His Little FLOWER (Lucifer's Flower) ✓

Chapter 5

"Promise me you'll stay,
And I promise to hunt you
In the most heavily way - with
Dark Devotion and
Deep Emotions."

------------------------*

"As the sun rises."

"Just 2 hours left until sunrise," Dad groaned. I looked at the clock to see it was already 3 am. Dad must be tired. He should sleep, but I'm sure I won't get any sleep.

"We should go home," Dad said. I nodded and turned to leave.

"No need to leave. You can stay here; we don't have much time, and Ella is already in warm clothes," Rebecca offered.

She was right. It would be a waste of time to go home and come back again. I was already bundled up in warm clothes, which Dad made me wear before we left home. I turned to look at Dad.

Anyone could see how much he wanted to deny the offer. I gave him my best puppy dog eyes, which never fail. He shook his head in amusement, and I nodded at Rebecca.

Rebecca took us to the guest room, where Dad and I talked. Well, I tried to make him understand, but he still didn't agree. Two hours passed with Rebecca and Dad arguing, and I tried to mediate.

"Ella, you remember what I told you, right?" Rebecca asked as we all stood outside her house near the woods, ready for me to leave.

"Yes, Rebecca, you told me!"

"Still, Ella, listen once more. As you enter the woods, just go straight. When you see a stable path, move left, then straight again. You might find a few people living there, and maybe you can find him. You need to come back before sunset. Most importantly, keep that bottle close to you and stay alert. If you feel even slightly off, come back immediately. Do you understand, Ella?" Rebecca instructed again. I nodded, and she patted my head.

"Here, a water bottle and some snacks for you," Rebecca said, handing me a bag. I hugged her. She had helped me a lot, even after everything Dad said, and she was still helping.

"Thank you for everything, Rebecca!"

"It's alright."

I turned toward my Dad and hugged him as tightly as I could because I felt like something was about to change, or perhaps everything. I had a fear that I might never see him again. Something inside me told me that this was the last time I would see my Dad.

Dad hugged me even more tightly. I could sense he still hesitated to let me go.

"Think again, Ella," Dad said as I broke the hug. There was fear in his eyes.

"The more I think, the weaker my decision will be." He nodded, seeing the determination in my eyes.

"I love you, my little girl," he said as his eyes started to gloss over, reflecting mine.

"I love you too, Dad."

"Come back soon, Ella." I could sense the same fear in Dad's eyes, the fear of losing me. He could feel it too.

"I will," I said as a tear slipped from my eye. Wiping it away, I gave him a quick hug and started to walk forward into the woods. Turning around, I gave one last smile to Dad and Rebecca before moving ahead.

I entered the woods, surrounded by the beauty of nature. The cold air hinted at the first snowfall, which I loved. As I walked straight, following Rebecca's instructions, I couldn't help but think about what might happen. What will I find? What will he be like? Will he understand me, or think I'm foolish like others?

Right now, I feel foolish, embarking on a mission to find someone without knowing his identity or appearance. I don't even know what I'll say to him. But there's no one to blame but myself. I chose this path, and I would choose it again if I had to. I'm desperate to escape this nightmare, and I'm not ashamed to admit it.

Lost in thought, I realized it was already afternoon, and I hadn't found the path yet. I was deep in the woods, having seen only squirrels and birds. Everything was calm and peaceful.

I remembered family picnics with Dad and Mom near forests, beaches, and villages. Those memories faded, but even after Mom, Dad, and I still went on picnics, though not as often. Thinking about Dad, I wondered if I would ever see him again. This fear gnawed at me.

As I walked further, the wind became wild. I tightened my coat and pulled my scarf up to my nose. I had eaten two sandwiches along the way. Then, I saw a path. Maybe this was what Rebecca was talking about. She had told me to take the first path I found.

I took a left turn, and the sky started to turn orange. I knew I should go back, but I still had time. Maybe I could find him. I held the bottle close to me and started to walk again. Then I saw something that left me frozen on the spot.

I saw a man looking at another man, and soon he turned into a wolf. I was far from them but could still see. I couldn't move, couldn't feel anything. It was so unreal. When I got my senses back, I did what anyone would do.

I ran, ran as fast as I could. I forgot everything else. The sun started to set, but I couldn't care less. That scene kept running in my head like a broken record. I stopped when I felt pain in my legs, and then I heard a wolf growl, which made me realize it was near. Getting up again, I started to run. Soon, the sky turned black.

I stopped when white-hot pain shot through my left hand, the same hand holding the bottle. The sudden pain made me drop the bottle. A sharp branch had cut my arm, even through my sweater and coat. Removing it with difficulty and pain, I sat down and took off my coat to see the wound. It wasn't too deep. I took a handkerchief from the bag and tied it around my hand. Another growl, louder than the previous one, made me get up and start running again.

I ran, despite the pain in my legs and hand. Suddenly, I felt something behind me. I turned to see no one. I didn't stop running, but the feeling of something behind or beside me didn't leave, and that scared me more than I already was.

I knew I had made a grave mistake by letting that bottle break. That thing was not leaving me, making me run faster. It made me feel safe and scared at the same time.

It's happening. Whatever I saw that day is actually happening. I am scared beyond words. I miss my Dad. Tears started to fall from my eyes.

The pitch-black sky was terrifying. I had to run. Ran to save myself and my father. Whatever I saw wasn't normal, at least not for me.

This all still felt so unreal. Knowing the thing was still behind me, I could feel it. It was like that thing was playing with me. All I wanted was to wake up in my warm bed and realize it was all a dream, a horrifying dream.

I really didn't know where I was running. I had to meet him. Only he could save me and my father. The one who made it for me.

She said if I ran into the woods and found him, he could make things right. But I felt stupid to believe her when I knew nothing about him. I didn't know what he looked like, who he was, or even if he would help us. But I had no other option.

It's been a day since I've been running. My body is now filled with scars, my legs hurting like anything, but I'm determined to find him, to end this all. From the beginning, my life wasn't normal. I need my father's embrace to hide or to find him.

Now I was losing consciousness, my strength giving out. My eyes started to close, but I still tried to run, my legs shaking. I was about to fall when two pairs of strong, warm arms held me against a hard, strong chest.

Then I heard the most terrifying, earth-shaking growl. Before losing consciousness, my eyes met a pair of forest green eyes. As mine closed, the last thing I heard was a deep, husky voice murmuring in my ear.

"Mine."

"You finally found your way to me, my little love!"