Save Me

CHAPTER 31: INTO THE WOODS

I find myself in the middle of the dance floor, a sea of faceless figures swirling around me, trapping me in the center like a caged animal. The throbbing bass vibrated through my body as I stood motionless. The sea of dancers moved in synch, their steps echoing in my ears. I look down and realize I'm fully dressed. But when did I change? I wondered. How did I end up here? I question, my eyes darting around the familiar surroundings. Clearly, it was the Mate ball, but I couldn't recognize anyone there. Faceless figures like those dancing around me stood still throughout the tent. What is happening? I thought, a wave of confusion washing over me.

With a surge of adrenaline, I broke free from my captors and pushed through the human wall. To my surprise, they did not fight; they continued their dance without interruptions. Heart pounding, I peer over the crowd, looking for one person and one person alone, but I don't see them.

A flash of dark hair caught my eye as I glimpsed at what looked to be their backside, his hair fluttering in the wind as he exited the tent. I yelled out to him, but he did not respond as he continued on his way. I chased after him, my heart pounding in my chest, hoping to reach him before losing sight of him. Still, an invisible force pulled me back, causing me to run frustratingly slower than normal. I stumbled out of the tent and into the open air, but he was nowhere to be seen. I scanned the area and spotted him walking into the woods. Where is he going? I thought. Once again, I chased after him, running with all my might, but was yet again slower than usual.

I ran up to the forest edge and ventured into the dark expanse. I could see him a distance away, so I continued my chase, hoping to close the distance between us. However, this time, it truly felt like I was getting closer to him. I called out to him again, my voice resounding through the trees. This time, louder; surely, he could hear me, but yet again, he did not respond.

A thick fog seeps from the forest's depths, engulfing everything in sight. It appeared out of nowhere, and now my perfect eyesight has been rendered useless. I stop running and look at my surroundings, but the visibility is near nothing. Panic surged through me as I realized I'd lost sight of him. I cautiously continue forward, but this time, I don't run. I walk deeper into the forest, confused at its never-ending vastness. I should have reached the town by now, I wondered in confusion. Then, the fog instantaneously disappeared, leaving no trace of its existence, and there he was. His back faced me as he stood a few feet away, still like an unperturbed ocean.

I repeated my attempt to capture his attention and called out to him, my voice echoing through the silent forest. However, I was yet again met with silence. As I drew closer, I couldn't help but notice the eerie stillness that surrounded him. I furrowed my brows in confusion while I checked my surroundings, ensuring we were alone and safe. I gently touched his shoulder when I reached him, and he reacted only then. He turned around, and my heart dropped. Blood spilled out of his eyes, mouth, and nose. His hands covering his abdomen were stained with the same dark red, blood gushing through the crevices of his hands. He attempted to speak, but only gurgling could be heard, blood drowning his words.

My breathing hitched as my body went into shock upon seeing my beloved in such a state. I attempted to move but found myself collapsing onto the floor, suffocating. The world began to crack and slowly fell apart, shattering into a million pieces. My vision slowly darkens, and it's impossible to move now. However, I still managed to call out to him one last time.

"T-Twen," I whispered.

***

Liam's POV

A cold sweat drenched my body as I gasped for air. What was that? I thought as my heart felt like it would jump out of my chest at any moment. The room was dimly lit, so I didn't immediately recognize where I was, but the sunlight seeping through the window helped me recognize Twen's room. I looked to my right, and there was Twen sound asleep. He was curled up to my body, his head resting on my arm. I wrap that same arm around him as the words we exchanged last night invaded my thoughts. My heart felt warm, and it beat vigorously in my chest. With my other arm, I traced my fingers on his delicate face, ever so gently, tucking his hair away.