Skinwalker - Completed

CHAPTER 5

(Rylie's POV)

Rylie didn't know how she got out of the temple alive, and she dusted her clothes with dirt as she stands. She looked around again outside of the temple. There was a line of wires with the ancient symbols written on the papers hanging all over it. The grass is tall. The whole area appears obscure from sight.

Clutching the Totem. Rylie walked towards the path she didn't notice before. It was a trail wide enough for a human to walk on. She held the Totem close to her chest. She doesn't know what it could do, but she knows that her dad talks about the wolves' Totem in the journal.

She just needs time to decipher what it is that made humans turn into a werewolf. Rylie felt a surge of hope as she recognized the trail she was treading on. She thought that the route will go on and on forever.

She hid the Totem inside her bag.

Shit!

Rylie felt like she will really die here in the forest even though she got the Totem she came here for. Her mouth is dry, and her throat is parched. She badly needed to drink water.

She looked around. There was nothing but the chirping of birds, and the sun is slowly setting on the horizon. She needs to get out of here before it sets! And her wounds and shoulder are aching really bad.

She embraced herself when a cry of wolves echoed inside the forest. A chill went down her spine. She felt eyes on her! She whipped her head around; just then, a branch of leaves crunched like someone just stepped on it. Her eyes went wide when a pack of wolves stared at her like she was their next meal. Their fangs are bare, and they were glaring at her.

"Shit!" Rylie looked around to find a branch to fend them off, but she couldn't find any, and the wolves are closing in on her. She was backed in the corner. Leveling her gaze to the wolf's eyes, she steps back slowly. Afraid that she will set the wolf's anger and they will run to her.

"I'm not delicious. Don't eat me, ok?"

But the wolves only bared their fangs to her.

Her eyes went wide when the wolves charged towards her. She looked around desperately to find a stick or a stone to fend them off, but it was out of her reach! She squeezed her eyes shut.

I'm sorry, mom!

She shielded her arms, but then a whistle filled the air, followed by a bunch of shouts. She opens her eyes and finds the wolves running away. Stones were being thrown at the wolves, and they scurried away.

Then a group of people emerged from the bushes.

Rylie held her breath. They were the tourist guides for the department of tourism! They wore their uniforms, and there was a name tag on their badges.

"Are you ok, kid?"

"Y-Yeah. T-Thanks for helping me." She got up and dusted her pants and sweatshirt.

The old man from the group looked at her with pity. Maybe he was thinking how she got to this point where bruises were on her arms and a dislocated shoulder. Her grandmother will faint from shock if she sees Rylie in this condition.

She slapped her forehead. How would she explain this to her grandmother?

"How did you end up here?" A woman with a wide-brimmed fedora asks her.

Rylie's eyes darted anywhere. She's gonna be found out if she answers truthfully. She inhaled a breath before speaking. "I-I got lost and ended up here, a-and---"She suddenly remembers those weird people. She needs to save that girl! "I-I saw some people doing something, l-like a ritual! I think they are bad people. They have a girl captured! A-And does anyone of you know an Alyssa? Alyssa Field."

The four people looked at each other and back at her like she had grown a new head.

"We don't have anyone named Alyssa Field in the department." The fat guy stroked his chin. "Kid, you must be delusional from what happened to you. This forest can do that to people sometimes, but we will investigate if it will ease your mind. For now, let's get you back to civilization." The old man looked at her with concern.

"She must have bumped her head, and it causes some temporary hallucination. I have known this forest for my entire life, and I haven't seen a group of people doing weird stuff. Well, except for those hunters that killed animals here." The girl with her age and with glasses speaks.

"B-But----!"

She didn't get to finish her sentence. The old man, who appears to be the group leader, started walking, and the others followed suit. Rylie sighed and followed them, glancing one last time to the forest behind her as the sun sets on the horizon.

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Rylie cast a worried look outside the bus she was in. After treating her wound and making her an arm sling. The old man gave her money to get on the bus. She was still insisting on the things she saw, but no one believed her. She can't even believe that she was tricked by Alyssa. She should have known that the woman isn't a part of the tourism department. And what is that she saw on the lens of her camera? It was really a yellow eye. She just thought that the whole forest is just tricking her eyes.

She saw a yellow eye before seeing Alyssa! Then something clicked in her head. That woman could be a werewolf!

Her heart began palpitating from that discovery. If it's true. She could capture one and make them transform in front of everyone to see, and that will make her father's research a breakthrough! Rylie grinned and lifted the broken camera. She could get the memory card and put it on the laptop. She was sure that she captured the yellow eyes on its lens.

But first, she has to deal with her grandma. The bus came to a stop in the station near her grandmother's house, and she can already imagine the sermons she will get. Rylie stepped out and bit her lower lip. She was gonna get some scolding for sure. She can't hide her dislocated shoulder even if she wants to.

She sighs and started walking towards the house. The neighbors in the whole area are a couple of kilometers away, and after what she went through today, nothing could scare her now. The night was chilly and cold, so she wrapped her arms around her. She winced when she accidentally touched her dislocated shoulders. She really needs to get home. She will risk it than to freeze here in the night. Rylie shook her head. It was summer, yet the night is chilly.

She came to a stop when she was in front of her grandma's house. But she felt eyes on her that made her look around, and there's no one there. She must be imagining things because of exhaustion.

Time to do this now, Rylie!

Rylie squared her shoulders and took a deep breath before stepping into the porch. She ringed the doorbell, and it flew open.

Her grandmother immediately hugged her. "Look at you, child! Where did you run off to? Your mother is worried sick!"

"I-I'm sorry, grandma." Rylie bowed her head down.

"R-Rylie?" Her mother's voice came from the inside.

Rylie lifted her head, and before she knew it, her mother hugged her too. "I'm glad you're safe."

Rylie smiled. They cared. Her mother wouldn't show it sometimes, but she always cares. She wrapped her arms around her mother and closed her eyes.

"I'm so sorry, mom."

"My god! What happened to you, child?!"

Her grandma looked at her tattered clothes and her dislocated and gave her a disapproving glare. Rylie can't help but winced. The sermons will now commence, and she braced herself.

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"Is this it?"

A cloaked figure appeared on the fallen temple. Six people in total looked at the disheveled state of the place.

"There is nothing here for us. The wolves already took it. Or someone else did."

"We need that, Totem. We need to find whoever took it."

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A/N: Sorry in advance if you found wrong grammar in this English novel. It's my first time writing one so bear with me. Thank you. ^^