Chapter 5: Chapter 4

My breath clouded in front of me as it mixed with the brisk early morning air. I pulled my coat together as the wind tossed the fur around, and I shivered. Snow fluttered down lightly, and the blanket of white that had fallen last night rested on the ground. The thin layer crunched under my boots as I proceeded down the dirt road leading to town.

I wore a pathetic expression, no doubt. The urge to just go back was strong, but I would not. That didn’t mean I wouldn’t surrender if Yuridia came after me. Although I knew it was a terrible idea, my pace remained lax in anticipation of it. Richard likely told them I was heading into town for something because I was confident my sister and mother would have been chasing me down by now. Or maybe they had accepted Richard’s words from earlier.

I pulled the fur hood over my head to stop the chill from nipping at my ears, which I knew were bright red without looking. The weather was cold, but it also felt like I was slightly overreacting. I would usually wear long sleeves when the snow started to fall. It wasn’t until late winter that I would take out the fur coat.

All my senses felt a bit stronger. The village’s fireplace drifted the smell of burning wood into the air, which was rather potent for my distance from town. The buildings ahead were no doubt visually sharper, and my steps sounded heavy as they struck the ground.

As I passed the rows of wood-shingled log cabins, the villagers acknowledged my heavily bandaged arm with quick glances. Nothing seemed unusual, and the sound of faint conversation filled the air with the bird’s early morning cheeps. Grey smoke rose out of the chimneys, and the kids played in the crisp weather, throwing snow at each other as the dogs joined their excitement.

I would miss my home even if most days were dull. All my complaints from before seemed frivolous. I had never left the village in my brief sixteen years. It was all I had ever known. Sure, daydreams of exploring the country crossed my mind, but they were whims and had no energy behind them.

It appeared the nightstalker killed no one, as Richard had said… no one but me. Someone must have noticed the nightstalker approaching and sounded their alert horn. That was actually father’s idea that we all should keep a horn to notify the village if something dangerous came into town. He would be glad to hear it worked out perfectly. If his idiot son hadn’t ended up chasing a giant purple crystal, he wouldn’t be turning into a ‘stalker.

Father seemed very knowledgeable about the creatures. He mentioned that before I was born, they plagued the countryside. Boarding up at night was a regular occurrence, and sometimes the 'stalkers would bang doors down if they had gone too long without feeding—not that they could cross the threshold. I still wasn’t sure if that was the truth after the nightstalker had just ploughed through the barn roof.

If my father had been here, he could have easily killed that creature, but I got lucky, and that was all there was to it. At least Mother and Yuridia were alive, even if I were to meet my end soon. Father would return from the war and keep them safe.

I was just glad nobody got hurt. There was already some gloom hanging around the people of this village after the war had picked up again. We were on the outskirts of civilization and far from the path of marching armies. Regardless, it didn’t stop the Kingdom of Edrana from stretching their recruiting to our quiet village. Luckily, they only needed ten members from our town to join. We had only around two hundred people, and I would say forty of those were elderly that did little but help raise children. Father and the other men who volunteered were middle-aged, so they spared those around my age from joining. I was about to make their sacrifice mean less, running off to die like a sick hound.

Passing the large canopied stone well in the centre of town, Nicholas bounced over with a bow in hand and a quiver strap across the chest of his leather coat. He grabbed his chin, glancing me over, saying nothing as he walked in circles around me.

His inspection ended as his dark brown eyes stared at me. “Where are you off to, buddy?”

“Where are you going?” I echoed with annoyance.

Nicholas was only fourteen, and they sent him on hunting expeditions. He wasn’t a bad guy. It just annoyed me that he was treated so highly. Of course, it was my problem, but that didn’t stop my venom from being thrown his way.

He put his hands on his hips with a grin. “I was planning to hunt some deer taking refuge in the caves. They’re likely trying to find a place for shelter with this unexpected snowfall. You should come. I will let you take credit for the kill.”

“I’ll have to pass on that.”

Nicholas frowned as a few strands of blonde hair fell over his face. “I am trying to help you join the hunts, but if you don’t—”

My palm rose to interrupt Nicholas’ gesture. That was only likely happening to win my sister’s favour. “I am grateful for your offer, but I am a tad busy,” I said, walking around him.

Nicholas grabbed my arm, impeding my escape. “Tell me what I can do so you can pass words of praise to your sister.”

Knew it.

I rolled my eyes. “She sees you as a child because you are one. With unrealistic expectations, you swing too high. Direct your energy to Helen or something. She is keen for you and only two years older.”

“Helen is interested in you.”

Slowly, my eye blinked with scepticism. "Even if that is the truth, I don't care. She is all yours,” I responded, patting him on the shoulder before taking my leave.

Nicholas said nothing as I resumed my path through the town without interruption. If Helen was interested in me, it was purely because I showed her no attention. She was the type that expected everyone to be in love with her for no reason. None of this mattered. I was to die or become a monster if I played around too long with the idea of killing myself.

As I dove deeper into the forest, the sounds of the ocean crashing against the cliff became faintly audible. Squirrels hopping around on branches above shook snow and dry tree leaves down on me. I frowned up at them like they had done it maliciously.

Everything was irritating me.

