The Human Mate

CHAPTER ONE -- Red Eyes

Raven Lynn Stone

The blowing winds could make the trees bow down at its inhuman rage, it almost felt like it was whispering something really disturbing. If I’m not sane, I might say that the winds are warning me, crying for my nearing end. The winds blew again so hard when I didn’t respond to them.

The raging winds have stopped but it was still freezing. I tried to open my almost narrowed eyes and was astounded upon seeing an enormous, muddy field with trees. There are twigs and dried leaves everywhere and you can't hear anything but dead silence.

I'm in this familiar place again, the eerie pitch-black woods is giving me the chills that I don't like to feel most especially when I'm alone, the tall haunted-looking trees didn’t even help to ease what I am feeling at the moment because they were like towering over my personal space, to add it up, there are numbers of blue intense eyes of something inhuman from around me, those eyes weren't exactly looking at me but it looks like their eyes wanted to end something. 

Something tells me that those inhuman eyes aren’t really good news, but then they disappeared.

I tried to glance on each other sides to where I currently am, from there I have realized that I was in the middle of something important, I think? There are people in weird hunting clothes and werewolves? Their body figures are visible but I can’t quite see their faces clearly.

I was feeling something rough and heavy on my pale white hands and was startled upon seeing a weird gun over there, I don’t even know how to use guns, yet here I am, holding it like my life depends on it. What is happening? Is there something wrong?

Is my life currently in danger?

I suddenly heard loud cries and screams of people and animals almost near me, it was terrifying to hear because I can tell from their screams that they were badly hurt or in very serious pain.

I decided to face on my back and screamed hysterically after witnessing numerous bloody, murdered bodies of humans and werewolves.

“Raven.. run!”

“Raven—“

“Rave?”

"Rave? Rave? Wake up darling, we're almost there," I heard my mom called me from a deep slumber after shaking my shoulders violently. I almost wanted to thank her for waking me up from my weird disturbing nightmare, it’s the second time that dream occurred to me. Is it still normal? I shrugged, my imagination was probably still flying around somewhere because I was starting to read E-books again.

I groaned and lazily tried to open my eyes and saw an old billboard on the sideway of the road telling us that "Welcome to Westville".

I gasped we're almost there! I immediately sit up straight on the passenger seat and observed everything that I see on the road before reaching our dad's house that is near the mountains.

Different kinds of sturdy oak and pine trees are to be seen everywhere, bushes, plants, flowers, small concrete townhouses, and some adorable children playing outside... I sighed in contentment, this is what people should have in their lives. Living with nature. I was enjoying every second of my sight-seeing in our moving surroundings until my mom called my attention again.

"Brace yourself, darling, this is one hell of a bumpy ride!" My mom warned me energetically as she drive upwards the mountain road and she was right, the roads here weren't exactly polished well yet, there were lots of bumps because of the uneven parts of the road. Unlike in the big cities, all of the streets or highways there were perfectly cemented but it was bearable since my butt feels so numb after sitting for hours.

My mom and I were moving into a town that has a few populations, it's not near the big cities and it is what I always wanted.

I was really overjoyed, not regretting leaving everything behind on our little apartment back there to where we are staying before because my mom and dad decided not to continue signing their divorce papers, with dad promising us a better life, he wanted us to move into this town to live with him again, they both agreed that we could be happier together as a family again inside this town.

It's not like I didn't have friends for me not to regret it, I have actually made lots of friend in the big city but it didn't bother me that much because everyone bid their goodbyes to me happily, they told me that it was the best decision for me and my parents.

They even throw a party before I leave for good like I'm going to get married and lose my virginity forever, such crazy people.

I slightly chuckled remembering their smug and sad faces when they were telling their drunk stories, it was hilarious for my part since I was the only one who wasn't drunk there because I'm not allowed to drink yet. I sighed, I'm really going to miss them. Texts, calls, or even video calls on Messenger won't allow me to hug or hang out with them.

