THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS

**Alivia POV**

My eyes flutter opens as the effects of the injection begin to wear off, only to be met with a murky haze of smoke. My mind quickly fills with panic as I remember what I had done and realize that if I had been discovered, I would already be back in the castle.

“Lara...Lara, are you here?” I called out into the void, but there is no response. My heart began to sink as I remembered it usually took hours or days for her to return after I received a dose of the injection.

Cautiously, I peered around my unfamiliar surroundings, taking in the hut-like structure. Beakers of different-coloured liquids and containers of various plants line shelves along one wall, while hunting knives hang menacingly from another.

Suddenly, the wooden door creaks open and an elderly man carrying a walking stick enters the room. I instinctively shrink into the corner of the bed, my heart pounding as he speaks.

“Ah, Las you've finally returned to the world of the living!” he declared with a benevolent smile. “You were in terrible shape.”

“Who are you? W-where am I?” My voice croaked as I slowly hauled myself up and tried to remember what happened.

"I am Lucian. You are at our cabin. What is your name young lady? “He enquires in a velvet voice.

“I am Alivia." Fear starts to crawl through my veins like icy water. "How did I get here?” My head throbs with dread and confusion.

“My grandson found you in the woods," his face grows solemn, "there's a lot of darkness out there." He swallows before continuing, "luckily, he found you before any harm could be done."

I then noticed that my clothing had been replaced with a worn-out garment stitched together with rough patches.

“Oh dear, you were an absolute sight!” Lucian exclaimed, “I would never do anything untoward to a lady; my wife patched you up and changed your torn clothes", he clarified, almost apologetically.

“Thank you for all you've done for me, it's so kind of you," I breathed out gratefully.

He waved away my gratitude, quickly changing the subject. "Are you hungry? I can start something right away".

Before I could answer, my stomach growled loudly in response, sending colour rushing to my cheeks in embarrassment.
Lucian chuckled heartily at my discomfort. “I'll take that as a yes!

An older woman appeared at the doorframe, gripping a bowl of water between her hands.

"This is my wife Emma," Lucian stated with a beaming smile. She smiled back gently, "I see you are awake, my dear!"

Lucian continued, "Love, please cleanse and dress her wounds before bringing her outside." Emma nodded before settling down at the bedside. With an expert hand, she swabbed away dried blood from my wounds as

I suppressed a wince as I felt her gentle touch on my wounds. Her sweet smile never faltered. Because I don't have a connection to my wolf like the rest, I don't heal as quickly. After she was done dressing my wounds, she reached for me with outstretched arms. We stepped outside and I had to shield my eyes from the bright sun shining through the clouds and made our war to the campfire. I noticed an old wooden house next to us.

Emma handed me a bowl of fragrant soup and we sat silently together, savoring its warmth.

Suddenly, I spoke up, “Are you two doctors?”

Lucian broke into a loud laughter, “Oh no dear! We just have some medical supplies because a cabin like this can bring all sorts of injuries. As for
the chemicals," he added mischievously, "that is all Adam's! He loves playing around with science experiments."
“Is Adam your grandson?” I asked cautiously. His face lit up in response, radiating love and pride. “Yes, he is," Lucian said softly. "He's the first one in our family to go off to college."

A tinge of curiosity crept over me as I glanced back at their cabin. “Where is he now? I must thank him for helping me today."

Emma waved her hand absentmindedly as she replied, “Adam went out hunting earlier but he will be back later." And I gave a small nod.
With my belly full of food, Emma helped me back to the outbuilding, where I soon fell into a deep slumber, not waking until the silver moonlight shone through the window.

Blinking blearily, I noticed that my bandages had been changed again. Gratitude washed over me like a warm wave, and I longed to repay these generous strangers for their kindness. I began to drift back into sleep.

My eyes snapped open as I heard the faintest sound of footsteps outside my door. Terror flooded through me; who could be here at such a late hour? My body tensed as I scrambled for the hunting knife mounted on the wall, gripping it tightly in my hand as I positioned myself behind the door.
The wooden doorway slowly creaked open, and a tall figure sauntered into view. I pressed the blade firmly against his back, rage rising in my chest like molten lava.

"Turn around slowly," I growled through clenched teeth, my voice low and menacing.

He turned to face me, complying without a fuss. He was stunningly handsome, with shining blue eyes and golden hair that framed his perfect features.
To my surprise, the man complied without a fuss. He was handsome, with striking blue eyes and golden hair that shone in the moonlight. His crisp white shirt and perfect trousers only seemed to enhance his aloofness. My finger tightened further around the blade handle, desperation crawling up my spine.

