Of Wolf & Man

Chapter Two

The next morning Hector awoke in his bed alone, that's when he remembered what they had done, and that he would never see his wife again. He sat up and Rachel was standing at the foot of his bed.
"Papa, where's mama?" She asked quietly, her blue eyes piercing his soul.
"Darling, mama had to go away for a while."
"Why?"
"She just did."
"Why?"
"Darling, papa is tired and its too early to explain."
"Why?"
"You know, you're too inquisitive for your age."
"What's inkissitive?"
"Come here, you." He held out his arms and she ran over to him and he hugged her tight.
"Are you hungry?"
"Starving!" She grinned, Hector scooped her up and they walked into the kitchen together, he gathered up some eggs and a bowl and a whisk for her to hold. He cracked the eggs and she stirred the whisk in the bowl and giggled every time it spilled out.
"How are we going to cook the eggs if you keep feeding them to the counter?"
"But it's hungry like me, papa." She giggled again. Hector rolled his eyes and smiled at her. He pulled her down from the counter and cooked the eggs. They sat down together at the table and Hector watched her eat with such fervor he'd never known.
Afterward they cleaned up and he took her out for a walk, he was so scared she would fall ill again but to be healed by the Mystics in less than 24 hours, he felt that she would be okay to venture out from the house for a little while.
Rachel ran through the woods as Hector followed behind her, "Darling, don't go too far ahead!"
He followed her deeper and deeper into the forest, the trees losing their leaves and vitality the further they went.
"Rachel? Come back to papa, it's time to go home..." he called out, he could no longer see her and panic settled in.
"Rachel? Rachel where are you?!" He ran in what felt like circles and couldn't find his child.
He moved deeper into the woods and saw Rachel standing in front of a large man, a man he recognized as if from a faint dream.
"We told you never to return..." the man said menacingly.
"It was an accident..." Hector pleaded.
"Papa?" Rachel looked back and forth from her father to the man.
"Come here, child" he urged.
"We told you never to return." The man repeated.
"It won't happen again, I promise. Please let us go in peace." He waved for Rachel to come to his side but she kept still, her head moving back and forth between the men.
"A price must be paid."
"I will pay it, please let the girl go."
"Fine, return to us by sundown or we shall come to you."
"Thank you..." Hector snatched up Rachel and ran home once more. Once inside he fled to the telephone, he dialed the number incorrectly. Once, twice and took a deep breath and dialed a third time.
"Helene? It's me again."