"When will I enroll mom? And what's the name of the University that I'm going to attend again?" I asked her, our vacation was almost over since it's already August here, my mom wanted me to finish my last semester before leaving the city for good and we did, I will continue studying my 4th year for the course of Biology here in Westville.

"Your dad was the one preparing your papers for that school darling, you're already enrolled there so don't worry about it and I think I remembered him calling it Westville University," My mom said who looks still unsure, so I just shrugged. I'll just ask dad later plus whatever school is fine anyways as long as I will finish my studies. It's the only treasure I can give to my parents so I'm very eager to reach it.

I looked on the other side of our car, if my eyes could pop out like heart shapes it's probably doing it now. Watching the sunsets was always so overwhelming for me and starting today, I would always witness how the sun will set and rise.

My mom continued driving roughly until we have reached a two-story house, the design of the house were so neat and peaceful for my eyes since its colors were the same as the nature around us, it blends well perfectly everywhere, on the front before reaching the front door is an enormous garden filled with beautiful flowers and plants that looks extremely familiar. After my mom pushed the horn of our car, a man immediately went out of the house to welcome us.

"What's up, beautiful ladies!" My dad called us from the outside, mom, and I laughed at his energetic approach, you can tell that he's so happy finally seeing us here.

He let mom parked in the garage and helped us with our things. My mom kissed dad on his cheeks and my dad did the same to her, seeing them like this made me so happy, who wouldn't be in this situation right? My dad suddenly eyed me, noticing that I was watching them intently, and playfully smirked.

"Aww, there she is! There's my blue-eyed girl! Hug your dad will you?" My dad said, trying to annoy me with his sing-song voice. I playfully rolled my eyes on him and crossed my arms.

"Stop it Dad, Come on! I'm not a kid anymore," I said and both he and mom just laughed. I shrugged and went over there to hug him, he just patted my head. My eyes suddenly became misty after feeling his warmth. Oh boy, I didn't realize that I have missed my dad so much. It's been a year since we last saw him. I hate being so emotional when it comes to my family.

"So where's my room dad? I will start to unpack my things right now," I said, secretly wiping my tears away while breaking my hug to him.

"Darling, don't you want to rest first?" My mom said while she's on her way towards the kitchen to cook some food maybe? Since it's already six in the evening here.

"Please my butt feels so numb after sitting for hours, I don't want to sit or lay down again," I said and my dad just laughed at me again.

"You have raised a perfect daughter sweetheart! She's not lazy!" My dad tried to shout sweetly at mom, who's currently on the kitchen island so she can hear him.

"What? Who's not lazy you say?" Then they both laughed like lunatics that has escaped a mental hospital, I just groaned.

"Your room upstairs is on the right, farthest corner, and your door has your name on it," My dad said, smiling at me.

I immediately picked up my things and started running upstairs, I turned right and ran towards our hall, the house is just two-story but you can tell that it's really wide because of the spacious surroundings.

I have finally reached the farthest corner of our hall, facing a door on my right that has a wooden bar hanging on the top that has my name on it. I smiled and opened the door, I was astounded by what my eyes have witnessed. 

My room was a bit luxurious, there's a cute queen-sized bed with lavender and cream sheets even my pillows and plushies, I also have a lavender study table on the side and it's filled with night lamps and spaces that I will fill in with my stuff later, on the center after my bed was a two-way oak door towards a small terrace, a perfect spot to where I can watch how will the sun sets or rise, my satin curtains and cabinets were also a combination of lavender and cream.

I almost screamed from admiration upon seeing my fluorescent light from the ceiling, it’s a crescent moon shape light! It’s so cute and classy!

My room is so far from the word-perfect now, dad knows how to make me feel happy and comfortable. Without wasting any more time, I started to unpack my things and placed them to where they should be. I haven't finished unpacking the rest of my stuff yet when my mom called me downstairs for dinner, so I have no other choice but to continue my unpacking later.

Our dining was filled with laughs and stories, I, on the other hand, was busy watching my family grow back together again. This is the real home that I have always wanted and I never want to lose sight of these again. Everything is so perfect now, what could happen?

