The Beast of Fox Hill

Nine

The simple word caused my entire body to jump. I had not been expecting this mysterious guy to speak, let alone directly to me.

I turned in my spot, keeping my positioning. He was already taking long strides towards me and before I could react, he was a foot away from me. Realizing it was a bit too close for my liking, I took a cautious step back.

"Can I help you?" I asked, not trying to sound rude or irritated, but keeping my voice firm.

"You're the girl who lives near Fox Hill, right?" he asked. His voice was smooth but deep and masculine. Somehow it almost felt as though it held authority, which made me a bit more uncomfortable in the situation I was in.

"Yeah that is me," I said flatly.

"I wanted to apologize for staring the other day. You were just so beautiful I simply could not help myself," he said, a smirk playing on his lips. A blush came over me once more, but this time I tucked it away quickly.

"It was kind of creepy but thank you for the apology," I said honestly.

"I'm Cassander Osiris," he said, reaching a strong hand towards me. I took it cautiously and shook it. His large hand was warm and seemed to swallow my own, though mine were considered large for a woman's.

"Jasper Hyde," I said with a nod as I pulled my hand away from his. Immediately, my hand reacted to losing the heat of Cassander's and it got cold extremely quickly. I stuffed it into the single pouch pocket on my pull over and gave him a small awkward smile.

"Can I walk you back to your place? It can be dangerous out here alone and the sun will probably be setting soon. Wouldn't want you to be caught out here in the dark," he says. Somehow his words feel as though he knew something I did not, but I brushed it off.

"I think I'll be okay on my own. Thank you though," I say with another small smile.

"Please? I insist," he says, looking down at me. His tone seemed to change, now his offer sounded less polite and more like an order that I could not refuse.

"Alright, but just to the driveway," I say rolling my eyes at the tall green eyed man. A smile grew on his once straight lips and he nodded in the direction of my house, telling me we could begin our walk.

The road crunching was louder as there were two of us walking on it now. Although I felt a bit more comfortable being with someone, the eeriness of the darkening forest still caused a chill and anxiety to course through me.

"Do you live down in town? I don't recall ever seeing you before," I ask trying to soothe the awkward silence between myself and Cassander.

"No, I live on Fox Hill," he said, his eyes flashing down at me as he spoke.

"Fox Hill? Do you know Booker Larkin?" I asked curiously.

"Yes, he is my best friend in fact. We've known each other since we were young boys and our families are good friends. How do you know him?" he stated before asking the last question. For some odd reason, it almost sounded like he was asking simply to carry on the conversation but already knew the answer to his inquiry.

"It is kind of a long story, but to shorten it up my door was broken and he showed up at my house and fixed it for me. We kind of became friends from there," I explained but kept my eyes on the crunchy road.

"How did your door get broken?" he questioned, again sounding like he already knew the answer. I looked up to him to see his eyes already on me, as though he was seeing if I would trust him with the truth or if I would lie to him.

I honestly had nothing to loose, so I told him the honest explanation as to how my door was broken.

"Wolves," I said flatly as my eyes removed themselves from his gaze.