iii

Everything seemed clear after the twins had shown Rosalie the place that was once dear to her parents. It was beautiful and she found peace within it. She was alone as the twins left to go to the market, something about selling coconuts, but Rosalie was glad to have some alone time. Instead of returning to the house, she decided to stay and enjoy the enchanting view.

  Sighing deeply, Rosalie crossed her legs as she thought back on the conversation she had with her grandfather. 

 "Maybe it's not your time to feel him,"

What did that even mean, it was very confusing to Rosalie. “I mean, was it too much to ask for?" She wondered because that was all she ever wanted, closure, to feel her father's memorial presence, to dream about him, one last time before she finally accept that they were gone. But apparently, it was not her time yet, whatever that meant.

Sighing heavily, the rain began to drizzle as Rosalie leaned forward on the rock, she was sitting on to look at her reflection in the water. The drips of rain rippling in the water made Rosalie smile as she closed her eyes and hummed.

Soon drizzling turned into pouring rain as Rosalie giggled. Her reflection was no longer visible as the drops shattered its appearance, but for some reason, Rosalie couldn't look away, so she kept on looking until a dark shadowy figure appeared behind her. Frozen in place, Rosalie was too terrified to turn around as she continued to stare at her reflection. 

The rain began to ease up as Rosalie's reflection became recognizable, and that's when she saw it, the monster, it was huge, white, and furry. But before she could make it out, a sudden growl startled her as she yelped, tipping over, and falling into the lake. 

At that moment, flight or fight had been triggered causing Rosalie to shoot up to the surface as she gasp for air, quickly grabbing onto the rock, while frantically looking around to find the monster that was behind her, but it was nowhere to be found. She was alone.

Trying her best to calm her breathing and the pumping of her heart. Rosalie pressed her forehead against the rock as she exhaled heavily, "What the hell is happening?” She mumbled before remembering where she was, "Oh my god, I have to head back, Grandpa would be worried," she said before pulling herself out of the water. 

It was still raining and Rosalie realized that she couldn’t remember how she got here in the first place. She was way too distracted, and after everything that happened between the twins’ story and now, she forgot the way that she came from. Sighing in frustration, Rosalie walked back to the entrance as she slipped out, forgetting to close up the path as she continued walking down, what she thought was the right path to her grandfather's house. 

The rain had stopped causing Rosalie to groan. She hated the feeling of wet clothing sticking to her skin. As she continued to walk, she suddenly felt as though she was being watched and as she walked near an erupting root of a tree, she suddenly tripped falling forward. Squeezing her eyes shut, waiting for her body to slam against the floor, she suddenly fell onto a firm yet soft objective causing her to sign in relief before her eyes snapped open in realization. Quickly scrambling away, Rosalie look at the thing that she fell on or rather the person she fell on.

A pair of green eyes stared back at Rosalie as she forcefully swallow, "Thank you for um, catching me,” she mumbles as the man in front of her tilted his head, "Are you lost?” He asked ignoring her words of gratitude as she slowly nodded, “Where are you heading?” He asked as Rosalie pointed behind her, “I'm looking for a way to Benjamin Garcia’s house right,”  she replied as the man raised an eyebrow, “Are you related to Benjamin?”  He asked as Rosalie began to feel uncomfortable. 

“Uh, you can say that,”  she said as the man nodded, “Oh, well you're on the right path, just continue going, and then make a left and there you are,”  he said as Rosalie sighed in relief before she showed her gratitude by saying, “Thank you,” before turning around and leaving without waiting for a response. 

“Weird,” she mumbled while following the man’s directions. “Who would just be lurking around in the forest just showing up when someone needs help?” She thought as she continued walking. It was weird, she felt weird and hopes to never see that person again. 

Walking out of the forest, Rosalie sighed in relief as she saw her grandfather's house. The small smile that was plastered on her face suddenly vanished when she saw both Melody and her grandfather outside with worried looks on their faces.

She began to feel guilty and immediately regrets her decision as she gets closer and closer to them,  “Grandpa, Mel?” She called out as they turned towards her, “Oh my God, Rosalie I thought something had happened to you,” Benjamin said as he wheeled towards her, “Relax, grandpa, I’m fine, I’m sorry that I stay out too long, I just-

“No, Rosalie, you don’t understand, the forest is dangerous,” Melody said in a scared yet worried tone causing Rosalie to frown, “I’m sorry, I’ll try not to be alone in the forest, I promise,” she said as they sighed in relief, “Thank you, now get in the house and change, you’re soaking,” Benjamin said as Rosalie nodded before heading inside. 

