I was sitting in my writing class, finishing up my assignment, when the news began to spread amongst the students. The Professor looked up from her desk and instead of getting annoyed with the disruption, she asked the student closest to her what had happened. I wasn't able to hear what was said, but the shock and fear on the Professor's face said enough as she ended class 30 min early. She raced out before everyone else collected their items, and I made my way through the desks to Kolt, to see if he knew anything about the panic.
"Kolt, hey Kolt!" I called as he slipped out the door, and when I exited the classroom I couldn't find him in the crowd. I decided to head back to my room and text Jess to see if she knew what was going on.
hey, do you know why everyone is freaking out, I just got out of class early
Her response came quickly.
there was another attack, get back to the room, I heard they were talking about a campus lock down.
I rushed back, careful to avoid some of the less populated areas of my usual route. Everyone seemed to be let out of class early and there was a sense of urgency among everyone I passed. When I got back to the room Jess was packing her overnight bag and she was on the phone with someone.
"Yes, we're coming don't worry we'll be there in 10. Yes, I know we'll be careful. Have you talked to Kolt or Wick, ok well when you reach them let us know."
She hung up abruptly and paused to address me.
"Ok here's the plan, the Town Council is talking about instituting a lock down for the weekend since the animal, or person or whatever hasn't been caught yet. Kiera has invited us all to stay at her house until Pack a bag and let's move."
I stood in front of door, half wanting to laugh and the other half utterly confused.
"I don't understand what's happening? Everyone is acting like the purge siren is about to go off. Why was this attack so bad?" I didn't mean to sound so accusatory, but everyone was scaring me and I didn't know how to react.
"Because the attack was on campus and a student was almost killed."
We met up with Nathan and Fox on our way to Kiera's house, and we hurried to climb the hill before the fast approaching dusk set in. Kiera let us in and gave each of us a right hug, then directed us to sit by the fire and let her take our bags upstairs. We all pulled off our coats and hung them up by the door. Kiera and Kolt's parents were members of the Town Council and were meeting at the town hall, and had told her that they were probably going to have to stay there as a storm front was moving in from the east.
For the next couple of hours we sat around and waited for more news, Nathan made us all tea and cocoa, and Kiera showed us to our rooms. Fox and Nathan would get the first floor guest room, Jess would stay in Kiera's room, and Wick and I would stay in the upstairs guest rooms. Their house really was a mansion.
On social media everyone was going crazy. People were posting their status and pleading for others to let them know if they've heard from specific people. Cell service was on the fritz which made people even more stressed. I quietly had asked Fox why everyone was so panicked, and she explained that bad stuff was rare in Silver Lake and surrounding towns. People respected each other and rarely did anything out of line. Which is why an attempted homicide was treated like the apocalypse.
Nobody was able to get into contact with Kolt or Wick, probably because of the storm that had arrived. But as we all sat around the living room with the news on, waiting for more information, there was a thunderous knock on the front door.
Kiera jumped up, followed by Jess and Fox, to see who was there. She looked through the peep hole and pulled the ginormous door open with a groan. From my spot on the couch I could barely see the door way, but I heard the sound of rain and people take off their coats urgently.
"Where is she?" I heard Wick say from the foyer, and his eyes found mine as he rounded the corner sharply. His hair was soaked to his forehead and his black long sleeve shirt was stuck to his muscular body. His sleeves were rolled slightly and he looked frantic, but his grimace slowly shifted into a look of relief. Someone pulled him by his arm out of my sight and I turned back to my tea. I tried to get the idea that he was relieved to see me out of me head.
Hushed whispers ensued from the foyer as the door was shut forcefully.
"What are you doing, shut up, do you want her to never speak to you," Kiera scolded.
"I'm sorry that I was worried about her, Kiera. We can't all be with our other halves all the time." Wick's angry voice replied as he emerged from the foyer, followed by a very soaked Kolt and a very annoyed looking Kiera, a concerned Jess and an anxious Fox.
Wick sat down next to me on the couch but didn't acknowledge me, and the rest of the group took spots around the TV.
"This just in, the Town Council of Silver Lake has declared a town-wide lockdown until further notice. Residents may only leave their homes for emergency purposes. The culprit of the Arenthe Institute of Technology attack is currently still at large. We-"
Kiera turned off the TV with a click and slapped her knees.
"Well that's that, right? Now we'll all just stay put for now and keep each other company. Things could be worse, eh?" She said with a forced smile as Jess rubbed her shoulder.
"A student was almost killed, Kiera. You think that this is just gonna be a fun little sleepover?" Her brother snapped at her and everyone looked anxiously towards Wick.