"So Rave sweetheart, your school will start on Monday okay?" My dad said calling my attention while handing me my map, handbook, schedules, notebooks, and ballpoint pens with a cute lavender bag. That's two days away from now since it's Saturday.

"Dad! Are you even allowed to get this by yourself?" I called him out, starting to get a bit upset because I can register myself over there.

"Ah don't be upset, we don't want to have you losing some slots, do we? Plus my statements to get it were reasonable, I told them you're moving in here from a big city so they allowed me to finish everything you must need to do, Your old man doesn't want you to be stressed on your first day" Dad said while drinking his orange juice, so I just sighed. I was touched that he was just thinking about me so that's why he did all those things by himself. My sweet, caring father.

"Fine, thank you dad and you know what my favorite color is huh? Thank you for my room, by the way, I loved it" I said while feeling the corners of my lips lift for a genuine smile.

He just shrugged "Nah that's nothing, Anything that makes you happy will make me feel that twice besides I will do anything for you sweetheart! By the way, your mom and I will be going out tonight to celebrate so the house will be in your care!" my dad said, I was about to get touched again by his words when I saw him giddily trying to reach my mom's face to kiss it. Ew!

"Fine, fine just go, and please don't be too gross most especially when I'm around understood?" I playfully warned them and they didn't care because they're too busy being so lovey-dovey with each other. Geez, these adults don’t even know how to find some freaking privacy.

"That's it, you guys will be cleaning the dishes," I said and ran upstairs, preventing to let my eyes witness some adults who're almost close to making out. I heard mom shouted 'sure' sweetly, I just rolled my eyes and immediately went up to my room to finish the rest of my unpacking.

"Ahh! It's finally over!" I shouted while letting my body fall on my bouncy bed after unpacking all of my things for hours. I glanced at our wall clock on the top right corner of my room, it's already nine o'clock in the evening, my mom and dad left a while ago so I have the house all by myself for tonight.

A smirk was forming on my lips as I went downstairs to get some snacks. I'm planning to watch Money Heist on Netflix, it was recommended by my friends in the big city. After grabbing some snacks from the fridge, I immediately went up to my room, jumped on my bed, and opened my laptop to watch some series and movies.

Hours have passed by and it’s already midnight, I have decided to let my blue eyes rest for the day. I lazily pushed the off button of my lampshade beside me and tried to close my eyes, but it doesn't want to sleep yet. I stared up at my almost transparent windows and decided to go out for a bit just to watch the moon and stars until I feel sleepy.

I opened the two-way door and let my elbows relax on the edge of the wooden bars around the terrace. I sighed in contentment when I felt the cold breeze blew like it's trying to hug my whole body. It was freezing, but it was bearable since the view from above was breathtaking. The moon is full and the stars shine so brightly like it's waving at me, I'll never get used to these kinds of things in my life.

Back in the big city, You can never watch the stars and moons at night over there, you can also never watch the sunsets or rise because of the high tall buildings everywhere, you can never find peace over there either in day or night time because the streets and highways were always so loud, crowded and messy. Unlike here, the cold breeze we’re blowing my hair away while humming into my freezing ears, the familiar sounds of crickets can be heard from the woods not so far from our house is one of the things that you can only hear.

Delighted, I planned on going back to my bed when I saw something moved very fast on the forest woods down below, almost near our house. I got really curious and waited till the leaves and bushes stop to move. When I tried to look around below, I gasped and lost my balance when I saw a pair of red intense eyes staring right at me from the pitch-black woods.

"s**t! What was that?!" I blurted out hysterically, I tried to peek again from the woods and saw nothing but the bushes and tall dark trees. Was that a person or an animal? I mentally slapped myself does a person or animal in this world have red eyes? Was it just my hallucinations? I shrugged, this is why I never should've stayed up late! I'm seeing weird inhuman things!

Like a swift ninja, I immediately closed and locked my two-way door, jumped on my bed, and tried to sleep.

To be continued...