Chapter 5
Reality is in Your Hands
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The morning sun filtered through the thick, frost-covered windows of the mansion, bathing my room in a golden glow. Its warmth kissed my face, coaxing me gently from the depths of slumber. I yawned, stretching my arms out wide as the remnants of sleep clung to me like cobwebs. My fingers grazed the edge of the bedframe, and I let out a contented sigh.
“That was… a really good night’s sleep.” – I murmured to myself, my voice still heavy with drowsiness.
Rolling out of bed, I glanced around the familiar expanse of my room. The high, vaulted ceilings loomed over me, and the antique furniture stood in its usual stoic arrangement, untouched by the passage of time. My bed – an ornate, iron-wrought relic – sat at the center of it all, draped in soft quilts and pillows.
“My name is Shikimi Elewp.” – I declared to no one in particular, my voice carrying a quiet confidence. – “And today shall be yet another great day.”
As the sun’s light grew brighter, it illuminated the thick curtains and the faint shimmer of dust dancing in the air. I took a deep breath and rose to my feet, the chill of the floor shocking against my bare toes.
The mansion was quiet – eerily so, as always. The only sounds were the faint creaks of the old wooden floor beneath my steps and the soft hum of the automated heater system kicking in. The silence wasn’t oppressive, though. It was familiar, comforting even, like a blanket of stillness that belonged solely to this place and to me.
I made my way through the halls, my feet guiding me along the well-trodden path of my morning routine. The first stop was the bathroom. The frosted glass of the mirror greeted me with a faint, blurry reflection of myself. My brown hair was a mess, sticking out at odd angles as if it had life of its own. My black eyes were still heavy-lidded with sleep, but there was a spark there – a hint of anticipation for the day ahead.
The warm water from the sink was a welcome contrast to the chill of the mansion. I splashed it over my face, scrubbing away the remnants of sleep. As I worked shampoo into my hair, I took my time, making sure every strand gleamed with its usual soft, shimmer.
“Two washes today.” – I whispered to myself, a smile tugging at my lips. – “Maybe three. Can’t let my hair lose its sparkle.”
Once freshened up, after leaving the bathroom, I took a moment to glance out of the window. The Black Forest loomed beyond the mansion’s grounds, a hauntingly beautiful expanse of ashen earth. It stretched endlessly. But the sight didn’t bother me – it was home.
“This house, this quiet, my shadowed home,
Its halls are mine to walk alone.
The walls may creak, the air may chill,
But here I am the queen of the still.”
With a little twirl, I grabbed my coat from the rack near the door and slipped it on.
The air outside bit my skin the moment I stepped out, but it was a familiar sting, one I welcomed like an old friend. The Black Forest, shrouded in its eternal gloom, beckoned me forward. Each step I took sent up little puffs of black dust from the forest floor, the fine particles clinging to my boots.
“The Black Forest, where the shadows play.
A labyrinth of ash, my hideaway.
No birds, no beasts, no life in sight,
Just dust and trees and endless night.”
I bent to touch one of the brittle trees, the bark crumbling under my fingers.
“These trees are black, their branches bare,
But they’re my friends; I know they care.
No one to mock, no one to jeer,
It’s silent here, I have no fear.”
The train tracks came into view, cutting through the lifeless expanse like a scar. I followed them, my boots clicking softly against the iron rails. The closer I got to the edge of the forest, the more my song grew hopeful, a crescendo of defiance and pride.
“And yet beyond this shadowed wood,
A world that’s cruel, misunderstood.
They call me names, they cast their stones,
But I’m a star, a fire alone!”
The town of Procyon appeared in the horizon, its quaint buildings huddled together like sheep under the ever-gray sky. As I stepped onto the cobblestone streets, the villagers’ glare burned into me, their whispers cutting through the morning air.
“Oh, let them glare, let them sneer and hate,
This town will never seal my fate.
For I am strong, a heart of steel,
A force they’ll never break or steal.”
I reached the school at last, its old stone walls looming over me. I took a deep breath, my song softening to a quiet, determined refrain.
“So here I stand, among their scorn,
A brighter star, their hate forlorn.
This life, this path, my choice, my own,
I’ll face it all, though I’m alone.”
“Alone? Seriously, Elewp, what do you mean alone?”
The sharp voice interrupted my reverie, startling me. I turned to find a black-haired girl standing nearby, her arms crossed and an eyebrow raised. Her brown eyes narrowed at me, giving her an almost piercing look of annoyance.
She wore the same uniform as me – down to the stiff, nun-like design that was standard for the girls at Procyon’s school – but something about the way she carried herself felt distinctly different. Her posture, the confident tilt of her chin, and the way she tapped her foot impatiently on the cobblestones made her stand out from the sea of indifferent faces I’d grown used to.
I blinked at her, momentarily at a loss – “I, uh… didn’t see you there.” – I said, a little embarrassed. – “What did you just say?”
She rolled her eyes, her expression shifting into something between irritation and amusement. – “What did I just say? What do you mean, walking into school, singing about being alone, like some tragic princess in a play? You’re not alone — you’ve got me.”
I stared at her, laughing a little. – “You?”
“Yes, me!” – she said, her voice rising as if it were the most obvious things in the world. – “The one who sits right next to you in class? The one who lent you her notes last week? The one who literally patched you up when you looked like you’d fought a train?”
I couldn’t help but smug faintly. – “Oh. You’re… Nanny, right?”
Her face darkened for a moment, her hands going to her hips. – No, it’s Nanfaz! Honestly, how can you remember every useless fact in math class but not my name?”
I held up my hands in mock surrender. – “Okay, okay, sorry. Nanfy.”
She huffed but let it go, her annoyance melting down. – “Anyway, you’re not alone. You’ve got me, even if this is just a temporary alliance.”
“Well.” – I said after a moment – “I guess it’s nice to have at least one friend in this place.”
“Friend?” – She repeated with a scoff, her lips twitching into a smirk – “I prefer to think of it as being the smarter, cooler girl who’s decided to tolerate your existence.”
I raised an eyebrow. – “Wow. That almost sounded like a compliment.”
However, it was not normal for her to be waiting for me in the tracks before the classes, she definitely has something to tell me about our mission.
