Part 6

Grisella POV

"Did you have fun while I was away?" asked Dennis to visit my house. As usual, I sat on the balcony of the backyard. The pine forest that looks cool managed to hypnotize me.

"Hey," I said, smiling.

"Where is Maria?" asked Dennis sitting beside me

"Make apple juice for me. You've come back from your mother's place? "I asked

"How do you know I visited my mother?"

"Who else. Of course, maria, "I replied.

"Okay. I also heard from Maria you have fun without me, "Dennis said to me.

"As expected, but I'm not having fun. To be more precise, I caused trouble. A massive problem for my family and me, "I replied wistfully.

"So you're a bad girl, huh?" sneered Dennis. Suddenly made me laugh, embarrassed at his words.

"Hey, you just came?" Maria asked, putting my apple juice on the table

"Yeah, I just came," replied Dennis

"Oh, I only made two juices. Okay, this is for Grisella and you. I will make it for me too, "said Maria and left.

My eyes are not tired of staring at the forest. If at first, I was just amazed to see the scenery that looks cool. But this time I'm curious about the inhabitants who live in the forest.

"Dennis"

"Yeah?" answered Denis

"I think I met one of the inhabitants in the forest."

"What? Who? Do you mean that wolf? "

"Yeah. But you know what? The wolf has a huge size and has sharp red eyes." I told him what I saw with enthusiasm

"Didn't you see wrong? It sounded like no ordinary wolf.

"Yeah, you think like that too?"

"You could see wrong. You really know that your mind is chaotic at that time".

"I have no idea. But my heart is very sure that I didn't see it wrong."

"Never mind, I know this might sound awkward. But why do you have to be like that."

"Like what?"

"Torturing yourself just because of someone else. Other people who don't even care about you anymore."

"I do not know. I dissolved in my disappointment. I'm very aware that I'm stupid. that's the stupidest thing I did. But my heart is empty, Dennis. I'm not like myself."

"It's because of your habit. You're used to being with him all this time. You do anything for him. Whether it's hard or happy, you are always there for him. Your heart cannot stand for the betrayal he committed. But why don't you feel relieved? "

"Relieved for what?" I asked in surprise

"You should be relieved to be separated from a man like him. The man who turns out to only like you when you have everything and dumps you when you have nothing else. He's a bastard, you know? "

"Yeah, I know," I lowered my head.

"Just slowly. Don't force yourself to forget everything today. Just do it in stages, even if it takes months or even years. No one knows, during the process, you try to forget that man, there will be a new light that comes to greet your life, "said Dennis, smiling sweetly at me. I let out a sigh of relief. Agree with Dennis's words

*******

The days I've been through are always the same. Maria and Dennis often accompany me. Maybe they didn't want me to be overcome by disappointment anymore and end up hanging myself. But that afternoon, the wind blew coolly. The sky was already orange because of the coming dusk.

Honestly, I can't hold myself back. I want to go into that forest. I wanted to take a closer look at the creature that was standing stiffly, looking at me.

"Margaret, I beg you, believe me, I'll be fine. I promise, "I persuaded Margaret to allow me to enter the pine forest.

"No, what if something happened to you ?. Soon the night will come. If you insist, you must be accompanied by Maria."

"No need. I can be alone."

"Are you that curious about them?" asked Maria.

"I do not know. I will see if I make sure there by myself, "I replied

"Mom, just let it be. I will follow her later, "said Maria.

"I beg you" once again, I begged. In the end, Margaret sighed, succumbing to me. She nodded, but her face seemed to be complaining.

As per my intention, I also stood at the edge of the forest. My eyes searched in various directions. The creature that I saw did not exist. Without waiting for the night to come, I stepped my feet into the forest.

Several wooden branches sounded when I accidentally stepped on the twig. The sound of birds singing welcomed the twilight was heard, likewise, with other animal sounds. The cool breeze touches my skin. The leaves of the trees danced in the wind. Creates a distinctly boisterous sound

"Is there someone here?" I started screaming. The echo of my voice just escaped. My feet continue to step deeper into the forest. Step by step feels light to me.

"I know there is someone here. I'm sure it is, "I shouted again. I should have been scared, but all I had in mind was that this creature was harmless. I mean even that being has watched me beg with my tears, for it to kill me, then why didn't it?

KRAAKKKK,,,,,

The sound of a wooden branch being stepped on. I stopped walking, froze, and looked in various directions.

"who is that?" I asked. I hurriedly turned on my cellphone flashlight. It was getting dark.

"Maria? Is that you?" I said again. Suddenly the forest fell silent—no more sound of nocturnal animals. The birds stopped loudly. My body reacted, telling me that I was being watched by something.

The next second, a growl came. A growl that I have also heard before.

"I know this voice. I know there's something in here. Come out, whoever it is, "I said firmly. The growling sound sounded closer. I turned around to confirm the situation around me. My eyes stared intently in various directions until my eyes froze at the figure in front of my eyes right now.

*****

"No," I shouted and fell to the seat. Suddenly a figure that was initially just a black shadow jumped at me with a loud growl. My breath rushes to receive the fear running through my body right now.

"Wolf?" I said. The crescent moon hung beautifully above the sky, but the light made it into the forest. Without my cellphone flashlight, the wolf in front of me is visible. The distance between us is narrow.

Its fur moved in the wind that blew, its body size was huge than a wolf in general, the mane on its head glittered and grew thickly. Eyes red like blood stared at me sharply. It grinned against its sharp fangs, shiny like a knife. The wolf's toenails stuck quite closely in the ground and left footprints there.

"I'm sorry," I said haltingly. The wolf seemed disturbed by my presence. Once again, it growled, signaling at me, as if it answered my words.

