Chapter 2 CHAPTER
JULIE'S POINT OF VIEW
A distant howl penetrated the night's silence to wake me from my slumber.
I sat up while groaning and rubbing my eyes. The dim moonlight cast long shadows across my room walls while the space remained silent. I wrapped my blanket more tightly around myself while I questioned if the sound was authentic or just my imagination playing tricks.
But then I heard it again.
A long, mournful howl cut through the night.
I left my bed to reach the balcony, where I opened the doors. The wind blew swiftly by my body while its coldness touched my flesh. The endless stretch of Midnight Grove revealed itself beneath the moonlight as a dark and enigmatic forest with only the moonlight illuminating the tree tops.
It could’ve been a stray dog. Maybe even a coyote.
A hidden voice within me refused to accept this explanation.
I should’ve gone back to bed. I knew that.
Aunty Lilian had explicitly told us to avoid the woods, yet my curiosity kept pulling me toward them. Your heart raced, and your breathing accelerated because of this particular curiosity.
I paused for only one brief moment before sneaking out of my bedroom and descending the stairs with absolute stealth. Christian and Dad were asleep. Waking up would mean a certain death for me.
I carefully rotated the knob on the back door. The door made a slight creaking sound, which caused me to pause while checking to see if anyone was awake.
Silence.
Good.
A sudden blast of cold wind caused my body to shiver as soon as I left the house. The night air chilled my bare skin because I had chosen to wear only a thin white dress. The distant howl pulled me toward it as I moved forward despite the cold night air.
The trees in Midnight Grove towered to great heights with their massive trunks and extensive branches that reached toward the sky. The path became increasingly challenging to follow as I moved deeper into the woods. The dancing shadows between the trees combined with each twig snap that I made sent terrifying sensations through my heart.
The atmosphere of this place created a sense of acceptance.
Like I belonged there.
I finally reached a lake after what seemed like an eternity.
The Lake.
It was breathtaking.
The moonlight created a silvery effect on the water as it glided across the surface. The water surface showed a flawless reflection of the sky as gentle waves glided across it.
The scene held me there for an endless night.
A sudden noise broke the peaceful silence.
I ducked behind a rock, my heart pounding.
The figures traversed the lake's opposite side. Shadows.
I strained my eyes to see through the low visibility.
Wolves.
Not just one or two—an entire pack.
The fear rose to block my airway. I held myself down on the freezing earth while attempting to control my breathing.
I should’ve turned back. I should’ve run.
But I didn’t.
Instead, I watched.
The pack wasn’t alone. A Silverback Wolf maintained a rigid posture that seemed defiant to the others.
Something was wrong.
The Pack wolves formed a methodical circle around the Silverback Wolf as they moved slowly. Their movements followed a methodical pattern, and it appeared as if they had rehearsed their steps.
They were punishing him.
Then, the tension shifted.
Another figure emerged from the wolves when they parted their way to show respect by lowering their heads.
A Furry Wolf.
I recognized immediately that this wolf stood apart from the others.
His size towered above the others while his dark black fur glowed with an eternal flame from his burning eyes. When he shifted his position, all other wolves froze.
A single forceful movement allowed him to remove the Silverback Wolf's head from its body.
A loud gasp escaped my mouth unintentionally.
A surge of panic made me cover my mouth as I struggled to breathe.
But it was too late.
The Furry Wolf lifted his head to stare directly at me with his piercing eyes.
I couldn’t breathe.
I couldn’t move.
His gaze penetrated me entirely as if he could see my entire being.
And then—
A hand grabbed my wrist.
The sudden pull backward caught me off guard as I lost my footing on the rough terrain.
"Run."
I knew that voice.
Christian.
I didn’t ask questions. I didn’t need to.
I ran.
A loud howl from behind us reverberated across the night sky.
And then—they charged.
"Faster!" I panted, my lungs burning. "They’re coming!"
"You think I'm unaware of the situation?" Christian asked. Christian shot back. You think I'm running like a tortoise because of what?
The forest branches slapped my arms while we hurried through the path, which required us to avoid tree roots and fallen logs. The wolves' thunderous footfalls behind us created a tight knot in my stomach.
They were gaining.
I chanced a glance back.
The Furry Wolf led their pursuit with his enormous body moving at an alarming pace.
Our chances of survival were nonexistent.
The wolves approached dangerously close as we saw the house in front of us.
Christian forced me through the door entrance with such force that he had to slam the door shut after me. We secured the door and then pushed a chair against it before collapsing in exhausted panting.
Silence.
I released my breath while my hands continued to shake uncontrollably.
I managed a fake smile while saying, "Thanks, bro."
Christian wasn’t amused.
You lost your mind when you made that decision!
Here we go.
Christian moved back and forth across the room while he kept running his hands through his hair. You have no idea what could have happened! THEY COULD’VE RIPPED YOU APART! Your limbs would have become our responsibility to locate in the woods after you disappeared.
I winced. "It wasn’t—"
You must not have understood the warning about DON’T GO INTO MIDNIGHT GROVE.
He continued his rant without letting me speak.
"YOU’RE GROUNDED."
I groaned. "Christian—"
"For a week."
I sighed. Not as bad as I expected.
He exhaled, rubbing his face. You were out there for what reason?
I hesitated.
"Nothing."
"Nothing?"
I swallowed. "Just… couldn’t sleep."
Christian narrowed his eyes. "You’re hiding something."
"No, I’m not."
His eyes stayed fixed on me for a brief instant before he let out a deep breath and shook his head. "Whatever. … don’t do it again."
He walked away to the upper floor while I remained there thinking about everything that had just happened.
The lake.
The wolves.
The Furry Wolf’s eyes are on me.
I should’ve been terrified.
The experience should have left me completely devastated.
But instead…
I felt something else entirely.
Something I couldn’t explain.
A sensation of deep coldness ran through my body.
That night, I spent my time in bed staring at the ceiling while strange feelings were washing over me.
A distant howl traveled through the darkness of night for a second time.
The howl addressed me by name during its second appearance.