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Months ago, my birthday had been a disaster. I had built my hopes high, stacking expectation upon expectation, only to have them come crashing down in the most spectacular way. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that when you focus all your energy on one fact of life, you miss what truly matters.
The fallout was swift and bitter. My first encounter with Nanfaz, the girl who had been the cause of so much trouble that day, left a sour taste in my mouth. The way she behaved, the way she tried to deceive me — there was no excuse. So, when she tried to apologize the day after, I didn’t even give her a chance. I ignored her completely, treating her as though she didn’t exist.
But that wasn’t the end of it.
The problem wasn’t that she apologized — it was how relentlessly she did it. Every single day, on every single occasion. She wrote apologies in my notebook, slipped letters into my bag, whispered hasty sorries when she passed by me in the hallways, and even followed me home, murmuring pleas for forgiveness.
At first, I thought she was driven by some morbid curiosity again. Maybe she just wanted to see how far she could push me before I snapped. But over time, her persistence wore me down. There was no malice in her actions anymore, no hint of the deceit I had come to associate with her. It felt… genuine.
One day, as she trailed behind me after school, her apologies buzzing like a mosquito in my ear, I finally stopped walking.
“What do you really want with all of this?” – I demanded, spinning around to face her.
Nanfaz flinched but stood her ground. – “I’m absolutely sorry about everything I did, I swear by it. And there is another thing I need to tell you.”
I crossed my arms, my glare unwavering – “I see. Fine, consider yourself forgiven. I’ll never forget it, though. After all, I already have a massive grudge, so I don’t have any room for more.”
Her eyes lit up, but I wasn’t done. – “Now spill it. What do you want?”
She took a deep breath, as though bracing herself. – “I’m sorry, again. But after you left that day, I… I followed you into the Black Forest.”
Her words floated down until they fully registered. I stared at her, incredulous.
“You what?” – She was even dumber than I had realized. – “That place is like a psychedelic natural maze. How did you even survive?”
“I never left the train tracks.” – She explained quickly. – “I just followed them back. But that’s not the point. The thing is, I met something there — a creature. One of the Black Wolves from the legends.”
I raised an eyebrow, skepticism all over my face. – “You had a hallucination. I’ve lived in the Black Forest my entire life and never seen anything like that.”
Nanfaz shook her head vehemently. – “You didn’t? But have you ever gone outside after midnight?”
Her question made me pause. Midnight wasn’t exactly my prime exploration time.
“Because I did.” – She continue, her voice trembling slightly. – “And that’s when I saw it. A massive, grotesque creature. It nearly ate me in one bite.”
“Why didn’t it, then?” – Her story was full of holes. – “Sounds like a pretty bad hunter to me.”
“It wasn’t truly hunting me.” – She said, her expression darkening. “It was playing with me. Like a cat with a mouse. It wanted me to run so it could chase me. But I managed to hide inside a hole full of dust. When it passed by, I waited until it was gone and made my escape. The dust’s smell must’ve camouflaged my smell the entire time.”
“Well, congrats.” – I said, clapping twice. – “I’m not interested.”
“Listen to me, Shikimi!” – She snapped, stepping closer. – “The Black Wolves not being a myth is a really big problem. They’re dangerous, not just to me, but to you. To everyone.”
I scoffed – “I have a fortress. I don’t see why I should care. And even if you’re telling the truth, doesn’t that just mean they’re dangerous to people dumb enough to enter the Black Forest, literally hell? The townsfolk will be safe as long as they stay put.”
Nanfaz hesitated, her eyes darting away as if she was afraid of what she was about to say. – “The thing is…” – She started, her voice quieter now. – “These past few days, I’ve heard its howl. Deep in my thoughts, as if it’s calling to me. It’s hunting me, even now as we speak. And I think… no, I know it will come for me. But it won’t stop there. If it finds me in town, it’ll kill anyone in its path to get to me.”
I tilted my head, a smirk tugging at the corners of my lips. – “You know what? That actually sounds like great news. You, getting what you deserve, and the wolves reducing Procyon’s population to zero? I think I like the black wolves already.”
Her face paled, but I continued, my tone playful yet edged with evil. – “But that does sound… Interesting. Maybe I’ll help you research it, then. Not to save anyone, of course. I’m thinking the opposite.”
“What?”
I grinned, the gleam in my eyes unmistakable. – “If the Black Wolves are as dangerous as you say, I want to know everything about them. But don’t get your hopes up — I’m not doing this for you or the town. I’m doing it because I’ve grown bitter towards the monotony of this town. Let’s see just how much Procyon can take before it crumbles.”
Nanfaz looked at me, her lips pressed into a thin line. There was no telling what thoughts churned in her head, but I didn’t care. For the first time in months, I felt alive, a spark of curiosity igniting in the depths of my mind.
What a ridiculous story, yet her words clung to the edge of my thoughts, refusing to let go. Black Wolves — grotesque monsters born of old-legends — prowling the forest where I’d spent most of my life? It sounded absurd, impossible even. Creatures like that couldn’t exist.
And yet… Deep down, a memory stirred, or perhaps it was a dream. I couldn’t remember the details, but the faint impression of something large and menacing flickered in the recesses of my mind. It was just a fleeting shadow, a half-formed image that refused to solidify. Still, it left behind a faint unease, like the echo of a nightmare.
The legends of the Black Wolves were well-known in Procyon. Anyone who stepped into the Black Forest, they said, would be hunted down by these creatures. The townsfolk avoided the forest with a kind of superstitious fervor, their fear evident in every hushed whisper and fearful glance toward its edge.
I had always dismissed their tales as baseless myths — convenient excuses to justify their hatred of the unknown. But now, with Nanfaz’s trembling voice and pale face, I found myself hesitating.
If the wolves were real, it meant Nanfaz was in danger. Not that I cared about her fate. She could be hunted to the ends of the earth for all I cared. She deserved every bit of terror she brought upon herself for daring to intrude into my home.
But it wasn’t just her.
The legends didn’t discriminate. Anyone who entered the Black Forest was a target. And that included me.
My house might be a fortress, but I still had to leave it — to walk to school, to traverse the train tracks, to live. If the wolves were real, every step I took beyond my door would mark me as prey.
