Oh You Have Got To Be Kidding Me

'Don't get yourself killed,' Madeline said to herself, knowing she was practically putting herself in danger, doing this.

'Oh come on, what's the worst that could happen?' Madeline reasoned, venturing deeper into the woods.

'Something unfortunate always occurs whenever that line is spoken. Especially in horror and or action movies,' a voice huffed in annoyance and disapproval.

Disregarding the two voices in her head acting as angel and devil once more, she went on, knowing she'd come to regret this but decided to continue anyway.

When she saw Eudora, she stopped. It was a dead zone. There were no signs of life or anything in general.

"What the—"

"Where is everyone?" Madeline wondered.

"Where have they gone?"

Deep down, a part of her - that liked to overthink things all the time - had already come up with its own answer. One Madeline didn't think was possible until…

She saw no more belongings left in the tents, and Xavier's office completely barren and empty.

They didn't.

They couldn't have!

Madeline's heart raced in her chest, as she looked around the place, heading to Briar's room.

'This has to be some sick joke,' Madeline thought before she entered. It was sparkling clean.

NO!

It couldn't.

It couldn't have all been a figment of her imagination that she'd created. They were here! Her soulmate was a werewolf. Her dearest friend was a werewolf! And Adrian… he was the alpha's advisor!

She dialled Briar's number, knowing this couldn't be true.

Maybe… the full moon's effects had affected them for a longer period than usual. Maybe… they were out hunting somewhere.

Madeline waited, and waited, and waited, before she had finally came to terms with what had happened.

She fell to her knees, tears stung her eyes. Her heart felt like it'd explode from the sheer pain it was experiencing.

Fighting back tears, she'd realized she was all alone in the woods, with no one else there. They'd abandoned her.

No, abandon was the wrong word for it.

They'd betrayed her. Xavier had betrayed her. Briar too.

The two people she'd thought were her friends had lost her.

With her face stained with tears, Madeline made it back to her car and safely back to her loft, vowing to forget all that'd happened.

Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months - those months slowly turning into years as Madeline dismissed the events of Eudora as nothing more than that of a figment of her imagination. Xavier didn't exist to her, and frankly… neither did Briar. They were a faint memory to her, one that she wasn't so keen to relive.

It had taken her long to get over the fact that werewolves didn't exist in the world, and things were finally beginning to improve for her.

For one, she had gotten herself a job interview at a company that was one of the most sought after companies to work at. To say she wasn't excited would be a complete lie. She'd been waiting for this day.

She'd been between jobs and hoping she'd finally be able to land a permanent job and like an angel beaming down on her, the gods answered her prayers.

Dressed up to the nines for said job interview, Madeline wished herself luck.

'It's a job interview. Be professional, I just have to remember what I practised, and I'll be completely fine,' Madeline straightened her dress.

For once in her life, she needed stability. A pillar to hold on to, and this job was it for her. It was exactly what she needed, and this time, there would be no surprises. Nothing that'd come unexpectedly.

'This isn't actually what you want now is it, having a boring although stable job,' the voice in her head reasoned.

'Talk, talk, talk. That's all you do and look where it's gotten her,' the other voice tsked.

Madeline knew it was best to ignore the voices. Today was her day. A new beginning for her. A restart. She was ecstatic and filled to the brim with excitement.

She pulled up to the company building, knowing she could do this and she was ready for the fresh start she needed ever since…

Madeline winced, she was better off not remembering that.

It took her months to get over it, she didn't want all those emotions to come rushing back in.

So imagine her surprise… when instead of being interviewed by the hiring manager, or even a member of the recruiting team… she was asked to meet the CEO of the company instead.

"The CEO?!" She cried, suddenly feeling more nervous than she did before. She hadn't prepared to meet the CEO! That would've required far more preparation.

Madeline's heart skipped a beat from those two words themselves. Why the CEO? Why would he want to interview someone as lowly as her? Were they short-staffed today? Was that why?

"This way please," a lady guided her towards the elevator leading to the CEO's office situated on the highest floor of the building.

She pressed a couple of buttons, and then Madeline was on her way, off to see the CEO for this job interview of hers.

Mind you, Madeline had applied for a relatively small position. In the sense that the applicants didn't require being interviewed by THE chief executive officer of the company, that is.

"Ding!" Went the elevator before its doors slowly opened, leading to the hugest office Madeline had ever seen in her entire life.

Across from the elevator doors, Madeline saw a huge chair facing backwards from her.

She croaked, "H-hello."

"Ms Delcour, it's been a while," the man's voice spoke.

Madeline immediately recognized the dulcet tones she'd heard. But it couldn't be.

All those fake scenarios she'd created in her head, all the nights she'd spent crying herself to sleep knowing she'd been duped and betrayed…

The chair swivelled, and low and behold. The one sight she'd never dreamt of seeing.

Madeline's heart flipped in her chest. Her knees shook.

"W-wha-"

"Oh you have got to be kidding me," she muttered under her breath, recoiling at what she saw.