It was dark, but Hayl could see the full moon shining brightly through the forest trees. She took that as a sign of hope and ran faster in its direction. Her school uniform tore on the branches of the trees like monsters trying to capture her, but she could see that the trees were thinning.
Hayl groaned and turned over, flicking her light brown hair out of her face. The stars reflected in her blue eyes, and the moon shone on her hair, making it glow.
Convinced that she was safe, her thoughts returned to the ordeal she had suffered at the hands of those killers. Her memory wasn't hazy, as it usually was. It was as clear as day.
So here she was now, one month later, having just run through the forest to get back to the temple and warn them. She needed to: it was a matter of life and death. She needed to tell them who was responsible for the deaths in the village...and of their plans to commit more murderous acts.
Suddenly, she sensed a presence. Hayl jumped up quickly and swung around, surveying her surroundings. It was just then that she realised--she was in a clearing. She hadn't quite escaped the forest yet.
Fear filled her heart as she stumbled forward into the middle of the clearing. She felt a crunch beneath her feet and looked down. She'd stepped on a human skull, and it was guaranteed to belong to one of her classmates. Skulls littered the dirt all around her. She knew she might be next.
She spun around as a cluster of bushes rustled behind her. A crow squawked in the trees above, making her jump.
"Hayl," a voice hissed. The howling wind caused it to echo throughout the clearing. "Hayl, I know you're there. If you come a little closer, I will make this easier. There won't be any pain...it won't hurt at all, I promise. Just give in to me."
"
"My, my. We have been busy, haven't we. Last time I saw you, you couldn't even summon a wisp of smoke, let alone a whole fireball," the slick voice told her. She no longer had any idea where the owner of it was.
"Sure, whatever," she said. "Point is, you'll never beat me. Whoever you are."
She then promptly threw herself at the ground, as a beast sprang out of the shadows right next to her. That barely counted as a dodge.
"See you in hell, little girl," it snarled.
"I'm already there!" she shouted back. The werewolf's voice was familiar, too, but...where had she heard it?
Then it hit her. Not just the voice of the person it belonged to, but the werewolf itself. It hit her a lot more times, and clawed and slashed. Hayl tried to fend off its attacks through fire and physics, but it did not go well.
The beast was on top of her, making a lot more cuts on her head. "Who is he?" she yelled at it. "Who's your partner? Werewolves hunt in twos." She sobbed in pain.
"You know who it is already--just think. Who's my best friend? I know you know my identity. You always were a clever little thing."
Her eyes widened with realisation.
The werewolf tightened its grip around her throat. She could feel its weight on her. A white light shone around the clearing, blinding her, and that's when she knew all hope was lost.
It was over. Hayl relaxed as darkness consumed her.
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