And it wasn’t just me.
Nanfaz said she encountered the wolf during my birthday. She is certain of it. But that was also the day my father was supposed to visit. He didn’t show up… The supplies arrived as usual at the beginning of the month, but they could be from an automated system.
Had he crossed the forest that day? Had he encountered the same creature?
A cold realization settled over me like a heavy weight. If the wolf was real, then my father’s journey home — or worse, to meet me — might have put him directly in its path.
“Maybe there’s more to this than meets the eye.” – I muttered to myself, my voice low and uncertain.
My father was brilliant, resourceful, stronger than anyone I knew — but he wasn’t invincible. If the Black Wolf was as big as Nanfaz described, then the worst would be true.
Think rationally. There is no proof yet, no concrete evidence that these creatures are real. Nanfaz’s story could easily be the product of her overactive imagination, her fear exaggerating whatever she’d seen in the dark. But if it wasn’t…
I could afford to ignore the possibility.
I needed answers. I needed to know if Nanfaz was telling the truth, if the wolves were real, and if they posed a threat. And if they were real, then my father would be dead. And all of my hatred for his absence would be for naught, and if they killed him… I would hunt every single one of them.
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“This place is amazing!” – Nanfaz’s voice echoed through the eerie stillness of the Black Forest as she approached my house. Her wide eyes darted from the sleek panels glinting under the gray sky to the tall, reinforced walls of the mansion, a structure so out of place in the dead woods that it might as well have been dropped from another world.
I stood at the door, arms crossed, watching as she gawked at every detail like a child seeing fireworks for the first time.
“If we’re really hunting a beast.” – I said, cutting to the chase. – “We’ll need the right technology for that. Now, come on.”
But Nanfaz barely registered my words.
“Wait, wait!” – She exclaimed, pointing towards the ceiling, her eyes sparkling. – “Are these… solar panels? You have actual solar panels? And they’re working? How do you even…? I mean, I thought solar-based electricity was just a myth.”
“Not myths.” – I said flatly, resisting the urge to roll my eyes. – “Electricity is just outlawed in Procyon because of the church’s nonsense. Can we move—”
She finally tore herself away from the panels, but her wonder only grew as she stepped into the entryway of my house. Her jaw dropped as she took in the sleek, modern interior.
“By Procyon!” – She whispered, her voice almost reverent. – “Is this… automated lighting?”
The lights, triggered by motion sensors, glowed softly as we entered. She gasped, spinning in place to watch each bulb come alive in sequence.
“It’s like magic.” – She said, her face lighting up as brightly as the room.”
“It’s not magic.” – I said, feeling a twinge of pride despite myself – “But I’ve heard that any sufficiently evolved technology is no different from magic. Now, come on. We have work to do.”
But she wasn’t listening.
Her attention had shifted to the automated heater, its quiet hum blending seamlessly into the background. She crouched in front of it, her hands hovering over it.
“It’s so… quiet.” – She said, her voice filled with awe. – “It is like it is not even turned on.”
“It is not.” – I said, exasperated. – “I prefer the cold air now.”
“And this.” – She said, suddenly darting toward the kitchen. Her eyes widened as she spotted the sleek refrigerator and the gleaming microwave. She pressed her hands against the cool surface of the fridge, her expression one of pure bliss. – “You have this, too? Do you have any idea how many people in Procyon would kill to have proper food storage? It’s like meeting an idol after hearing about them your whole life.”
“I didn’t invite you here to marvel at my appliances.” – I said, though I couldn’t help but smirk. – “Are you done fangirling yet?”
“Not even close.” – She replied, her gaze now fixed on the control panel for the house’s air filtration system. – “What’s this? Some kind of advanced ventilation system? You’ve thought of everything!”
“It keeps the black dust out, in case you were wondering.” – I said, walking over and flicking a switch to demonstrate.
Her face lit up like a child on their birthday. – “That’s brilliant, Shikimi, this house is a technological wonderland! How do you even live here without feeling like a queen?”
“I manage.” – I said dryly, pulling her attention back to me. – “And now, if you’re done, let’s focus. We’re not here to admire basic modernity. We’re here to prepare for the hunt.”
Nanfaz crossed her arms, a skeptical look crossing her face. – “So, you’re telling me you have actual advanced guns to shoot it down?”
I shook my head. – “No, of course not. An automated shooting system would be nice, but unfortunately, the house’s builder didn’t want to install one.”
She rolled her eyes at my sarcasm. – “Then what’s your plan? Just hope the wolf drops dead when it sees us?”
“I have a different idea.” – I said, gesturing her to follow me. – “The main issue I have with your story isn’t how dangerous the wolf is — it’s whether it exists at all. So, the first step is to get proof. Solid, undeniable proof.”
She raised an eyebrow but said nothing as I led her deeper into the house. The hallway grew darker as we descended a narrow staircase, the walls lined with exposed metal piping and conduits. The faint hum of machinery grew louder with each step, a constant reminder of the automated systems that kept the mansion running.
“The basement?” – Nanfaz asked, her voice echoing slightly. – “What’s down there?”
“You’ll see.” – I replied cryptically, smirking at the hint of nervousness in her voice.
The stairs ended in a heavy steel door. I pushed it open, reveling a sprawling basement lit by dim overhead lights. The air smelled faintly of metal and oil, and the sound of humming machines filled the space.
“This.” – I said, gesturing around the room. – “Is where the magic happens. Or rather, where the mundane technology that Procyon is so terrified of was built.”
Nanfaz’s jaw dropped as she took in the scene. Rows of shelves lined the walls, stacked with tools, spare parts, and half-finished devices. A massive generator sat in one corner, its quiet vibrations sending faint tremors through the floor. At the center of the room was a large workbench, cluttered with blueprints, circuit boards, and a collection of oddly shaped gadgets.
“This is incredible.” – She breathed, stepping forward to examine the nearest shelf. Her fingers grazed the edge of a sleek, cylindrical object that looked vaguely like a rocket launcher. – “Your father built all this?”
I nodded. – “This was his workshop. He used to spend hours down here, tinkering with ideas, building prototypes. Most of what you see didn’t end up being used, but it’s all still here.”
