CHAPTER 17
AVA CLARKE
"How did I get here?", I ask with my voice low, looking at Damien and Lucius at the same time. I continue lying in my bed, seeing that Lucius tended to my injuries again, and I feel grateful for that. Furthermore, I blink my eyes rapidly, still observing Damien standing near the door.
"Drink this; it will help with the pain you're feeling, Ava.", Lucius says, handing me a pill and a glass of water. I swallow the pill and force my mind to recall everything that happened before I passed out in that forest.
"How did you two find me so quickly? I called you, and shortly after, Damien was with me...", I murmur, looking at both of them.
Now, I can remember the red-eyed creature that was chasing me, and then I recall being in front of Damien in the forest. I ran for several minutes, and I don't know how he managed to find me so quickly like that.
"Damien wasn't here when you called; he was out and found you first, Ava.", Lucius explains, and I look confusedly at Damien, who is also watching me at this moment.
"Is that true?", I ask, and he looks at Lucius before nodding quickly.
"Yes, I was nearby when I heard your screams and found you injured. But I don't understand why you were in the middle of a dark forest.", he says with a serious expression, and I shake my head.
I sit up carefully in bed, still feeling my head very sore, but I notice there's also a bandage on my forehead made by Lucius while I was unconscious.
"I was chased by something, and I ran into the forest. It was very strange; it looked like a man, but it also seemed like something else...", I say, looking at the two men in my room.
"Do you remember any other important details, Ava?", Lucius asks, and I nod my head quickly.
"I remember seeing his red eyes; he had red eyes, but I couldn't see his face...", I say this, realizing that I sound like a crazy girl talking about things that don't exist in this world.
"Red eyes? Are you sure about that?", Damien asks, and I can sense the mockery in his voice, which easily irritates me.
"I know what I saw. I know it sounds confusing and crazy, but the man had red eyes.", I say, and I see Lucius watching me attentively again.
"Damien, you've already found Ava. Don't try to make her feel worse after what happened.", Lucius scolds his brother with a serious expression.
"She's saying things that sound crazy, Lucius!", he says, pointing at me, and I close my eyes, feeling my headache intensifying.
"Damien, it doesn't matter if it sounds like a lie or not. Ava is hurt, and we have to deal with this situation. It could be some dangerous maniac with a mask to scare victims. We need to inform the city authorities when Ava feels better.", Lucius says, and I open my eyes, hearing the door of my room being opened and closed quickly.
Damien is no longer here, and I massage my forehead, seeing that Lucius is still sitting near me. I don't understand his brother's behavior, and it's very frustrating for me.
"Are you feeling better, Ava? The cut on your forehead wasn't too deep, but we should take you to the hospital if you don't feel well.", he says calmly, and I quickly shake my head.
"I don't need to go to the hospital; I have trauma from hospitals since what happened to my parents in the past. I'm fine, Lucius.", I say, and he nods his head.
Lucius stands up from the bed, and I grab his arm. His green eyes fixate on me, and I need to make him believe me. That was a person trying to scare victims; it certainly wasn't human, and I'm sure of that now.
"I know what I saw, Lucius. You need to believe me; that wasn't a human being, and I'm sure of it.", I whisper, and I see compassion in his gaze.
"You don't need to try to make me believe you, Ava. Whatever that thing or person is, we can't let it attack others. We can go to the police tomorrow when you feel better.", I nod my head, letting go of his arm quickly.
I haven't seen Elara, and that must mean she must already be asleep. I turn my head, seeing that it's already night, and I've been unconscious for a few hours.
"You're safe in here, Ava. Nothing can hurt you in here. You need to rest; it's past dinner time, but you can eat if you want.", he says, walking to the door of my room and opening it.
"Thank you, Lucius...", I say, watching him leave the room, leaving me alone here.
I close my eyes, and my mind goes back to the scary moment that happened to me in that dark forest. I really need to thank Damien for finding me so quickly. He's a difficult person, but he deserves my gratitude.
I get out of bed, realizing that I no longer feel dizzy, and I approach the window, seeing the dark night. I quickly closed the curtains, wishing to forget everything I saw today.
Furthermore, I look in a mirror in the room and see that my clothes are completely dirty and wet from the mud and rain. I go into the bathroom and take a hot shower, washing my body before putting on my most comfortable pajamas.
I leave the room, seeing that my phone is near the bed. Likewise, I quickly pick up the device, seeing that the screen is cracked, but the phone is still working, and I feel relieved for that.
I sit back on the bed, seeing that there are many missed calls and messages from my uncles on my phone. I think the best option is not to tell them what happened.
Saying that a red-eyed creature was chasing me would make anyone not believe me, but I'm sure of what I saw today.
I realize that this small town seems to hide more things than I had imagined before.