Chapter 2

Emily’s POV—

My first day in the new place had a bad start spoiling my mood a bit. Not only my mood but my dress as well! I am not only angry on the spoiled d*ck for behaving like he owns the entire place but also because I didn’t do anything about it! I should have told him off!

I am usually quiet and I like to stay away from trouble but I am not weak! I never was! If someone behaves oddly, I don’t hesitate to respond appropriately but just half an hour back in the café, I was humiliated by that jerk but I stood still like a statue!

I release the breath I was holding without even knowing, still feeling irritated and disturbed by the memories of that recent incident as I sit in the car along with my mom.

“Madam, shall we?” the driver, Mansingh asks looking at us through the rear view mirror and I nod politely.

My mom senses something wrong with my mood that was quite delightful and positive when we landed and now is completely spoiled! Of course, the stains on my dress are not a little, to go unnoticed. I couldn’t change because my dresses are already packed and until I reach the new place there is no way to take them out and change and I am not some rich girl from a well to do family loaded with money that I can just go and purchase another one!

I sit resting my head on the window looking out at the wide roads and the trees as we leave the airport when I feel a warm touch on my hand that I placed on my lap. I turn to look at my mom looking at me with an expression of sympathy and sadness.

“I am sorry sweety for the dress! Do you want to talk about it?” She asks softly in a low voice not to let Mansingh hear our conversation.

My mother is my world and though I miss my father, yet she has always taken such good care of me and always understands me even without me telling her about my feelings, that I feel like having her means having everything in the world! She is a very kind soul and a perfect mother! I feel lucky in this department!

I press my other hand on hers and smile faintly, “It is ok Mom! It was a jerk!!” I said the last part rolling my eyes and crunching my nose in disgust.

But then sighing once, I widen my smile and try to assure her, “I am fine mom! Really! I am not upset.”

My mom remains quiet for a moment and then patting my back she says, “Don’t be sad Emi! It is a new place and small incidents keep happening. Some will be bad and some will be great! Just remember to discard all the insignificant memories and live life with a positive attitude…….” Then in a sing song voice she adds, “Which is my daughter’s speciality!! Forgive and move on….embrace life!”

I laugh at her praising comments! For my mother I have always been the perfect girl! She is always so proud of me!

“Thank you Mom! Yes. I will remember!” I reply giving her a side hug before focusing back on the nature outside. The drive to Odessa was a little more than half an hour and it takes us another twenty minutes or so to reach our destination. The town is small and nothing like New York, at all, but for a change it is serene, clean and beautiful!

“Here we are!” the driver says as he parks the car in front of a white fenced area behind which lies a small duplex with chocolate colour walls bordered in white and with white doors and windows. There is a small yard in front of the cottage with beautiful red and green grasses!

Two tall trees stand near the duplex, one right at the corner, its branches reaching the window and another on the other side of the cottage!

“Isn’t it beautiful Mom?” a smile automatically appears on my face and forgetting all the unpleasant incidents I get out of the car! Standing in front of the fence I look at the new house where we shall live, in awe!

‘Perfect!’ --- I think in my mind! I always wished to live in a calm and quiet place amidst nature, in a small town in a cottage or small duplex and it feels as if I was standing right in front of my dream house!

While walking inside, I sing to my mom, shrugging, “I am already, loving the place Mom!”

---

The house is cute from outside and extremely cosy from inside. The ground floor has one medium sized living room with a dining area which is a continuation of the living room and an open kitchen which is quite big. It has one bedroom with attached bathroom and a bathroom attached to the living room. From one end of the living room there is a small wooden staircase that leads to the next floor where there are three bedrooms each with attached bathrooms. But the most interesting is the fireplace in the living area. The duplex is simple but neat and clean. It is already furnished and it seems the landlord did a good job cleaning everything nicely before renting it out.

Since we had a lot to unpack, we ordered in food just for lunch and the whole day we unpacked and arranged our things.

---

It is now evening and I am sitting in my room, reading a book. The window has glass panes which are completely transparent. Not that anybody could see me through the glass because there are no houses in the proximity, but the branches of the tree and the view of the woods from my window is kind of strange! It is different…a bit creepy and at the same time quite out of the world!

“Emily! Dinner is ready!” My mom announces.

“Coming Mom!” I shout loud for her and quickly get off the bed, folding the book close. I walk to the door, but as I start to step out I feel a sudden chill that gives me goosebumps! I freeze in my place and turn around slowly to check if I left the window open my mistake! But no! It is closed. I sigh and rolling my eyes turn back to leave when suddenly my eye catches a narrow path within the woods. Though it is dark out except for the moonlight and a few street lights which are obviously not enough to light the woods, yet it suddenly feels so familiar!

I feel as if I have travelled that path numerous times and I am sure I know the place too well! I look down and shake my head scoffing!

‘What the hell was that!!’ – I think for a second before heading down for dinner.

-- 

The dinner was simple and we decided to go to bed early and get some good sleep! It has been a long day for both of us.

At eight in the evening I finally settle down on my bed with the book I was reading from earlier. Tomorrow, I and Mom will go out and get some groceries. After reading for fifteen minutes or so, my eyelids feel heavy and I yawn loudly! Putting the book away on the side table and switching the reading light off, I lie comfortably pulling up the soft duvet over my head and soon fall asleep!

--

I don’t know how long I have been asleep but I move uncomfortably on the bed and slowly I open my eyes and jump up on the bed scared and shocked!

“Clara? Are you ok?” the man with beautiful green eyes is hovering over me. His bare chest is muscular and well-toned and on top of that he smelled so good.

I wanted to ask ‘who are you?’ but then I saw myself snuggling into his chest hugging him easily and say, “It was a bad dream honey!”

I realise it is a dream! A different one this time. But I had the same question in my mind. Who is Edward? Why does he call me Clara? And why do I dream about only him?

In the dream, I am scared and I know something bad is going to happen.

“Don’t worry Clara! I won’t let anything happen to you.” Edward whispers on my lips and presses a hard kiss. Both I and Edward lose ourselves in the kiss, when suddenly a loud bang on the door, makes us jump in fear and move away from each other.

“Edward! He is here! What shall we do?” I shake with fear and my eyes go wide.

Edward pulls me up and wrapping an overcoat made of leather and fur, pushes me to a small door at the back.

“Run! Run Clara and don’t look back!” he presses a last longing kiss on my lips and pushes me out of the door.

“But Edward! I can’t leave you here! He will get you….please come with me! We both can run away from here!” I beg, tears flowing freely down my cheeks but Edward pulls me into a tight hug and running his fingers through my hair, he says, “I will find you Clara! But you have to run! NOW!!”

Suddenly the door breaks open with a loud sound and Edward screams, “RUNNNNNN……”

I run frantically through the woods. I ran for a few minutes when I heard a loud gunshot that stopped my heart! I sense a fear of grave loss and I cry out loud!

“Nooooo!!! EDWARDDD!!!!!!”

………

I run my hands over my sweating body, panting as I sit up on my familiar bed. It is still dark outside and I am alone in my room! My throat feels dry! I drink half a bottle of water, spilling a lot on my dress. It was a dream but it was more vivid this time!

I take deep breathes to calm my racing heart, running my fingers through my hair and once I sooth down a little, my eyes suddenly fall on the narrow path through the woods! It is so familiar! It feels like the woods are calling me! It feels like I have left a part of my soul there deep inside the woods! But why? This is the first time I have stepped foot in Odessa! Why would it feel familiar? What is there in the woods?

I need to find out!