She picked up a small drone from the workbench, her eyes wide. “And this? What’s this for?”
“Surveillance, probably.” – I said, plucking it from her hands and setting it back down. – “But it is not even close to being finished. We need to find something specific.”
“What are we looking for?”
“Cameras.” – I said, moving toward a set of cabinets on the far wall. – “I remember my father talking about setting up cameras around the forest once. He gave up on the idea, but if we can find the unused cameras, we’ll be one step closer to proving your story.”
Nanfaz nodded and started rummaging through a nearby shelf, her movements eager but clumsy. I watched her out of the corner of my eye as I opened one of the cabinets, its content spilling out in an unorganized mess of wires and lenses.
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“This is incredible.” – She said again, her voice filled with genuine wonder. –“It’s like a treasure trove of forbidden knowledge down here.”
“Focus, Nanfaz. Cameras. Not commentary.”
She muttered something under her breath but continued searching. After a few minutes, her voice rang out.
“Found one!”
I turned to see her holding up a sleek, black camera, its lens glinting under the dim light.
“Good.” – I said, taking it from her and inspecting it. – “This will do. Now we just need… a lot more of these.”
We spent the next hour combing through the workshop, unearthing cameras, tripods, and enough wiring to stretch across half the forest. By the time we were done, we had assembled a respectable pile of equipment on the workbench.
“This is going to take forever to set up.” – Nanfaz said, wiping sweat from her brow. – “How do you plan to get all these cameras into the forest without being eaten alive?”
I smiled. – “That’s the fun part. We’re going to set them up during the day when the wolves are less likely to be active. If they’re as nocturnal as the legends say, we should be fine.”
“And if they’re not?”
“Then I let them eat you while I run away safely.”
She groaned. – “Let’s hope for that then.”
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“To make things easier for us, we’re going to set up bait. These are wolves — or at least something similar to wolves — which, according to basic biology, are predators. Predators need meat. Fortunately for us, this month’s supply delivery just arrived, and it’s all fresh. We’ll use different kinds of flesh to lure the wolves to the hotspots we’ll monitor with the cameras.”
Nanfaz raised her doubts as she trailed behind me into the kitchen. She pulled open the nearest fridge and froze, her face scrunching up in confusion.
“Uh… Why is the only food in these fridges… Meat? You don’t have anything else? No grains? No vegetables? Not even fruit?”
I opened the freezer next to her and pulled out a neatly vacuum-sealed pack of venison. – “I absolutely hate eating anything that isn’t from an animal. The taste is just awful. Vegetables, grains, all that plant-based nonsense? It’s like chewing on cardboard dipped in disappointment.”
She stared at me, her expression a mix of disbelief and faint horror. – “You’re kidding me, right? You eat only meat?”
“Of course not.” – I said, smirking at her reaction. – “Sometimes I eat chicken. That counts as variety, right?”
“Shikimi…” – She said, her voice dripping with exasperation. – “You can’t be serious. Humans need more than just meat to survive. What about vitamins? Fiber? You know, basic nutrition?”
I shrugged, tossing the venison onto the counter and opening another fridge. Inside was an assortment of chicken, pork, and beef, all meticulously organized. – “If lions can survive on nothing but meat, why can’t I? It’s not like we have four stomachs to digest grass like cows. And besides, I’ve been doing just fine for years. And liver is full of vitamins, if that is your problem.”
“Lions are carnivores.” – She said, pinching the bridge of her nose. – “Humans are omnivores. There’s a difference.”
“Not for me, I’m definitely a carnivore.” – I replied, pulling out a hefty slab of beef and setting it next to the venison – “Now stop worrying about my diet and help me organize this bait. We need a good variety to test what works best. Think of it as an experiment.”
“An experiment in how to attract giant, possibly mythical predators to kill us?”- She muttered, folding her arms.
“Exactly.” – I said brightly, grabbing a pack of ground lamb. – “We’ll set up a few hotspots in different parts of the forest. The cameras will capture any activity, and we’ll analyze the footage to confirm if these wolves are real – or if you’re just paranoid.”
Nanfaz hesitated, watching as I methodically prepared the bait. Finally, she sighed and began helping, though her movements were cautious, as if she thought the meat might bite her.
“So, how many hotspots are we setting up?” - She asked, unwrapping a pack of chicken thighs.
“Five should be enough.” – I said, arranging the cuts of meat into separate containers. – “We’ll place them strategically — near the train tracks, at the edge of the forest, and in a few areas deeper in. The goal is to cover as much ground as possible without putting ourselves in too much danger.”
“And by too much danger you mean…?”
“I mean we’ll set up the deeper ones during the day as leave as quickly as possible.” – I said. – “We’ll use gloves to handle the bait so the wolves don’t pick up too much of our scent. Not that it matters much if they’re as smart as you say.”
“That’s not reassuring…” – She said, her voice laced with sarcasm.
“It’s not supposed to be.” – I shot back. – “This is about gathering proof, not holding a picnic.”
By the time we finished preparing the bait, the kitchen smelled like a butcher shop, and Nanfaz looked like she might faint.
“Ready?” – I asked, grabbing one of the containers and a portable camera rig.
“Not remotely.” – She muttered, but she picked up another container and followed me toward the door.
The Black Forest loomed outside, its skeletal trees casting long shadows in the fading afternoon light. As we stepped out, the air was heavy and still, the kind of quiet that felt almost unnatural.
“Let’s get this over with.” – She said, clutching the container of chicken thighs like it was a shield.
I couldn’t help but laugh. – “Come on, Nanfaz. Where’s your sense of adventure?”
“Back in the fridge with the vegetables you don’t have.”
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After we set up the very first hotspot and connected the cameras to the big TV in the living room, Nanfaz was practically dead on her feet by the time dinner was over. She’d collapsed onto the couch, barely managing to mumble something about how soft it was before her eyes started drooping.
“Come on.” – I said, nudging her shoulder lightly. – “You can’t sleep here. I’ve got an extra room.”
She let out a low, annoyed groan, swatting weakly at my hand like a lazy cat.
I sighed, grabbing her arm and pulling her into a sitting position. – “Seriously, you can’t stay here. You’ll mess up the couch, and you’ll regret it in the morning.”
