Two nights had passed since Selene had given Cane that unexpected hug, and while the memory still lingered in her mind like a sweet poison, something far more sinister had overtaken the peaceful air of Blackwood Estate. The discovery of two bodies in Blackwood Forest sent shockwaves through the neighborhood, rippling through the community like dark waves in a previously calm pond.
The victims had been found in the early morning by a group of hikers, their bodies mangled beyond recognition in a way that defied natural predation. What was most terrifying, however, were the deep claw marks that marred their skin—not the random slashes of a desperate animal, but methodical, almost ritualistic in their pattern. Along with the chilling discovery came the eerie howls that had echoed through the forest the previous night—long, guttural, and unnatural. They were sounds that seemed to come from the throat of something that shouldn't exist, something that straddled the line between beast and nightmare.
Whispers spread like wildfire through the estate, carried on autumn winds and growing darker with each retelling. Fear gripped the town in its icy fingers, turning familiar paths into potential deathtraps and friendly faces into masks of suspicion.
"They say it's some kind of wild animal," Naksu muttered as she and Selene sat by the porch that evening, the tension in the air palpable. The setting sun painted long shadows across the grounds, each one seeming to hide potential horrors. "But who's ever heard of an animal leaving marks like that? It's just... too brutal. Too deliberate."
"What do you think it could be?" Selene asked, her voice barely above a whisper. She couldn't shake the feeling that speaking too loudly might somehow summon whatever creature stalked their woods.
Naksu shook her head, pulling her cardigan tighter around her shoulders. "I overheard Mrs. Henderson talking to my mom. She said the marks looked almost... human-like. But bigger. Much bigger."
"Human-like?" Selene's blood ran cold. The metal railings beneath her fingers seemed to pulse with an electric current, responding to her growing unease.
"I know it sounds crazy," Naksu continued, "but the police are baffled. They've never seen anything like it. And there's something else..." She leaned closer, her dark eyes wide with fear. "They found footprints. Half-human, half-beast, like something out of a horror movie."
Selene hugged her arms, trying to shake the unease settling in her stomach like lead. "This isn't the first time something strange has happened in Blackwood, is it?"
"No," Naksu admitted. "My grandmother used to tell stories about the forest. Old legends about creatures that walked like men but hunted like wolves. I always thought they were just stories to keep kids from wandering too far..."
That night, Noel gathered his family and some neighbors for an emergency meeting in their living room. The usually warm space felt cold and alien in the flickering lamplight, faces drawn and pale as they huddled together. Her father's expression was grim as he addressed the concerned faces staring back at him, his normally cheerful demeanor replaced by something harder, more vigilant.
"I know many of you are frightened," he began, his voice carrying the weight of responsibility. "But I assure you, the security team is doubling its patrols. No one—and I mean no one—should be out in the forest after dark. Until we know exactly what's going on, it's best to stay in well-lit areas and avoid hiking alone."
"But what about our children?" Mrs. Rivera spoke up, her hands trembling as she clutched her coffee mug. "How can we keep them safe when this... this thing could be anywhere?"
"We've already contacted local wildlife authorities," Noel assured her. "They're setting up camera traps throughout the forest. Whatever this is, we'll find it."
"And then what?" Mr. Chen demanded, rising from his seat. "What if it's not something they can handle? What if it's something else entirely?"
The room erupted in murmurs of agreement and fear. Selene watched as her father raised his hands, trying to maintain order. "I understand your concerns, but panic won't help anyone. We need to stay calm and vigilant."
After the meeting, as people filed out with whispered goodbyes and nervous glances at the darkening windows, Selene walked back to her room. The sound of her father's voice stopped her in her tracks.
"Selene."
She turned, finding him standing by the hallway, arms crossed over his chest. The shadows under his eyes spoke of sleepless nights and growing worry.
"I mean it, sweetheart," Noel said, his voice softer but firm. There was something in his eyes—something that reminded her of how he'd looked in the days following her mother's death. "No wandering in the woods alone. Not even with Cane."
The mention of Cane made her flinch slightly, guilt and defiance warring in her chest. "Dad—"
"I've seen the way you two have been getting close," Noel interrupted, his gaze sharp and knowing. The lines around his mouth deepened with concern. "I don't know much about that boy, but something about him unsettles me. Just... promise me you'll be careful."
"You don't even know him," Selene protested, her voice catching. "He's not dangerous."
"Don't I?" Her father's expression softened with worry. "Selene, I've noticed things. The way animals react when he's near. The strange incidents that seem to follow him. I'm your father—it's my job to notice these things."
Selene exhaled, nodding though her heart rebelled against the promise. "I promise."
But even as she said it, she knew avoiding Cane entirely would be impossible. He had become as essential to her as breathing, despite—or perhaps because of—the danger that seemed to surround him like a dark aura. As she climbed the stairs to her room, she couldn't help but wonder if the howls that haunted Blackwood's nights had anything to do with the mysterious boy who had captured her heart.
---
The next afternoon, Selene found Cane sitting on a bench near the lake, staring out at the water. There was something different about him. His usual playful demeanor was absent, replaced by a look of unease.
She approached quietly. "Cane?"
He turned, startled, but quickly masked it with a smile. "Hey, Selene."
She sat beside him, studying his face. "You look… worried."
He chuckled lightly, but it didn't reach his eyes. "I guess I'm just caught up in all the talk about the attacks. This whole thing is… disturbing."
Selene nodded. "I know. My dad's been warning me nonstop. And those howls the other night—" She shuddered. "I've never heard anything like that before."
Cane stiffened for just a second before he quickly relaxed again. "Yeah… freaky, huh?"
Her eyes trailed to his hands, and her breath hitched. Scratches—deep ones—lined his skin, as if he had been clawed by something sharp.
Her voice dropped. "Cane… what happened to your hands?"
He hesitated before pulling them back, trying to hide them under the folds of his sleeves. "Oh, this? It's nothing. My pet got a little too playful."
Selene frowned. "Pet?"
"Yeah. Big dog. He gets rowdy sometimes."
She wasn't sure why, but his explanation felt… off. He had never mentioned a pet before, and the scratches looked too deep, too precise.
Something wasn't right. And the more she looked at him—the tension in his shoulders, the slight avoidance in his gaze—the more she realized he was hiding something.
But what?