Chapter Two
The moon hung heavy in the night sky, its glow casting shadows over the forest that surrounded the small town like an ancient guardian. The thick canopy of trees rustled faintly, followed by the cold breeze that swept through the branches. From within the woods, two figures emerged, their laughter punctuating the eerie silence of the night.
The taller of the two, a broad-shouldered man with wild, untamed hair, nudged his companion playfully. "Did you actually jump when you heard that branch snap?" he teased, a grin pulling at his lips.
His friend, slightly shorter but just as rugged, shoved him back with a good-natured grin. "I wasn't scared. I just... didn't expect it, that's all."
"Yeah, sure. The big bad Jack, scared of a twig," the taller one mocked, shaking his head.
Jack rolled his eyes, pulling the sleeves of his jacket down over his arms as they continued to walk along the road that led into town. The sound of their footsteps crunched over gravel, muffled by the cool night air. Above them, the moon remained a silent observer, casting its pale light over everything.
Inside her uncle's modest home, Sun laid on her bed, her phone resting on her lap as she chatted with her girlfriend, Maya. The video call was a comfort after the long, quiet days she'd spent adjusting to her new life in this remote town. Maya's bright eyes and playful smile filled the screen, making Sun feel just a little less isolated in the sleepy corner of the world where she now lived.
"So, how's the countryside treating you?" Maya asked with a teasing glint in her eyes. "Have you made friends with any cows yet?"
Sun laughed softly. "No cows, but I did meet a couple of customers at the café who seemed pretty nice. It's... peaceful here. A bit too quiet, though. I miss the noise of the city sometimes."
Maya smirked. "Quiet is good. Less drama, right? And you'll be back in no time once things get better."
Sun nodded, but the silence weighed on her more than she wanted to admit. She wouldn't tell Maya that she was never going to live in the city again,at least not for years to come. After her financial struggles when her business fell through, she'd come to stay with her uncle Mike, a man who had lived in this town for years. The rent-free arrangement was a blessing because she was majorly broke, but the isolation felt like a curse at times.
Before Sun could respond to Maya's comment, the lights flickered once, then twice, before plunging the entire room into darkness. Her phone screen remained lit, Maya's face frozen in surprise as the connection lagged.
"Uh, babe? What just happened?" Maya's voice crackled through the static as Sun sat up straight, her heart skipping a beat.
"I don't know," Sun said, her voice hushed. "The power just went out,maybe the fuse blew?"she said with uncertainty in her voice.
She stared at the inky blackness of her room, illuminated only by the soft glow of her phone with Maya still on the screen. Her fingers tightened around the device, but before she could say anything else, a sound drifted in from outside. It was faint at first, barely audible over the quiet hum of the night, but it grew louder—a long, haunting howl that echoed through the trees.
Sun's breath caught in her throat. A wolf. She wasn't unfamiliar with wolves—her uncle had warned her that they sometimes roamed the nearby forests—but hearing one so close unsettled her in a way she hadn't expected.
"Sun?" Maya's voice jolted her back to reality. "Did you hear that?"
"Yeah," Sun whispered. "A wolf, I think."
Seconds later, the lights flickered back to life, the familiar hum of electricity restoring some normalcy to the room. Sun exhaled, releasing the breath she hadn't realized she was holding. Moments later, a soft knock came at her door, followed by the sound of her uncle's heavy boots.
"Sun, you alright?" Mike's deep voice called through the door.
She got up and opened the door slightly, peeking out at him. "Yeah, I'm fine. The power went out for a bit. What happened?"
Mike nodded, his expression calm but serious. "Generator's been acting up. I'll take a look at it in the morning. Everything's okay now."
"Thanks, Uncle Mike," Sun said, trying to shake off the lingering unease.
"Get some rest," he said gruffly before turning to head down the hall. He paused for a second, glancing back at her. "If you hear anything strange at night, just ignore it. The forest can play tricks on your mind."
With that, he disappeared back into his room, leaving Sun standing in the doorway, bothered by his words and the unsettling howl from the forest still echoing in her ears.
She closed her door and returned to her bed, picking up her phone. "Sorry about that," she told Maya, trying to sound more relaxed than she felt. "The power's back on. I think I'm going to head to bed soon, though. I've got an early shift at the café tomorrow."
Maya nodded, concern in her eyes. "Are you sure you're okay? That howl sounded close."
