Chapter Three

| THREE MONTHS LATER.

AALIYAH

The enticing aroma of fresh apples teases my nostrils. I walk closer to the table of apples, adjusting my hoodie to cover the better half of my face.

I look around the large Pack market, feeling nostalgic for a second. It's been three months since I came out here. Nothing has changed, except the peaceful aura that's now replaced with a certain haughtiness.

"You want…buy apples?" A woman's voice jolted me back to reality. I turn to look at the elderly woman. She's standing close to the table of apples I was dying over a while ago.

"Ye - yes," I stutter, going close to her. My stomach rumbles from the aroma of the apples. Damn, it feels like forever.

"They good apples. How much you buy it?" She smiles, flashing pretty messed-up teeth.

Her rough English, coupled with her strong accent makes me realize she's not from my pack. She's a foreigner. I'm not surprised. Ever since Night Walker Pack army hijacked our pack, we've had a lot of strange faces strolling in like this is an amusement area.

"Four of them," I pick out the apples I want and show them to her.

She says the price and I'm not sure what that is. Still, I give her $50 and she shakes her head negatively.

"Give me six…" she gestures with her fingers.

"What?" I'm confused. But even more, as she rambles on about the six and switches into a language I can't comprehend.

"I'm sorry, Ma'am. But I don't understand a word you're saying," I tell her nicely.

"Pay…the apples,"

"Oh," I hand her the $50 again and this time, she gets pissed.

"No. Give me six…" her voice raises in a tone that attracts attention.

I tug at my hoodie, covering my face even more. People are beginning to stare and I need to get out of here before I get busted. I decide to return the apples to the table but it's too late for that. I already chewed into one of them. Even if I keep the other three, I still need to pay for the one I ate.

"I don't understand what you're saying, Ma'am. But if you don't need the cash, then tell me what you want,"

She starts saying a bunch of stuff in the foreign language and she's yelling now. I don't need a translator to know she's abusing the shit out of me.

My anxiety kicks in when she gestures at a Night Walker Patrol who is a few meters away. He's with a gun and has that gruesome mask that they all wear. She speaks to him in that shitty language, and to my agony, he responds.

Fuck! She's from Night Walker Pack.

Realizing this has just taken a route to hell, I adjust my hoodie and begin to walk away from her with fast strides.

"Hey!" A hoarse voice yells and I'm forced to halt. But just for a second, because the next second, I resumed walking.

"Hey. Stop right there!" The voice says again, with so much spite.

I break into a small run, refusing to stop or look back. One dollar apple isn't worth me getting caught and beheaded, just like my Father was.

"Hey!" And then he blasts me with the same shitty language.

I gasp as I feel him getting closer to me. Panic grips me as I break into a full-blown run.

"Aaliyah," a voice whispers sharply into my ears, as I get pulled into a quick hug.

"Chris, thank God," I breathe out sharply, hugging him so tight. "There's a man coming after me,"

"I know. Don't move and don't turn around," He instructs as he lets go of me.

I stay static but I listen to him going to discuss with the man on my tail. Chris discusses with him in that language, and I'm not sure what the fuck he's saying.

The next thing I know, he's back at my side and dragging me by my arm.

"Let's get you out of here," He says sharply, as we head out of the market.

He leads me to his car and opens the passenger seat for me.

"Keep your head down until I wind up the glasses,"

I do as he says and only lift my head when he gets in and winds up the tinted glasses.

I let out my pent-up breath, resting my head on the headrest and shutting my eyes.

"What the fuck were you thinking?" He asks in a pissed-off tone.

I let my tears roll down as I avoid his gaze. The last thing I need now is someone scolding me. If anything, I need a hug and soothing words. But Chris is a hard guy, too hard for a guy in just his early twenties. Years in the war zone knocked off all the emotions in him.

"Don't talk to me," I say flatly, ending the convo.

He stays silent and drives me back to my hideout. It's a cottage in the middle of the forest. I've been hiding my ass out here for three months. It gets fucking lonely.

We walk inside the building and Chris wastes no second before he's back on my case.

"Just two words, Aaliyah. STAY HERE. And you couldn't even do it," He snorts, fisting his hands.

"If I hadn't gone out today, then I wouldn't have realized that Night Walker monsters now come to my pack to trade. Why didn't you tell me about it?!"

"What would you have done if I had told you?" He lashes out.

His words silence me and I'm back to shedding hot tears. Tears that spelled rage, fury, and revenge.

"If you truly love your people and wanna get back our freedom, then stay the fuck indoors. We assured them that you died in that chaos three months ago. Don't make us liars, or we're all gonna die," He reminds me.

I run a hand through my hair, clenching my teeth to hold down my burning fury.

"I watched my life burn to ashes in a night. I lost everything. It feels like my life has been put on hold. I can't return to college. I can't buy stuff. I can't go outside. All because a certain Pack got greedy and decided to take over our pack. Does it sound fair?!"

"It's not fair, Aaliyah. And we're gonna take back our pack from them. All I'm asking is that you be a little reasonable and don't let your emotions get the best of you,"

"So you're saying I should hide all my life?"

"Just until we figure out a way to fight them off," He answers, "I got you groceries. It's in the kitchen," and then he turns to leave.

"Shelly," I gasp out, "Have you talked to her? Will she be visiting me soon?"

It's been three months since I last set my eyes on my best friend. Ever since that night, Shelly drifted away from me. I don't know if it's on purpose, or if she's in some kind of trouble too. But I miss her. I miss her so much it hurts.