DIANA'S POV
I left Scott without saying goodbye.
Swallowing a hard decision, I dragged my feet as I leave him sound asleep in the bed. My woes swelled with my eyes filled with tears all throughout the moment we spent time with each other. I made sure the kisses were deep, the hugs were warm, and the touches were burning to make each moment count.
Why is it hard to leave someone you love?
I should've not let Scott know that my death in his hands is the only way for him to escape his curse. Given that he refuses to kill anyone close to him to save himself, it's certain that he wouldn't take my life in exchange for his, or much more utilize my blood for his benefit. However, I don't want him to suffer like his father did in his stories. And, most definitely, I can't just watch him turn into a monster.
I just had to do something.
Actually, I really have no plans of seeing Scott in the first place. Given the situation, might as well take all that I need. After meeting Tamara and knowing the whole truth about her true identity and how she is connected with my past, I turned hollow. And I realized that I just had to unravel another chapter of my life to be whole again. Starting with finding out if my father is truly alive. And if... he knows more about the Lockwoods' curse knowing he have dealt with it before.
Scott was right.
Filling my heart with hatred on a part of me won't change a thing. Everything have already happened, and it's still great that after being raised by a heartless creature, I knew love - a love capable of giving bountiful affection. But, what can I do? My rage was built when I realized my life was shaped by another's dysfunction. And how much of me is a byproduct of having to survive chaos through lies. How of my many choices were never really choices. And as I go deep enough healing that broken part of me, I let myself get angry more. Leave the door close not because I do not love Scott but because I needed to do this alone. And simply because I love him.
Yes, I do love Scott. More than anything.
Something I haven't told him. When I come back, I'll surely let him know the obvious. I just... needed to leave. I thought, there are certain times you need to do things alone. And this is one. Concerned if I'm going to survive alone in a world of supernaturals and magic, I planned to take Ofir with me. However my thoughts were spiraling that I forgot about him as soon as I'm behind the wheel of my truck that I left with Scott.
On the road lighted with yellow lamp posts, I thought of him. Scott never left my mind. I want him to have a fat chance to fight fairly in life, so he can run free under the moonlight without worrying about his savage lycan transformation. I wanted to give us a chance. And if I'm left with no other choice, that's the only time that I will have to sacrifice my life for him. To be honest, I am wholeheartedly ready to give up my life for Scott. Though, I just want to show and prove to him that I am not just some damsel in distress who had to be saved all the time. That I am worthy of being his Luna that his family, and clan would accept me without chopping my head off.
With so many hows and whys, I drove with the windows open, speeding over the limits on the highway. I don't want to wait for another full moon to pass. It only leads to more blood to shed. I headed my way to a trusted friend so I can borrow a few clothes and gather the things I need for my journey.
"Do you even know how to use this?", Kate said as she handed me a solid block of high-tensile aluminum alloy revolver with a box of ammos.
"Yes, I do", I said as I check the barrel of the revolver. "Thanks for the clothes too Kate, I owe you a lot", I smiled. Kate and I don't match in size but the red fleece jacket, black AC/DC shirt and denim jeans she lent me were comfortable to wear. I'm glad we share the same shoe size.
"So you're not going to tell me?", her brows lifted.
"It's hard to explain. I'll let you know when I get back", I hopped in the driver's seat, secured the revolver in the compartment of the truck. As I bid goodbye to my best friend, Kate have already went to the other side of the truck, opened the door on the passenger side and went in. "What are you doing?", I asked as she toss a duffle bag and a back pack in the back, and fastened her seatbelt.
"I don't know what's going on but it sure seems dangerous. D, a gun? You haven't really use it 'use it' unless you're in a firing range. You were gone for days. You can't go home. You borrow my clothes, well, not since high school but hey! I-I can't just let you go alone. Plus, I am loss out of reasons to explain to Dr. Blackwell! So yea, what am I doing?? I'm coming with you!", Kate said in an angry tone.
"But, Kate!!", I worriedly said. This thing that I had to deal with is beyond her understanding. But the look on her face is more terrifying than vampires and wolves.
"NO BUTS! Shut up and drive!", she exclaimed as I started the ignition of my car.
It was almost noon when we reached the road with dead oak trees. Creeped out with the appalling ambience, Kate could just sigh in relief that the sun is so high making the road seem less scary. "Are you sure this is the place where you saw your dad?", Kate asked, as she look out of the window. "How sure are you it was him? What if it's just some other guy?".
"I had a hunch. A gut-feel lead me here", I slowed down through the rocky dirt.
"How are we supposed to find him? I don't think there's any address in the forest", Kate asked.