"I have no bad intentions. Really. I, I just, "I said haltingly.

"Just what?" Said the wolf, gray smoke gathered around her, accompanied by the wind that blew, and the wolf turned into a woman with exotic black skin. Her hair was knee-length black, and her irises were still red. Her height is almost the same as me with a slim body, which looks ideal.

"Oh my God," I shouted, rising from my seat. I cringed and rubbed my eyes roughly. Again I looked in different directions. The wolf was nowhere to be seen; wait a minute, is this woman the wolf earlier.

"You are a brave enough witch," repeated the woman.

"Are you human?" I asked, still confused

"I am not that mortal."

"But I saw a wolf here. You saw it too, didn't you? "

"Don't pretend you don't understand this situation. Damn witch", snapped the woman unkindly.

"What are you talking about? What witch? Who? "I said, turning my body. See, maybe there are other people around me. But it's just this woman and me now.

"Oh, you're good at playing dramas, you've been wrong to enter this forest."

"Did you turn into a human from the wolf figure earlier? Are you a werewolf? "I said doubtfully. I'm not even sure this is the real world.

"Stop playing witch bitch" snapped the woman again

"I don't understand who you call a witch. Do you accuse me? "I asked

"I saw how you struggled against your strength until your skin burned."

"What?" I replied irritably, "that's not power, by the way. That, that"

"You big liar," the woman jumped at me, her body turned back into the wolf earlier and crushed me with her big legs.

"Awwww," I screamed when his feet stepped on my arms. The wolf howled, a very long howl.

"Hey? You hurt me, "I shouted. I must be crazy talking to this weird animal by now.

"Enough, Nessa, you can kill her," shouted someone who came from nowhere. The wolf stopped howling even though its feet were still on top of me. I turned my gaze back, trying to see who was talking. Maria is already standing there.

"You should be friendly to people you just met," repeated Maria. Hearing that, the wolf that was pressing on me again turned into a beautiful woman earlier. She walked backward away from me. Maria walked over to me and helped me to my feet.

"You dare to interfere in my business, huh," snapped the woman.

"Nessa, do you want to kill her for no apparent reason?" answered maria

"She's a witch who deserves to die."

"Why do you accuse her just because you saw her at that time."

"Shut up. You dare to bother me, huh?" snapped the woman I knew named Nessa.

"Hey, calm down. What is this? Am I the only one who doesn't understand this situation?" I said, standing in the middle between Maria and Nessa

"You're a witch bitch," said Nessa

"That's not true," Maria replied

"You provoked me, huh?" Shouted Nessa more firmly, again gray smoke gathered around her, the wind was already blowing her way

"That's enough, Nessa," said a deep, hoarse voice. Nessa paused and glared at us. The wind and smoke disappeared. I looked for the source of the sound but found no one. It's just me, Nessa and Maria.

"I can't possibly let her go," said Nessa

"Do you understand what I said?" said the man's voice again.

"Where is he? Who is he? "I asked, seeing Maria. As with Nessa, Maria was also silent and looked at Nessa sharply. They exchanged glances, ignoring me standing in the middle of them. They were busy glancing in various directions looking for a man who sounded out of nowhere.

"Don't try to protect this witch," Nessa snapped.

"Nessa, you misjudged her," answered Maria.

"She killed your sister," repeated Nessa. I don't understand whose sister Nessa means

"Just stop. Go back to the clan now," said the man. Nessa sighed in annoyance. Slowly she stepped back, like the wind, she quickly ran into the darkness of the forest and disappeared.

"Let's go home," said Maria pulling my shirt.

There was almost no conversation between Maria and me, even when we got home. Maria sat on the sofa in my room, leaning her back against the back of the couch while closing her eyes. While I sat staring at the view of the forest from behind my bedroom window. Maria's presence in the woods made me realize that what I was experiencing at that time was not a dream.

"I beg you, answer me. You didn't answer my question earlier," I complained. Maria is still silent, even though I know she doesn't sleep at all on the sofa.

"You talk to them, I mean the creature, oh no, I mean the werewolf. How can? I'm pretty sure that girl with red eyes, she's the one who always looks at me, right? But where did that man's voice come from? Is he a werewolf too? Oh god, maria, I can go crazy through tonight "I hit my forehead.

"It's better for you not to enter that forest again. If I didn't come on time, Nessa would have killed you." Maria started talking to me

"Why? What for? What did I do wrong?"

"She calls you a witch. Indeed, that's its nature."

"You speak as if you know her well. Are you friends with her? That woman named Nessa."

"what do you want from me? Acting that we don't see anything in there? Or it's better to be quiet and think it's just a dream," asked Maria

"What? You have to answer my question first. don't even ask me back."

"Grisella, why do you want to stay here?" asked Maria suddenly.

"I do not know. I just want".

"If you are excited talking about them that you see in the forest. Your parents will take you away. Do you want to move to the city where your ex is engaged to your enemy?

"not. I don't want to "I shook my head roughly.

"So, never mind. They won't interfere while we don't cause any trouble for them. Yeah, they are real. Have you seen one of the werewolves in the forest? There are many more like Nessa. I don't understand why she accuses you of being a witch. But I think it's too fast for you to know everything. Go to sleep, and I want to sleep here, "said Maria. She changed her position lying on the sofa.

"HUHHH OKAY," I complained irritably. I grabbed a blanket in the wardrobe and threw it at Maria. I also tossed my body onto the bed; my eyes were still staring at the view of the forest outside.

"Maria, don't ever close the curtains on my bedroom window even though I'm asleep," I asked. Whoever is in the forest there, somehow, I want them to see where I am, and maybe now I also see them behind the woods' darkness.