“Fine.” – She mumbled, dragging herself to her feet like a reluctant child.
Rolling my eyes, I gestured for her to follow me. – “Come on. I’ll grab you something to sleep in.”
We headed upstairs, the hum of the house’s automated systems filling the comfortable silence. When we reached the guest room, I pushed open the door and stepped aside to let her in.
The room was simple but welcoming, with clean linens on the bed, warm lighting, and soft beige walls that made the space feel cozier than most of the house. A fluffy blanket was folded neatly at the foot of the bed, and a small vase with dried flowers sat on the nightstand.
“This is your guest room?” – Nanfaz asked, turning in a slow circle as she took in the neatly arranged furniture. Her wide eyes lingered on the thick, inviting blankets, and she shook her head in disbelief. – “This is nicer than my bedroom. No, scratch that—it’s nicer than any room in the town.”
“Don’t get used to it,” I teased, heading to my room to find something for her to wear.
I opened my drawers and rifled through the options, debating what to lend her. Finally, I settled on a soft pink blouse with a loose, flowy design and a pair of matching pajama shorts with lace trim. Cute, simple, and a little more put-together than the old cotton shirt I’d originally considered.
When I returned, she was standing in the middle of the guest room, staring at the automated blinds as they adjusted themselves to block out the dim evening light.
“Do your windows move by themselves?” – She asked, her voice filled with awe.
“Yes.” – I said, holding out the clothes. – “It’s called automation…”
She ignored my tone, taking the clothes from me with reverence. The moment she unfolded them, her jaw dropped.
“These are yours?” – She asked, holding up the blouse like it was a rare artifact.
I said, holding my forehead in incredulence. – “You’re acting like I handed you a treasure chest.”
“But it feels like a treasure chest!” – She exclaimed, pressing the fabric to her cheek with a delighted smile. – “This material—it’s so soft! And look at the lace! And the stitching! Is this custom-made? Or… or silk?”
She grinned and darted into the bathroom to change, leaving me standing there, wondering why I’d bothered to pick something nice. A moment later, she emerged, and my irritation morphed into something else entirely.
The outfit fit her perfectly. The soft pink of the blouse complemented her dark hair and complexion, and the lace trim of the shorts gave the whole look a delicate, almost doll-like quality. She twirled once, the loose blouse fluttering slightly as she struck a playful pose.
“Well?” – She asked, grinning from ear to ear. “How do I look?”
“Annoyingly good.” – I muttered before I could stop myself. I shot her a glare, but the teasing twinkle in her eyes made it impossible to stay annoyed. – “You’re impossible.” – I muttered, turning toward the door. – “Just go to bed already.”
As I left the room, I couldn’t help but glance back for a moment. She was sitting cross-legged on the bed, running her fingers over the lace trim of the shorts with the same wonder she’d had when looking at the automated blinds.
I shook my head, closing the door behind me. Annoying? Definitely. Cute? Maybe. But seeing her so happy in something as simple as borrowed clothes… it wasn’t the worst feeling in the world.
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The next few days were a blur of grueling effort and growing tension as Nanfaz and I threw ourselves fully into our project. Each day, we ventured into the Black Forest to install the baited hotspots, armed with little more than containers of meat, camera rigs, and a gnawing sense of uncertainty.
The forest seemed to watch us as we worked. Shadows danced on the blackened ground, and every creak of a branch or whisper of the wind that my mind imagined due to the abysmal silence set my nerves on edge. Nanfaz wasn’t much better; though she tried to mask her fear with determination, her wide eyes and tense posture betrayed her.
By the end of each day, we returned to my house exhausted but resolute, ready to spend the night glued to the monitors. The cameras were linked to a small network I had set up, each hotspot feeding live footage to one of five screens.
We settled into a gruesome routine. One of us would keep watch while the other tried to sleep, switching off every few hours. The screens flickered faintly in the dimly lit room, casting eerie shadows on the walls.
At first, neither of us trusted the setup to last. Nanfaz, for reasons she refused to explain fully, believed fully the wolves were capable of more than just physical destruction. – “They could break the cameras.” – She said one night, her voice low and tense. – “Or even deactivate them entirely. You’ve heard about the great power outage, right? Ten years ago? That wasn’t just some random failure. It was probably them.”
I raised an eyebrow at her. – “The black wolves caused a townwide blackout? Wasn’t that just another of the church’s fabricated stories? Next, you’ll tell me they’re the reason my favorite TV show got canceled.”
She glared at me but didn’t argue. Still, her paranoia wasn’t completely baseless. The idea that these creatures – if they existed – might be capable of interfering with technology was unsettling.
So, we watched. Night after night, our eyes stayed glued to the screens, scanning for any sign of movement. A shadow. A glint of eyes. Anything.
The first few days were uneventful. The forest remained silent, the bait untouched. By the end of the first week, the monotony was starting to wear on us. The constant vigilance, the lack of sleep, the oppressive silence of the forest — it all took a toll. Nanfaz’s sarcastic comments became sharper, and I found myself snapping back more often than I’d like.
“Do you ever not breath loudly?” – I muttered one night, my voice dripping with irritation.
“Do you ever not complain?” – She shot back, her eyes fixed on the screen in front of her.
By the second week, the strain was undeniable. We both looked like wrecks, dark circles under our eyes and frayed tempers making even basic conversation a minefield. The routine was brutal, but neither of us was willing to give up.
Then came the final blow: the food ran out.
I stared at the empty shelves in the fridge, the stark white interior a sharp contrast to the neatly stacked containers of meat that had been there only days before. – “This is bad.” – I said, my voice flat with frustration.
“You think?” – Nanfaz said, standing behind me with clear annoyance. – “We’ve got nothing left, and we still don’t have any proof.”
I slammed the fridge door shut, leaning against it with a sigh. – “The delivery won’t come for another two weeks. We’ll have to make do until then.”
“With what?” Nanfaz demanded, her voice rising in frustration as she threw her hands into the air. “We’ve got no bait, no food, and no results. What are we even doing, Shikimi? Two weeks of this, and nothing!”
