Chapter 5.
Camryn.
It was dark. The trees were tall and thick around me. My feet pounded against the forest floor as I ran, breathless. I didn't know where I was going. I didn't even know why I was running, only that something was behind me.
Something fast.
Something dangerous.
Branches scratched at my arms and face but I didn't stop. My heart was racing, chest burning. The sound of footsteps or paws, crunched loudly behind me.
Then I tripped.
I hit the ground hard, rolling onto my side. I scrambled to get up but before I could...
I woke up.
Gasping, I sat straight up in bed. My sheets were soaked with sweat and my hair clung to my forehead. My hands trembled as I looked around the dark room.
Just a nightmare.
Just a dream.
Heather groaned from the other side of the room. "Seriously? I'm trying to sleep."
"Sorry," I whispered, my voice still shaky.
She rolled over and didn't say anything else. I didn't blame her, I wouldn't want to be woken up either. But I couldn't shake the feeling from the dream. It had felt so real, like I'd actually been there. Like something had really been chasing me.
I wiped my face with the blanket and lay back down, staring at the ceiling.
Sleep didn't come again.
I stayed like that until morning while my thoughts kept spinning.
When the sun finally came up, I was relieved. It was Saturday. No classes, no training, no fake smiles. I wouldn't have to go to class looking like a zombie.
I dragged myself out of bed and into the bathroom, glancing at my reflection.
I looked like I hadn't slept all week.
And maybe, in a way, I hadn't.
Everything here was strange. The school, The people. There's a lot that doesn't make sense since I got here.
And that dream... it didn't feel like the last one I'd have.
----
Later that day, I decided to go for a run. My thoughts were spinning and I needed to clear my head.
I changed into a white cropped hoodie and black leggings, tied my hair into a loose ponytail and stepped outside. It was quiet-peaceful.
I took off down the path behind the school leading to the forest. The wind brushed against my skin as I jogged. For a moment, it felt like I could breathe again.
Then I noticed someone sitting alone beneath one of the tall trees ahead. From a distance, I couldn't see clearly, but as I jogged closer, the figure became familiar.
Kian.
He sat with his back against the trunk, long legs stretched out in front of him. A book rested in his hands and strands of his dark hair fell across his face. He didn't even look up.
"I can see you watching me," he said quietly, eyes still on the page.
"Oh... sorry," I said, caught off guard. "Hi."
He finally glanced up, his face unreadable as always.
"What are you doing out here?" I asked.
"I could ask you the same thing," he replied without emotion.
I gave a small shrug. "I needed air. This place gets suffocating sometimes."
"This is my quiet spot," he said, tone calm but clear. "And right now, it's not very quiet."
I nodded slowly. "Well... I didn't know. I'll leave you to it."
He nodded slightly, then looked back at his book, clearly not in the mood for small talk.
I turned to go but hadn't taken more than two steps when I heard him again.
"Wait."
I stopped and looked over my shoulder.
He was standing now, staring at me with sharp eyes. He stepped forward, slowly and before I could say anything, he reached for the hem of my hoodie and lifted it slightly.
"Don't touch me," I snapped, slapping his hand away.
"I'm not trying to touch you," he said, voice calm but serious. "I saw something."
I looked down and froze.
The edge of my scar, the small red X on my stomach, had peeked out from under my hoodie.
My heart skipped.
"Oh," I whispered, quickly pulling my hoodie down.
"How did you get that?" Kian asked, eyes now locked on mine.
"I... I don't know," I said quickly.
"You're lying."
"What?" I blinked at him.
"That mark, it's not just a scar. Was it from an attack? Does it burn? Tingle? Do you feel it at night?"
His questions came fast and firm, like he wasn't just guessing. Like he knew something.
I thought about that night in the woods, the shift, the chase, the blood. The memory made my stomach turn. But I couldn't tell him about that.
"No," I said, trying to sound casual. "It's nothing."
Kian didn't believe me. I could see it in his eyes.
"You need to be careful," he said quietly. "If it's what I think it is, they're already watching you. And they'll come."
I took a step back. "What are you talking about? Who's 'they'?"
He didn't answer. Just stood there, staring at me like I was a puzzle he couldn't figure out.
I turned away and started walking. His words followed me.
"They'll find you, Camryn."
I didn't stop.
I didn't look back.
But I couldn't stop the chill that ran down my spine.
What did he mean?
Who was coming?
And what was this scar really?
