Instincts ✔️ [COMPLETED]

Chapter 23

I had to make my breathing normal as I woke up, a day before the wolf would awaken. I felt like I wasn't ready, and I was purposefully committing suicide doing this. I probably was. But what was there to life anymore? If I died, I wouldn't have to worry about my problems. If I lived, good for me, I'm a hero and I saved the world!

I shuddered, and looked over at sleeping Vera, Jasper, and Jax. Dawn was just coming up, and the city was still dark. We'd have to travel to the Barren Ice Fields where the wolf was kept, and wait until 12:00 am exactly when the spell would break and the wolf would roam freely. I was really scared. We'd spend the whole day just travelling.

I rise onto my feet, and head towards the little stream that provides the trees and plants in the garden with water and wash my face. After a good drink, I pick out an apple from a nearby apple tree and wash it in the stream before eating it. I pick more apples, wash them, and bring them over to my friends. Our breakfast.

They wake up, and I hand them the apples.

"Today's the day, right?" Jasper asks sleepily. I simply nod, and wait for them to finish eating.

"We'll have to sneak Louis out, and be on our merry way to the Barren Ice Fields."

"No, the book said that the wolf was simply imprisoned there, and on the day there would be a shadow at the site they met - the Kakos Lykos," Vera contradicts.

"Oh yeah! So the wolf will show up at the gates, where we met?" I look to Jasper. Vera nods, and Jax comes over and sits next to me.

"We'll do fine," he encourages us, and I hug him. It feels good, and my mood is positive once more.

Stomp! Stomp! Stomp!

I hear a rhythmic stomping sound, and whip my head around at the direction of the manor. Hiding behind a small bush, we look at the gates to the manor and see a flood of people, ordinary, everyday people, marching in unison towards the gates to the city. Then, I see them.

A pale, white face, green eyes, long brown hair, and a man next to the woman with thinning gray hair, bright blue eyes, and a tired face: my parents.

I almost jump out at them, but Jax has his hand on the back of my shirt and pulls me back.

"Don't! You'll make our situation a whole lot worse. Can't you see they're brainwashed, and aren't thinking clearly? Chelsie and her parents are controlling their brains!" he whispers, and I know he's right.

I nod, and I see the others tensing, probably spotting their parents also. Tears form on Vera's face, dripping down steadily.

"I will do everything in my power to stop those evil-doers, and save my parents!" she murmurs, and I can see it pains her.

We all nod, and wait for the people to march out before we see them - Chelsie...and her parents.

A tall, and sharp woman, tightly pulled back blond hair, and crisp, blue eyes that look like chips of ice: her mother. Her father is quite short, with light brown hair, and softer blue eyes, and he looks hesitant, not strong and sure like his spouse. He probably doesn't like what they're doing, but is obeying his wife. I felt bad for the man. He kind of resembled my father.

They walked on, and when they had exited the manor, we looked at each other.

"We have to hurry. We're only five people so we're going to get there faster than them, but we still have to hurry," Vera urged.

We all nodded, and raced into the house. We went into Louis' room, and woke him up.

"It's time."

~ ~ ~

Racing through the forest, we run like the wind. Louis at the lead, Vera and me after, and Jasper and Jax at the rear. We run until we reach the stream we were at before, and take a quick break before returning to our running session.

We sense that danger is closing in as the sun is high above in the sky, yet we traveled only a third of the way in a handful of hours.

The spiky green trees soften into wispy and puffy light trees and I know we're close to Alkrok. The sky is beginning to darken, and some stars are showing. We reach the Alligator pond, and cross over safely.

I cautiously walk around the school gates, trying to pinpoint their location. The ground shakes, startling me.

"The first sign of the wolf's coming," Vera whispers.

I nod, and she flies off into a clump of trees, and we follow.

"Stay here, I'll go look for them," she suggests, and we flop down like dead fish, grateful for rest.

A couple of minutes pass by, and Vera returns.

"I saw them. They're in the opposite direction and also in hiding. I can see that Chelsie is getting a lecture from her mother, and they're reviewing the plan. It's as exactly as what Louis said," she whispers, and Louis nods.

I sigh, and look up at the sky. The stars are out, and darkness had rolled in. Not sure of the time, I look at the large clock set on top of Alkrok. The clock is made of some sort of shiny metal, and statues of animals wraps around it, forming a creepy yet cool-looking ensemble.

The time reads 8:45. I groan, and spend the time picking at the grass and making meaningless conversation with the others. Louis also reviews the plan with us, and then, I see the longer hand hit 12.

Ding!

Ding!

Ding!

The clock rings out, sending chilling and shivering feelings down my spine. It's 12:00 o'clock. The others turn and turn, restless and scared of what's to come.

The sound of paws comes, and more growling follows. I get scared, and I feel as if a pack of hungry wolves is following us.

Then...

Aaawooooooooo!

The sound of a wolf's howl rings out, and I feel chills. After the howl, a shadow will fall at the gate.

I wait for the long howl to end, and I see a large, dark shadow.

I whimper, and look over at the gates.

What I see scares me.

The thing is staring at the school.

The Kakos Lykos.