudden they just died.  

                    I went into depression and it took so many consultants  to coax me into accepting that they are never gonna come back. Slowly but gradually I started accepting it. It took so much work from my nana to make me feel alive again. 

                  But everything turned devastating the moment the two of the most cruel people I ever met  came into my life. They made my life a living hell. They killed nanna in front of my eyes. They tortured me for three years straight, with all the different kinds of turtle you can think of.

              I suffered along with some other staff in my house. They made us go through so many punishments that I forgot to keep a tab on them. But one night I ran away with the help of a robert. A servant of my papa who nurtured me alongside my grandparents and nana. 

            He sneaked me out of the house with my grandparents car and a bag full of cash which easily made me get access to different things that i needed to get out of the country. I changed my surname, got a bank account and cashed in my money. It was a random decision to get a ticket to italy. But something inside me felt that I needed to come here.

            So here I am, with a new life, a new purpose yet with the same past nightmares. I took a deep breath as I looked at myself in the mirror. The circles were invisible but my eyes were ull. They looked soulless and at this moment I was too tired to do anything about it. So I just let it be. I went downstairs to get my car keys.. 

              I was just about to turn with my keys when my eyes went to the backyard window. The weather was sunny today, too sunny for my liking. But the view of the woods was so beautiful. My mind drifted off last night when I came eye to eye with my wolfie.

          I was sitting on my porch with tears rolling down my face when I saw the shadow of something. The moment it came out of the shadows I sat up straight in fright. The wolf was merely ten feet away from me and it was big. Big enough to kill me with just its paw. But the thing was, I just couldn’t believe how beautiful it was. It was pure black with long shiny fur all over its body. What captured me more was it’s eyes.  They were pure green like the forest that almost looked black. The wolf’s eyes were staring straight at me and I couldn't look away. It's like they were staring straight into my soul.

         As I got lost in the depths of its eyes I forgot to notice how it was taking slow steps towards it until it was standing straight in front of me. I backed away the moment I realized, ready to run if it thought to pound on me.

        But I froze the moment I saw the emotions that were running in its eyes. There were so many but the one outshined was hurt. I mean what?! Does it hurt because I don't want to be its next meal? I shook my head and took cautious steps backwards, but stopped when it took another step towards me. 

           I was terrified that it was gonna kill me right that moment and I am never going to take revenge from the people who did me wrong. I couldn't even do anything because my house was secluded from the crowded areas. Even if I scream nobody can hear me. 

       The realization dawned on me that I'm gonna die today. I will be dead without fulfilling Robert's promise. I didnt even spend time with my new friends. I don't even tell danzel that i forgive him for his crude remarks. I just can't die.

        A pained whimper came out of my mouth as I slid on the ground in front of the wolf silently crying for the things I will miss. I am gonna miss everything and everyone. I was about to submit when I heard a noise . I looked up and saw the wolf running towards the woods.

              I was paralized from shock. How can a wild creature leave its prey so easily? I sat there pondering about what happened and how a howl made me jump. I came out of my thoughts and listened to the howl carefully. It is the same howl that I hear everyday, but today it was different. It seemed like whoever howling was in pain. I made my heart ache more. And I couldn't help but think that it's the wolf's howl.

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        My energy was almost over by the time I reached the restaurant. I was physically,mentally and emotionally drained. It was another day at school where we had back to back classes and me not having a single second of sleep last night made it more difficult for me.

      Though I had covered my dark circles but my dead eyes were not ignored by Emily. She asked me many questions and I couldn't answer her. So I just lied about me finishing homework. But by the look she gave me I knew she didn't believe me. But she didn't ask further and I was thankful for that. I shrugged off all the questions I was asked today, bujt the moment I saw Danzel it felt like I would break any moment anyone would ask about my day infront of him. Thankfully nobody did.

           They just asked about my classes and thanks to James and Ashton their antics distracted everyone. As I sat at the table picking at my food I felt someone’s eyes on me and I knew who it was without looking up. I can tell by the effect it has on my body. But I didn't look up, I couldn't make eye contact with him.

        So I just kept my hhead ducked and listened to what others were aying. But at some point of time my mind wandered away to the wolf in my backyard. And I asked myself why the wolf left without doing any kind of harm to me. 

         “What are you thinking about?'' I looked up to Leon leaning towards me. He was sitting beside me.

     “Nothing serious.” I just lied to him. I didn't want people to know about the wolf. 

“I know it's something serious. You are looking like you are confused about something.” spot on. I looked at him and was alarmed. Am I that easy to read? `` yes you are.” he said and my eyes widened. “Now tell me.” he insisted.

