On that ephemeral and strange night, her gaze wandered the unknown beyond the hills. Upon an horizon seemingly detached from reality, the celestial embrace between sky and earth unfolded. The enduring shroud of darkness that encircled her merged with that of the earth, bequeathing insomniacs a hint about the world they lived in, like a whisper: brief, translucent, and evanescent.
As the sun slowly devoured the darkness, siphoning its strength until its ultimate demise, a sensation of suffocation enfolded her once more. She watched how it scratched the hill with its harsh rays, then the abyss, ending by pouring itself through it and making its usual journey to the world that seemed neverending for its touch. With the emergence of this cosmic harmony that appeared to overflow around her, serenity dissipated, leaving behind an aura of unrest that lingered like a delicate mist. The magic evaporated from her as well, forcing her to give up the state of dreaming.
Rhea lifted her body, tingling with sharp prickles,and inhaled deeply, allowing air to surge into lungs that had felt dormant for hours. A searing ache ignited at the base of her chest, as if awakening after a long slumber. She surrendered to the pain, letting it wrap around her like a perpetual numbness, all the while shifting her gaze away from the precipice that concealed the soft murmurs of water.
Her gaze wandered like the trees encircling her, which, in their almost desperate rush, morphed into dimming silhouettes, casting an ongoing enigma over the surroundings.
The unyielding branches brushed against her body in haste, as if reluctant to release her.
The undeniable truth was that she, too, felt cocooned in safety here and was reluctant to depart. Nevertheless, the high school's stringent morning schedule left her no choice.
The sun, unswerving in its path unlike her, surged in intensity, eliciting a muttered curse as she caught sight of it. The impending hours were poised to begin, and time seemed to weave chaotically through her.
The illuminated fissure between the trees offered her reassurance â the forest's edge lay just a few meters ahead. She eased her pace, endeavoring to reclaim her breath in shallow draughts her lungs greedily embraced. A glance at her watch on her right wrist revealed the time: six-thirty. The mad dash through the woods had pilfered thirty precious minutes from her day. Allowing her lungs to indulge in a final gulp of crisp air, she took a solitary step, crossing into the realm that awaited beyond.
Unyielding, she refrained from blinking, her gaze fixed ahead. She didn't turn to regard the forest that loomed ominously from beyond, encircled by darkness and warnings daubed in hues of blood-red, rendered illegible by the relentless rain. She never paid them any mind; an unspoken accord seemed to exist between her and the woods, a bond of understanding and protection. In return, she felt an intricate belonging, as if the very fabric of the forest intertwined with her soul.
Rhea traversed the path to school with a sense of swiftness, occasionally turning her head to steal glances at her watch. Despite the time reading seven-fifteen, an unexplained calm infused her, dispelling any urgency to hasten her steps.
The bookstore came into view where she often bought books or scoured for light reads. Racing across the street, she drew nearer to the translucent window, her gaze fixed on a new collection of books displayed on the back shelf. A fleeting glance at the timetable, though she could recite it from memory, and then she pressed on, skillfully navigating the sidewalk's puddles that mirrored the sky's hue.
As she stepped into the school's main building, the clock read seven-twenty. More moments lay ahead, destined to dissolve in the feverish anticipation of the next class.
Thirty-five minutes stretched like a canvas before her, during which she methodically measured the walls' dimensions, searching for any imperfections. Yet, the once-pristine white had succumbed to smudges, morphing into a monochrome that pricked her eyes with a gritty unease. Shifting her gaze to the window, not even the view could charm her. The wan hue of the sky and the city hemmed in by artificial parks stirred an intense feeling of captivity. In the forest, things were so different, so... ordinary.
As the classroom clock's hands inched closer to 8 o'clock, she let her gaze wander to her face reflected in the window. Her eyes, the color of warm, light brown, held a quiet curiosity as they met their own reflection. The subtle waves in her natural red hair, a darker shade with hints of fire, seemed to ripple with every thought that passed through her mind. Freckles, like a sprinkle of stardust, adorned her cheeks and nose, a testament to days spent under the sun's caress in the woods. Beneath her contemplative gaze, her full lips wore a hint of rosy blush, a result of running. Her brows, matching the rich tones of her hair, gracefully arched above her eyes, adding depth to her expression.
Her body jolted in response to the sharp sound of the door.