Sun smiled weakly. "I'm fine. It's just the woods. Nothing to worry about."
"If you say so," Maya said softly. "But don't hesitate to call me if anything feels off, okay?"
"I will," Sun promised. "Goodnight, love."
They exchanged their goodnights, and Sun ended the call. She lay back against her pillow, staring up at the ceiling that had a giant star glued on it. The house was quiet now, except for the faint creaks of the old wooden structure settling in the cool night air. Despite her exhaustion, sleep didn't come easily. Her mind kept drifting back to the wolf's howl—the way it had pierced through the stillness of the night, primal and wild.
She shivered, pulling the covers tighter around herself as she finally drifted into a restless sleep where she dreamed of wolves chasing her in the forest. She got up twice in the midnight to get water from the kitchen and cool her nerves. Both trips had had her a little bit scared as she walked the hallway to the kitchen,she kept thinking of wolves lunging at her as she walked quickly and quietly in order not to wake her uncle. Only after walking in the safe confines of her room did she feel safe.
She had tuned and tossed for another hour before she finally slept off.
Morning came too quickly because she fell asleep late, the pale light of dawn filtering through the curtains as Sun woke to the sound of birds chirping outside. She rubbed her eyes, the remnants of her uneasy sleep clinging to her. But there was no time to dwell on it—she had work to get to.As she looked into the mirror of her bathroom,she realized she had dark circles beneath her eyes,result of the last night's insomnia, she quickly fixed it with some makeup after having her bath.
After getting dressed and grabbing a quick bite to eat, Sun headed out the door and began her walk to the café. The town was still half-asleep, the streets quiet as she made her way along the familiar route. The café, a cozy little spot that served as the town's main gathering place, sat near the edge of town, its warm lights inviting her in.
When she arrived, she slipped behind the counter, tying on her apron and getting ready for her shift. The routine of preparing the coffee machines and setting up the display cases was comforting, something familiar in an unfamiliar place.
As she worked, she noticed a figure entering the café. Her heart skipped a beat when she realized it was Shawn. He strolled in with his usual confidence, his eyes scanning the room before locking onto hers. And beside him was another man, someone she hadn't seen before. He had dark hair, sharp features, and an air of casual menace that made her uneasy.
Shawn walked over to a table by the window, his friend following closely behind. Sun hesitated for a moment, her fingers tightening around the handle of the coffee pot she was holding. There was something about the way they moved—their quiet confidence, the way they seemed to own the space around them—that made her wary and unsettled.
Steeling herself, she grabbed her notepad and made her way over to their table. "Good morning," she greeted them, keeping her voice steady. "What can I get for you two?"
Shawn looked up at her, his dark eyes glinting in the soft light. "Black coffee," he said smoothly. "And for my friend here, the same."
"With some creamer",the friend added
Sun nodded, scribbling down the order. But as she turned to leave, her gaze caught on something—the edge of a tattoo peeking out from under the sleeve of the other man's jacket. It was a wolf, its fierce eyes staring back at her from his skin. Her stomach flipped as she remembered the howl from the night before.
"Nice tattoo," she said, trying to keep her tone casual. "Are you a fan of wolves?"
The man—Jack, as Shawn had introduced him earlier—looked up at her, a slow grin spreading across his face. "You could say that," he replied, his voice low. "But the real question is—are you afraid of them?"
The question hung in the air between them, and for a moment, Sun didn't know how to respond. There was something unsettling about the way he was looking at her, as if he knew something she didn't. Something mysterious.
"They're wild animals," she said carefully. "That kind of fear keeps us safe."
Jack's grin widened, but it wasn't friendly. It was the kind of smile that sent a chill down her spine. "Smart answer," he said. "But sometimes, fear doesn't protect you. It just makes you an easy target."
Before Sun could respond, Shawn leaned forward, his gaze intense. For a moment, she could swear his eyes flickered—a flash of red that was gone as quickly as it had come.
"Don't be minding Jack," Shawn said, his voice smooth and reassuring, though it did nothing to calm the unease growing in Sun's chest. "He's just messing with you."
Sun nodded slowly, her heart pounding as she quickly turned and made her way back behind the counter. She could still feel their eyes on her, a prickling sensation at the back of her neck that refused to fade. What had Jack meant by that? And why had Shawn's eyes looked so… strange?
She busied herself preparing their drinks, but her mind raced with questions. Something wasn't right with the both of them.
.......