Aria

"What the hell were you thinking?!"

My eyes twitch with the need to open, my mind struggling to comprehend the two voices that seem to be arguing.

"She's here now, that's all that matters."

"She could have gotten hurt!"

"You guys need to take this outside." A third voice joins in, "Now."

I try to get my bearings together as my eyes finally open, though the splitting headache makes me want to go straight back to bed.

For a split second I had forgotten everything that happened earlier and now it's all coming back to me, flashes and images of a man holding me down. Pure dread takes hold of me as my eyes widen.

The first thing my eyes seem to land on is Violet's face looking at me with worry. "What happened?" My voice comes out choppy.

She could see my panic stricken face no doubt, as she tried to calm me down, "You're safe now Aria, don't worry." 

"What the hell happened?" It's the only question that seems to be running through my head nonstop. "Where's Ethan?"

"Ethan's fine, I'm- I'm sorry, I can't explain it to you Aria." She shakes her head apologetically.

"Explain what?" I ask cautiously as my brows furrow. "Was I-" I can't even finish my question with the dread that came over me.

I was attacked, I passed out, and now I'm here in the hospital. What the hell happened to me while I was out?

"No, no." She immediately answers.

Her face seems to zone out for a moment and next thing I know, Ethan is walking in with an anxious expression.

Relief washes over me finally seeing him here, "Hey, Quinny." His voice comes out quietly, "I'm glad you're ok."

"There's something we need to talk about." He says, dragging a seat over to sit on.

I look at him questioningly, my eyes jumping between him and Violet who are both looking at me like I might explode at any moment.

Something tells me that I'm about to get really pissed off with these two.

...

"Aria?" He hesitated, "You haven't said anything."

For the past 20 minutes I've been spaced out. At first I was listening to what they had to say but the more he went on explaining the more I started to realize something.

"You're all fucking crazy."

My words came out muttered, still trying to understand the absolute nonsense that just came out of his mouth.

I actually thought I was finally done with crazy towns filled with insane people. Only to realize that I somehow landed myself in another one exactly like that!

Just my luck right?!

"Ouch." Ethan chuckled cautiously, though he stopped the minute Violet smacked his head.

She gave me an apologetic look "I'll let you two talk." She said, her voice traced with guilt as she walked out.

"Ok look, I'm sorry Aria I didn't mean to keep this from you."

"You're still going on about that?" I cut him off, "What you are talking about is insane."

What kind of mentally ill person sends a random guy to kidnap someone for their own safety?!  "I'm leaving." I go to stand, having had enough of his nonsense as I make my way to the door.

"Move." My voice comes out harsh as Ethan blocks the  door.

"I can't let you go." He says.

"Why not?"

"It's still too dangerous Aria." He explains, "You can't go out on your own."

"Ethan." I cautioned, "Let me leave."

"No."

My patience ran thin and I reached for the door handle, opting to just push through him.

My hand barely touches the door before I'm suddenly picked up and a yelp escapes me as I'm thrown over his shoulder.

"Put me down!"

"Please don't hate me Quinny, you know I'm just trying to protect you."

"Ethan!-" I fumed, though my words were interrupted when the door slammed open just as Ethan was putting me down.   

I look up and I immediately recognize the man standing before us. But the thing I wasn't prepared for was the color shift in his eyes the moment they landed on me.

From a beautiful green to a glowing yellow and I froze with a frightening realization.

I barely had any time to think about it as he immediately charges at Ethan with rage. I could see Ethans face of immediate regret just before the guy yanked him back. A hard fist lands on the blonde's face as they both fall to the ground. So much is going on and I can't do anything but watch these two wrestle each other.

"Milo, calm down!" Ethan yells as he punches him square in the face.

Things seem to get worse and people come rushing in as Violet and some other guy work to pull these two idiots apart.

That seemed to be my last straw as I tried to look for a way out while they continued to fight each other. The window behind me seemed to be the only solution and I opened it slowly.

