The One

Another Realm

A scream pierced the air, rapid as life itself flickered before Karol's eyes, a bitter giggle escaping her lips at the absurdity of her own demise as the brown wolf looming before her gave an earth-shattering growl.

Pain clawed at her heart, a reminder of the words left unsaid, the moments left unshared. With raw urgency, she linked her thoughts to her son, pouring out her love for him and the twins, and before her consciousness faded, she uttered the confession she had yearned to express—"I love you and I forgive you, my mate."

As darkness enveloped her, she slipped into a state of unseeing quietude. The void around her was endless as she wandered through the shadows, time stretching beyond measure. Then, voices began to creep in from the darkness, echoing her own desperation.

"Help..."

"Help me..."

The cries enveloped her, a symphony of pleas that pulled her back to reality. "Hello? I can't see you!" she cried out, scanning the oppressive darkness.

"Help me please..."

"Someone help me..."

"I'm in pain..."

Karol's mind raced, panic tightening her chest. 'How the hell am I going to help him if I can't see anything? Think, Karol, think...'

Should she ignore him? Or should she help?

The conflict swirled within her as she scratched her head, torn between the urge to assist and the instinct to retreat. 'Okay, let's help him and get out of this place—who knows what's waiting for me?'

'Close your eyes and focus on the sound,' she commanded herself.

Settling into a cross-legged position, Karol shut her eyes and tuned into the faint cries for help.

"Help~"

"Help me~"

"There!" she exclaimed, still focused behind her closed lids, moving towards the sound.

"Help me, please~"

"Help~"

"Wait, I'm coming!"

She stumbled forward, her eyes still shut, only to smack straight into a pole.

"Shit! That hurts! Why is this pole here all of a sudden?" she cursed, rubbing her forehead as her eyes fluttered open.

As her vision adjusted to the sudden light, she gasped in awe. The place around her was breathtaking, blanketed in fallen petals as if it were autumn. She took a few steps forward, catching sight of a figure in guard uniform, but paused as the pleading voice echoed again, compelling her to change direction.

Venturing deeper towards the edge of a cliff, Karol finally spotted a cage—inside it sat both a weary wolf and a human, the latter deeply asleep. As she approached, a soft voice laced with desperation emanated from the wolf.

"Why are you in there?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Punishment," he murmured, his eyes heavy with fatigue.

"Punishment?! What did you do?" Karol questioned, keeping a cautious distance. The wolf's gaze met hers, earnest and pleading.

"I don't want to be like the rest of them! Please, help me. It's not my fault; it's my human's fault!" he implored desperately.

Just then, the human woke, thrashing against the bars like a wild beast, startling Karol. Her heart raced as she caught sight of a line of cages stretching into the distance, filled with more than just werewolves—other mystical creatures were imprisoned too.

'Why do all the guards look like hybrids?' Karol wondered, observing their imposing figures. 'Am I in the realm of mystical creatures or something?'

The realisation struck her. She turned back to the brown wolf, searching for his familiar features. "Wait, am I dead?"

A sudden flash of memory ignited, and she pointed an accusatory finger at him. "YOU! Now I remember—you killed me!"

The wolf bowed his head in shame, whispering, "It wasn't me; it was my human counterpart. I was trapped but..."

"But you let him go insane, didn't you? The human can't go crazy without your influence, and now you're all locked up. Your actions have brought you to this punishment. You're quiet and guilty, which means I'm right. Enjoy your cage, and perhaps you'll learn to repent."

With that, she turned away, walking the streets of this strange world like a curious visitor, the stares of the inhabitants making her uneasy.

'Why are they looking at me like I'm a weirdo?'

She glanced down at herself, then walked towards a group of children playing nearby.

"Hey, kids."

"Huh?"

"Do I look weird? Am I ugly?"

"No, miss, you look glowy," replied the oldest, as the others nodded in agreement.

"Okay~ thank you?" Karol said, puzzled, as she walked away, scratching her head.

Wandering aimlessly again, she soon heard a smooth, silky voice beckoning her to follow the trail of roses. Intrigued, she obeyed, the vibrant petals leading her to a magnificent castle.