I pulled out three large marbles from my pocket. In green, purple and blue. "Ofir gave me these. He said it'll help me throughout my journey here".
"Marbles? Super helpful. Like we can throw them at the face of danger", Kate sarcastically laugh in nervousness. "Hey, you think werewolves are real?", Kate asked with her face full of worry when the heard an animal howl.
I lightly pushed the senses out of her chicken wit. "It's not full moon so don't be a wimp. Besides, it might be just a dog", I told her.
Hours later, my truck could no longer go forward through the rough terrain. One of the wheels got stuck in a deep pit leaving us no choice but to abandon the truck on the dirt road. "I guess we'll have to walk from here", I unfastened my seatbelt and took the revolver and ammunitions from the compartment.
Kate took the duffle bag and tossed the back pack to me as we head out. "Damn girl! This is heavy! I was just traveling light", I placed the straps of the heavy back over my shoulders. It was as if it has rocks in it.
"Oh yea? Traveling with just a gun? Pfft", she scoffed. "Too light for me".
"What's in here, anyway?", we started walking, following the path.
"I got sleeping bags, flashlight, extra clothes, water, water wipes just in case. Hmmm.. Energy bars, beef jerky, a lighter, some snacks... What else?", she paused after a long list of things in her bag. What more would I expect in her who's ever ready when the apocalypse come? "and...", she continued.
"SUNBLOCK!", we both shouted, with a glorious laugh.
Kate and I walked until we reached the seemingly end of the path. So far, we haven't seen any houses, and animals. Not even people walking around. We both searched for trail signs to follow. Being inexperienced in way finding and looking for tracks, it took a while for us to choose a path where to go. This is where I appreciated letting Kate come along. Her patience was longer than mine. Her attention to things was useful. In fact, she never stopped searching... until she saw a line of flattened soil believing it is caused by foot traffic. How brilliant my best friend is!
With high hopes, we went through the thick bushes in between the tall trees. Hearing nothing but the sounds of nature. Birdsongs. Rustling of leaves. Insects buzzing. Kate waves her hands in the air nonstop for the bee that have been following her for a while now. She started spraying insect repellant until she was satisfied.
Walking for a couple of hours now, we then reached a field of cairns. Giant piles of rocks in several feet high stacked perfectly. Carefully, Kate and I examined the rock towers. We both looked at each other's eyes thinking the same. This can't be just simply formed by nature. "Let's go, it might not be safe here", I whispered.
I walked past the small rock towers. They were intricately piled up in flawlessness, as if built to surpass winds and storms. Not one pile leaned. Not one rock had fallen. And as I go on, I saw a lot more just ahead. "Kate, look! There's more!", when I looked back, Kate was gone. "Kate?", I called. My heart dropped seeing Kate nowhere to be found.
"Kate!!", my voice echoed through the rocks, going back where I last saw her. As I make a sharp turn, Kate appeared startling every hair on my skin.
"Boo!! Got ya!"
Caught completely off guard, I lost my footing and stumbled back on one of the rock towers knocking it off. I shut my eyes closed, felt rocks falling, and heard loud thuds hitting the ground. When I opened them, I saw Kate looking horrified. "Don't.. move", she stood in guarded posture, with her wide eyes staring at me.
I looked up, and saw a large rock about to tip over. It was almost like in slow motion when it toppled and fell on me, pinning my leg. I let out a loud piercing cry, but Kate's frantic screams were louder than mine that I swallowed my own voice in an instant.
"Oh my God! Diana!! I am so sorry!!", trying to move the rock over my leg.
I took rapid breaths, pushing the rock too at the same time she does. However, it can't be moved. We both grunted in force. Unfortunately, the rock anchored over another rock, trapping my leg. Each time we push it off, the rock presses down harder. "It's okay.. It's okay", it wasn't really convincing myself, but rather telling Kate not to panic. Because if she does, she won't think straight. "F-find something to m-move the rock".
"O-okay! Okay!", she agreed, running off.
I was left alone with the rock over my leg, trying to push it. It won't even budge despite giving my all. Worse, I may be stuck here until Kate finds someone else to help us. For what it seemed eternal, Kate finally returned hurrying. "Will this work?", she asked, with a plank of wood in her hand.
I smiled at her cute desperation to save a friend stuck under an immovable boulder. "L-let's hope it does", I sighed. Kate placed the edge of the plank at the base of the rock. She tilted it a little, and started to shake it. "You can do this, Kate", I told her. But, with the look in her eyes, I know no rock can stop her. After a few tries, the rock slid away. We both flinched in happiness. "Again! Together!".
