Her eyes wandered, watching everyone rushing here and there, carrying large boxes and installing dim lights in different colors. Laughter and enthusiasm filled the air.

Ashlee was curious to know what kind of event could bring such joy. Suddenly, everyone seemed happy and united, with no trace of animosity. What kind of event could create such harmony?

“Is she going to join the event?” Esyn asked worriedly, watching Ashlee wander around, inspecting the boxes.

“Why wouldn’t she?” Kyle replied, furrowing his brows in confusion.

“It’s dangerous. What if someone actually brings a human? Would you go through with the sacrifice in front of her? What are you going to tell her? Why do we celebrate this ridiculous day if we don’t want to harm anyone?” A flurry of questions poured out of Esyn.

She was right, in her way. If Ashlee asked him about it, he’d have to tell her the truth. But the question was, would she be okay with it? Kyle tore his gaze from Ashlee and turned to Esyn.

“What?” Esyn asked, eyeing him from head to toe.

“I think I have a solution,” Kyle said, a smirk playing on his lips. Esyn raised her brows in confusion. “What if I just take Ashlee back inside before the sacrifice begins?” he suggested, calculating the possibilities.

“How would you even manage that? Why would she…” Esyn trailed off as Ashlee approached them.

“Hey, what are you two talking about?” she asked, shrugging and raising her brows with a bright smile as she looked at Kyle and Esyn.

“We…” Esyn stammered, unsure of what to say.

“We were just discussing the food for the event,” Kyle replied quickly, cutting off Esyn’s attempt to respond.

“There’s going to be food?” Ashlee’s eyes widened with excitement. Kyle nodded, chuckling at her reaction.

“Wow!” Ashlee sighed. “What is this event about, though?” She looked at Kyle, expecting an answer.

“It’s…uhm…” He hesitated, uncertain of what to tell her. Esyn shook her head in disbelief. “It’s about our God. His…uhm…that…what’s it called again?” Kyle pretended to rub his temples as though trying to remember. He gave Esyn a look, and she realized she was supposed to continue.

“It’s about his reincarnation,” Esyn blurted out without thinking twice.

“What?” Ashlee looked astonished. How could a god be reincarnated?

“No, Esyn, that’s not it.” Kyle chuckled nervously. “It’s actually because he held a dining ceremony for the deity he admired most, and the deity was so impressed that he gave him the blessing of the wolverine.” Kyle had completely changed the original mythology to suit what he wanted Ashlee to believe.

“Well, what were their names?” she asked, crossing her arms, clearly intrigued.

“Uhm…” Kyle glanced at Esyn, who shrugged, avoiding his gaze. She didn’t know what else to say, but she figured telling the names wouldn’t hurt. Ashlee wouldn’t know much about Greek mythology anyway.

“King Lycaon and God Zeus?” he guessed, hoping Ashlee would accept it.

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She scoffed. “You think I’m dumb, don’t you?” She looked him in the eye, making him swallow hard. Why was she acting like this?

“You came to the school. Didn’t you know we study Greek mythology? It wasn’t a blessing or a meal. He sacrificed a human child and served it as a meal. It was a curse.” She made her point, letting him know she knew the real history. Her mind was racing, focused on her memories, not the event itself.

“Wait.” She stepped back quickly. One look at Esyn and Kyle’s faces revealed what they were hiding.

“What’s going to happen? Were you lying?” she asked Kyle, hoping she was mistaken. He reached for her, his eyes softening, but she pushed him away.

Breathing heavily, she looked around and suddenly understood the purpose of all the props, blades, and weapons. Her mind began piecing together the terrifying reality of what was planned.

“Tell me I’m wrong,” she whispered. “Are you serious, Kyle?” Disbelief filled her eyes.

“It won’t be you,” Kyle tried to reassure her, but he still didn’t fully understand her reaction.

“That doesn’t matter! It’s still going to be someone. A living person. Are you all insane? How can you kill someone and celebrate it? Is this what you do?” she asked, swallowing hard, her breaths growing erratic.

“I’m not sure yet. Ashlee, we might not need to sacrifice anyone,” Esyn tried to calm her down.

“So, all this time, you’ve been searching for the perfect bait, haven’t you?” she asked, looking at Kyle with suspicion.

He lowered his gaze, and she could see his body tensing. When he looked up, his eyes were pitch black, shadows veiling his face.

He laughed darkly, and Ashlee’s eyes darted to Esyn, who also started laughing maniacally. Her gaze shifted around, noticing everyone in the pack behaving strangely.

Sweat beaded on her forehead, her throat went dry, and a distorted buzzing filled her ears. All she could hear was their laughter, ringing in her head.

“Why do you think Kyle brought you here? You’re the perfect bait for us.” Heather smirked, yanking Ashlee’s hair. Ashlee tried to scream, but no sound came out.

“Sacrifice! Sacrifice! Sacrifice Humanity!” She could hear the pack chanting, their voices ringing out wildly. Her terror climbed with every second.

“Let me help you!” A faint voice buzzed in the back of her mind.

“What? Who? Who are you?” Ashlee finally found her voice, stumbling as she fell to the ground, with everyone closing in on her, ready to tear her apart.

“There’s no time, Ashlee. It’s close. You need to let me out before it kills you,” the voice urged with a hint of pleading.

“Who the hell are you!!” Ashlee shouted, opening her eyes wide, gasping for air. Her ears still buzzed heavily.

“Ashlee?” Kyle held her hands tightly, pulling her gaze to him. Her body was trembling, soaked in sweat, and overwhelmed by fear.

“It’s okay.” She collapsed into Kyle’s arms, sobbing as he gently comforted her, stroking her back.

“It was just a nightmare, baby. It’s alright,” he murmured softly, resting his chin on her head.

He felt guilty, knowing it was partly his fault that she kept having these nightmares lately. He hadn’t wanted to scare her when he explained the event.

She still feared a human sacrifice might happen. His heart broke a little each time he heard her screaming and begging in the middle of the night.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, feeling the weight of his guilt.

“It’s not your fault,” she murmured, pushing aside her fear. It was just a dream, nothing real. But that voice…that voice in her head had felt real.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. I shouldn’t have told you about it. I know you’ve been through so much, and I only scared you more with that. But listen.” He cupped her face, looking deep into her eyes. Her heart skipped a beat, seeing the warmth in his gaze.

“I promise. I won’t let anything hurt you,” he vowed with all his heart.

“I know.” She smiled softly, leaning into his hands. “It’s not you. It’s me. I…” She looked at him with trust, and he waited, wanting her to say what was troubling her.

She decided it was time to tell him. “I keep hearing someone. It scares me. It keeps telling me to let it out, but I don’t know what it is. Sometimes it feels like it’s controlling me…my actions, my choices…” Her tears began to flow.

“I think I’m going to lose myself…and I’ll lose you to it. I don’t know what to do,” she confessed, her voice breaking despite her efforts to stay strong.

“Shh…” Kyle embraced her quickly. He didn’t fully understand, but he could tell how much this weighed on her. She’d been through so much; it wasn’t surprising if it had left scars.

“Nobody’s going to take me away from you. I promise. Whatever it is, I won’t let it hurt you,” he assured her, though he was just as confused.

He thought it could be the trauma and stress she had endured throughout her life, and maybe she was struggling to adjust. But could there be more to it?

I need to find out what’s really happening.