chapter two ━━ wendigo

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chapter two ━━ wendigo

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chapter two ━━ wendigo

Elodie moved slowly toward the cemetery, her heart laden with a sorrow so profound it seemed to weigh down each step. The sky, shrouded in a thick blanket of gray clouds, mirrored her grief, while a sharp, icy breeze whispered through the trees, causing her to shiver. As she neared the gravestone, her eyes brimmed with unshed tears. The gravestone, crafted from somber gray granite, stood with a quiet dignity, its lettering etched in shimmering gold. It read: "JESSICA LEE MOORE, Beloved Daughter and Friend, January 24th 1984 - November 2nd 2005." Above the inscription, a small, black-and-white photograph of Jessica was embedded in the stone. In the picture, Jessica’s face was alight with a radiant grin, her eyes sparkling with an irrepressible joy.

Beside the photograph, a small, well-worn teddy bear lay, its white fur dulled with age but clearly cherished. Next to the bear, a wooden box leaned gently against a crucifix, while a tiny American flag stood sentinel, planted firmly in the ground nearby. Three candles adorned the gravestone, their flames flickering in the breeze and casting a gentle, warm glow over the memorial, with one bearing the image of the Virgin de Guadalupe.

Elodie’s tears overflowed as she beheld Jessica's picture. She drew a deep, shaky breath, attempting to stem the tide of her emotions, but her voice broke into a sorrowful, tear-choked laugh. Kneeling before the gravestone, she gazed at the flowers she had brought—delicate white and pink roses, Jessica's favorites.

"You always told me how much you loved this bear when you were little," Elodie said, her voice quivering with tearful laughter. "I remember all those times we shared, the laughter, the fun. But now, I'm so sorry, Jess. I was selfish. I got too close."

Elodie's sobs intensified, her tears falling like rain on the cold granite. "I was so happy to finally have a best friend that I ignored the dangers. I'm sorry, Jess. I should have protected you by keeping my distance. I should have told you the truth."

As she placed the flowers beside the crucifix, a cold, dirt-covered hand suddenly emerged from the earth, gripping her wrist with a terrifying strength.

With a loud shout, Sam awoke, the nightmare dissolving as reality rushed back. Elodie, already shaken and tear-streaked, flinched in surprise. Sam sat in the front passenger seat next to Dean, Foreigner's "Hot-Blooded" playing softly in the background. It felt as though the cemetery was far behind them, if they had ever been there at all. Elodie lay in the back seat, Dean’s jacket draped over her, her eyes wet and distant.

Dean glanced at Sam, concern etched on his face. "You okay?" he asked.

Rubbing his eyes, Sam nodded and looked away. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"Another nightmare?" Dean probed, his eyes shifting from Sam to Elodie, who was quietly gazing out the window, her eyes still glistening.

"Want to drive for a while?" Dean offered after a brief silence.

𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗦 𝗔𝗠𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗡𝗔 ━ 𝗱. 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿Where stories live. Discover now