The wolf's lips were drawn back so that its sharp teeth showed clearly. Rain saw his red tongue sticking out. There was hatred in his eyes when he saw Erica. It was hatred that was pure and uniquely human.
Rain started to think. "The wolf is no stranger! But, where have I seen him before, huh? Was he the pack that attacked me in the Darkwood forest? Or is he part of Hardy's pack?"
Rain's thoughts were broken when she heard Erica's voice.
"Are you coming for the girl or me?" With sweat pouring from her temples, Erica asked, but her hands were steady and tightly gripped by the whips in her hands.
The wolf stepped towards Erica with a low growl.
"There's still time," Erica said. "Markus will definitely want to take you back. Just leave Mayor Flynn."
With a growl, the wolf lunged. Erica shouted as she swung her whip in the air to chase the wolf into the wolf's side. The wolf backed away, and Rain saw the blood dripping between the dense fur. Blood flowed again as the wolf tried to attack Erica once more.
Erica didn't give up easily, even though the wolf's jaws gripped her shoulders. Blood flew into the air like spray paint from a broken can and splattered the trees and fallen leaves with a red hue.
Erica lost her whip when the wolf lunged at her shoulder. The wolf lifted its head from Erica's limp body and then turned its gaze to Rain. His mouth was dripping red blood.
Erica was indeed part of the army of darkness, but her body was more human-like than the other forces of darkness. Her human side became Erica's weakness. She could be hurt and bleeding.
When the wolf turned to Rain, the girl didn't scream. No air in her lungs could be drawn out to make a sound. Rain struggled to get up, then ran. She ran to the other end of the trail. She followed the flickering light of the fireflies in the distance and hoped to meet the lantern-carrying dwarf.
Rain ran towards a more spacious place and heard the wolf snarling behind her. Rain felt the wolf's hot breath on her bare feet. She exploded her speed again, throwing herself onto the lodge's terrace in the forest.
"He's definitely not Benjamin!" thought Rain. "Even though their fur color is similar when they turn into wolves, Benjamin can't possibly hunt me down and pounce on me like this!" The girl kept convincing herself and tried to reach the accommodation even though she had to crawl.
It was too late because the wolf's jaws closed on Rain's legs and pulled her backward. Just before Rain's head hit the hard boarding post and knocked her unconscious, Rain realized she could scream too.
Rain was unconscious for some time. The sound of dripping water woke the girl up. Rain slowly opened her eyes, but there wasn't much to see. Ran lay on a bed without a bed on the floor. She realized she was in a small room with stone walls.
Rain had thought she was in a hut in the forest. Because in that narrow room, only a rickety table was propped against one of the walls. On the table, there are two burning candles. The candle was the only light in the room.
Rain looked up at the ceiling. There is a small crack in the roof that makes water drip. Rain thought maybe it was raining outside just now.
The girl sat up and immediately regretted it. An excruciating pain stabbed her head, followed by unbearable nausea. She checked her head and felt a lump there but no blood. Her bleeding leg, where the wolf had bitten her.
Rain realized there was something strange about the room. The walls are not made of wood but stone. So Rain realized she was not in a lodge in the middle of the forest.
Her veins seethed with adrenaline. Rain staggered awake with great fright. A wave of dizziness washed over her, so she had to grab onto the edge of a rickety table to straighten herself up.
"I can't pass out here. I don't know what danger is lurking here."
She heard someone walking down the corridor and approaching the narrow room. Rain leaned against the table and reached for the brass candle holder. She will use it as a weapon.
Rain blew out the candles that were the only light in the room and tightly gripped the brass vessel in her hand. Someone came with a glare.
"It's a man," thought Rain.
The man's light was brighter than the candle Rain had just extinguished. Apparently, he had a lantern with him. Rain shook and saw the man as a shadow behind the light.
Rain saw a tall, broad-shouldered figure and slightly long messy hair. When the man pushed open the door of the room Rain was in and entered, Rain was about to swing the candle container. However, Rain failed to hit him when she realized who it was.
"Benjamin?"
All of this was too much for Rain. Fatigue from lack of sleep, food, fear, and blood loss made her want to go back to sleep. However, she needed an explanation of how Benjamin could always be present whenever Rain was in trouble.
"Was that wolf really you?" Rain no longer wanted to cover her curiosity. This time she really demanded answers. If before, Ben always dodged, this time Rain didn't want to be tricked again.
Within seconds, Ben crossed the room. He moved very quickly. So Rain did not have time to reach the floor when her body suddenly fell. Ben caught Rain and then held the girl like a child in his arms. Ben sat Rain on the bed and backed away with worried eyes.
"Rain," said Ben. His hands tried to reach her but didn't dare touch her. "You are okay?"
Rain flinched backward as she raised her hand to block Ben. "Do not touch me!" She was terrified and didn't trust anyone at the moment. Even Erica, whom Rain believed to be an ally, had betrayed her.
Ben looked really hurt. Wearily he held his forehead. "I think I deserve that."
"Well, it is!" Rain said.
Ben's face became hard. "I didn't expect you to believe me."
"That's good because I just can't believe it."
Ben started to walk away. "What I have done, I don't expect you to understand. I know you feel I tricked you or betrayed you. Yes, I am a werewolf, but I am also a warlock at the same time."
"That explains everything! So, you're the wolf that bit me in the woods earlier?"
"I have to do it. You're trying to run from me. I also brought you here."