Trying not to draw any attention towards me, the minute it's open I crawl out and book it. My feet take me as fast as they can through the dense trees and rough forest ground.

Branches claw at me as the cold air brushes against my skin though I barely give it any mind as the next thing I know I'm suddenly tackled to the ground.

A giant force takes me down and my back hits the forest floor with a harsh thud that knocks the wind out of me as I raise my arms for protection.

My eyes meet the beast on top of me, its eyes are rabid and feral but that slight moment of hesitation from me was all it needed as it bit down full force on my arm, sinking its sharp teeth into my flesh as I let out a guttural scream.

This giant wolf is about the same size as a damn pony, the mere thought has me realizing I have no chance of getting this thing off of me.

Its jaw is still locked onto my arm as it tugged and pulled with utter strength, I swear my arm almost got torn off. I grit my teeth, trying to push past the pain as it finally lets go and aims its mouth for my throat next.

I barely have any time to react when I hear a loud snarl in the distance. Next thing my eyes land on is the grey wolf jumping in and ripping the wolf off me.

My eyes look to the left where the grey wolf had landed but I only see Ethan as he mirrors my look of shock.

I'm panting frantically, utterly confused as he looks down and his face noticeably pales.

"Shit" He curses

My arm aches with unimaginable pain, I look down as well and I wish I hadn't. The giant gash is dripping with blood and I look away before I manage to pass out.

"Aria! Go!" He yells and I struggle to get on my feet. I move as fast as I can, hugging my arm and ignoring the snarls going on behind me.

It's not too long until the only sounds left are my labored breaths and my stumbling steps on the uneven ground. I'm finally close enough to my cabin, though the simple thought brings me little relief.

I can't stay here.

I finally see the front steps of my home before I'm interrupted by the crunching footsteps following close behind me.

I look back only to see those glowing yellow eyes pin me in place.

No thank you.

Only a few seconds pass before I step away, quickly turning around and beelining straight for the door.

He follows right behind me with hurried steps as I finally make it inside, I don't even have the chance to close the door as he slams it straight open and walks right in.

Our steps echo as I stumble and he harshly grabs my shoulders which causes me to gasp. My back meets the wall and I finally get a good look at his face.

Yellow eyes. Someone saved me that day in the woods and I somehow ended up here in wakefield.

He leans in and I flinch, my breaths are rough and I almost completely stop breathing the second I feel the brush of his lips against my neck as he inhales deeply.

"Milo?" I whisper hesitantly, recalling the name Ethan had called him when they were fighting.

He shakes his head softly, "Alen" he whispers and lifts his head up from my neck.

Our eyes meet each other and what used to be a glowing pair of yellow eyes are now a striking shade of green looking down at me.  

I am so confused right now.

"What the hell are you guys?" I whisper.

Ethan quietly makes himself known as he waits anxiously by the doorway. He looks beaten, blood coats his skin though it looks like it's not his.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you Aria." Alen says softly, placing his hand on the wall behind me. Nothing can help me ignore the slight pull I feel towards him and I try my hardest not to give in. 

"Get away from me." I say quietly, I could see the pain cross his expression for a second and I look down to avoid it as he steps back hesitantly.

"I need you two to leave." My voice almost comes out with a tremble, but nothing can change the fact that I can't trust anyone here anymore.

"It's not safe." Alen says.

"Is the wolf gone?" I ask as I walk over to the kitchen, my steps feel heavy and if it wasn't for the counter I would have probably fallen over.

"He's been taken care of." He answers.

"Then we're done here." I finish, not looking at either of them as I clean my wound with a wet towel.

"You're bleeding Ari." Ethan argues.

"I've had worse, you can leave now." I leave no room for discussion  as they both look at me silently.

It takes everything in me not to look up, fearing that I might forgive them too easily. I trusted Ethan, we became close and I have never had anyone as important to me like that. 

"Goodnight Aria." Alen leaves with a pained whisper and Ethan follows behind him. The minute I hear the door close it takes everything in me not to break down.

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Word count: 1724 Words