Her words hit like a hammer, not because they were cruel but because they mirrored the thoughts I had tried to keep buried.
I leaned against the fridge, letting the cold metal press into my back, and stared at her. She stood there, arms crossed, her dark eyes blazing with anger and exhaustion.
Slowly, I pushed off the fridge and turned to face her fully. – “Congratulations, Nanfaz Incuria.” – I said, my voice cold and deliberate. – “We’ve proven that what you saw in the forest was a hallucination. If there really was a monstrous wolf like you claimed, it would have shown up by now.”
She froze, her mouth opening and closing like she was searching for words but couldn’t find them. Finally, she managed. – “You don’t know that.”
“Don’t I?” – I snapped, stepping closer. – “We’ve spent two weeks — two exhausting, miserable weeks — watching those screens. Not a single thing has touched the bait. Not a shadow, not a paw print, nothing. If those wolves existed, if your so-called predator was real, we’d have evidence by now.”
Nanfaz’s jaw tightened, and she clenched her fists at her sides. – “Maybe they’re smarter than we thought.” – she argued, though her voice lacked conviction – “Maybe they’re avoiding the cameras, or they don’t care about the bait.”
I shook my head, laughing bitterly. – “Avoiding the cameras? Not caring about the bait? Come on, Nanfaz. Carnivorous animals don’t ignore fresh meat. That’s basic survival instinct. Either these creatures are breaking all the laws of nature, or they’re not real.”
“They’re real!” – she shouted, her voice cracking. – “I saw it, Shikimi. I felt it. That thing was there, and it wanted to kill me.”
Her desperation hung heavy in the air, but I refused to back down. – “Then where is it now?” I demanded, gesturing toward to where the monitors continued to display empty, lifeless landscapes. – “Where’s your big, terrifying monster? Because all I see is a silent forest and wasted time.”
Her shoulders slumped, the fight draining out of her as she looked away. For a moment, the room was silent except for the faint hum of the fridge and the distant buzz of the monitors.
“Maybe it’s waiting.” – She said quietly, her voice as small as an ant.
“Waiting?” – I echoed.
“For the right moment.” – She said, looking up at me with haunted eyes. – “You think you’ve won, that you’ve disproved it. But what if that’s exactly what it wants? To make you drop your guard? To make you think it’s safe?
I stared at her, her words sending an uninvited shiver down my spine. She was grasping at straws, I told myself, clinging to her fear because admitting she might be wrong was too painful. And yet… a part of me couldn’t shake the memory of the forest’s unnatural stillness, the way the shadows seemed to press closer as if watching.
“You’re reaching.” – I said, though my voice wasn’t as steady as I’d hoped. – “If it’s waiting, it’ll wait forever. We’re out of bait and out of time. This project is done, Nanfaz.”
Her eyes widened in disbelief. – “You’re giving up? After all this?”
“I’m being realistic.” – I replied sharply, folding my arms across my chest. – “We tried. We got nothing. End of story. Go back to your house, Nanfaz. This ends here.”
For a moment, she just stood there, as if the ground beneath her had suddenly crumbled away. Her face twisted, the raw emotion rising to the surface faster than she could contain it. Then, without warning, she broke into tears.
It wasn’t the quiet, dignified crying of someone holding back. No, this was desperate, gut-wrenching sobbing, each gasp for air ragged and unsteady. Tears poured down her cheeks, and she crumpled to the floor, her legs giving out beneath her as if the weight of her grief had become too much to bear.
“Why?” – She choked out between sobs, her voice barely audible. – “Why would you do this? You don’t understand… You don’t get it!”
I blinked, caught completely off guard. Nanfaz was many things — stubborn, irritating, and dramatic — but I had never seen her like this. This wasn’t just frustration or disappointment. This was terror, raw and unfiltered.
“Nanfaz…” – I started, but she shook her head violently, cutting me off.
“You don’t know what it’s like!” – She cried, her words spilling out in a torrent. – “You don’t know what it feels like to have something out there watching you, waiting for you, and knowing it won’t stop until it gets you! You think it’s over? It’s not over! It’ll never be over!”
Her hands trembled as she gripped the hem of my shirt, her knuckles white. – “You think I’m lying? You think I’m crazy? Fine! Maybe I am! But that thing is real, Elewp. I know it’s real. I saw it. I felt it. And now you’re telling me to just walk away? To pretend like it’s not out there?”
She buried her face in my shirt, her sobs growing louder, more frantic. – “I can’t do that! I can’t just go home and wait for it to find me!”
I stood there, unsure of what to do or say. My initial instinct was to snap back, to tell her to pull herself together, but something stopped me. Her words, her desperation — it felt too genuine to dismiss outright.
“Nanfaz.” – I said again, softer this time, crouching down to her level. – “Look at me.”
She didn’t respond, her shoulders shaking as she cried.
“Nanfaz.” – I repeated, my voice firmer now. I reached out hesitantly, placing a hand on her shoulder.
She flinched at the contact but slowly lifted her head, her tear-streaked face a picture of anguish. Her red-rimmed eyes locked onto mine, and for the first time, I saw the depth of her fear.
“I’m not saying I don’t believe you.” – I said carefully, choosing my words with more caution than I’d ever used with her. – “I’m saying we’ve done everything we can. We’ve looked. We’ve waited. And there’s been nothing. If you have any good idea, I will help you, okay?”
Her lips quivered, and fresh tears spilled over. – “There has to be more.” – She whispered. – “There has to be something. I can’t go back. I can’t… I can’t… If I stay there, my family will be at risk, and I’ve left home for two weeks now, I can’t go back until this is solved.”
Her voice cracked, and she broke down again, her hands clutching my back as if trying to keep herself from unraveling entirely. To think that her real reason was to bring danger away from the ones she actually cared about. There would be no problem if the wolf attacked us here and killed me, huh. She is still a deceiver at heart.
I sighed, sitting down beside her on the cold floor. This wasn’t how I’d imagined things going — not even close. I’m not good at this kind of thing. Consolation, comfort… It isn’t my strength. But seeing her like this, so broken, something inside me softened. Maybe she felt something like this when she helped me back at the tracks.
“Nanfaz.” – I said quietly. – “Tell me why this matters so much to you. Why can’t you let it go?”
