Lost in the woods
After a long day of working, Martina was driving slowly back home when she saw a new book store at the corner of the street. It seemed new because of the flowers outside of the two-story building.
She pulled back, parked the car, and curiously observed the books on the shelves. "Hmm, it sounds interesting," she whispered and wore glasses that perfectly fitted her new fashion style.
Gently, she pushed the door and the entire ambiance brought her peace of mind after some time of working as a writer. She sighed, smiled genuinely as she shook her head in astonishment.
She looked around, walked into the shelves filled with new, shining books until an old man greeted his first-ever customer.
"Good day, Madam! What I can do for you?" He looked like in his sixties yet he still worked too hard.
Martina appreciated his efforts as she smiled over her shoulders and picked two books from the right shelves. She replied, "Hmm, do you have something interesting? A different genre?"
The old man chuckled, walked into the counter area, and looked for a book that she would love. Like a snail that move slowly, he picked it up and gave it to Martina who seemed excited to read it.
She flipped the book's pages and it smelled new, until the book cover caught her attention, "The naughty alpha and his perfect match?"
Confusingly frustrated, she glanced up at the old man for a second, and with no doubt, she quickly shook her head and took out her wallet.
"100 dollars, young lady! Since you're my first ever customer this afternoon, I will give you a free book."
"No, i- it's totally fine, Sir!" she refused but the old was too persistent and serious.
Martina lent hundreds of dollars and received the books. She waved her hands on him and went out of the store with a strange feeling.
Like what she used to do, she pressed the red button and the door automatically opened. She then threw the plastic books into the dashboard and hopped into the driver's seat.
"Hmm, I changed my mind. I don't want to go home yet!" she whispered mischievously.
But the truth was, Martina Green was tired and sick of her boring life. She wanted to do something, to prove something to herself.
Before he held the steering wheel, she tapped her cellular phone's screen and played back her favorite playlist. She bit the bottom of her lip, turned the car to the right, and took the books by her right hand.
"Hmm, let me see what I've got here!" she said in a hollow voice.
Martina picked the free book, placed it into the steering wheel, and read its title. "The secret way to the werewolves' territory."
Along the way to somewhere distant, Martina Green drove the car at a neutral speed, reading the free book that she bought from the old's man bookstore.
Gasping for more fresh air, she undid the window until a cold, refreshing air blew up her long, black curly hair. She smiled, shook her head as she danced together with the rhythm of the loud music.
"Hmm, I think I should go and see if it is true!" Silently awed by the catchy yet horrifying title, Martina found the entire book interesting.
Her life suddenly became a daily routine after the yearly graduation until she realized that she wanted to explore and discover more things in the world.
And the book turned out to be an instrument in discovering a new, surprising world of well-known creatures.
She murmured when she flipped to the next page and saw an accurate, vivid map. "Werewolves' territory? That's quite fun and exciting!"
It looked like a real map and every corner was described on the next page. Martina looked straight on the road and realized that she was going in the wrong direction.
She quickly turned left and followed the guide map that was written in the book. However, as she drove slowly down a busy road, Martina temporarily forgot about her present life.
She forgot to drive Dalia back home because of a strange feeling. It seemed like everything happened for some reason and she didn't regret all of those things.
Martina was so sure that her best friend would never blame her for a childish reason even though she acted like one.
Suddenly, a mischievous smile flashed on her face when she remembered Dalia. She arched her back, reached for the cellular phone, and dialed her name.
"Pick up the phone, Dalia! I have something to tell you."
Unfortunately, Dalia was arguing with Mr. Wilson because of nonsense matters. She left her phone on her table and talked back like she was the boss of the company.
Disappointingly, she ended up the call and threw the phone back to the dashboard, and held the steering wheel tightly. She gritted her teeth, leaned back her left arm to the opened window, and savored the cold, fresh air.
"She must be arguing with that head editor all over again!" she angrily muttered, rolled her eyes, and took a deep breath.
Martina has been longing for a new surrounding with great history. Her life became too dull as the fact that she was only one child.
For all of her life, she was looking for a world that never existed in the real-life, still, she was hoping that in the perfect time, she would find where she truly belongs.
"To the left!"
She turned to the fairly fascinating left. The peaceful road was surrounded by big, healthy trees that almost collide like a vineyard plant. The green leaves swayed because of the cold air that blew up around them.
A few dried leaves drifted by the air and fell to the ground once again. It seemed like an enchanted forest that has an enthralling entrance.
"Wow, it is merely real and not just an imagination!"
Martina Green took the phone from the dashboard and parked the car at the moment. She excitingly went out of the car, looked behind her until she realized that she was alone on a road surrounded by trees.
Despite the fear she suddenly felt, she put it aside and quickly took pictures of nature. It was breathtakingly beautiful and after a while, it was the first time that she has seen such a wonderful place in her whole life.
She gasped, bit the bottom of her lip, and said, "Dalia will surely get mad at me!"
Giggling like a little child, Martina hopped into the driver's seat and reviewed the pictures she took earlier. She wanted to share it with other people but she was afraid that Dalia might see her latest post.
"I need to thank the old man for the book!" she happily murmured.
But suddenly, the bright sky turned into a gloomy and vague one. It was six in the evening and forgot about the time because of the beauty of nature before her.
She sighed, began to panic when she realized that the bar signal was gone and she couldn't ask for help. "No service?" she widened her eyes. "Oh holy, how can I get back to the city without a signal?"
Hopelessly devastated, Martina held her head in despair and thought for a better plan on how could she go back home safely.
But the peaceful road turned out to be the hawk's territory until something fell scarcely into the roof of the car. She gulped, closed her eyes, and waited for a moment.
She didn't know what to do next as she was completely in panic. "I must take another route!" Dauntlessly, she murmured.
Right then, as she didn't waste any second, Martina started the engine, turned on the headlights, and drove back to the direction she took earlier.
She was silently hoping to find the right way but her prayer was not granted when she grasped that she was still on the same road and surroundings.
Her world was fall apart when she lost the way back until she heard loud voices that echoed around the forest. It was odd but in hope of asking for help, she followed where it came from and it brought her to the very isolated part of the forest.
Martina took the cellular phone with her and used it. She looked tired and frustrated but the voices gave her hope.
"There must be a resident living in the forest!" she said as she breathed too heavily.
Silently, she took steps into the forest that was surrounded by trees and different kinds of wild species. The entire surroundings were devoured by darkness but through her phone, she could barely see the way.
After a couple of minutes of walking, Martina felt tired and thirsty. She was even wearing a pair of stilettos that was quite uncomfortable and inconvenient in the situation.
Her heartbeat was too fast and she could hear it as her body gave up, but her mind was still fervent. For a second, she rested, leaned back her body to the tree when a deep, husky voice sounded around.
"It's right here! They are must be around!"
Her sweet voice filled with hopes as it took away the weariness and at the same moment, Martina Green unknowingly intruded into the werewolves' territory when she was lost in the woods.