Stay on the path

Sophia

Screams filled the area, little lights lit up in every house and both men and women hurried out to see what was happening.

A pale girl with eyes wide of fear ran out of the forest. Her light blue dress was ripped to shreds on several places and spots of blood had stained the fabric.

“Marioline!” A blonde woman was first to react. She ran towards the young blonde as fast as she could.

“Help! Help!”

Marioline cried out, tears running over her cheeks as she stretched her hands out to the villagers, desperate to reach them and feel save again. As she finally reached them, her mother wrapped her arms around Marioline, holding the blonde close.

“What’s wrong, what happened?” She asked surprised, eyes gleaming with concern as she tried to calm her daughter down.

“T-th-the wo-wo-wolf…”

Her voice was hoarse and she couldn’t talk well with all the trembling of her body. Some people gasped. Women took a step back in fear and men growled angry.

“The wolf?! When, who, what?!” Many questions sounded around Marioline. She tried to ignore them, holding tight onto the back of her mother while crying. How relieved she was to be save again, to be alright and in the warm arms that comforted her.

“I-It killed h-her… T-the wolf killed her wh-when she w-went of the path!”

More hot tears ran over her cheeks as she spoke. Everyone went silent. For a moment that silence felt like a cutting knife, then finally the supposed question was fired at her.

“Who?”

Again silence. Marioline gulped, trying to get rid of the pain in her throat.

“Sophia.”