A figure of quiet strength and enigmatic presence stepped into the room, capturing her attention in an instant. His hair, the rich hue of freshly brewed espresso, was tousled in a way that seemed deliberate yet effortlessly casual. A few strands of it brushed against his furrowed brows, adding an air of intrigue to his countenance. A strong jawline framed his features, lending him an air of unyielding resolve. Yet, despite the rugged appeal of his strong build and commanding presence, there was an undeniable youthfulness that softened his expression.
"Sorry," Cain mumbled, his thoughts adrift.
This new home didn't sit well with him, despite the obligation to appreciate his brother's kindness. Being taken in under fraternal wings, even without prior acquaintance, seemed an act of love that left Cain contemplating its implications.
The idea of being folded into a family he had never known was both heartwarming and disconcerting.
He found himself standing by a window, gazing out at the world beyond. The view was serene, a façade of tranquility that seemed at odds with the currents of emotions swirling within him. Questions danced like shadows in his mind, and he yearned for a sense of belonging that seemed just beyond his grasp.
Yet, his senses had been overtaken by the delicate scent of white lilacs, as if it had permeated every corner of the room. Even though the space was gradually filling with people, Cain swiftly discerned the origin of the powerful fragrance.
A warm sensation tingled on the nape of Rhea's neck, prompting her to turn and confront the gaze that had been troubling her. There, as her eyes met the figure who had slammed the door earlier, a rush of color surged to her cheeks. His eyes, like a stormy horizon caught between shades of gray and blue, held an intensity that seemed to peer through the depths of her thoughts. She instinctively allowed her hair to cascade like a curtain, as though any potential intense stare could not penetrate through the reddish shield.
She despised being looked at; it made her feel vulnerable.
Cain stood up and moved to her side, a determined stride in his step. He wasn't about to let anyone else claim the seat next to her. Her scent held him captive, an irresistible force he couldn't resist. Uncertain of what had taken hold of him, he found himself settling by her side of the bench, his gaze resting on her as if she were a captivating experiment awaiting his observation.
She caught the sound of his footsteps and felt his presence almost instantly as he reached her side. Her restless eyes flitted around the expanse of the white walls, a reflection of the unease that gripped her.
"Is this seat taken?" His deep voice sent shivers through her body, though not enough to break the grip of her anxious paralysis.
She didn't turn to meet his gaze when she softly uttered her response, "No," a response that kindled a spark of irritation within Cain. He had hoped to study every contour of her face, and her avoidance stirred a mix of frustration and intrigue within him.
"May I?" he inquired, his hand nudging the chair slightly back, the faint creak of its legs against the hard floor punctuating his request.
All Cain desired was to meet her gaze, to lock eyes with her. If he hadn't wrestled down his animalistic impulse, he was certain he would have grasped her face in his hands and drawn her closer, even though such behavior was far from his nature. Shaking off his momentary lapse, hoping to regain his composure, he didn't linger for her response; instead, he settled into the chair with a deliberate thud.
As his massive form settled uncomfortably close, Rhea's composure wavered. Her knees quivered with an unsteady rhythm, and her heart thumped so forcefully that it seemed to reverberate through her entire being. And Cain, too, sensed her unrest. How could he not, when he was grappling with similar sensations? The divergence between the two lay in Cain's mastery of self-control.
In a state of desperation, Rhea began counting the seconds, a desperate attempt to regain her composure and momentarily bury the turmoil that raged within her. The sensation was far from welcome; instead, it felt as though it could rend her apart. She was baffled by the sudden onslaught of emotions, for she had never reacted in such a way before. Despite her inclination toward reticence, she had never never transformed into a wild creature when interacting with others. At most, she would avoid eye contact. However, in this instance, it seemed that her body had ceased to heed her commands.
Thus, she channeled her frustration towards him. She resented how his appearance had disrupted her equilibrium, as if he were an erratic machine struggling to operate correctly. Cain perceived the change, as her misguided trembling ceased, and she spent the rest of the hour deliberately ignoring him, as if he weren't in such close proximity to her.
Naturally, she remained acutely conscious of his presence. His unwavering gaze still seemed to linger on her, yet she opted for silence, mirroring his own approach. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught him gazing almost through her. He appeared lost in his own world, and she had no intention of altering that.