She sniffled, wiping at her face with shaky hands. – “Because I can’t stop hearing it.” – She said, her voice hoarse. – “That howl. It’s in my head, Elewp. Every night. Every time I close my eyes. It’s like it’s calling to me, like it knows where I am, and it’s just waiting for the right moment to… to…”
Her breath hitched, and she shuddered. – “I can’t live like this. I can’t. If we don’t figure this out, if we don’t stop, I… I don’t know what I’ll do.”
Her words hung in the air, heavy and unrelenting. I looked away, my mind racing. I wanted to dismiss her fears, to write them off as paranoia or the product of stress. But the sincerity in her voice, the way her fear seemed to reach into the very core of her being — it was impossible to ignore.
I sighed deeply, running a hand through my hair. – “Okay.” – I said finally. – “Okay, Nanfaz. We’ll keep looking. We’ll figure this out. But I need you to pull yourself together, or neither of us will get anywhere.
She looked at me, her tears slowing but her eyes still filled with uncertainty – “You mean it?”
“I mean it.” – I said, standing and offering her my hand. - “Now get up. We’re not done yet.”
Her trembling hand reached for mine, and as I helped her to her feet, I gave her a small, reassuring smile. – “Come on. Let’s give you a hot shower. The good news about the cameras not working means we’re finally free to sleep and relax at night.”
Nanfaz blinked, her tear-streaked face momentarily lighting up with surprise. – “A hot shower?” – She echoed, almost incredulously.
“Yeah.” – I said already heading towards the stairs. – “You’ve earned it. Two weeks of watching those screens, trudging through the forest, and putting up with me — consider it a reward.”
She followed her steps hesitant at first, then quicker as she caught up – “You know.” – She said, her voice soft but tinged with amusement – “I never thought I’d grow so attached to hot water. It used to be a dream of mine, you know? To have it whenever I wanted…” – She paused, shooting a playful look behind the swollen eyes. – “But don’t think you can buy me with something like that anymore.”
I smirked, reaching out to pat her on the head as we reached the top of the stairs. – “Okay, fine. I guess I’ve been hiding something from you. But after all the effort you’ve put in, you probably deserve to know.”
“Hiding something?” – She asked, tilting her head.
Leading her down the hallway toward the far wing of the house. – “I have an artificial hot spring!”
“You’re serious?” – She pressed, her voice rising with disbelief. – “You’ve had a hot spring this entire time, and you didn’t think to mention it until now?”
“Well.” – I said with a shrug. – “It didn’t seem important before. Besides, you were so excited about the regular showers, I figured I’d save the best when you really needed it.”
Her mouth opened and closed a few times before she managed to form a response – “You’re unbelievable, Shikimi.” – She muttered, though her tone was more exasperated than angry. – “A hot spring. In your house. I don’t know whether to hate or hug you right now.”
“Here we are.”
I pushed the door open to reveal a space that seemed to belong in a luxury resort rather than the middle of a mansion in the Black Forest. The room was warm and inviting, steam rising from a wide, stone-lined pool of crystal-clear water. Soft lighting illuminated the area, highlighting the natural-looking rock formations that framed the pool. A faint scent of minerals hung in the air, adding to the ambiance.
Nanfaz stepped inside, her eyes as wide as saucers as she took it all in. – “This… this is incredible,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. – “You’re telling me this was here the whole time?”
“Yep.” – I said, leaning casually against the doorframe. – “Welcome to the artificial hot spring. Built by my father, of course. He thought this was more important to build than automated guns or surveillance systems.”
She turned to me, a mix of awe and disbelief on her face. – “I don’t even know what to say. This is… a dream. How do you have something like this?”
“Simple.” - I said, smirking. “I live in a house designed by a genius with too much time on his hands. Now, are you going to stand there gawking all night, or are you going to get in?!”
Nanfaz opened her mouth to reply, but before she could get a word out, I gave her a playful shove.
“Shikimi—!” – She yelped, stumbling forward.
Her foot caught the edge of the stone pool, and with a loud splash, she tumbled into the water. For a moment, the surface erupted with bubbles and ripples before she emerged, sputtering and flailing.
“You witch! Foreigner! Outsider!” – She huffed, swiping her wet hair out of her eyes. – “The clothes you lent me are all wet now!”
“And yet, there you are, enjoying my hot spring.” – I teased, crouching down by the edge.
She paused, her glare softening slightly as the warmth of the pool began to seep into her muscles. Slowly, her expression shifted from annoyance to mischievousness, and I recognized that look immediately.
She lunged forward, her hand darting toward my leg, but I sidestepped easily, smirking at her failed attempt. – “Nice try.” – I teased, stepping just out of her reach.
“Oh, you’re asking for it.” – She muttered, her grin widening as she began splashing water toward me with both hands. I calmly retreated further back from the edge, watching as the waves barely reached my feet. – “You’re going to try harder than that.” – I said, crossing my arms and arching an eyebrow.
Her splashes slowed, and she narrowed her eyes, clearly not giving up. After a moment, she huffed and began to pout. I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or brace myself, but then she began pulling her ribbons from her hair, shaking her head as her dark locks tumbled free.
“I’m sorry for pushing you…” – I said, my tone wary.
She smirked and tossed the first ribbon at me. I dodged it easily, but she was already throwing the second one. It whizzed past my head, grazing my shoulder.
“Seriously?” – Backing up even more.
“Seriously!” – She proclaimed.
She hurled the shoe with surprising accuracy, and I barely had time to duck before it sailed past me. Her grin turning wicked as she flung the second shoe. This time it hit its mark, smacking me squarely in the chest.
Before I could respond, she grabbed her socks and lobbed them at me, one after the other. I tried to dodge, but her aim was better than I’d given her credit for, and they both landed with annoying precision on my shoulders. The following moments where a game of hit the Elewp, where the more wet clothing she hit, the more points Nanfaz made.
“That’s it!” - I muttered, taking a step closer to the entrance.
But before I could leave, she threw something else. This time, it hit me directly in the face, obscuring my vision entirely.
“What the—?!” – I yanked the garment away, only to freeze as I realized what it was.
