Awa's body trembled uncontrollably as she crawled on all fours, her fingers sinking into the wet earth of the riverbank. She was soaked to the bone, her clothes clinging to her skin like a second layer of cold, heavy regret. Her limbs ached from the effort it had taken to pull herself out of the frigid water, and her breaths came in short, uneven gasps. Her entire body felt like it was shutting down, but her mind—her mind was racing, teetering on the edge of hysteria.
She had survived.
Forrest had dropped her, just like that, letting her fall into the dark, icy river without a second thought. She had fought her way to the surface, thrashing and gasping for air, and somehow, she had made it to the shore, her strength pushed to the absolute limit. But it wasn't just the cold or the exhaustion that had her shaking. No, the thing that haunted her most was the feral feeling that had surged through her back on the bridge.
She collapsed onto the grass, her chest rising and falling rapidly, her thoughts fragmented and wild. That moment, when she had stared at Forrest's exposed neck, she hadn't been herself. She had wanted something—needed something—that wasn't rational. She had wanted to bite him, to taste his flesh like some kind of animal thirsting for blood. The thought horrified her now, in the quiet aftermath of her near-death experience.
"What the hell is wrong with me?" Awa whispered hoarsely to herself, her voice barely audible over the sound of the river behind her.
She rolled onto her back, staring up at the sky. The moon was high above her, almost full, its pale light illuminating the landscape in an eerie, ethereal glow. It was a beautiful night, calm and serene, so painfully at odds with the chaos inside her.
For a long moment, Awa simply lay there, trying to catch her breath, her eyes fixed on the glowing orb in the sky. There was a strange pull to it tonight, something that made her heart beat faster just looking at it. The moon seemed larger, more potent, and she couldn't shake the feeling that it was watching her, waiting for something.
But what? What was it trying to tell her?
Eventually, Awa forced herself to sit up, her body still trembling as the shock of the night's events settled into her bones. She couldn't stay here. She needed to get home, to wrap herself in warmth and safety, and to try to make sense of the madness that had just unfolded.
Her legs were shaky as she stood, and for a brief moment, she thought she might collapse again. But after a few deep breaths, she steadied herself and began walking along the riverbank, her footsteps heavy and uneven. Every step felt like it took twice the effort it should have, her muscles sore from the freezing swim and the adrenaline crash that followed.
As she walked, her mind replayed everything that had happened with Forrest in brutal clarity. His hand around her throat, the inhuman strength he had displayed, the way he had looked at her with those cold, predatory eyes. And then, of course, the words.
"You're marked by Kelsey."
The phrase echoed in her mind, over and over, gnawing at her insides. Marked? By Kelsey? What did that even mean? Awa had never been one to buy into the superstitions or strange stories people told, but after tonight, she wasn't sure what to believe. Forrest's strength, his speed, his entire demeanor—there was something off about him, something unnatural. And the way he had spoken about her scent, about Kelsey's claim on her... it made her stomach churn.
As the memory of her feral desire to bite him resurfaced, a wave of nausea rolled over her. What had she become in that moment? Why had she reacted like that? It was as if something inside her had snapped, something primal and uncontrollable.
Am I losing my mind? Awa thought, shaking her head as she trudged forward, her wet shoes squelching against the ground.
After what felt like an eternity of walking, Awa finally reached a quieter part of the city. The riverbank had given way to empty streets, dimly lit by the occasional streetlamp. It was late, too late for most people to be out, but even in the quiet of the night, Awa couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched. Her paranoia had been heightened ever since the incident with Forrest. Every shadow, every distant noise made her flinch.
Her clothes were still wet, clinging to her like an icy second skin, and her hair dripped water down her back with every step. She just needed to get home, take a hot shower, and try to make sense of the madness. But as she neared an alleyway, her path was suddenly blocked.
Two men, both reeking of alcohol, stumbled out of the shadows, their eyes immediately landing on her. They weren't subtle about their interest, their gazes raking over her wet clothes, taking in the way they clung to her body. Awa tensed, her heart racing as she tried to calculate how to get past them.
"Hey, sweetheart," one of them slurred, stepping in front of her, his breath thick with the smell of cheap liquor. "You look a little lost. Why don't you come with us? We'll take care of you."
Awa's pulse quickened, her exhaustion giving way to adrenaline. She tried to sidestep them, but the second man moved to block her path.
"Come on, don't be shy," the second man said, his smile crooked and sinister. "There's a hotel just down the street. You look like you could use some warming up."
Fear gripped Awa's chest, but beneath that fear, something else simmered—anger. After everything she had been through tonight, after nearly drowning, after confronting Forrest and his cryptic, terrifying words, these two idiots thought they could mess with her?
"I don't have time for this," Awa muttered under her breath, her fists clenching at her sides. She took a step forward, hoping they'd back down.
But the men only laughed, amused by her defiance. "Feisty, huh? I like that," the first man sneered, grabbing her arm roughly.
And that was when something inside Awa snapped.
She didn't think. She didn't hesitate. She just acted.
Without warning, she swung her fist toward the metal side of a nearby container. The sound of the impact was deafening—a metallic boom that reverberated through the alleyway, louder than it had any right to be. The two men stumbled back, their faces pale with shock as they stared at her, wide-eyed.
Awa blinked, startled by her own actions. She hadn't meant to hit the container that hard... but when she glanced at where her fist had struck, she froze.
There, embedded in the metal, was the outline of a hand—a deep, unmistakable indentation in the shape of her fist. It was impossible. No human could punch metal like that. But the proof was right there, staring back at her.
The two men exchanged panicked glances before turning and fleeing down the alley, their footsteps echoing in the distance as they disappeared from sight.
Awa stood still, her breath coming in shallow gasps as she stared at the dent in the metal. Her mind struggled to process what had just happened. She had done that. Somehow, she had punched the metal with enough force to leave a mark that should have been impossible for a human.
But she wasn't hurt. Her hand didn't even sting. She flexed her fingers, expecting pain, but there was none.
"What... what is happening to me?" Awa whispered, her voice barely audible in the quiet alleyway.
Her body still felt strange, like it didn't quite belong to her anymore. The primal heat that had surged through her back on the bridge with Forrest—was it connected to this? Had something changed inside her, something beyond her understanding?
Awa took a step back from the container, her mind spinning, her heart racing. She didn't have time to dwell on it now. She needed to get home, to think, to figure out what was happening to her.
With her nerves still on edge, she continued walking, her pace quickening as she put distance between herself and the alley. She glanced over her shoulder every few seconds, half-expecting someone—something—to come after her, but the streets remained empty and silent.
By the time she reached her apartment, Awa was shivering uncontrollably, her mind still reeling from the night's events. She fumbled with her keys, finally managing to unlock the door and step inside. The warmth of the apartment was a welcome relief, but it did little to calm her racing thoughts.
She leaned against the door, her legs finally giving out as she slid down to the floor, burying her face in her hands.
What was happening to her? Why had she reacted that way to Forrest? Why had she suddenly developed this impossible strength?
And most importantly, what did it all mean?
Awa's thoughts spun out of control as she sat there in the darkness, the questions piling up faster than she could answer them.