Where was I even intending to go? Would I just wander in the forest until I died? Richard seemed like there was a possibility I might not turn into one, but I wasn’t holding any hope for that. It was better that I come to terms with my demise. It was difficult not to worry about it, though. I was sixteen. Few people my age contemplated their mortality as I was now.

After an hour of sauntering through the white-covered forest, I arrived at the shrine on the cliff’s edge. A giant statue of a woman with slim armour and wings, holding a sword and shield, stood with a sculpted look of determination. Bright green moss had grown over the stone that was now dusted with white. The feathers that extended from her were chipped at the ends.

Supposedly, this was a Valkyrie. Heaven’s protectors and our keepers. For being all-powerful, the Valkyries let many things in this world remain unchecked. They had not earned the right to my worship, especially after all this.

My anger boiled as I stared at its face. I needed to put my anger somewhere, and these divine beings deserved my frustrations.

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“Why didn’t you save me? Why did you just let that monster walk into our village?” I shouted at the statue. “If you are all-powerful, why do you allow war and sickness to kill people? If it’s a punishment, why do people with nothing to do with it get caught in your wraith?” My question, of course, remained unanswered, as expected. “Silent, like your existence.”

After tsking, I stepped over to the edge and raised my hand, feeling the icy breeze blow through my fingers. With every gust of wind, the smell of salt carried with it. This wouldn’t be the last time I touched the wind, but it wouldn’t be the same. Nothing would be the same. All I had ever known was here, and I would still hesitate to leave, even in different circumstances.

With how things have unfolded so far, I would be lucky if I lived a week. Sadly, there was no bright side to all of this. I tried not to spiral into hopelessness, but any attempt to reason with my despair didn’t work and just made me feel more lost.

The sun had risen over the ocean, and I sat behind the statue’s feet on the stone foundation. As I leaned against the stone leg, I took in the early morning simmer of the sea as if it was the last time. I tried not to think about things, like turning into a monster, and just focused on the ocean crashing against the cliff’s bottom. However, my mind would not stay off the topic.

There had to be a cure. Something or someone had to be able to rid me of this curse. The only problem was, would I find this thing or person quickly enough before I turned into a monster? I had to give myself hope. Or jumping off this ledge to the crashing waves below was the next rational thing.

Something stepped up next to me, and my head slowly turned to the black wolf. Its bright red eyes stared at me, and its enormous head tilted as it sniffed, glancing down at my arm and back up. I was frozen in place, unsure of what to do as it stepped closer. Its hot breath brushed my skin as it continued smelling inches from my bandages and face.

“Last time I saw you, I died. Is that to happen again?”

The wolf stared at me, and I felt no fear, unlike our first encounter. What was the beast to do? Kill me? I was already on my way to that destination. It might be doing me a favour at this point. The animal’s ebony fur was so shiny and soft looking, there was a compelling urge to touch it.

My hand reached out, but the wolf stepped back slowly, keeping its eyes locked on me.

We just gazed at each other before it huffed and walked off, following the cliff edge. Its bushy tail swayed as it hiked off into the distance, and I watched it disappear.

“Kade,” Richard said, and I glanced back.

I slowly arose and made my way to the front of the statue. My face no doubt showed my gloom about today’s events, and Richard frowned. There was nothing that could be done about this. Luck was just not on my side.

Richard tossed a backpack, keeping his distance. “Make sure you get far away from town soon, okay?”

“I am not heading back to the house if that’s what you are worried about,” I replied, picking up the pack and putting my arms through the leather straps—this was my father’s. “But I will be back. Tell them I will see them again, and this is just us being cautious.”

Richard’s head tilted. “Are you sure that’s wise?”

I nodded. “I don’t think this nightstalker thing will end me. At least, that’s my hope. Maybe a cure can be found or something. I need to try.”

“Do nothing prematurely. Be certain before you return.”

“I promise I will stay away until I know—Which way is the next town.”

Richard paused, and I knew why. He didn’t want me to eat a bunch of people in the next village. If I were to find out how to fix this, I would need to travel around. If things turned unfavourable, I would ensure I was as far away from people as possible.

“Lockward is”—he hesitantly pointed towards the ocean coast—“about a hundred miles that way. It will probably take you five or six days. Follow the coast.”

I turned in the direction he pointed. “Thanks. Take care of my mother and sister.”

“Good luck, Kade, and don’t worry about the girls. I will take care of them,” Richard replied, and we stared at each other for a moment. “Your father would be proud you saved your sister and mother.”

“The nightstalker would have never found them in the cellar. I saved no one, not even myself.”

Richard’s lips pressed together. “Where were you? Your sister came back saying you ran off into the woods.”

“Being a child and chasing after adventures.”

There was nothing to tell him. He already said he didn’t see the crystal, meaning my explanation would make me look insane. Which is what I would have thought I was, but now, with all the strange things happening in front of me, the crystal was no longer absurd.

“Whatever way you may feel. I promise you, Bjorn would be proud of you.”

I nodded at Richard before I set out along the winding coast, taking the wolf's path.

While I didn’t know what was ahead of me, I kept moving forward, a new beginning that was both exciting and terrifying since death was a possibility. However, I refused to roll over and let fate have its way with me. Instead, I'd control my destiny, even if it was only temporary.

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