ON THE RUN

The rain had started again, it pounded against the roof like a warning drum. I stood at the window, my hand trembled slightly as I clutched the curtain.

I closed the curtain gently as I backed away from the window. . I had moved in with my parents ever since I decided to keep the babies and they thought I would have peace here but my mind kept wandering to their.

I knew how powerful he was, that's why I ran. It wasn't my fault but he wouldn't understand, the rich never do. He would probably blame me, like in all these novels.

That night haunted me. His voice haunted me. I was scared that he'd either ask me to terminate or take my children from me if he found out I was pregnant.

“Mom?” I called out as I made my way toward the kitchen. My mother stood there, brewing tea and humming to herself.

My parents were very supportive as always, they didn't pressure me about the father, just loving me like nothing happened.

Then there was the dreams

Wolves with gold eyes. And the voice. Always the voice

“Where are you?.” it always asked.

It sounded familiar, but I didn't know why

I could feel myself growing psychotic.

“Sweetheart?” my mother’s soft voice pulled me back from my thoughts “You okay?”

“Yeah. Just… thinking.” I said as I took in a breath.

My mom studied me. Her eyes carefully taking me in “You're pale.”

“I'm always pale.”

“Paler than usual.” my mom said handing me the tea. “Sit. You’ve been on your feet too much”

I sat reluctantly, holding the warm mug in my still trembling hands. “Do you think I will be a good mother? I don't want to make any mistakes.

My mother paused, then smiled “we all make mistakes and we learn from them. You'd be an awesome mother”

She gave me a kiss on the cheek as she reassured me

“thanks mum.” I said, smiling. This time it was genuine.

“Your father’s going to the store for supplies tomorrow. Anything you need?.”

“not really”

“alright, take care of yourself and rest more.” she said as she left the kitchen.

I stood on the porch in her oversized sweater, arms wrapped around herself. The mist hung low over the trees. My belly shifted—one of the babies kicked. Hard.

I winced, placing my hand over the spot. “Easy,” I whispered.

“You're quite eager aren't you? Mummy can't wait to see you also. Come out safely okay?”

I smiled as I patted my belly.

I woke up, my eyes were sunken, my skin pale. My father wanting to lighten the mood tried to joke about it.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” he chuckled, grabbing his keys.

I almost responded, but bit her tongue. It was worse than a ghost, the dreams were becoming more vivid.

“I’m fine, Dad. Be careful.”

He nodded and kissed my forehead. “You’ll be alright. I’ll be back before sunset.”

I watched his truck disappear down the gravel road. The silence afterward felt louder than the engine. I turned to go back inside when a low growl reached my ears.

Could it be that the dreams traced me to reality?

I stiffened as I turned slowly.

There, at the tree line, stood a massive wolf.

Its eyes glowed faint gold, its fur gray and black. It stared at me through me as if it recognized me.

I felt myself take a step back.

It didn’t move.

My heart began to raced. I opened the door and ran inside, slamming it shut.

“Mom?” I shouted.

There was no answer.

“Mom!”

I rushed through the house. It was empty. My mother’s purse was gone. So were her boots.

Panic rose in my throat. “No, no, no…”

A noise came from the porch.

I backed away, grabbing the nearest thing i could, a heavy iron candle holder and held it like a weapon. My grip on it draining my blood.

My babies shifted inside me and my vision swam. I couldn’t pass out. Not now.

I fled to the back room, slamming the door and locking it. No one was home. Just me and whatever the hell was on the other side of that wall.

Then, silence.

I sank to the floor, breathing hard. Minutes passed. Or hours. I didn’t know.

Finally, I stood and peeked through the window.

The wolf was gone as if it never existed.

“Great” I felt myself whisper. “I'm going insane”

That night, I packed a bag.

Just a few things, I had told my parents what happened and they tried to convince me to stay, but I couldn't. Whether it was real or my mind playing games, I needed to be safe.

“I love you. But I have to go.”

They nodded, understanding. My dad pushed a card into my hands.

“This should cover you until you can stand on your feet” he said, his tears threatening to fall.

My mother's tears were already flowing as she held my hand. I gave her a smile as I cleaned her tears and nodded.

I waited until the moon was high, then slipped out into the night.

The road was long and twisted, but I had a plan.

There was a woman, an old midwife named Mags. People said she was strange, but kind. And she lived far from the town. Off the grid. Safe.

I hiked for hours, my belly aching, my feet were blistered,my muscles trembled. The babies moved less now, like they were resting.

The sky began to lighten when I reached the edge of Hollow Creek.

I paused, panting, resting against a tree. Then something moved behind me.

I spun. Nothing.

I could still feel someone's presence around me and I felt my hand go instinctively to my belly.

“I'm going to protect you” I whispered gently to my belly.

I didn't know what it was but I could feel the eyes. Then my mind went back to the wolf and the dreams. I had to choose.

I leaned and whispered to my babies again. “I'm going to make a choice okay? Just stay calm for me”

I looked around one more time and whispered one more time as I chose.

“Then we run.”