"So, who do you work for? My dad or your dad? There isn't even anyone I can trust right now!" Rain almost screamed and screamed out of frustration.
"As I said before, Mayor Flynn is my stepfather. He's a warlock. I was born to werewolf parents. My dad is the alpha leader, and my mom is a luna in the pack. I was born to be a werewolf. After my dad died, my mom married Mayor Flynn. Since childhood, Mayor Flynn taught me a lot of magic. So I prefer to think of myself as a warlock instead of a werewolf."
"Then what does all this have to do with my dad and the witch they mentioned?"
"You must have heard about the uprising in the Darkwood Kingdom. Mayor Flynn leads the warlocks in a rebellion and wants to escape the rule of the tyrant King Dauntess II."
"Is that his father—Jace? Then?"
"Mayor Flynn has succeeded in gaining the sympathy of inhabitants of the Darkwood forest, including the werewolves who live there. That's why the werewolves sided with Mayor Flynn to escape from royal power."
"Then what does this have to do with my dad?"
"Rain, actually… Master Mark Orwell is a mighty warlock. He's the leader of the wizards in the kingdom. He was also one of the influential figures who contributed to the rebellion's success. However, your dad has a different mission from Mayor Flynn."
Rain squinted.
"Unfortunately, the mission your dad brought you was considered a betrayal. Because of that, after the rebellion, Master Markus left and hid from the other warlocks, including my stepfather."
"And what is your role in this, Ben?"
"I got an assignment from Mayor Flynn to find Mr. Markus. I left Westlake and finally met Mr. Mark and you. Mr. Markus doesn't know that I am Mayor Flynn's stepson. I introduced myself as a history student and devoted myself to your dad. Because I want to find out the truth of this matter before making a decision as to who I will support."
"So, who are you supporting right now?" Rain asked firmly.
"I... will only support the truth, Rain. What my stepfather and Mr. Markus fought for were both right. They want to escape from the clutches of a tyrannical empire. However, it felt different when my stepfather decided he wanted to get you and kill you."
"Why? What has the kingdom done to you that makes you want to rebel and betray? Why does your stepfather want me to die?"
"Can't really remember it?"
Rain needed clarification and needed help understanding. It was as if everyone was saying that Rain was the key to all these problems and secrets.
"Maybe now Mayor Flynn knows that I betrayed him. Because it's been a long time since I found Markus and you, but I still need to report him. That's why Mayor Flynn sent the Hardys and the wolves to get you."
"So you support my dad now?" she asked.
"I don't know, I can't be sure. I will still stick to my own beliefs. Since you are now in danger and are being fought over by them, it is only fitting that I need to protect you. Because the key to all these problems lies in your memory."
Rain was silent for a long time. She regretted that until now. She still didn't remember anything about the past and the events that had turned the underworld into hell.
"And Erica? Did you kill her? Erica...she cooperated with my dad."
"That's not possible! Markus could not have cooperated with the royal party. Because, after all, Mark participated in the emergence of a curse in the kingdom. Then, there's no way he would cooperate with the enemy side."
"But that's what I witnessed," Rain said softly. "My dad took Jace away. That's why I followed Erica. I want to know where my dad is hiding and bring Jace."
"I risk my life and faith only for you, Rain. I will betray my stepfather and your dad to be on your side. I know you have great power and must be wiser in making decisions. Although I do not know what secret is hidden within you."
"Why? Why are you willing to do all that for something you don't know the truth for sure? What if I turn out to be an evil and destructive witch? That's why they are after my power so much. And if it's true that I am a sealed witch, then am I not a very evil witch? Because I caused a curse for the entire kingdom and made them all suffer?"
"Even though I don't know why that witch did all that, I'm sure there must be a good reason to be able to make me support her. Even if that reason isn't good, I'm the first person to get rid of that witch so that this world doesn't return to chaos. Because I love you!"
"Ben!" Rain demanded. "I am afraid to know who I am and my memory."
Benjamin shook his head. "I'm tired of being deceived and taken advantage of by others. I hope that with the return of the witch and the resolution of this matter, my herd will be independent in the land of Darkwood without interference from other parties."
"So you?"
"Well, I wish to return the wolves to the Darkwood forest and live peacefully there like when my dad led us."
"You… the alpha?"
Ben nodded. "All this time, I also know Jace Dauntess and the army of darkness have worked hard to make up for the mistakes of the previous king by always protecting the forest. But I don't want my flock to depend on him. I want us to return to our home in the forest without having to depend on anyone."
"Do you know where Jace is now hidden by my dad?"
"There is only one place. Mr. Markus must have taken Jace to my stepfather's place. Markus must have wanted to lure the witch there and get rid of my stepfather. Mayor Flynn has a source of power that could destroy the kingdom on the night of the full moon."
"Ben, can I ask you one more favor?"
Outside the stone house, a pack of wolves led by the Hardy brothers was approaching to attack them.
"We don't have time, Rain. You have to leave immediately and find a way to save yourself. If indeed, Jace had to die and sacrifice because of his curse, then it was his duty as a king. We don't have much time until the peak of the full moon tomorrow night."
"How about you?"
"I will hold back and buy time so you can save yourself. I will be here to restrain the wolves and convince them not to side with the mayor anymore."
Benjamin stood. He put out the lantern and opened the back door. A cold wind immediately blew very hard against them.
"Go, Rain. Find a way to leave Darkwood. Run and save yourself. It is not your responsibility to restore peace to this world. Let us be responsible for our own choices. Run and save yourself!"