      “Why you both are whispering.'' Sara asked, leaning towards us. She was sitting in front of me. The others raised their eyebrows at us. I squirmed in my seat when all of their eyes fell on me.

    “Don't scare her.” Leon said more like scolded. “ I was just asking her what is bothering her.” he informed them.

     “Is there something bothering you Eve?” Emilia asked. He was sitting on my other side. Both siblings can become great interrogators. They are using all their ability to get to know what you have in mind.

       I wrecked my head to come up with some lie, since I'm not ready to inform them about the wolf and my nightmares. Though we are friends, I still have to keep my guard up. I don't even know them properly. I looked at everyone because they were looking at me. When my eyes met Danzel's, I paused. They were calming for some reason. It felt like he was at peace. I looked a little bit longer than I should and took a deep breath when an idea suddenly came into my mind.

       “I'm just worried about my car. It took longer than it needed to start today. And i thought maybe it's giving up on me as well.'' I didn't mean to come up this emotional.

     “Aww, don't worry. We can make Daan look into it. It's going to be fine.” Emilia said, hugging my shoulder.

      “ Yeah, don't you worry. No one will even think about giving up on you. Let alone your car.” Leon hugged me from the other side. I smiled at them  with my eyes stinging up with tears.

       “Yeah eve. We are here. You can always share what you think with us.'' Sara assured me. I nodded at them. Thankful for all the people I have in my life right now.As I looked beside Sara I saw James  looking at me weirdly . 

     

       “What?” I asked him.

“Are you chumming?” I heard a series of groans but I was looking at him only. “Cause you are emotional all of a sudden.” h4 reasoned. 

            “James!” I shrieked at him, laughing at blushing at the same time.

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              There was a slight drizzle of rain pouring from the sky by the time I was done with my shift at the Margaret’s. I started my car and sprinted out of the driveway. As I was about to put my phone on the aux player it rang. It was Ashton calling me.

       “Hey,what's up?” i asked into the phone putting it on the speaker. Cause i dont wanna crash into some vehicle and get my car more wrecked than it already is.

“Hey,” there was a pause. “I was just calling to check in if your car is working or if you want any of us to pick you up.” he said slowly. I paused, it was really sweet off him to check on me.

     “No, it started this time. I think this morning the universe wanted to play with me as well.'' I laughed it off.

   “If you want, Danzel can check on it.” he suggested. 

“No its fine. I think he must be busy in his life.`` I could stop the bite in my voice. And to my utter surprise he laughed.

    “No trust me, he will be down to get his hands on that car in any way he can.” he assured me, i just nodded then i realized he cant see me.

     “okay , how about this saturday. Because that's the only day off I got.'' I suggested it.

    “Cool then. See you at the school.” we said goodbye. And I reached the outskirts of our area.

    The rain had subsided down, however the fresh smell of the soil still lingered in the air. I rolled down my windows and inhaled deeply.

     The whole neighbourhood is quiet. I think they are all in their houses because of the rain. I was about to pass the big mansion on the street but stopped when I saw who was coming out of the house.

     It was Danzel. He sat on the bike that was in the driveway and spirited away. I didn't know he lived in this house. Was he some prince or something cause it's a really big house. I thought some king must be living here.

        I shook my head and started my car, but it stopped. The framing stopped working in the middle of the road. Like seriously. Talk about bad timings.

       I sighed as I tried again and it didn't start. Maybe that green-eyed monster is my bad omen or something. I shook my head and called Ashton.

       "What's up?" He picked up.

  "Look, I'm sorry. But could you please pick me up? My car stopped working." I rested my head against the wheel.

     "It's okay. Tell me where you are," he asked and I heard the roar of a bike coming back to the drive way again. My ears perked up and my heart went faster. 

    But I slumped when I saw it was a different bike. I thought it was denzel. But no why would he come back. He just went wherever he went. He won't come back for me.

     I jumped when someone came to my window. I sighed when I saw it was Ashton. How did he come so fast?

     "Hey, didn't mean to startle you." He raised his hands, surrendering himself. I just nodded.

     "Give me the keys. Leon is here to drop you off." He said as I went out. I quickly looked at where Leon was. He was the one on the bike.

     I nodded at him and gave him my keys, as I made my way towards where Leon was. He was grinning at me and I smiled back, cause his smile was so contagious.

     "Were you near?" I asked when I needed him.

     "Just was in the garage, when Ashton informed me." He said and motioned for me to hop on.

     I did what he asked for, but made sure there was enough distance between us.

     "Buckle up Eve, or else you will fly away." He said and I put my arms around his waist.

    And we sprinted away.