In Danger

You are mine.

Powerful words.

I should berate him for his conceit but yet I was too surprised to move. 

Why did he say this?

Kayler looks at me with certainty. Apparently, he was not lying or playing a joke.

Finally, my ration came back to me and I became angry.

"I'm not yours!" I pushed him away, but as expected it didn't work. He's stronger than I am. He held my chin with a little force but without hurting me, so that I could look at him.

"You're mine. Point. It is not in dispute. And, from now on I'll take you home. Everyday." Kayler emphasized when said "Everyday". This picked up my nerves.

I glared at him, "Stupid swaggerer! I'm not an object! I'm a person! I don't belong to you! Who do you think you are? My father?

"

"The wood's not safe." After throwing these words out like some final decision, Kayler turned his body back without speaking again no matter how I tried to yell at him. I wanted to open the door and jump out of the car, but this idiot locked the door and I can't escape.

After a while, I got tired. I closed up my mouth, stopping cursing Kayler, who had been driving silently.

I looked at him. He is a very handsome guy, very popular in school. I've never had anything to do with people like this before I got there. But now this crazy boy said I was his. I hate him. I hate his mouth which is always saying unpleasant things.

I inadvertently lowered my gaze to his lips. They are so plump. What will they taste like? Oh my God! My mind is on a slippery slope! I shook my head and turned my head back, driving his image out of my head.

"Kayler, you can't do this..." At last, I murmured. But it was like more for me.

Kayler parked in the school parking lot and turned off the car. I was still waiting for an answer from him. I will not allow him to keep an eye on me or to always take me to and from school. He has his girlfriend.

"I'm sorry, Carolina. I can't let anyone hurt you. You are in danger." When Kayler said this I watched his stiffen a little.

In danger?

Kayler looked at me with concern, "I see the time has not yet come. I can't tell you the truth right now." 

This is too confusing. I'm tired of guessing what he meant. He's a psycho. That's all.

"You know what? I'm leaving. Stay with your weird thoughts." I snapped as I got out of the car and slammed the door. As I left, several boys and girls stared at me, I knew it was because I came with Kayler. He really should have let me go before we got to school.

I ignored the stares and walked briskly to my classroom.

When I arrived I noticed that Anne was sitting next to my desk. I quickly walked over and sat down. Anne looked up and smiled at me.

"Morning, Carolina."

"Hello, Anne. Sorry about yesterday. Yesterday I couldn't speak to you anymore." I apologized. Anne shook her head laughing.

"Does not matter. You did what no one has done in this school. Confront Paige!"

Now I remember what Anne told me yesterday before going on to the blows. She said Paige was dangerous.

"Anne, why did you say Paige was dangerous?" I asked. At least I should know what I was dealing with.

Anne doubted to tell me the truth but eventually leaned closer to me.

"There are rumors that they are were..."Anne paused there. They are rare what?

"They say the last person who disobeyed them ... didn't live to tell the tale," Anne whispered nervously. "It was a boy who argued with Paige in front of the whole school and she, as expected, got very angry. The next morning the boy was found dead in the forest."

Oh, God. This is an awful story. Very terrible.

"The weird thing is that the boy had animal marks. Scratches, bites, the disfigured face among other things." 

"What killed him?" 

"It was never known. The weirdest thing was that the next day Paige appeared as if nothing happened, smiling. And..."  Anne's voice came like a cold wind, "...do you know where that boy lived when he was alive?"

"Where?" I shivered, having a bad guess. 

"In the same house that you live in now."

I clenched my fist tightly. Is that why Kayler said I was in danger? That I'm in trouble with Paige. Or that I'm living in a dead boy's house, threatened to be killed by wolves. I'm sure that those were the same wolves I encountered last night in the forest. 

The bell rang and the class began. Anne turned around preparing for the class. I couldn't concentrate on what the teacher was saying. I was in a whirl of thoughts.

***

When I sat with Anne at a table in the cafeteria to eat our lunches, Paige came in.

"There's Paige ..." Anne murmured, looking behind me.

I followed her gaze. There she was sitting next to Kayler. I rolled my eyes seeing her so close to him. But suddenly something caught my attention. Paige's shoulder was hurt and she had a bandage on.

"What happened to her shoulder?" Anne asked as I asked the same question in my mind.

Kayler looked at me like he was making sure I'm okay... I think. I stared back. He knows I have questions and many doubts that sooner or later he will have to answer.

Soon Kayler turned back his eyes and said something to Paige, making her laugh. I feel a taste of jealousy when seeing this. I quickly turned my eyes away, trying not to feel angry, and finish my lunch.

Then, my phone vibrated announcing a new message. I quickly checked it and the next thing I saw left me frozen, paralyzed, and speechless:

From: Unknown

Attention, Carolina. The forest will be your new enemy. Do not approach Kayler, or otherwise, your death will be even more painful than I had planned.