The Witch of Willow Lake

Twelve

Hallie's POV

My head pulsated, and my throat blazed as if I'd just swallowed scalding water. Every part of my body throbbed as my eyes slowly opened but immediately shut under the room's unrelenting light. It was as if someone was shining a bright, neon light directly into my eyes, and it burned.

"Emmett! She's awake." I heard Alicia's voice exclaim; however, it felt like she'd screamed the words directly into my ear.

I heard Emmett sigh in relief, "Oh, thank god. Take it easy, Hallie, go slowly."

"Why are you so loud?" I groaned with the words coming out weak and hoarse from the dry throat.

"We're not. We're...oh." Emmett's voice trailed off as if he'd suddenly realized something.

"Hang on, Hallie." Alicia's voice came more subdued this time and soothing like a lullaby.

I heard heavy footsteps against the wood floor pace around, followed by the sound of masking tape being pulled and torn. Seconds later, the sound of a match being lit and the small hatch of a lantern being closed with a subtle squeak.

"Okay, you can open your eyes now, Hallie," Emmett spoke with an air of benevolence to his tone.

I slowly opened them again, wincing a little as I did. The room was dark besides a small flicker of light in the corner from the lit candle. However, I quickly realized we weren't in the house anymore.

"Why...why are we at the Cabin? How did we get here?"

"We'll explain everything in a minute; just take it easy for a second, let yourself adjust." Alicia soothed as her hand rested softly on my arm.

"Everything hurts," I murmured, bringing my hands to my throbbing head.

I felt like the rapacious Wolves who'd beaten me had mangled my entire body. However, as I looked at my arms, there wasn't a scratch on me, which left me perplexed. I'd at least had a handful of deep cuts on my arms from their claws before I passed out.

Emmett moved slightly, coming beside me, "It will for a moment, but it will subside. Here let me help you sit up."

Slowly Emmett helped me up with ease, so I was upright. I looked at both of them, staring at me, wide-eyed and waiting.

"Why am I so hungry and thirsty?"

I felt as if I'd not eaten or drunk anything in days. I felt sluggish, washed of all energy as my stomach growled like a hungry lion.

Alicia shuffled awkwardly, her teeth chewing at her bottom lip as if she were anxious, "Hallie, you know we love you, right?"

"What's going on?" I urged, feeling the weight of their nervous gazes and my lack of knowledge of what had happened.

Emmett sighed heavily, rubbing his eyes with his hands before running one of them through his messy hair, "The attack. The Wolves had injured you too much, and you were too weak from using your powers. They'd also bitten you, and you know what it means when a Wolf bites a Warlock. We couldn't bear to lose you, Hallie; we couldn't sit there and watch you die."

"Hallie, listen to me," Alicia spoke, drawing my attention from Emmett to her. "Does it feel as if you've not eaten or drunk in days? Is every sound around you too harsh? Was the light when you first opened your eyes too intense? And does your body feel as if you've been run over by a car a million times?"

"Yes." I acknowledged, "What happened?"

"We're so sorry, Hallie." Emmett's voice cracked as he spoke. From the melancholy expression, I knew if he could cry, he would be. "We were so selfish. I was selfish, and I acted so foolishly. Alicia tried to stop me, but I didn't listen. I couldn't watch you die, and I couldn't lose you. I fed you some blood, hoping it would help you heal and counteract the poison from Wolf's bite. However, I didn't get the blood to you quick enough, and you died, Hallie."