11 The Threa (1/2)

”Claire, are you fine? Are you feeling any better? Is everything alright at your place?

I got a text message from Shaun.

”I'm good and everything else too, don't worry,” I replied.

He was still worried about last night's incident. Even after dropping me off at home himself, he waited for me to get into my room. He kept standing outside until he saw me from my room window.

I was looking out from my window remembering the view from last night when I was interrupted by Emily's call.

”Hello,” she spoke.

”Hi, Em.”

”Claire, what are you doing in the evening.”

”I have no plans for this evening.”

”Great, let's hang out.”

”What's the occasion?”

”Nothing, we haven't hung out in so long, and lately you have been looking so stressed. I'll meet you at your favorite bookstore.”

”Okay, see you.”

I met Emily at the bookstore, we spent some fun time reading comics, then we had dinner at a fancy restaurant and went to chitchat at a Cafe.

”Claire look isn't that Natalie? Who's that guy with her.” Emily pointed to the table behind me.

I looked back and before I could find Natalie, I saw a glimpse of Joseph walking outside the Cafe

What is he doing here? Wait, is he going to meet the person on the phone call. With that thought, I got up to follow him.

”Emily, I have to go.”

”Right now? Where?”

”You should go home, I'll go back with the driver. I'll call you.” I said rushing out of the Cafe.

I looked around and found Joseph walking along the roadside. I discreetly followed him. He then turned into a dark street at the corner. I tiptoe my way behind him. He kept walking into one street after the other and I went along. He suddenly stopped at the corner of the street. Where is it? I thought to myself. I looked around and found myself standing in front of the high hill. When did I get to the outskirts? Joseph went around the corner and I dashed to the place but he's not there anymore. I glanced at my surroundings but found no sign of him. I ran here and there but it was just forest hills all over with not a soul.

I lost him!

I was about to walk back to the street I came from when a loud thump caught my ears and on the instant, I felt the ground beneath my feet vibrating. What's happening! I looked to the hills and saw a huge rock bouncing between the trees and rolling down towards me. The sight stupefied me. I tried to run away but my numbed feet no longer supported me. I fell on the ground. Before I could try standing up it was already too late. The rock came flying to me after a bounce. I covered my face with my arms and shut my eyes tightly thinking of it as my last moment.

I opened my eyes to the sound of the rock smashing and with my numbed senses I faintly discerned a wolf standing upfront. I gave my head a sudden jerk to come back to my senses. I could see the broken rock fallen beside me at a distance and the wolf standing in front of me. It looked like a large German shepherd but more ferocious. The air brushed through its gray fur and four black paws stood firm to the soil. It lowered it's head while its amber-gold eyes fiercely scanning me.

In a split of a second, he jumped over the hill and disappeared in the woods.

I sat there still for a few moments to comprehend what just happened.

So that wolf saved me, was it the one from that night? How's that even possible? The thoughts swirled my mind.

I slowly got up and walked back to the Cafe through those maze of streets. Emily had already left, I called the driver and went home. I couldn't sleep a wink that night, I was bewildered by all the accidents I have been through in the last few days.

I decided to tell Shaun about Joseph's phone call that I overheard and last night's incident.

The next morning I called Shaun.

”Hello Shaun, Claire speaking.”

”Yes Claire, what is it about?”

”I have to inform you about something. I should have told you about it on the day I got locked up, but due to the incident I forgot.”

”It's fine, you can tell me now.”

”That day when I was keeping an eye on Joseph I saw him going to the staircase and secretly take a call. I followed him and heard him speaking to someone who was threatening him. Joseph said he'll take care of things but the man on the other side of the call asked to meet him the next day. I wanted to know who was he speaking to and about what so I decided to follow him that night but due to the circumstances I thought I couldn't and gave up.”

”You should have told me instead of deciding something like that.” He sounded angry.

”I told you since it was the weekend I couldn't follow him so I let go of the idea. But the weird thing is that I went out with Emily to hang out and saw Joseph near the Cafe. I followed him because I thought he might be there to meet the person. He went around the dark streets near the outskirts and then vanished at the end near the hill forest.”

”You followed him alone near the outskirts like that!” he snapped.

”Umm... But nothing happened so... I mean something did happen but I might sound crazy if I tell you.”