CHAPTER 2: IN THE WOODS

Since they were kids, Aria and the other kids were taught not to walk alone late at night.

"Don't go in the woods, especially during a full moon, for that's when beasts grow stronger," they say.

The dark forest kills people every year, so they are warned not to go there.

She thought those were all just made-up stories that go way back to their ancestors.

Ancient history.

Except for the killings in the woods, she knew about that. They knew about that. But they still had a party there. It was just in the clearing of the woods, but it was still in the woods.

As for the beasts, she thought those were just myths. Stories to scare kids at night. Stories that eventually faded as they grew older.

Stories about the beasts who kill people, but they got buried as years went by. They realized beast is a metaphor for people who can't control their emotions and rage. People who lash out at other people when things don't go their way.

But now, she knows that those beasts were not just from the legends.

She is looking at one right now.

She still can't fully comprehend what happened that night, but one thing is for sure, she is not human.

She is a monster.

She is a monster she only knew from her mother's stories.

She looked straight to the eyes of the girl from the other side of the mirror. Fear and confusion are visible in her emerald green eyes.

Her tangled hair is one of the proofs that what happened last night is not just a dream. Its color is almost identical to the stains of blood in her hands.

She let her tears fall from her eyes as she remembers what happened last night.

---

(Flashback)

Aria came close to where she heard the voice. But her eyes widen, and her heart skipped a beat when she saw the people talking behind the bushes.

"Come on, Frank," the voice said. Then it was followed by giggling and a guy's voice, a very familiar voice for Aria.

"Don't worry, as soon as school is over, I'll break up with her. I love you," Frank said.

She can't believe what she heard. That was Frank's voice. Her heart started beating rapidly, and she already knows what it is, but she still doesn't want to believe her own eyes.

"We have to go back, maybe she's already here and looking for me," Frank said.

"Why can't you just break up with her right now? School's almost over, and you wouldn't need her help for your assignments and projects anymore," the girl said.

Aria felt anger brewing in her stomach. How could she not notice that?

She still can't see the girl's face because she's facing Frank's side. She just continued listening to their conversation.

"Why did you invite her anyway?" the girl asked.

"It wasn't me, it was her annoying best friend," Frank said annoyingly.

"You are such a good actor," she praised him. "She still hasn't realized that you're only dating her because she's popular and brainy. How ironic?"

Frank laughed with her.

At first, she can't move. It's like she was stabbed and stunned. She didn't realize she was crying until she couldn't see things because of her tears.

She covered her mouth because of disbelief. She never thought Frank would ever do this to her. She never thought he was only playing with her feelings and taking advantage of her.

She never saw him that way.

Aria trusted him. She loved him. She still loves him that it hurts so much.

"I haven't even slept with her. She says she wants to save it for marriage," Frank said. "What an old-fashioned bitch," he added and kissed the girl.

She stepped back but the twig she stepped on caused a sound. They immediately looked from where she is, thankfully, it was so dark in that part of the forest that they couldn't see her.

But she saw them She saw the girl.

"Alyssa," she whispered to herself.

She's a part of their cheerleading team and never thought she could do this. She thought she was just a cheerful girl trying to be close to her because she looks up to her.

She never thought Frank would be cheating on her with that wench.

She feels betrayed and used. All those caring and loving attitudes were only to use me?

She feels like a fool. She can't take it anymore so she went out of where she was hiding.

"So, you never loved me?" she asked him.

They were both surprised upon hearing her voice and seeing her standing in front of them catching them red-handed.

"Babe, I can explain," Frank said. He stood up and tried coming near Aria. But she stepped back.

"You don't have to, I heard everything," she said.

She tried containing her tears but she can't. She tried calming herself so she could speak, so she could tell him how much it hurts, but it’s so hard.

"I gave you everything I could. I loved you," she told him in between my sobs.

Her heart is beating so fast, and her mind is flooding with things she wants to tell him. She is shaking from trying to contain the anger she feels.

"No, please, let me explain," he said. Then he tried hugging Aria but she pushed him. She pushed him so hard that he was shoved a few meters away from Aria.

Even Aria was surprised by the force she released but she didn't care.

She walked towards Alyssa.

Alyssa walked backward, but Aria yanked her arm to stop her.

"You knew! You knew he was dating me. You knew! And yet you chose to betray me," Aria said, crying angrily.

"He needed you, but he loved me," Alyssa said coldly. Then she pulled her arm away from Aria and ran towards Frank to help him get back on his feet.

