THE MIDNIGHT ENCOUNTER

CHAPTER 18.

The midnight encounter.

The sunset finally enveloped the entire atmosphere, as Kaiden and I walked towards our den.

Indeed, it was a stressful day, but I was glad that we pulled through.

As we took each step, my heart pondered in full uncertainty, as I couldn't tell what might be waiting for us.

The atmosphere had the smell of damp soil and fresh leaves, which gave a warm earthly smell, whilst letting us know that it'd just rained.

As we moved further, I could hear the sound of the crickets and the melodious songs of the birds, which was typical of a forest.

“Do you think it'll rain again?” I asked him with a whisper, as I tried very hard to distract myself from the cloud of worry that had overwhelmed me.

Immediately, Kaiden looked up to the sky, like he was searching for something. 

"I don't think it'll rain. However, who knows? " Given the time of the year that we're in, it's hard to tell when it'll rain or not." He said with a calm voice, but as he spoke, I couldn't help but notice a dark gaze in his eyes as we walked through the path.

Immediately, I looked at him in the corner of my eyes. “You look different. What's on your mind? What are you thinking about?"

“Phew! " It's just that…” he said with a sigh, as he paused in hesitance. “This night has been unusual, hasn’t it? And everything is transforming very fast..."

“Well... Yup. " However, I think change is a good thing,” I replied while trying to sound optimistic, even though I was almost overcloud by my own thoughts. 

"Truth be told, we've been through a lot together, and we can definitely handle whatever that comes next," I said with a firm tone.

Suddenly, Kaiden stopped in his tracks, and turned to face me. At that moment, I knew that something was amiss. From the look in his eyes, I could tell that there was something he wanted to talk about, but he didn't know how to go about it. “Rory, I..."

Before he could finish, my heart flew away, the moment he raised his hands towards my face, to remove a strand of hair.

At that moment, I could feel a fire that had been ignited by his soft touch. I couldn't tell what it was, but I knew that it was an intense feeling.

“Kaiden…” I called out his name in a shaky voice. At that instant, I no longer cared about the immediate world, or whatever that surrounded us.

It was just I and Kaiden's world.

At that instant, every pain and hurt that we'd ever felt in life suddenly disappeared, as we were deeply locked in each other's world.

Just at the peak of the whole moment, he suddenly turned his back on me, and began to walk away briskly like someone who had seen a ghost.

“Wait!” I called out to him with an unsure voice. I couldn't tell what was happening to me at that moment. “Where are you going to?”

He paused for a slight second, without turning his head to look at me.

“Space... " I need some space to get some air. " I’ll be back,” he said with a firm tone, as he began to walk away. As he took each step forward, I could sense the feeling of guilt beginning to build up in me.

Did I pursue him?

Was I the reason for his sudden departure?

Even though he had gone, I could still feel the warmth of his touch fresh on my skin. Maybe it was some kind of reminder of what the possibility of life could be.

At that moment, I shut my eyes in uncertainty, as I tried to suppress the emotions that were building inside of me. Needless to say, I knew that I really needed to think straight.

As I walked towards the environs of my den, I took a deep breath to calm my tensed nerves.

Still in deep thoughts, I moved to the small fireplace, to keep my body warm, as I could see the remnants of flames evaporating.

 As I sat down in front of it, I couldn't help but drown in my own pull of thoughts.

What had just happened?

What went wrong?

Was this attraction I felt for Kaiden just in my head, and did he feel the same way to me, or was it also a figment of my emotions?

At that moment, I could feel over a million unanswered questions in my heart, each needing an urgent answer.

Out of the blue, my door creaked open, and Kaiden immediately walked back inside with a wolf silhouette against the dim light. 

“Hey, I'm sorry” he murmured with a baby ish expression. “I just needed a little time to gather my thoughts."

“It's okay,” I responded with a forced smile. “The thing is, I wasn't expecting you to leave suddenly. To be honest, I thought that we had similar interests."

“I apologize, though. " I actually didn't mean to…” He looked at me, as he ran his hand over his head in frustration. “In all honesty, this situation is just a lot. " There's a lot already at stake, and I don't want to make things worse."