"I'm just trying to keep calm and relax for the night, since there's nothing else I can do." Kiera growled back with the same ferocity.
"Ok guys let's take a step back. Why don't we all go to bed for now and try to get some sleep, it's already..." Nathan scooted to the edge of his seat and checked his watch before he continued, "it's 3 am. Come on. No is gonna say anything productive now."
He found Fox's hand and they stood up, thanked Kiera and Kolt for letting them stay over, and made their way to their room for the night. Kolt stormed up the stairs and Wick got up and made his way to the floor to ceiling window. Jess whispered something to Kiera and then came over to me to say goodnight. After she gave me a squeeze and walked up the stairs, Kiera sat next to me and held my hand.
"I'm sorry if this is intense for you. My brother and I have a lot of little power struggles like that and I guess it's just cause everyone is stressed." She smiled warmly and I felt as though I'd known her for years, let alone a month.
"Don't even worry about it. Everyone is a little jumpy and rattled right now. You guys are so sweet to let us stay over, and I'm dying to play animal crossing with you tomorrow on that giant TV."
We laughed and talked about other things. We discussed school and the workload, how awkward we felt in kickboxing, and then she told me about Jess. How they weren't official yet, but she was waiting for the right time to ask Jess to be her girlfriend. I squealed and gave Kiera a quick hug, excited that my friends were so happy together.
"What about you, have you started liking anyone since you got here?" Kiera teased, poking my thigh and raising her eyebrows.
"No I mean, not really, obviously there are guys I think are hot or attracting or whatever but ya know I'm not sure," I spluttered out. Acutely aware of the brooding, wet Adonis begin us.
"Haha don't worry, I know what you mean. Here I'll show you you're room." We stood and I followed her to the grand staircase. I glanced back and Wick was still standing guard, just watching the waves break against the cliff below.
My room overlooked the waves, and had a balcony, the doors creaking as the wind assaulted them on the other side. Even with the lights off, the room was dimly lit by the moon over the lake. I laid in the full bed and watched the waves crash against the opposite cliff, where there were nothing but trees.
The edge of the cliff reminded me of the painting of Fayelle, and the ridiculous details I had gathered from Dr. Harrison. The idea that reincarnated Wolves lived inside humans, and that humans could shift into wolves, and the fact that are enraged, aggressive 'Vere' living among us...
I was spiraling. This story, myth, legend was just that. Nothing more. Not reality. There were no Were, and the Vere only existed on the canvas in Wick's home and in the minds of theses towns people.
The part about the Mates was sort of beautiful. The idea that there was a person out there, waiting, looking, searching for you, because you were meant to be together. And not just thrown together by fate. But chosen by ancient beings, so that there was no possible way for the pair to not find love with each other.
But what if one Mate wasn't a Were. What if they were just Chosen and their Wolves hadn't been awoken yet. Did that ever happen? How was a Wolf awakened? I had so many questions. Who even created this intricate legend? And what happened when Mates finally found each other and reunited their Wolves?
The wind sent the balcony doors rattling sharply and I jumped at the scare. Then a soft knock came from the hall and I yelled a quiet "come in."
The door creaked open and illuminated by the moonlight stood Wick. He was dressed in shorts and a t-shirt, and he leaned against the doorframe. My breath hitches in my throat and I quieted the inner voice that swooned at how effortlessly handsome he was.
"Just checking on you before I go to bed," He said gruffly. His eyes had dark bags under them and I could see the tension and stress in his shoulders from across the room. I sat up right and waved him inside.
"I'm fine. I just hope they find whoever it was that killed that poor girl."
The student that was attack was a senior from Silver Lakes. She was found bleeding out behind a dorm with three slashes on her neck, and authorities couldn't tell if it was an animal or a human who caused them. A go-fund-me account had already exceeded her expected medical bills and her doctors released a statement that she would make a full recovery.
Wick crossed the room and leaned against the dresser. We stayed like that, just breathing and looking out the window for a while, stuck in the comfortable, heavy silence.
"I've- uh, my dad is working on it as we speak. I'm sure they'll find the perp as soon as possible." His eyes found mine in the darkness and I nodded. He was sincere and serious, and I knew he was holding something back.
"Wick, if you ever need to talk about anything, I'm here. You know that right? We're friends." I spoke softly and I saw his shoulders relax slightly.
"I'm glad to hear you say that, Rose. I'll always be here for you, no matter what happens."
I was somewhat speechless as his declaration was a lot more intense than mine. But I appreciated it nonetheless.
"Thank you."
"Anytime." And with that he smirked and pushed himself off the dresser and headed for the door.
"Goodnight, Wick." I said before he shut the door behind him.
"Goodnight, Rose."