CHAPTER 15

Bianca

It is pitch black. I can barely see anything. But I don't dare turn on the flashlight which I'm holding in my hand. Someone might notice me.

I manage to sneak out of the cellar mostly by following my inner instinct in knowing where to go. My eyes can't really adjust to the darkness around me.

I feel my heart beating in my throat. I can barely breathe. I'm beyond frightened. I'm petrified. But I know I must do this, even though Edmund has told me not to. I don't see any other way. I have to help him. Otherwise, the shifters might find the vampires before they find the well and I dread to think what bloodshed will follow.

I tiptoe out of the cellar and when I find myself outside, I breathe in the cool, night air. I look around, half expecting to realize that I'm not alone.

But I am. There is nothing but silence around me, with the occasional cricket heard somewhere in the distance. I could still turn around. Just go back down to the cellar, lie down and close my eyes. I don't have to do this. When Edmund finds out, I know he'll be pissed.

At the same time, I know that this is something I have to do, although this sounds contradictory. I am the only one who can get into the Elder's home. I know that there is a way to enter his home through the broken window of his cellar, something I've heard some shifters do, when they were trying to cause mischief and prove that they were tough. Now, if that window is repaired, then I'll have to find another way in. But I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.

With these thoughts in my mind, I start running. My feet pick up the pace faster and faster, and I know that I will eventually get where I am headed. I think that I'll get tired soon enough and will have to continue walking, but somehow, my body is full of energy. I keep running and breathing in rhythm, without feeling that heaviness in my chest, which usually accompanies fast running.

I have no idea how long I keep running, but when I finally stop, I realize that my feet stopped on their own simply because I have reached my destination. The Elder's home is the largest house in all the town. It is three storeys tall and takes up almost a quarter of the whole street.

This is great, because the Elder, his wife and their two kids are the only ones occupying this vast mansion. This means that it should be easy enough to sneak into the house and remain on the ground floor, while the bedrooms are on the first or the second floor. In theory, it should be an easy task.

I look to my left then my right. The street is empty. It's strange how this town has always felt so safe for every single shifter living here. I know some shifters who don't even lock their doors. That's how safe they feel. As for the Elder, I doubt he doesn't lock his door. I won't be tempted to try it. Better to follow my initial plan.

I sneak around the house and check out the window in question. Luck seems to favor me tonight, because where there was supposed to be glass, there is nothing but a gaping hole looking into the darkness of the cellar.

I swallow heavily, feeling uneasy about just jumping in there. I don't know what's down there. Last I remember, the Elder didn't have any animals, dogs especially, but that could have changed. I feel uneasy, but I know I won't back out now.

I inhale deeply, trying to calm myself down. Just don't think about it too much, I tell myself.

I bend down and first push my legs through the opening, then I lower myself slowly, but my feet are unable to feel the ground. Closing my eyes and praying that I don't twist my ankle or something stupid like that, I let go. I land on my feet skillfully, without making too much noise, then I wait. My mind counts to ten.

When I realize that nothing is happening and the house is still as silent as it was a few minutes ago, I realize that I can continue.

I turn on the flashlight and look around. I don't know what I was expecting. Anything but a usual cellar, I guess, with shelves of preserves and old, cardboard boxes. The moment I find the stairs, I head over to them. I try to make as little noise as possible, but my heart is beating so loudly that it's booming inside my ears. If I didn't know any better, I'd think that the whole house is able to hear my drumming heart as well.

I step on the first stair, and it creaks underneath my weight.

"Shit," I whisper to myself, stopping immediately. I listen for sound coming from upstairs, but nothing is heard.

I extend my leg as widely as I can, skipping three stairs, then step on the next one. This time, there is no creaking. I do the same thing again and again, until I am at the top. I exhale with relief, pressing my hand gently on the doorknob. I half expect it to be locked.

It's not. The door gives in easily. I can't believe this is all going so swimmingly. I am moving carefully, because I don't know what to expect. The house is bathed in darkness, but there is enough light coming from outside. The moon is bright, shockingly so, this night. One more stroke of good luck. I'll take it as a good sign.

I recognize immediately where I am. The kitchen is to my left. The entrance door is down the hallway to my right, and opposite from me is the living room. That is what I'm looking for.

I leave the cellar door open, just in case I need to rush back. I walk slowly, allowing the carpet to soak up the sound of my footsteps. I look around, dimming the light of my flashlight to the bare minimum, just enough to be able to find what I'm looking for.

There it is. The moment I enter the living room, I see it. The cupboard is still where it was when I first saw it. Nothing seems to have been disturbed in there. There's still a pile of papers, some old, some new looking. I walk over to it, then gently open and reach for the pile.

My fingers are trembling so much that I instantly drop it all on the floor.

"Shit, shit…" I mumble to myself silently, then dive down, in search of something that might resemble a map.

Initially, I keep finding old documents which I don't even bother to read. Then, something catches my attention. The flashlight beams on a document that seems to number something, like steps that you need to take.

I quickly grab it and stare at it, for closer inspection. The first step is to find the old willow tree. The second one is to go in the direction of the rising sun and count to fifty. I skim through the rest, and finally, there it is. The well.

I have no idea what old willow tree the document is referring to. It could be long gone by now. I quickly fold the document and shove it into my pocket. I pick up the rest of the papers and put them back where they were. Then, I slowly tiptoe back to the cellar.

The moment I close the door behind me, I hear something upstairs, the sound of something heavy falling onto the floor. I freeze in place.

I listen intently, following every sound, but for a few moments, nothing is heard. My heart feels like it's about to jump out of my chest, beating all the way in the back of my throat.

Another second passes. Then another one. No more thumping sounds are heard.

I take this as my cue to leave. If I stay any longer, I am putting myself in even more danger, especially now that I have what I came here for.

I did the same thing I did when I was climbing up the stairs, but I again hit the creaking stair. The noise from upstairs occurs again. It is immediately followed by footsteps which I hear above me. I know I don't have a moment to lose. They probably heard the noise from the basement and are now coming down to check it out.

I run towards the window and jump to catch the opening with my hands. I realize that I can't climb up, unless I have something to step onto. I quickly look around. My anxiety and fear are through the roof.

I see a chair. I ran to fetch it, adjusting it just underneath the window. I step onto it and climb out.

Once I feel the night breeze, I can breathe properly again.

The street is empty, but I know I'm still not safe. My feet take over and once again, I start running back the way I came from. I try to remain out of sight, sneaking behind houses, running by trees and then, when I see the woods, I dive into them, knowing that they will protect me.

I run even faster now, heading back to the factory. My heart is full. I have no idea if what I have will be of any help, but at least it's something we can try.

I keep running, breathless and full of some strange awe and pride. I dared to do this. I felt like I would change my mind and run back like the coward that I always believed myself to be, but I didn't. I pushed on until the end. This made me think that perhaps I'm not such a scaredy cat as I always thought.

The moon above me lights up the way. I smile at nothing, but I can't stop smiling for some reason. The branches are scraping at my arms, but I pay no attention. I have a place to go to, and nothing will come in my way.

When I finally reach the factory, I freeze. There is someone standing in the door, looking about.

I swallow heavily, thinking that one of the shifters must have figured out we were all hiding there. But the closer I get, I realize that it's not a shifter. It is Edmund.

As soon as he sees me, he runs towards me. Before I can say anything, he wraps his arms around me. Then, he looks at me like I'm a child that did something wrong and needs to be punished.

"Where the heck were you, Bianca?" he asks. "I woke up and you weren't there!"