"You were my friend!" she shouted at Alyssa.

"And I trusted you. I loved you!" Aria cried out at Frank.

Her tears stopped flowing. Her heart started beating faster than before. She felt heat coming out of her body.

Her vision darkened. Every bit of pain is multiplying all over her body. Then, she heard a pitching noise ringing in her ear.

She walked towards them. They were petrified. Fear is written all over their faces. 

They were saying something but Aria couldn't hear them. Their voice seems so far.

Then, she attacked them.

She doesn't know what she is doing. All she hears are muffled screams and all she sees is a crimson liquid all over them, all over the place.

She let her anger out. She let it consume her. She let herself lash out at them and she didn't care about the consequences, or even how to do it. She's hurt.

After a few minutes, after the anger subsided for a while, she came back to reality.

Then she saw them there, bathing in their blood, petrified eyes, and lifeless. She looked at her own hands and realized what she had done. But she was confused how?

How did she kill them like that? How in the world did she attack a tall and Herculean boy like Frank?

She was shaking and confused. Then she heard people coming towards them. Running footsteps.

She can't be seen here. Not in this state.

She ran. But, it was too late. Someone saw her and she knows they're chasing her.

"It's the beast! It's the beast!" she heard them shouting.

She ran faster. Her only light is the full moon from above, seeping through the gaps of leaves and branches.

She thought this is familiar.

This is just like in her dream, but she was being chased by unknown people in that dream, not by her fellow students.

Her heart beats rapidly, and her tears are all over her face, again.

Aria is still confused as to what is happening with her. Why and how the hell was she able to do those things to two people.

She just kept running when, suddenly, a certain force pulled her. She was scared and ready to fight back but she felt so weak that she just let it hold her still.

"Hush," he whispered.

She could hear the other students approaching their way. She stood still but her heart's beating is so loud she's worried they may hear it.

But, they didn't.

They ran past them. She was relieved. And so is the person who pulled and hid her.

She recognized who he is when the wind blew, making the leaves and branches move, causing the moon to cast light on them.

Leo.

He looked at Aria worriedly. He was asking her something but she couldn't comprehend it anymore. Her feet are weak and she feels like every bit of energy was drained out of her body.

She's relieved. She felt the calmness she never felt before. The adrenaline rush she was feeling earlier was slowly fading away. Her eyes are becoming heavy and she still did her best to listen to what Leo is saying but she can't. Not anymore.

Then, everything went black.

 ---

She only came back to reality when a girl walked into the room. "You can use this dress of mine," the girl said.

Her long lustrous black hair falls freely behind her. "And you can use that basin of water with the soap beside it to clean yourself," she added.

"I know you're confused; we can explain everything to you. Get dressed, we'll wait for you downstairs," she said and smiled at her. Then she walked out of the room, and once again, she's alone. 

She looked at the mirror. She's wearing different cloth.

What happened last night is something impossible, but it happened.

And she has no idea why and how?

She is not even sure of what she is right now. A beast? A human?

She couldn't think of any logical reason.

A lot of questions are popping up in her head. She killed Frank and Alyssa. Is she going to be in jail? What will happen to her?

And what about college?

What will her parents say?

What is she?

One thing is for sure.

She killed Frank.

He cheated on her, she lashed out, she lost it, and she killed him - them.

Now, she does not know what to do. She was supposed to be the victim, but now she is the culprit.

Aria is wondering if the police are already looking for her. How can she go home? How can she explain everything to her parents? What will they say if they find out that their only daughter is a monster - a beast?

She put on the dress the girl from earlier gave to her.

It fits fine.

She walked out of the room and looked around her. She only saw tress when she looked out the window by the stairs.

The house is secluded.

All she could hear are the chirps of the bird and pouring water. She thinks that maybe there is a fall nearby.

She walked downstairs and tried to walk gently to minimize the creaking sound of the wooden stairs.

Aria smelled grilling meat. She knows it could only come from the kitchen as she did not see any other house earlier.

If she remembers correctly, it was Leo who rescued her from that scene. That would mean this is his house. But she wonders who was the girl, she was not even able to ask her name.

Aria saw a man's back facing the door.

"Leo," she called out.

The man turned to her, but he's not Leo.

He almost looks like Leo except for his brown and wavy hair.

"Hello, Aria," he greeted her.

"Hi! Who are you? And where am I?" she asked, mixed-up.

"I'm Matt Hunter. You're in our house in the woods," he said and gave Aria a lop-sided smile.