Kate tilted the rock, and I pushed. Finally, it rolled away. In a moment, I break free from the weight of the rock that got me stuck. "Can you move?", she asked, giving me hand.
I stood up with her help. My bones weren't crushed, but I could hardly step on my injured leg. It would heal soon anyway. "It's fine", I smiled.
Kate hugged me with tears streaming her pale face. "I'm sorry!! I promise I won't act childish again!", she cried.
I tapped her back gently with a soft sigh. Soothing the best friend who said won't act like a child but cries miserably like a baby. "No way! This trip wouldn't be less boring", we both chuckled softly. Nevertheless, beneath that laugh and tight embrace, something in Kate turned glum.
From then on, Kate have changed.
She insisted on carrying all the bags, and even placed my arm around her shoulders. I told her several times there's no need for that, but, the stubborn and guilty friend that she is made me lose another round of argument. I even jokingly told her she can't show off just because she have started doing weights at the gym. While I laugh on my own, Kate had lines on her forehead. She hadn't loosened up ever since the incident at the cairns.
Our journey slowed down.
She was more than anxious at everything. The shadows. The trees swaying. The sound of the wind howling. Kate never calmed. I tried to soothe her anxiety, but none ever worked. I'm surprised she hasn't asked to go home yet. Though maybe, until I walk with both of my feet, Kate would return to her usual self.
Not too soon, we found ourselves lost once again without trails and markers. From hearing the sounds of nature, Kate and I could only hear ourselves catching our breaths. Limping through the emerald green forest without any sighting of... anything or anyone. We paused, reading the surroundings, feeling alone together. It was then I remembered what Scott told me about how wolves are close to nature.
Closing my eyes, I listened closely. ]
There was completely nothing, of course.
We stood in the middle of nowhere with the sky starting to lose its light. I tried again. Closed my eyes and listened. Hard enough as I calm my breathing. Focused well to hear beyond the voice of Kate asking what am I doing.
Then there. I heard water crashing from high up on my far left. I led Kate there, along with the trust on my instincts that reeled me over. And there it was. A majestic beauty of water falling from the high ground. A double waterfalls for two lost birds dragging themselves through the forest. "Beautiful", Kate muttered, softly.
"It is. Let's rest here. It's about nightfall anyway".
Kate and I started building our camp. I made fire, while she get our sleeping bags. Listening to the endless splashes of water, we smiled at each other every once in a while. She started to regain her groove back little by little, as my leg heal perfectly fine. We shared energy bars, beef jerkies and chugged on cold water beside the beautiful twin waterfalls by our bonfire. It was definitely one for the books again for us.
The purple blue sky over our heads became a canvass for the stars. While I lay on my sleeping bag, I felt like that lone diamond shining beyond the feathery clouds. A lost star trying to find its place, feeling adrift in the world's vastness. Just when I was about to close my eyes, I noticed something moving in the nearby bushes. I flashed my flashlight as I get up slowly. Kate, surprisedly awake too, was already on her knees.
We both stood up. I placed a finger over my mouth signaling Kate to stay quiet. Kate moved behind me as we wait for something to come out from the violently shaking bushes. As we stare intently, we gasped when the movement stopped. Then, all of a sudden a wild cat appeared and ran off.
We both laughed it off. However, our fun ended soon when we heard aggressive growls and snarls beyond the bushes from where the wild cat ran off from. I took the revolver from my sleeping bag, and backed away slowly. "Get ready to run", I whispered to Kate.
As unlucky as we can be, two wolves jumped out of the bushes startling us both. Kate and I ran away hand in hand without looking back, leaving everything behind. The wolves followed us, as they dash on all fours. Growling after us as if their dinner have shifted from one small animal to two full grown humans. The beam from the flashlight sliced through the dark of the forest as we run. Kate ran with me blindly away from the wolves. She screamed out loud when she sees them as big as cows. "Don't look back!", I dragged her with my other hand not minding the twigs scratching our faces. Those wolves never lunged at us. Never bit. Just…. chasing.
Yet still, we ran.
Running as fast as we could, Kate and I were caught on a root. The ground vanished beneath our feet that we tumbled down mud and rock, rolling through thorns before crashing hard into cold earth below. The light from the bonfire down there didn't immediately show us where we fell. But the smell of blood was too strong, that the horrible silence shook my wit. I looked up slowly. Four oddly-looking men beneath hanging carcasses of somewhat a gazelle or a deer. Shirtless. Bloodied. Chopping and slicing their hunted meat with machetes.
Hunters, I guess.
Holding our breaths, one of the men stared directly at me and said, "I know you".