The Crimes of Silverian Wolves

Wolves exist— a fact that my eyes had seen, and I couldn't shrug the thought that their pack must be nearby. They're not feral, I could assume. The wolf saved me from a predator instead of devouring me alive. I didn't have enough knowledge about wolves, but they're elusive to humans like us. Wild, as they said. Hence, the events last night left me confused. Why did the wolf spare my life?

The creature I've encountered didn't turn into a human like the old tales of werewolves. It was a complete animal, a wolf. It's different from the 'werewolf theory' that the town was obsessed with,but it's close. Both were wild animals that can howl.

The investigation pushed through when sunlight glinted on our faces. We had a slight argument with Enzo as he expressed his worry about the incident last night. He wanted to retreat back to town, where it's safer, and let the authorities do their job. I reminded him, once again of their indolence. It's been two days since Alvin disappeared and none of them even entered the woods.

The risk must've outweighed the benefits in his calculations, but I knew his concern came out of grief. The death of Mrs. Greyson changed Enzo, in ways I couldn't imagine. He lost his temper when I made my point: if we turn back, we'll lose hope and the justice his mother deserved. No matter the reason I gave, his voice would raise, repeating the same phrase: it's dangerous, Astrid. Professor had to step in and pull him away. When he regained his cool, we settled our argument. We agreed to make the investigation faster, so we could get back to our lives, especially the one I'm trying to build in Mirth.

A few moments later, a woodcutter entered the barricades. We followed him to the deforestation area and found him tying logs. Our plan pushed through. I asked the questions while Enzo and Professor guarded the perimeters.

"How long have you been cutting wood?" The wound on my shoulder throbbed, slowing my pace. So, I had to hop over the logs.

The woodcutter's shoulders shrugged. His sweats were dripping from his face. "For a year I think."

"Have you encountered any wild creatures or anything weird?" Finally, he stopped from picking his logs which gave me a sigh of relief.

"This place of the wood is the least dangerous place. I'm here twice a week, mostly during the daytime so, I cannot say. There..." He pointed to the shadowed groove covered with slender trees. "...most hunters who choose that way never came back."

Flashbacks of the attack last night flashed through my mind and how I almost lost my life. "What's in there?" I swallowed a lump on my throat.

"Legends say, it's the den of the werewolves." He stashed the dried logs on his boat. "I need to go, Miss. The patrol would be here any minute."

My eyes were fixated on the groove. Hundreds of questions flooded my mind like: did Alvin enter that path for the hopes of proving his werewolf theory? Is my brother still alive? My feet nailed until Enzo tapped my back. He didn't say a word after our argument, but his eyes expressed a volume of dullness.

We ran out of water, but the Professor assured us that there's a brook around the area. Navigating the forests was easier with Professor Hansel who's like an open guidebook. Enzo wasn't wrong to bring him. Along the way, he would blabber about the poisonous plants we could encounter, topics that would fancy Enzo. But he remained silent the whole time.

The soft, gushing brook quenched our dried throats. I sat over the small stones, in front of the free waters, which resembled the riverside back in town. Somehow, it calmed my senses.

"When are we coming back to the town?" Enzo sat beside me.

"I don't know." My shoulders dropped. The evidence I've gathered was not yet substantial enough to find Alvin and answer the mysterious crimes. On top of that, I'm not yet ready to face my father and the forced responsibility I have to shoulder. "I'm sorry for pushing too far," I added. It was my idea to enter the forests, and I started to think that bringing Enzo with me was a bad idea.

His jaw clenched. "It was a long and tiring day from work. I went home past seven in the evening, didn't bother to check the house or mom. I had slept. Sirens woke me up at dawn, and informed me of the grim news. Why would my mother enter the woods at midnight, Astrid?" Tears streamed down his cheeks.

"It's not your fault." I held his clenched fists.

"I'm the Chief of Security. I should know." He shook his head. "Now, I have to gamble again, and I don't want to lose another important person in my life."

The danger of entering the forests was not his miscalculation. Enzo wanted to face it. His vulnerability was triggered when I was on the verge of death. He hid his feelings under a cloak, trying to undo things. I should've known better, but what choice do we have?

I leaned towards him and placed his unclenched palms over my chest. "I am safe, you are safe. We're doing this together. No one is at fault, but the serial killer who did this to us."

Enzo cried over my shoulders until it drizzled. In search of a shelter, we found ourselves under a cave. The relentless rain continued until late afternoon. Thunder rumbled the skies, and trees hushed at every blow of the wind. We couldn't move. A campfire couldn't even light our faces due to the strong winds. Professor sat quietly on the corner as he tried to relive the fire again and again. I embraced my knee and rested my head on top of it.

A glint of fire remained, when nightfall came. The storm persisted. Trees were whistling and leaves were still rumbling. Professor on the corner, finally gave up from keeping the fire alive and slept. I looked at the opening of the cave. Lightning traced the sky and thunder rumbled in response. The more I stared at them, the more it invited me to come out.

Out of my mind... more likely I couldn't control myself, I left the cave and washed myself with the rain. Closing my eyes, I spread my arms as the frigid raindrops touched my skin. I felt every bit of it, the enigmatic woods, slender trees, the rumbling skies, I'm like connected to each of them.

What mysteries I have yet to uncover in this mystical place? Thunder roared, then a glint of light flashed from my fingers and in an instant, the skies calmed. I regained my full consciousness, but I could not feel my feet. Enzo and the Professor rushed to me. The place was spinning around as I touched my head and dropped to the ground. I felt like I was reborn, like a lost spirit has coalesced with my body.

"What's wrong with me?" I whispered, weakened by whatever force my body had unleashed.

"Take a deep breath, Astrid." Professor Hansel held my head up. "This is normal, just calm down,"

"Normal?" Enzo exclaimed. "She's convulsing! Professor, tell me what's happening to her?"

"She needs to regain her strength. This is just the beginning," Professor lectured.

"The beginning of what?" I could almost feel Enzo's trembling body. I grasped his arm, trying to send a message that I'm alright. He doesn't have to worry about me.

Professor rubbed his hand as he walked in front of us like he usually does when he's thinking and discussing something. "It's impossible, but it's happening." He stopped and knelt in front of me. "Astrid possessed such a wonderful gift."