But my anger quickly turned to confusion as he teased me. "Is this the thanks I get for saving your life?" He mocked with a hearty chuckle.
I dropped the knife with a clang and we both jumped back.

"Hey! Why are you using a knife if you do not know how to use it? Are you trying to cut someone’s leg off?" He raised his eyebrows in disbelief, while barely containing his laughter.

I could feel my face turning bright red in humiliation, feeling like an idiot. "What are you doing here?" I asked sternly, trying to bring some authority into the conversation.

The man leaned against the doorframe, looking relaxed and amused. "It's my cabin," he said, snickering at my expense.

But then he surprised me again, holding out a steaming bowl of soup "My grandmother told me you haven't eaten since earlier, so I brought you some soup." He said as he presented the bowl with an over-the-top bow.

My eyes widened as I gazed at the bowl of steaming soup in his hands. I couldn't help but feel waves of embarrassment surge through me. I had just threatened the man who had saved my life and now here he was offering fresh food. How could I have been so ridiculous? As he motioned towards the cupboard, I could feel myself turning from red to purple in shame.

“It is quite chilly tonight, there are extra blankets in the cupboard, “he said with a mischievous smirk before turning away to leave, but I reached out and grabbed his arm.

“Wait...can I ask you something?”

"Sure," he said, turning back to me with a solemn expression.

"What's going on in the woods?" My voice came out strained and desperate as I searched Adam's face for an answer.
Adam's lips formed a tight line as he hesitated for a moment before finally speaking, “There’s been a lot of strange occurrences around here. People have gone missing, and the animals have been behaving erratically in the woods - it’s not a safe place for anyone who doesn't know how to defend themselves."

As my heart began to race, I could feel every hair on my arm standing up on end. Strange occurrences, missing people, erratic animal behaviour - it was almost as if there was something sinister lurking in these woods, something dark and powerful beyond our understanding.
"What do you mean, the animals are acting strangely?" My voice quivering with fear, I waited with baited breath for him to continue.
Adam nodded grimly.

"I'm not entirely sure, but they've been attacking nearby towns without any clear reason. Just be careful out here, okay?” He paused again, his eyes clouded with worry. “I'm actually working with someone to try and get to the bottom of all this. We think there might be something more going on in these woods than meets the eye."

Forcing myself to remain calm despite the chill of dread that ran through me, I raised an eyebrow in surprise. “Really? Who are you working with?”

With a hint of mystery in his voice, Adam shook his head. “I can't say too much right now," he replied gravely, “but let's just say that this person knows a lot about the various beings that roam the land. He might be able to shed some light on what's happening out here."

I couldn't help but feel a spark of curiosity at his words. This person knows about the various beings that roam the land. What could that mean? But before I could ask any more questions, Adam had already bid me goodnight and left the cabin, leaving me alone with my thoughts and fears. I knew I was in a dangerous place, but I had no choice but to stay here until I could figure out my next move.

I ate the soup in silence, the only sound is my beating heart, when I am done I blow out the candle, the darkness engulfing me like a thick blanket. With each gust of wind that rattles against the windowpane, my mind races with fear. I hunker down in my bed, cocooned by layers of sheets and blankets, yet still terror fills my veins. What kind of evil lurks in those woods? Can I trust Adam's words?

Suddenly, two voices outside my window catch my attention. I can make out Adam speaking to someone- could it be the mysterious stranger from earlier? My heart pounding in anticipation, I cautiously inch closer towards the window and peer out. A chill runs through me as I see a figure cloaked in a long black robe standing beneath the moonlight and his back is turned towards me. As I squint, hoping to discern some details, the figure suddenly turns around. I take a sharp intake of breath. His face is hidden behind a mysterious mask that only reveals two piercing green eyes that seem to burn into me like fire. My heart stops for what feels like an eternity as our gazes lock.

Stunned and paralyzed by fear, I quickly step back, hoping he didn't notice me. Everything seemed so surreal and dreamlike yet far too vivid at once. I feel a deep sense of unease as I try to convince myself that it was just my imagination running wild. I watch as the stranger turns away from me once again and I'm still left stunned and shaken.


I get back in bed the fear in my gut churned and bubbled, refusing to be tamed by my desperate attempts at calming myself. I felt those eyes still on me, following each move I made, and the thought of the dangers of the forest seemed like a physical prison, trapping me in its deadly embrace. No matter how hard I tried, sleep continued to evade me; like an oppressive wall, threatening to consume me with its unspoken terrors.