“W-W-W-What is this?!” – I stammered, as I held her underwear in my hands, my face heating up so fast I thought it might combust. – “Y-Y-You p-p-pervert!”
Before I could even process what was happening, she lunged out of the pool and grabbed my leg with both hands. – “Got you!” – Her full bodyweight yanked me off balance, and with a startled yelp, I toppled forward, plunging straight into the water.
The hot spring erupted in a massive splash, and when I surfaced, coughing and sputtering, Nanfaz was practically doubled over with laughter.
“Y-You!” – I sputtered, wiping water from my face as my soaked clothes clung to me uncomfortably. My hair was plastered to my forehead, and my shirt hung heavy against my skin, making the whole situation even worse.
Nanfaz, of course, was absolutely delighted. She leaned against the edge of the pool, her arms crossed and a victorious smirk plastered across her face. – “You know, Elewp, there’s a little thing in this world called justice. And right now, the hammer of it has spoken — it decided you needed to be soaked too.”
I shot her a glare, though my flushed face probably ruined any intimidating effect I might have hoped for. – “Justice, huh? I think it is exactly what vengeance looks like.”
She tilted her head, pretending to consider. – “Hmm… Either way, it’s fair.”
I averted my gaze. My eyes darting to the side, trying my hardest not to look directly at her. The sight of her carefree grin, her black hair clinging to her shoulders and chest, and her general air of smugness was too much to bear right now.
Unfortunately, she noticed.
“Oh, I almost forgot.” – She said, pointing at herself and then back at me, her smirk widening into something downright devious. – “It seems justice has decreed something else. This isn’t fair.”
“What do you mean, not fair?” – I asked cautiously, my instincts already on high alert.
Before I could even process what was happening, she launched herself at me with an unrestrained laugh.
“Wait—!”
It was too late. She collided with me like a cannonball, sending another wave of water crashing over the edges of the pool. The force of it knocked me off balance again, and before I knew it, I felt a sharp tug as her hands grabbed at my soaked clothing.
“W-What are you doing?!” – I yelped, struggling to keep my footing as she wrestled with me in the water.
“Oh, nothing.” – She said, her voice sweet and infuriatingly calm. – “Just restoring balance to the universe.”
“Balance—?!” – My question was cut off as she yanked at my shirt, and with one decisive tug, it came flying off and landed with a wet splat on the edge of the pool.
“Stop it, now!” – I shouted, trying to grab her hands, but she was far too quick — and clearly enjoying herself far too much.
“Not a chance!” – She said, laughing as she pulled at my soaked skirt and underwear next. With another swift motion, they joined my shirt on the pool’s edge, leaving me floundering in the water in nothing.
“Nanfaz, you maniac!” – I yelled, my face burning hotter than the water around me.
“Oh, come on, that is literally impossible now!” – She said, floating backward with a victorious grin. The water rippled around her as she spread her arms wide in triumph. – “We need to be equally embarrassed. That’s just how this works.”
I glared at her, my face still burning as I tried to keep myself as submerged as possible. – “This isn’t justice; it’s chaos!”
She just laughed, her grin like the cheshire cat. But as I looked back at her, something changed. Her expression faltered for just a moment, and then I noticed it — her face was flushed a deep crimson.
No, not just her face.
Her entire body, from her neck down to her shoulders and even her hands, was glowing with embarrassment. The victorious air she’d carried seconds ago was replaced, and her gaze darted away from me.
“Nanfaz?” – I said cautiously, narrowing my eyes. – “You okay over there? You look like you’re about to overheat.”
“I-I’m fine! – She stammered, her voice cracking slightly as she tried to maintain her composure. – “Totally fine! This is just… the hot water! Yeah, that’s it! The hot spring’s really warm, you know?”
“Uh-huh.” – I said, raising an eyebrow. – “You didn’t look this red when you were splashing me earlier.”
She flinched, shrinking slightly into the water. – “W-Well, maybe I got carried away! Now that the adrenaline quieted down… I mean , it’s not like I…”
Her words trailed off, and she buried half her face in the water, leaving only her wide, panicked eyes visible above the rippling surface. The sight of her, usually so defiant and sharp-tongued, reduced to a flustered mess, was almost enough to make me forget my own embarrassment. Almost.
I watched her for a moment, a sly thought forming in my mind. Without warning, I moved closer, the water shifting with my steps.
“And now,” I said softly, my voice just loud enough to reach her ears, “are you hearing any howls?”
Before she could process the question or react, I slipped my arms around her shoulders from behind, pulling her into a light embrace. The steam swirled around us, softening the edges of the room and making everything feel hazy, almost dreamlike. Her skin was warm against mine, the heat from the water adding to the flush already coloring her face.
“Do you hear anything? Any howls, any whispers? Or is it just you and me?”
Her breathing steadied, and she seemed to relax, if only a little. – “No.” – she admitted reluctantly, her voice barely above a whisper. – “Just us.”
For a moment, the only sound was the soft ripple of water around us, the haze of steam curling gently in the air. I glanced down at her, her tense shoulders finally loosening, and a thought crossed my mind.
“Do you know why human beings cry?” I asked softly, my voice barely breaking the tranquil silence.
She tilted her head slightly, glancing back at me with a mix of curiosity and wariness. – “To express sadness?” – She guessed.
“They show that reality is in your hands.”
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However, long after the two girls left the living room, one of the screens flickered.
A figure stepped cautiously into view on the edge of the forest clearing where one of the bait setups lay. The movement was subtle at first, barely noticeable, but then the tip of a man’s foot came into full view, captured by the camera’s lens.
The figure lingered just outside the range of the bait, unmoving. His silhouette was shrouded in the dim, shadowy light of the Black Forest. His gaze — or what seemed to be his gaze — fixed on the pile of meat left as bait.
Though the cameras couldn’t capture his voice, he began talking to himself.
“Meat taken from earthen animals… Is this supposed to be a trap?” – His head tilted slightly, an air of curiosity in his posture. – “But there is no mechanism here. No trigger, no response to proximity. What is the demon planning with this? No matter how I think about this, it doesn’t make sense.”
The screen flickered once, then twice, before returning to its usual, uneventful display of the forest clearing, leaving behind no traces of the man.
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