𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑴𝒊𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒓'𝒔 𝑮𝒂𝒎𝒆

Chapter 1

     The frost bit harshly at the pines, a new moon hung just above the trees, the hurried patter and crunching of twigs could be heard in the dense forest.

Two figures ran through between the trees, one chasing the other at a faster speed.

The chased felt his throat burning, he tasted blood, his breathing uneven as he stared only at the light peering through the thick fog.

He heard the wolf behind getting closer.
A crow cawed in the distance, encouraging him.

He was close, he just needed to keep going until he reached the road. He felt his anxiety creeping as he heard the wolf's low growling right behind him.

Just as he reached the last line of trees, the wolf pounced and tore at his calf. He screamed in terror and kicked the wolf as he passed the forest edge.
Only when the crow cawed again did the wolf whimper and let go, retreating back into the dark forest.

He collapsed in exhaustion and pain as he inched towards the middle of the road. His vision spun and blurred. He let his head fall and heard the bird fly down onto the asphalt.

He felt himself cry as he looked up to the crow. It stared at him with a single astilbe in its beak. He looked around the crow and saw a jewel beetle crushed in half.

The carrion crow silently stared at him and he stared back, until the low rumble of a car forced his attention to his side. He saw the same light charge forward towards him, the light was blinding, almost intoxicating.

He jolted up instantly, he looked around as his heart raced, the room was too dark to see. A hand clutched his damp shirt over his chest, the other tightly gripping the blankets as he tried to even out his heavy breathing.

He stayed like that, breathing deeply, for what felt like hours.
He let out a shaky sigh.

"What...what the hell was that..?" He heard his own voice tremble.

He swallowed, his throat was patched and sore.

He sat for a few more moments, before standing up. He felt at the wall, blindly searching for the light switch. When he flicked it on, the light stung for a bit as he slowly reopened his eyes.

After looking around the slightly messy room, he put his hand on the door knob and carefully opened it.

He looked down at the staircase, perfectly lit by the moon's light. He held onto the banisters as he descended.
Unlike the staircase, the bottom floor was cloaked in darkness.

The walk to the kitchen was quiet and tedious. Once he reached his destination, he turned the lights on and took a glass to fill it with water.

After taking a sip, he quickly put his cup down. He felt someone watching him, he looked up to the dark hallway. He felt his palms sweat in anticipation and fear, until:

"Kameron, what are you doing up so early?" His father's voice called out as he turns on the lights.

Kameron let out a breath he didn't know he was holding.

"I'm just getting a glass of water."
Kameron spoke as he looked down at his glass.

"Well then, I may as well tell you now. I'll be leaving to visit your mother. In the meantime, your elder brother will be the one to watch over you." His father spoke in a cold manner as he turned back around to leave.