“Benjamin sighed as Melody messaged his shoulders, “God, I hope she didn’t run into any of those mutts,” he said as Melody sighed, “What were the twins thinking when they left her,” she said as Benjamin placed a hand over hers as they both looked towards the place that they dreaded.

“The only because the thing that matters now is that she’s back home and safe,  god knows that if she had gotten hurt, Javon would’ve never forgiven me,” he said before Melody pushed him inside, both unaware of the individual that was listening in on them. 

Just outside the forest in between the trees was a pair of green eyes that held a lot of mischiefs and something else. Ever since Rosalie had walked off the mysterious man had secretly followed her until she reached Benjamin’s house. Since then, he had been listening in on their conversion, when all of a sudden his ears perked up at the sound of Rosalie’s father’s name, which caused his eyes to darken. 

“Father would love this,” he said with a smirk on his face before he grunted as his spine snapped followed by his legs sending him to the ground. Beads of sweat gathered on his forehead as he gritted through his teeth while he endures the pain in his body morphing into another.

A minute had passed and instead of a man, stood a beast, with thick fur, four legs, a tail, two pointy ears, and a long snout that housed many vicious sharp teeth. The beast's eyes were ombre yellow that shone in the sunlight as it continued to glare at the house before running back into the depths of the forest. 

Rosalie couldn't for some reason get that guy out of her head as she entered her bedroom. She wondered who he was and why he was in the forest. It had occupied her mind so much that she had forgotten why she came to her room in the first place. 

Planting face down on the bed, Rosalie groaned as she remembered, "Just great, lay down on the dry bed with wet clothes on, so smart Rosalie," she mumbled before getting off the bed as she shivered in disgust, "Gosh, I hate wet clothes," she said before the bathroom, where she stripped and got into the warm shower. 

Time seemed to slow down as Rosalie took her shower. With the water pouring down onto her head and running down her body, Rosalie closed her eyes thinking about the girl that she was 12 years ago. 

"Mommy, why is the night your favorite?" Nine-year-old Rosalie asked her mother causing her to smile down at her child, "Because my little flower when your papa and I use to live back at home, we used to go out at night in the forest nearby our house and run under the moon as it shined upon us," she replied as the little girl furrowed her eyebrows. 

"Run?" She asked as her mother nodded with a grin on her face as she tried to silence her giggles, "Okay!" The little girl exclaimed as she giggled causing her mother to giggle, "That's silly mommy," she said as her mother nodded with a smile widening, "I know, but if you were with us, my flower, you'd love it, just as much as we did, we were like wolves," she said as the little girl's eyes lit up. 

"Wolves?!" She excitedly asked as her tiny voice echoed throughout the night earning a nod from her mother, "Mhm, it was incredible," she said as her daughter sighed, "I wish I could do that mommy, will I be able to?" She asked as her mother smiled before cupping her face.

"Yes, my little flower, but due in time as it is your destiny," she said as the little girl nodded before a voice caught their attention, "What are my beautiful ladies doing up there?" A man called out causing the little girl to giggle as she and her mother looked down at her father from on top of the roof, where they casually sat. 

"We're watching the moon, papa," she replied as her father grinned, "Wasn't I invited?" He asked in a fake offended tone causing the girls to giggle as he smiled, "Of course you were darling, but we couldn't find you," Aaliyah said as her husband smirked, "Oh, I'm sorry, my love, I went on a run," he said earning a gasp from his excited daughter, "Really, like the wolves?" She asked as her father grinned, "Exactly like the wolves," he said causing Rosalie's smile to widen.

"That's awesome, Papa, mommy said t-that I'll run like the Wolves too because i-it's my d-destiny," she excitedly said as her words came out fast and gerbish-like, but her parents understood her.

Javon glanced at Aaliyah, who nodded causing him to sigh before nodding as he then turned to his daughter, "She's right Rosalie, soon it would be your time to run like the wolves, that's your destiny," he said before the rain began to pour. 

Gasp!