As the class drew to a close, a sense of relief washed over Rhea. The passing minutes had felt like a burden, and she had consciously avoided any more glances in his direction. She packed her belongings, her gaze sweeping across the thinning room, but he was notably absent.
The subsequent classes went by, each one offering a reprieve from the unease that had settled within her. It seemed that he wasn't present in any of them. It was as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders, and she embraced the classes without the distraction of his piercing gaze.
The school day had come to an end, and Rhea found herself lost amidst the pages of books within the confines of the bookstore. The narratives felt all too familiar, the same tales retold by different pens. Just as she was preparing to depart, a splash of green seized her attention. She plucked the book from the shelf, turning it over in her hands, exploring every facet. No author's name, no title adorned its coverâonly a subdued shade of mossy green, a texture so delicate that it conjured memories of her cherished sanctuary.
She purchased the book without a second thought, deciding that she would only open it within the forest. A conviction arose within her that the book's pristine essence shouldn't be sullied by the outside world.
People drifted past her like fleeting shadows. Her eyes resembled the unyielding lens of a camera, yet they failed to fixate on anything specific. The hurried souls around her hardly spared a moment to observe their environment. In their reckless haste, they collided with one another, akin to marionettes pulled by invisible strings, as if their bodies and gazes were not their own. They appeared vacant, desiccated, mere vessels living lives as transient as their existence.
Cain watched her from a distance, observing as she faded into the crowd, seemingly eager to distance herself from the hustle of civilization. Her body seemed to instinctively shy away from the hurried figures.As she neared the forest, he observed a shift in her demeanor, a transformation that piqued his curiosity. He couldn't determine whether she was part of his brother's family, for the only fragrance that graced his senses was that of lilacs.
She quickened her steps toward the forest, the fresh scent of it already in the air. A sensation of being pursued crept over her, yet when she turned her head, she saw nothing. Even the people had vanished, as if the earth had silently buried them beneath its surface. With an indifferent shrug, she ventured into a clearing, and the world around her shifted, as though transforming into an entirely different realm.
Her steps led her to her special place, a secluded corner of the woods she cherished. She could close her eyes and let the path unfold in her subconscious. The forest's melodious cadence intrigued her, and as the precipice came into view, Rhea allowed her backpack to gently glide from her shoulder, surrendering it to gravity's embrace. Sitting on the edge of the rocky outcrop, she let her legs sway above the void.
Before her was an abyss that seemed to stretch on forever, its depths murmuring with the song of restless waters. Here was the edge, the boundary. If she yielded to the tender caress of the wind, the gentle dance might lead to a fall...
Yet, she opted to unfurl the book instead. It felt fragile under her touch, as her finger traced the surface. Her eyes hesitated on the velvety pages, their curiosity interrupted by a resounding crack.
The instinct of self-preservation propelled her to her feet without conscious thought. Her eyes darted nervously across the sea of trees that encircled her. Setting the book aside, Rhea took measured steps toward the heart of the forest. Bravery wasn't a trait she would readily attribute to herself, nor was it accurate, but an undeniable pull beckoned her to move forwardâto venture, to scrutinize, to uncover. She couldn't definitively determine whether it was her innate curiosity, a lurking fear of what might lie beyond the trees, a glimmer of hope to catch sight of a squirrel or any small creature, or even a slightly quirky sense of self-preservation that nudged her onward.
Once she stood concealed among the foliage, her gaze absorbed every inch of the landscape in meticulous detail. And yet, there was nothing remarkable to be found.
Shaking her head, she chided herself for imagining sounds as she ventured into the small clearing and came across a footprint. A distinct human footprint. Her brow furrowed as she placed her own foot beside it, a hopeful attempt to convince herself it was hers, an effort to stave off the burgeoning panic. Her breath quickened, and as the footprint turned out to be larger, she almost couldn't feel the air making its way into her lungs.
Desperate, she searched for any other trace, but there was none. It was as if whoever had been there with her had simply vanished into thin air.
She made a conscious effort not to overthink it, to avoid conjuring unsettling scenarios. Blaming the mysterious sounds on the creatures of the forest, she dismissed the footprint from her mind. Perhaps someone had been there long before, and their mark lingered on.
She was fully aware of her self-deception, but as long as the calm prevailed, she was willing to buy into the lie.
