2 Chapter 1

How did I get here? I looked around irritated. I was in the woods, surrounded by big trees. It was dark and the only source of light was the full moon that shone from above. There was no wind, it was completely silent, there was not one little noise that could be heard. Oddly enough, I was feeling quite comfortable with being here but was still confused as to how I got here. Looking down, I noticed that the only thing I was wearing was an unfamiliar white nightgown that reached my ankles. I have never owned one of those so I didn't know how I could have gotten a hold of it. I also didn't remember putting this on. If it didn't feel so real, I would think this was a dream. A layer of light, sent from the moon, wrapped itself around my body. The sudden urge to walk around overcame me so I gave in and started walking deeper and deeper into the woods. Since I wasn't wearing any shoes, I could feel every pointy little pebble, every leaf and every twig that I stepped on. The little walk that I was taking felt very refreshing and calming. There still wasn't the slightest sign of noise. How odd.

After some time just aimlessly strolling through the woods, I stopped walking, amazed with what I saw right in front of me. I found a lake that reflected the image of the moon, which was shining directly above it. It got a bit windy so the water that washed up on the shore, came in little waves. Something that really caught my eye, was the little 'island' that was in the middle of the lake. On there were an old looking wooden shack and a handful of trees. There was a small bridge that led to the mysterious looking little shack but I wasn't too sure about how safe it would be to step as much as a foot on it.

It felt like the moon was calling out to me so I took a few more steps towards the lake until my feet met the water. The water was very cold and the hem of my nightgown was immediately soaked with water but I didn't care. I closed my eyes and breathed in deeply. This felt so peaceful.

However, the peaceful moment was not meant to last. I leaned down to the water to inspect my reflection, only to find that the face I was looking at, did not belong to me. Staring right back at me was a beautiful, smiling, curly haired blue eyed girl. How was that possible? Her smile slowly faded away and she seemed to look very concerned now. Suddenly she opened up her mouth and out came actual words! "It's time," she simply said.

Before I had time to think about how a reflection in the water was able to speak to me and how terrifying that was, for the first time that night I heard a noise. It came from directly behind me. The noise of twigs snapping and heavy footsteps to be specific. My whole body tensed up the second I heard growling behind me. Feeling unbelievably brave, I turned around as slowly as possible and came face to face with the source of the noises.

My heart rate increased immediately as I tried to process what was happening. Standing before me was something that looked like a wolf on steroids. It was as tall as a horse, its fur black and long and it definitely looked dangerous. The huge fangs did not help to calm me down. The animal had green eyes that seemed to be able to put you in trance and its ears were standing up stiffly. I immediately recognized this creature as the wolf I have been dreaming of for the past few weeks. Did this mean that I was dreaming? Suddenly it started licking its teeth and then growled.

Right in that moment, I decided that I couldn't just stand there and wait for the wolf to kill me. I had to get away from here. I took really slow steps into the direction of the bridge that was only a few feet away from me, planning to get to the wooden shack on the little island, never taking my eyes off of the dangerous creature that was staring at me intensely.

As soon as I reached the bridge, the wolf started howling. That was my cue to start running.

It is a well-known fact, that wolves love the chase. This wolf was no different, it was right behind me, chasing me. I ran as fast as my legs could possibly carry me and actually made it to the shacks door before the wolf could get to me. Needless to describe how relieved I was when I found that the door was unlocked. I ran inside and slammed the door shut. Since it was dark, I couldn't see if anything in there could help me barricade the door. I tried to hold the door closed by pressing my body against it, knowing perfectly well that if the wolf creature decided to jump against the door, I would not stand a chance against it.

Suddenly I heard my name being whispered behind me, "Eliana."

Goose bumps immediately covered my whole body and I instantly forgot about the door and turned around. My eyes have gotten used to the dark by now and I was able to see a little better. There was somebody standing at the other end of the room. I couldn't see much but I could definitely see a female silhouette. I tried to ask who she was and what was going on but I couldn't open my mouth.

"Luna," She whispered, "It's time."

I've been having nightmares for weeks now. Essentially, the dream was always the same but over time some things were added to them. Usually I would just dream of waking up in the woods and ending up by the lake. Sometimes the wolf creature was there too and other times I just heard growls. Tonight was the first time this mysterious blonde appeared.

I told my aunt Arlene about my dreams a while ago but had the feeling that she didn't want to speak or even hear about them. Whenever I bring up my nightmares she gets angry and changes the topic, so I decided to just not talk to her about it anymore. The only person who really listens to me is Greg.

Gregory Knox is my best friend. He is also my only friend. I'm not allowed to go outside much because my aunt says it is too dangerous. I am only allowed to leave the house with her or Greg by my side to 'protect' me. I wasn't allowed to attend public schools either, I was home-schooled. Back when I was little I used to play with our neighbors daughter. One day Arlene overheard a conversation we had while playing with dolls. The girl was asking me why my parents weren't there. I told her that it was only my aunt and I and that I didn't have parents. "Everyone has parents," she told me. That's when my aunt came into the room and told my friend she had to leave. I never saw her again.

All the free time I had, I spent reading. That's all I ever did since there was nothing else I really was allowed to do. When I turned 16, I started becoming more rebellious. I argued with my aunt, broke things in the house, screamed at her and sneaked out of the house at night. I would steal liquor and get drunk with other teenagers until Arlene eventually found me to drag me back home. That went on for a bit more than a year.

I still clearly remember the day she brought home Gregory. I was sitting in the living room with a book in my hands when the front door opened and I heard voices. One of the voices being my aunts and the other voice belonging to a male I wasn't familiar with.