Rosalie jumped back from the pouring water and she pressed her back against the wall gasping for air with her hand on her chest, "What the hell was that, I-I don't remember that happening," she whispered as tears filled her eyes, "Papa, was that you?" She desperately asked before sinking to the floor as she cried. Rosalie was miserable without her parents. She felt lost and she hated that feeling, but she couldn't do anything but cry and then force herself to move on. 

After that depressing shower, it was around lunchtime when she got out, dressed, and headed back downstairs to have lunch. It was only her, Melody, and Benjamin at the table as they ate Melody's famous Spaghetti Bolognese or as Benjamin called it Spag Bol. 

Rosalie loved it as she wolfed it down earning a wide smile from Melody while Benjamin shook his head, “Wow, this is amazing, Mel, can I call you, Mel?” She asked as Melody nodded, “Of course, you can, and thank you, it was your father's favorite,”  she said as Rosalie swallowed before smiling as a belch suddenly caught her off guard causing her eyes to widen as she covered her mouth.  

Silence filled the room before everyone began to laugh, “you are your father's child, he did the same thing when he first ate my Spaghetti Bolognese,” Melody said as Rosalie smiled shyly before taking a sip of her water. 

“What was it like, tell me about it,” Rosalia asked as Melody placed down her fork, “Well, back when your father was young, we would have dinner at each other's houses on certain days, so when it was their turn to come over at mines, I made Spaghetti Bolognese, and your father loved it, he was like a pig ravishing everything down, until his mother, your grandmother told him to quit it, she was so embarrassed, and your grandfather encouraged it by saying, oh let the boy eat, it's delicious, but she just scoffed at him," Melody explained as Rosalie chuckled before sipping her water.

" I don't blame him, it is pretty amazing," Rosalie said as Benjamin pointed at her as if to say 'she gets it's causing Melody to playfully rolls her eyes earning a smile from Rosalie as she placed her fork on the empty plate before leaning back against her chair, "What happened next?" she asked as Melody giggled while shaking her head.

 "Well, after he got scolded by his mother, he tried to apologize but a belch came out instead which caused everyone to laugh," she said as Rosalie smiles before nodding, "Yeah, that sounds like my dad," she said as Melody smiled, "Your father was amazing, he was the son that I never had and could never have," she said as Rosalie sighed, " I'm sorry Mel," she said as Melody smiled, "It's all right, sweetheart, your father kind of filled that space for me," she said as Rosalia nodded before shrugging. 

"My father told me stories about you, I just didn't know it was you," she said as Melody nodded with teary eyes, "What did he say?" She asked as Rosalie rubbed her hands looking at anything but Melody, who waited with an eager look in her eyes.

 "Well, he used to say that he had two moms, who were best friends,"  she said as Melody looked at Benjamin with a wide smile, "And that you guys meant a lot to him, and he missed you so much because you were home," she said as she zoned out while Melody listened to her words with tears streaming down her face.

"I miss him too, when he and your mother left, I was so heartbroken," she said as Benjamin held her hand, while Rosalie frowned, "Why did they leave?" She asked causing Benjamin to take a sharp breath in,  "Because they were unwanted here, people for their selfish reasons didn't want them here and was causing unnecessary confrontation, so they left, my son was thinking about his family, you and your mother," Benjamin said with tears in his eyes.

"Why didn't he take you with him, and what about my other grandparents, didn't they at least fight for their daughter?" She asked as Benjamin sighed,  "Javon couldn't afford to take us with him, and Aaliyah's parents disowned her after she disobeyed them and went with your father, we were her parents," he said as a tear rolled down Rosalie's face, "Are they still alive?" She asked as Benjamin nodded, "Yes, but don't go looking for them, they aren't nice people," Melody said as Rosalie nodded, "They are not of importance, the day they disowned my mother, was the day they disowned their granddaughter," she said as Melody smiled, "That's what your father had said, you're a lot like him and with you being here I can feel him," she said as Rosalie sighed while looking down at her hands. 

"You too, huh?" She asked as Melody looked at Benjamin, who shook his head, "Lunch was amazing, Mel, thank you, but I think I'll head back up to my room, I have some painting that I have to finish," Rosalie said as she stood up before pushing in her chair, "You're welcome sweetie and don't worry, I'll clean these right up," Melissa has Rosalie nodded before glancing at her grandfather, who nodded, "Thank you, and I'll see you guys at dinner," she said before leaving.