Returning to her chosen spot, the allure of the book faded. Instead, she opted to watch the sun's descent until it dipped beneath the horizon, the sky adorned in hues of soft rose reflecting in the water. As a solitary band of dark clouds, vividly blue like the night, ushered in darkness.
In the meantime, Cain cursed himself for his earlier mistake.He had approached too closely, and in his attempt to erase any trace of his presence to avoid arousing suspicion, he caught sight of her and stumbled.
Despite his relative unfamiliarity with the forest, he had managed to evade notice. A fugitive all his life, his expertise lay in obscuring his passage through different terrains. He had missed one trace, just one. It wasn't all that incriminating for him.
He contemplated leaving, but a smile tugged at his lips as the image of the red-haired girl lingered in his mind. He convinced himself to stay a while longer, just to watch her. What was it about her that intrigued him so? With that question unanswered, he stood rooted to the spot, even as the possibility of being discovered loomed.
Amid weathered rocks, the pale moon emerged, its glow akin to the countenance of a departed maiden ascending toward the heavens, draping everything in an inscrutable veil. Rhea found solace in its presence. The full moon and the embracing darkness made her feel truly alive.
She remained unaware of the passing hours as her gaze fixated on the void before her. It was only when the sky was shrouded in a cloak of somber clouds that she understood it was time to depart. Her eyes could navigate through the darkness, though not without effort, as it took her a good couple of minutes to locate her backpack. Everything seemed transformed in this moment, and a strange comfort settled within her amidst the obscurity, a sensation that both unsettled and intrigued her. The thought of loving something she couldn't entirely perceive scared her, yet it also held a certain allure. It lent her a sense of strength that contradicted her very essence.
A secret smile graced her lips as she continued on her path, embracing each step without urgency. Everything was peaceful and serene, a feeling that mirrored within her. She came to a halt, allowing her eyes to close and immersing herself in the moment. Drawing in a deep lungful of air, Rhea tuned in to the symphony of the forest. She sought to perceive not just with sight, but with every sense at her disposal.
A lone cricket's melody danced nearby, small birds huddled together, and the flutter of wings prompted leaves to sway rhythmically. She faintly heard the hum of insects and a distant owl's hoot. She felt enveloped by these sounds.
With a gradual release of breath, she opened her eyes, a serene smile curving her lips. It was as if the woods were sharing its secrets with her, a wordless dialogue of the senses.
She was about to resume her steps when the howl of a wolf sent a shiver down her spine, freezing her in place. She tried to gauge whether the sound was near or distant, but her instincts felt locked in an internal struggle.
Her breath hastened, and the once-magical atmosphere of moments ago faded into a hollow sensation. It was as if she found herself in a nightmare, where fear binds you in paralysis, rendering you incapable of movement, unable to let out a scream. But her eyes remained unfocused, unable to settle on any one point. They roved restlessly, scanning her surroundings as if awaiting the emergence of something, anything, that might shatter the eerie stillness before her.
She heard another howl. And then another. Two, but all originating from the same wolf. When a third echoed, slightly different form the others and chillingly close to her, Rhea felt a surge of urgency flood her veins. It was time to mobilize her body, to escape the clutches of immobilizing fear. Panic had no place here; she needed to act, to flee. But her attempts at stillness were shattered by uncontrollable coughing, as if her body betrayed her in the face of danger.
The very air seemed to thicken in her throat, threatening to choke her, and the minutes ticked away relentlessly. Her heart raced within her chest, its rhythm an urgent drumbeat. She struggled to find her balance, knowing she had to move. She urged herself forward, tried to convince herself that she could do it, that only a few more steps remained, and the town would appear before her eyes, yet her limbs remained stubbornly uncooperative. The forest closed in around her. Her heart pounded so fiercely she could feel her veins pulsating.
She breathed, yet she couldn't feel it. Footsteps echoed behind her, a chaotic chase closing in. Heavy breaths, almost beast-like, filled her ears, or perhaps her senses conjured them to propel her forward. She dared not turn her head to confirm, fearing what might lurk there.
As the glow of city lights appeared in the distance, a surge of frantic determination coursed through her muscles, propelling her to push even harder. One step. Two. Three.
And in that moment, her body succumbed to the pavement, her strength dwindling as she knelt in utter exhaustion. Her heart pounding in her chest, she mustered the courage to look back. The only thing she could discern was a hue. Aurum.