Chapter-Three: Water Under the Bridge

The frantic pounding of my heart grows ever so violently against my chest. I can feel the frigid warmth of their body heat ricocheting through me; like an ironic joke compared to the ice-cold shiver consuming my entire body.

I can’t move, I can’t think, and I can’t breathe. Like I'm stuck, paralyzed from the head down. Could it be the wolf shifter from 7 years ago? Is this really my last day? But even if so, I decide I will not go down without a fight.

Thinking fast, I drop the other bags, keeping the largest one in my grasp, and then twist my body around and thrust it directly at the perpetrator, hitting them repeatedly in the head and torso. I show no mercy.

A low and stifled grunt omits from their lips, as they lift their arm to shield himself from my assault. 

“Wait!” says a deep, tenor voice. I clutch the bag in my hand to retreat it from causing any further damage. 

It’s hard to see much of his face since he has it covered with his arm, but I can see a glimpse of a bundle of strawberry blond hair.

"Are you done hitting me now?" he says with heavy breaths, clawing their way behind every syllable he utter out.

Still on alert, I backed up further to the vehicle to keep my distance from him, which gives me a better glimpse of how he looks.

Slowly, he lowers his arm from his face and raises his hands in the air in surrender.

My shoulders loosen a bit, but I don’t plan to let my guard down anytime soon.

The stranger looks somewhat around my age with brown eyes, a nice chiseled jawline, and strawberry medium length hair — as I observed before — parting from the middle and ending halfway down his ears. 

I examine his lean, semi-muscular triceps peek through his beige polo shirt tightly tucked underneath his knee-length trousers, and a pinned on name tag labeled “Caleb Johansson'' printed in black lettering. 

Judging by his attire, he looks like a typical employee. 

So he works here?

I remain still and silent, and my chest heaves with shaky breaths, still trembling from the fear.

It is then a lighthearted smile pulls on his lips. Then, out of the distant blue, he chuckles menacingly before lowering his arms.

“Your aim is hella powerful for a small girl,” he says, full of mockery seething from the deep, vivid hues of his tongue. For a little girl? What is that supposed to mean?

As if he can see the confusion etched upon my face, his insolent laughter only intensifies.

I scoff as I shove the bag down into the dirt.

“You think this is funny?” I ask him, feeling heat seething from my bones.

Instead of showing a pinch of guilt in his eyes, He proceeds in his own fit of laughter, completely brushing off my question. 

Honestly, I thought that was the end. I was afraid that finally, the treacherous four legged monster from seven years ago returned to finish me off, all because a lousy creep decided to sneak up on me. Yet he dares laugh?

I stare at him with wide eyes in disbelief. And with a bitter taste on my tongue, I bend over and grab the bags I previously dropped and hurl them over my shoulder. 

Then, with livid strides, I march straight in the direction of the house. Passing him as his laughter subsides.

“Hey!’ he shouts from behind me. I don't care that he's calling out to me, and I keep walking. Too upset to say anything back, let alone look at his face.

“Look, I’m sorry alright?” he says, and to my surprise, he sounds genuinely sincere. 

I pause halfway through myself and listen.

"I wanted to give you a little scare, as a lighthearted joke. But I didn't intend to upset you in any way. And for that, I sincerely apologize."

I knead my fingers into my palm. Pulling at my bottom lip, I'm contemplating whether I should trust that he's being genuine right now, or is it just a facade?

But when I decide to turn around, a furrowed brow, apologetic look on his face gives me all the answers I need.

An awkward silence lingers. The boy raises his raises his arm, then awkwardly rubs the back of his neck.

“I was actually just stopping to check in with your aunt for the day. But then I saw you struggling with your luggage there," he points to bags and the suitcase I dropped, “And wanted to offer you some help."

Was I struggling with the bags? I ask myself. But all the possible explanations fail to come to mind.

The more I think about it, he must be that guy Aunt Jennie was talking about earlier, and was probably trying to help in order to stay on her good side. 

“So you're the one who teaches yoga on weekends?"

"Wow. It's nice to hear that Mrs. Henderson has spoken about me."

Oh… I see.

 “Well, I'm sorry about hitting you.” I say, almost as quiet as a mouse. 

The boy in front of me chuckles.

“It's okay. Don't worry about it.”

I'm not convinced.

"Are you hurt?” I ask him. 

"I'm fine, really,” he says, trying to reassure me, but I don’t buy it. I know that he's saying this to be polite, and it doesn’t make me feel any better. 