Benjamin sighed as he watched his granddaughter leave before Melody turn to face him, "Did I say something wrong?" She asked as Benjamin shook his head, "No, my dear, she just misses her father that's all," he said as Melody grabbed his hand, "We all do, my love, we all do." 

Lunch was amazing, the best home-cooked meal that she had since her parents had passed, and Rosalie appreciated Melody's efforts. It was always a pleasure to hear stories about her father's past, and the fact that he was known as a great person. But Rosalie realized that she had a lot to uncover in her parents' home country, and something told her it wasn't going to be pretty. 

Just like she had told them, Rosalie went up to her room to finish a painting of a dream that she had a few years ago and couldn't seem to stop dreaming about it until she placed it on paper. This particular dream had ended with her throat being slashed as she held her neck while terrifyingly looking up at red eyes with claw marks on her face. It was a very gruesome image, but for Rosalie to forget it, was to bring that scene to life and she did just that in the only way she knew she could with paint and a brush.

The painting was almost finished as she continued to detail the horror in her eyes before a knocking on her window was heard, startling her as she dropped her brush before turning around. Outside her window, hung Genesis as he smirked at her. As her eyes widen, Rosalie hurried to the window, opening it to allow Genesis to climb through until he was fully inside. Still in shock, Rosalie looked out her window before looking back at Genesis, who grinned, "How did you get up here?" she asked as Genesis shrugged with a smirk on his face. 

"Secret," he said while winking at her before looking around her room, "Why is it so dark in here?" He asked as Rosalie moved to pick up her paintbrush, " I feel more concentrated when I paint in the moonlight, and it's not so dark," she said as Genesis moved to observe her painting. "Where is your brother, I thought you never leave without him?" She asked as Genesis chuckled, "He went for a run," Genesis replied as Rosalie's heart sped up, "In this time of night?" She asked as Genesis turned to face her as his eyebrows furrowed while his lips grinned, "I can hear your heartbeat from here, Rosie, what's wrong?" He asked as Rosalie forcefully swallowed, "What?" She asks as Genesis moved closer to her.

"Your face, it looks as if you had seen a ghost, what's wrong with my brother having a nighttime run, if you haven't noticed, he does struggle with his anger which is quite good for him,"  he said as Rosalie relaxed, "Oh, it's just that my grandfather and Mel says that the forest is dangerous and he's probably out there alone with God knows what creature," she rambled as Genesis gently please the finger on her lips silently shutting her up as he wore a soft smile and dark eyes. 

"They're right, it is dangerous, and thanks for caring, but my brother will be fine," he said as Rosalie frowned, "I don't care, but why didn't you go with him?" She asked as Genesis sighed before taking a seat on her bed. "I wanted to come and make sure you were all right after abandoning you in the forest without you knowing how to get out," he said as Rosalie shrugged with a small smile, "It was okay, I guess, I managed to get back to the house on my own, well I got help from this guy," she said as Genesis frowned, "What guy?" He asks as Rosalie shrugged, "I can't remember him, but his eyes were green," she said as Genesis sighed, "I guess we wouldn't be leaving you alone if you were going into the forest," he said causing Rosalie's eyebrows to furrow. 

Hey now, I can take care of myself," she argued as Genesis stood up before grabbing her shoulders, "Please don't be arrogant Rosalie, you don't know what happens in Queensland, especially on this side when the night rises," he said as Rosalie stared into his eyes. 

"Then tell me what happens," she whispered as Genesis shook his head, "It's better to not know something that you don't understand," he said as Rosalie sighed before removing his hands, "Then why did you bring it up?" She asked causing Genesis to cross his arms, "Just forget about what I said Rosalie, and why don't you explain that painting to me, it's quite interesting," he said as Rosalie looked at her painting before shrugging her shoulders.

"It's self-explanatory, there's nothing to explain," she said as Genesis silently observed the painting, "What was the inspiration behind it, and why put yourself in it and not someone else?" He asked as Rosalie thought back on her dream, "It's a scene from my dream," she replied as Genesis furrowed his eyebrows,  "Which part of the dream did that happen?" He asked as Rosalie sighed before looking back at him as the moonlight shone on one side of her face. 

"At the end."