“But, that was exactly what you just did,” I blurted out in frustration, as I couldn't suppress my emotions any longer. “In all honesty, we've been through a lot lately, and you think the best thing to do is to pull away from me, right?"

Immediately, Kaiden stepped closer with a firm tone. 

"Rory, you don’t seem to understand the whole issue. If I get too close to you, something will definitely go wrong."

“What do you mean? How'd you even think that having me on your side would make matters worse? " We're facing almost the same predicaments, and I believe that this is the time we need each other more than anything else."

At that moment, he sighed, as he ran his fingers over his hair in confusion.

“Maybe, just maybe... I think that's what scares me. I… I'm not ready to lose you, and I'm also not ready to get entangled with you, without considering the possible consequences."

“Considering the possible consequences?” I repeated after him in a shaky voice. “So, what now happens to our feelings?”

“Rory, I'm doing everything because of you. " I'm trying so hard to protect you!” he suddenly blurted out in overwhelming frustration. "The truth is, I'd not want anyone to hurt you because of me, and I also wouldn't want to make your life more complex than it already is. You don't know what pain I might contribute to your life."

Immediately he said that, I felt a sharp pain in my heart, as I took a step backwards.

“And you think pursuing me out of your life is the solution? Well, that's not how life works."

At that moment, his eyes softened, and there was a sudden shift in the atmosphere of the room. “Rory, you deserve to be happy, and also live a happy life. Unfortunately, I don't think I can give it to you."

“Kaiden, I just want us to work together!” I pleaded in a tired voice, as I tried so hard to process what was happening. “Don't you think we will be able to walk out of this situation with victory? " Don't you think we're a strong team?"

As I asked those questions, Kaiden looked directly into my eyes, as he took so much time before responding.

“Rory, you’re right. We’re a very strong team, and I wouldn't want anything to come in between us. However..."

“Then, don't abandon me like everyone else,” I said to him with a firm tone. “I know that it might be hard, but we have to face this hurdle together."

Just as he made to open his mouth to respond, there was a sudden loud crash outside, disrupting us from this intense moment.

That noise echoed throughout the entire den, and it made me wonder what it might be.

“What could that be?” I whispered with visible fear in my voice.

Immediately, Kaiden walked towards the door, while peeping through the darkness.

"Remain here,” he ordered me in an urgent tone.

“Nope, I won't. " I'm definitely coming with you,” I said in a firm voice, as I could feel adrenaline pumping through my veins.

“Rory!”

"Please, let me come with you now!” I interrupted him again, but this time with a firm and determined tone.

With a hesitant gaze, Kaiden immediately opened the door for me, as he allowed me to step outside with him. Immediately I stepped out, the cold breeze hit my nostrils.

As we looked through the forest, we could only see the darkness that had already engulfed the entire atmosphere.

Immediately, I began to feel my heart racing, as I was experiencing a bizarre occurrence. The hairs on the back of my head were standing at attention.

Just then, I heard it again. This time, it was clearer and closer.

It was a loud growl that echoed throughout the entire atmosphere.

“What the hell was that?” I asked with a sudden feeling of fear and uncertainty.

At that moment, I could see the worried look on Kaiden's face, as he tried to scan the entire area with his eyes.

Suddenly, a figure emerged from the dark shadows, looking fierce and evil.

Immediately, my heart skipped for a long second, as I tried to think of what could possibly go wrong.

“Come back!” Kaiden said calmly, while moving in front of me to protect me.

“No, I won't,” I protested in agitation, as I wasn't going to allow him to face this fierce battle alone.

Before he even said any other word, the figure immediately lounged at us, stopping just in front of us. Immediately, I couldn't help but notice its otherworldly features.

This creature was the real definition of evil. A monstrous wolf, with long claws, sharp canine, loud growls and many other scary features.

“Kaiden!” I called out to him in fear, as I looked at this creature in fear. “What is this thing? What creature is this?”

He paused for a second, as he gently pulled my left hand. “I don’t know what it is, but I think it's time for us to go." Right now.”

Immediately, we turned our backs to leave. The creature immediately growled at us, as it did to advance towards us. “Help!” I cried out, as this huge creature leaped at us.

At that moment, my vision went blank.