He looks at the bags in my hands and steps forward.

"Here, let me take those for you."

“No, It’s fine. You don’t have to.” I say. I would feel like a complete jerk if I ask him for favors, especially after what I did to him. 

“I suppose you’re right," he says with a smug smile. "But really, I insist. Besides, it's kinda my job. Remember?"

I let out a small chuckle.

Judging by how persistent he is, I can't think of anything to say that would change his mind, so I give in.

I give him a nod, prompting his charming grin yet again. He walks behind me and easily lifts the bag strap over his shoulder. 

“So you must be Mrs. Henderson’s niece. Lilith, right?” he asks while seizing the rest of the bags, leaving me with the large duffle bag I almost killed him with. 

“Y-Yeah, I am.” I stutter. 

Way to go, Lilith.  

 "Well, It's nice to finally meet you!” He extends his hand for me to take.

“My name's Caleb, by the way." 

"Yeah, I kinda figured." I point to his nametag. His lips form an O shape, then he slowly nods in understanding..

“Mrs. Henderson mentioned you stayed here a few summers back.”

“She did?” I raise an eyebrow. 

So she talks about me? 

“Uh, y-yeah. Seven years ago when I was 10.”

‘’Yeah, I  kinda figured.” he says, eyes twinkling as the sunset blinds his face.  

She told him that also? I wonder what other information she spilled about me that I'm not aware of.

In all honesty, this is the first time I’ve had this long of a conversation with a guy around my age, not even the ones from my high school.

Jeez, It's been an hour and I’m already doing things I wouldn’t typically do.

This place is going to be the death of me. 

“My mom is going away this summer as a travel nurse,” I explain. 

“I think what your mom's doing is pretty sick, ” Caleb smiles. My heart melts to pudding when he flashes his pearly white teeth and dimples. 

“Yeah,” I sheepishly grin, “She is pretty cool.” 

Despite the fact the Caleb almost frightened me to death, so far he seems like a really nice guy.

I look into his eyes again, without faltering. 

“Again, I’m sorry about hitting you just now. I honestly don’t know what came over me.”

“Nah, you’re good.” he says.

“If anyone should apologize, it should be me. I shouldn’t have snuck up on you like that.” I begin to say a rebuttal before he cuts me off. 

“And before you say anything, let’s just call it water under the bridge. Copy that?” 

Slowly I open my mouth, but choose to nod as a response instead.

Side by side, we walk to the house, remaining completely silent until we reach the steps. Kaleb then walks up a few steps before me and extends his hand.

“Here, let me take that for you," he says, referring to the duffle bag in my hand. Reluctantly, I hand it over to him. 

"I-I can carry that myself, you know," I say. I watch as a subtle smirk pulls at his lips. 

"Yeah, I know." he winks at me then turns around and heads up the steps.  I raise an eye-brow to fight back a smile and follow shortly behind him.

As Kaleb heads inside before me, I pause halfway through the door frame to take a quick glance over my shoulder. I look at the forest once more, still feeling this eerie presence lingering around me. Like something is out there just watching me from afar. I stare for a bit more, but see nothing.

Strange.  

 ~     

It's currently 12 A.M.

Mom and Aunt Jennie are sleeping soundly in their beds, but here I am. Awake with my vigorous thoughts since cannot fall asleep for the death of me.

I lie in bed, staring out my opened window a couple feet away from my bed, where the forest sways and moans against the warm breeze.

The overtly peace is heavenly. If only my thoughts were as well.

The more I think about it, this might be the last time my mom, aunt, and I will be together as a family, for a while at least.

I frown just at the thought of not seeing mom for three months straight. I'm really going to miss her.  

A few minutes more of lingering thoughts. I try snuggling deeper into my sheets. However, the pair of silk white shorts and tank top that adorn my body feel like metal against my skin, my bed and pillows feel like I'm going to melt through them, and the quietness of the night repeats in my ears like a broken record. 

I think about all the possibilities that await me here. How will my life here become over the next few months? Will I change as a person, or remain the same as I've always been. 

Or will finally, my daunting past come back to haunt me?

However, I know one thing is for sure. No matter what happens, good or bad, I can't allow things to spiral out of control, as it did before, especially my emotions. 

I always let them get the best of me, which I allowed to happen a lot today. Just lie low Lilith. Just for three months, and then you're out of here.

And as the night goes on, I sink deeper and deeper into a warm embrace, then sleep finally holds me in its arms.