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Mysterious Rescuing

I squinted my eyes to adjust with the sudden brightness. My head was throbbing painfully and at first, I couldn't even realize who am I.

Yawning a little I stretched out my arms to soothe the fatigue. Pulling the blanket aside I got up from my bed just when last night's events started playing in my mind one by one and my eyes widened in realization. I looked down to realize I was still in my yesterday night's dress.

Those drunken guys, me running into the woods, me saving the bird, they found me, the animalistic roar...

A shiver ran down my spine by recalling the sound.

It was... inhumane.

'SAPHY?!'

I looked around frantically hoping to find out the bird by any miraculous chance that it was in my room, safe and sound, but to my dismay it was nowhere to be seen.

'Oh God, the poor bird.'

I promised to take care of him.

Unwillingly tears welled up in my eyes by thinking about what did they do with it.

It was already injured.

I tried my best to remember what happened that night— who brought me back to my room. There was no chance the boys who were ready to pounce on me last night, left me here.

My head started spinning again with all the chaos and with a loud groan I pushed past the thought into the back of my mind and made my way to the bathroom.

Stripping off my clothes I stared at my disheveled naked reflection in the mirror.

In front of me was standing a complete mess. My brown wavy waist-length hair was tangled, dark circles under my eyes. I had those big boobs and a too-wide hip with a not so flat stomach which irritated me the most. I didn't have the model type of body and the scars on it didn't help either. I always felt insecure about it.

Sighing I picked up the strawberry-scented shampoo and body wash to massage my whole body, careful not to put pressure on the cuts. I let the warm water cascade down to remove the dirt away and instantly my sore muscles soothed under the hot shower.

After drying, I put on the fluffy robe around myself and exited the bathroom.

I chose a maroon-colored tank top, paired with a simple skirt, and let my wet hair open.

Tiptoeing I sneaked into the living room and to my relief, father, as usual, wasn't at home. After yesterday he sure was mad at me. I didn't want to imagine his punishment if he saw me now.

Shaking the thoughts away I started walking down the street as my café is hardly five minutes away from my house.

After reaching there, I greeted Edward, my only best friend in this lonely town. We met during high school years and since then our bonding started growing stronger. With his help, I opened the little café and whenever he got time, he came here to help me with the some stuffs.

He was indeed a handsome guy with his 5'8 height, dirty blonde hair and an everlasting charming smile adoring his face. Girls literally drooled over him but I didn't know I always saw him as my friend. He was just not my type I guessed. Once he proposed to me that he liked me but I politely refused his proposal. And I didn't want anything to ruin our friendship.

"Someone's late today," he taunted in mischief.

"Hi Ed. Yeah just a little headache." I lied. I didn't want him to find out about that incident nor did I share my family issues with him. God knew what would he do then.

"You okay now? You seem pale, Isabella?" Concern was evident in his voice and I shook my head negatively. He cared about me a lot. I felt bad about lying to him.

The day went on pretty quickly and it was finally time to close the shop.

"Do you watch today's news?" Ed pointed his phone towards me out of blue as I scanned the video curiously.

It was showing that three boys' dead bodies were found in the jungle. They were injured brutally, almost unrecognizable. Police suspected that some kind of animal attacked them last night.

I focused on the area and immediately covered my mouth with my palms. 

Realization dawned upon me.

It... it was the same forest I lost my way yesterday. Then must it mean they were the same group of boys from the bar?

But who killed them? 

That... animal?

"Earth to, Isabella!" Ed's voice brought me back to my senses as he was looking at me with a confused frown.

"I-i'm going home. Excuse me." without waiting for his reply I jogged down the road hurriedly. I heard him calling my name but I didn't dare to look back because I knew if I stayed any longer I would've ended up telling him everything.

I didn't want to drag him into my messed life.

It was already 7 pm. and father must be at home by now. My heart was pounding in my chest and my hold on my bag tightened for the worst consequences I was going to face.