The Candles Will Protect You

Chapter 3

I forgot! I totally forgot! How could I forget about something like this?

My birthday is coming up! I'll finally turn eighteen!

I checked my calendar, and there it was, October 24, circled with red.

Wait a minute...

No way! My birthday is going to be on a full moon?

I danced around my room happily, already preparing the day in my head.

I walked out to the kitchen only to see that it was empty. I noticed a yellow sticky note on the fridge.

Rhea,
You don't have to do any work around the house today, so I hope you will spend some of your free time studying. Just because you don't actually have to go to school doesn't mean you have to stay dumb.
We love you, have a great day!
Xx, Mom and Dad

Wow...

Oh well, that basically means that I can do whatever I want, right?

After I finished eating, I put on my brown knee-high boots and a matching jacket. I put my hair up in a high ponytail and I left the house.

I didn't see Drake's car, so that meant that I was left alone for the day. Unless...

I walked to the garden, right where Wolfie and I were sitting the day before. I stood there with my arms crossed, staring at the forest.

"There's no one here to stop you, Rhea. You can finally do what you wanted ever since you were a child."

I took a step closer, battling with myself.

"Come on! It's not even dark, what could possibly happen to you in there?"

I stopped, shaking my head multiple times.

"No," I said out loud. "The forest is off-limits for a reason."

"Yeah, right. The world is full of forests, what makes you think this one is any different from those? The most extreme thing you could possibly find is a squirrel or something."

"No!" I repeated a little louder and I turned around, seeing Drake standing a few feet away.

"Oh my God! This needs to stop!" I said, feeling my heart beating faster.

"Who were you talking to?" He smirked at me.

"No one," I answered.

He just raised his eyebrows at me in a questioning way.

"I'm not crazy, I promise!"

"Don't make promises you can't keep," he winked, then he started laughing.

"Very funny," I rolled my eyes. "Where were you anyway?"

"I was in town, I needed to get some groceries," he shrugged.

"Oh... Hey, I just realized something today! Did you know my birthday's going to be on the same day as the full moon?" I asked excitedly.

"Of course," he grinned.

"Why didn't you tell me?!"

"I thought you knew! How could you not know about something like this?"

"I don't know," I shrugged, glancing down at the ground.

"Whatever, at least you know now. Will we hold it in the garden?"

"Well, I think it will be a little cold, but maybe we could make it work."

"Sure we can! It's a full moon on your birthday, we can't just watch it from your window! I'm gonna bring our camping tent over and you can bring out some pillows and blankets. We will be fine."

"Only if you make some of your famous hot chocolate," I grinned at him, and he chuckled.

"Of course! Anything for the birthday girl," he came to hug me, and I hugged him back happily.

After he left I decided to go back to my bedroom with some snacks, and I started watching some YouTube videos.

As it got darker outside, I felt myself getting a little disappointed. I looked out the window every now and then, expecting to see Wolfie sitting there, but he wasn't.

I heard knocking on my door, followed by my mother's head.

"Hello, Rhea," she greeted me with a little smile.

"Hi mom," I replied with much less energy than her.

"What's wrong?" She frowned.

"Nothing, I just feel a little tired," I shrugged, staring at my lap.

She was looking at me for a few seconds in silence, then she sighed.

"Maybe you should shower, then try to rest?"

"Yeah," I said, getting up.

"Are you hungry?"

"No, I already ate, but thanks."

She nodded again, then she left my room.

I went to take a shower, then changed into a comfy pair of pyjamas. I put my hair in a loose bun, then I returned to my room.

I walked to the window to light a candle, and after I did that, I glanced out.

He was there! It was kind of dark, but I saw him sitting there, looking at my window.

Damn, I can't go outside like this! What would my parents think?

I put some warm clothes on randomly, which made me seem like a hobo, but I didn't really care. I moved the candle to my nightstand and opened the window. It was a struggle, but I made it outside, leaving the window open just a little bit, so I could crawl back inside later.

I walked up to him, and he stood up as he saw me getting closer. He looked excited.

"Hi, Wolfie," I whispered, petting his head, then sitting down in front of him.

He whined a little, putting his head under mine. I let out a quiet laugh, putting my arms around his body.

"I thought you weren't coming," I whispered, and he licked my face as an answer.

"You won't believe what happened today!" I said with an excited face, and he moved so he could look at me. "I just found out my birthday's going to be on the next full moon!"

He tilted his head, so I kept talking.

"Drake and I always watch full moons together. We both love looking at the moon and stuff like that, and it's a nice little bonding time too, I guess," I shrugged, smiling.

He let out a little growl, and I furrowed my eyebrows.

"What?"

He growled again, and his eyes seemed a little angry.

"Hey, Drake is a cool person, I promise! We've been friends since I moved here, but to be honest, he's more like a brother to me now."

He seemed to get a little relaxed after I said that, which was weird.

I spent the next few minutes petting him, then I started shivering. He seemed to notice that, because he stood up, and looked at me as in saying 'go back inside'.

I pet his head one last time.

"Good night, Wolfie," I said, then I walked to my window.

I climbed back inside, then I closed the window, putting the candle back to its place. I looked outside one last time, seeing Wolfie standing there. I waved at him, then he turned around and ran back to the woods.