Soon enough my aunt and the stranger entered the living room. I looked up from my book. Standing before me with my aunt by his side was a boy that looked like he was just a few years older than me. He was tall, had brown eyes, relatively short brown hair and a few freckles on his face. He was quite attractive and I couldn't come up with a reason as to why Arlene would bring this boy into the house.

"Eliana, this is Gregory. He is my best friends son." Ahh, yes. Maria, Arlenes best friend that is said to have cancer. Up until this point I honestly didn't believe she existed. Arlene has never introduced us to each other, she always left the house when they wanted to meet up. I always thought my aunt had an affair she didn't want me to find out about and that the Maria story was just an alibi.

For the first time since they entered the house I glanced at Arlene now. Her nose and eyes were red. It looked like she had been crying. "Arlene, are you okay?" I asked her.

She didn't even look at me. Instead she looked at Greg, "Maria died today Eli. Gregory is going to stay with us for a while. Is that fine with you?"

I nodded, unsure of what the appropriate reaction would be in this kind of situation. "Yes of course I'm fine with that."

Arlene asked me to bring Gregory to our guest room and to help him with his luggage- which I did. I gave him a tour of the house as well. I told him I was sorry for his loss but he just nodded and asked for some alone time.

The first few days after his arrival he wasn't much of a talker, but I guess it's only normal for someone not to want to talk a lot when they are mourning the loss of someone they loved. It took a while but we became close friends. I found out he was twenty one years old. He never had a job because taking care of his mother and spending the time that she had left together was more important to him.

It has been three years since the day we met now.

xxxxx

I groan, "No! Why would you do that? Is Arlene even okay with that? I bet you haven't asked her."

Greg sighs and turns around to face me, "She said it's fine. She likes Nik."

I look at him sceptically. "We both know that's a lie. She can't stand him."

"He's my friend Eliana. Maybe that's why she let's him come over so much."

I nod. That makes sense. I just don't get how anyone can be friends with Nikolai. He is so arrogant and grumpy all the time.

"He's just so irritating." I whine.

"What do you even mean? He's not that bad, Eli." He tries to argue.

"He is arrogant, thinks he's better and smarter than anyone else and just acts weird."

For a moment he looks around and doesn't say anything but then he takes my hand and looks at me again, "He has nobody Eli. I admit that he is weird but come on! His twin sister and his parents died in a car crash, of course he is a bit strange. I know what it's like to lose someone and how alone you feel afterwards. Please help me be there for him."

I'm not sure what made me agree to spend another evening with Nikolai. Maybe it was because I felt bad for what happened to him and how lonely he was now. Or maybe it was the crush I had on Greg that made me agree. "And he really has to stay the night?" I pout. Greg gives me a big smile and hugs me, "Yup, he's going to be here soon too."

Well, this is going to be a very long night. Nik could be a nice guy if he wanted to be don't get me wrong. But he definitely was difficult to be around. He seemed grumpy and uptight most of the time and he complained a lot. If it wasn't for Greg, I really wouldn't bother talking to him.

xxx

"Hi Nik," I said without looking up from the Tv.

I could practically hear him roll his eyes. "Good evening, Eliana," he greeted me and sat down.

After that, the room went awkwardly silent. Greg fake coughed, "So? What do you guys wanna do?" He asked.

"I think we should let Eliana make that decision, this is her home after all and we are just guests," Nikolai says, throwing Greg a strict look.

Greg chuckled, "This is my home too you know?"

Nikolai looks amused, "You are a guest Gregory. You have been living here for quite some time that is true, but you still are a guest."

Greg sighed and turned to look at me, "What do you wanna do Eli?"

"We could watch movies, what do you think?" I asked looking at both of them.

Nik nodded, "If that is what you wish to do."

"Right," Greg sighs, "What movie should we watch?"

I shrugged, "You can choose one if you want to." Greg smiled and nodded his head.

It took him a few minutes but he finally decided on a movie. It was a good one and I liked it. The only one who didn't like it was Nik of course.

"Wow that was amazing!" Greg exclaimed.

Nik on the other hand shook his head, "Oh please that was the most unrealistic thing I have seen a while. I didn't enjoy that movie at all."

I groaned, "Nik you don't like or enjoy anything."

He turned his head to look me in the eyes, "I am sorry that you are under the impression that I 'don't like anything'. But rest assured, that is not the case."

I bite my lip in frustration but keep my mouth shut.

"This is my cue to leave." He says and stands up to leave but before he walks through the door, he turns around one last time. "Oh and Eliana?"

"Yes?" I ask and he smirks.

"Sweet dreams." He says and then leaves.

Sweet dreams? I looked at Greg who was giving me an exhausted smile. He opened his mouth to say something but I cut him off.

"He is so frustrating Greg. Also, I thought he was going to stay the night?"

"Eli, you weren't exactly nice to him so you can't blame him for leaving." He says.

I think about his words for a minute and decide that he is right. It was childish of me to act that way. "You're right, I'll apologize to him tomorrow," I say, "The way he acts is just exhausting. I totally get why Arlene doesn't like him."

Greg looks to the ground. "That's not why she doesn't like him." He mutters.

"What? What do you mean? Why does she not like him?" I ask confused. Did I miss something?

Greg shakes his head. "Don't worry." He says, "You'll find out soon."

"Whatever," I yawned, suddenly feeling very tired "I'm going to sleep now." I hugged Greg to say good night, after that I went into my room and threw myself into my bed.

"Eliana. Come find me."