That’s when he lost control and turned into… Ryan stopped punching the remaining shred of glasses left. He panted hard. He himself can’t even describe what he turned into.
But he could remember the fear… The evident fear on Chris’ face… The fear on Scott’s face as he tried to scramble backwards. But he reached out and gripped him.
Ryan knelt on the floor… He’d almost strangled his own brother to death. He’d spoken just a single word that made the whole office room tremble. He’d watched Chris fall to the ground and tried to get away.
Ryan clenched his fists. He so badly wants to take his phone and ask Chris… What did he look like at that moment of rage? Did he really look like the monster Scott had called him?
****
Emily frowned in her sleep and hugged a pillow tightly like she was embracing someone in her dreams. She could hear a faint, distant sound of something crashing but she couldn’t bear to leave the hairy, black wolf.
She couldn’t dwell on her thoughts cause she was currently fascinated by the wolf hugging her tightly. It’s the same wolf she dreamt of before… But this time, he didn’t hide away from her.
It’s embracing her in its warm yet soft fur. She should be afraid but she finds the posture oddly comfortable. Snuggling closer, she looked up at the wolf who was staring at her with so much… What’s the strange emotion in his eyes?
It’s so strong and evident that it almost makes her teary. Knowing that it probably can’t talk, she still asked a question that’s been bothering her, “What’s your name?”
It’s a norm to ask for strangers’ names right? So you’d know how to address them when next you meet each other. Emily almost chuckled. Why does it feel like she is going crazy?
It was at this moment that Ryan slipped back into the room wearing another set of clean briefs. He’d already treated his hands. He let out a soft sigh as he stood against the doorway, staring at her quietly.
Watched her sleep and was thankful that she never even stirred to the loud ruckus he’d caused in the closet.
When he finally decided to go to bed, her soft voice rang out in the room, “What’s your name?” Ryan arched his eyebrows at this as he got into bed and pulled her closer.
She snuggled into him, her head resting on the croon of his neck. He wondered who she was dreaming about. His eyes twinkled at the thought of what if it’s a male so he answered her question, “Ryan.”
Unknown to him, just when he answered, the wolf in her dream world also decided to answer so the ‘Ryan’ he said, in reality, ended up being ‘Ray’ in her dream world.
But Ryan fell asleep after saying that.
*****
Emily walked to the elevator with a bundle of files. She’d just come back from the IT section after completing the tasks Ryan gave to her. Other staff also stepped into the elevator.
Each one with files in their hands but unlike her, they were in pairs of twos. She sighed and looked down at the files when she suddenly noticed that everywhere suddenly quietened.
Looking up, she was surprised to see Chris stepping into the elevator. He stood beside her motionless with an emotionless and lifeless face that she couldn’t bear to say anything to him.
Seeing this confirmed her suspicions are right. Something is definitely wrong. It’s been a few weeks since that day that Ryan returned to the office with bruises on his body.
Even though he pretended to be his normal self, still snapping, causing trouble and flirting with her, she could see that he was hurting. No matter how he tries to hide it, she can feel it somehow.
She hurts to know that he’s hurting and he doesn’t even want to talk about it. And yes… Unlike before that Scott and Chris would occasionally come to his office, since that day, they have been missing.
Neither Scott nor Chris visited him again. At first, she thought they were too busy but then she accidentally overheard two employees gossiping in the hallway, talking about how Scott has been missing from work for weeks.
That’s when she started to get convinced that something is wrong but what can she do when no one would even tell her what was wrong?
She looked at Chris and thought of something. Coughing slightly, she mustered enough courage to call him, “Chris.” But he didn’t respond. He seemed lost in thoughts.
She had to reach out and touch him slightly. He jerked and looked down at her before forcing a smile on his face.
“Cousin-in-law… What’s it?” Emily looked around when she heard what he said but thankfully none of them seemed to have heard him calling her cousin-in-law.
She moved closer to him and whisper-yelled, “Sir… What’s wrong? Don’t tell me everything is fine. I know everything is not fine. That brat has been missing from work for a few weeks and my…”
She stopped herself before the words ‘My Ryan’s or is it ‘My hubby’ came out. “Ryan has also been acting weird. Is it related to those bruises he had on his body that day? Why aren’t you talking?” She sounded exasperated when Chris just continued looking at her like a mute.
He sighed and looked down before finally telling her, “I think you should ask Ryan. My cousin is in a better place to explain what’s happened to you.”
Emily fell silent at his words. Is it possible that the two brothers had a huge fight? What could have caused it and why is Ryan not saying anything?
Before she could say anything, the elevator made a ding sound and stopped. The doors opened and Chris turned to her, “Let’s go. I am also on my way to Ryan’s office so let’s just go together.”
*****
Ryan was standing beside the window, staring at nothing in particular like he’s been doing for weeks now. His works were piling up but he couldn’t bring it in himself to do anything.
.
.
.
……