After arriving at the farm, we gazed at the vast lawn, where sheep grazed leisurely across the grassland. At that moment, I felt an overwhelming sense of peace and relaxation.
“I love it here,” Evelyn said, taking a deep breath. “These sheep are so beautiful.”
Indeed, the pure white lambs and their soft bleating filled me with warmth. Our task was to study the animals’ foraging and social behaviors, and afterward, we had to write reports. Though the animals were adorable, the work was far from easy.
The farm was teeming with animals, and our teacher hadn’t specified a single species. Any animal on the farm could be observed and studied. As I hesitated, a little lamb trotted up to me, its curious eyes fixed on mine. Its gentle bleating melted my heart.
I reached out and patted its head, turning to Evelyn. “I’ve decided. I’m going to observe this lamb.”
Evelyn, meanwhile, picked up a puppy. “Seraphina, look at this little one. Isn’t it cute? I’m choosing it.”
The other students scattered to observe various animals, and soon, we all had our subjects. The day was spent recording their habits, social behaviors, and foraging patterns.
As the group dispersed, I sat on the grass, staring at the endless plain. The vastness, however, began to stir an inexplicable unease within me.
At mealtime, we gathered for a simple meal prepared by the owner of the farm. Suddenly, a lamb’s agonized cry pierced the air. We rushed outside to find a lamb lying in a pool of blood, its body twitching before going still.
The metallic smell of blood filled the air, and several students screamed. Evelyn clutched her chest, her face pale. “I feel it-a deep sense of dread. But I don’t know where it’s coming from.”
I shared her unease. Had the monster returned? I should have known-this remote place was the perfect hunting ground for it. My only thought was to flee.
The owner of the farm, however, examined the lamb and reassured us, “It’s alright, kids. A wolf attacked the lamb. There’s a pack nearby, but as long as we stay indoors at night, we’ll be fine.”
Stay indoors? But what if it wasn’t just wolves? What if it was a werewolf? After all, a werewolf in wolf form could easily be mistaken for a regular wolf.
Evelyn, noticing my pallor, shook her head. “It’s not a werewolf.”
“Why not? He said it was a wolf.”
“Even in wolf form, a werewolf is much larger than a normal wolf. If it attacked a lamb, there’d be nothing left.”
I thought of the red-eyed werewolf. She was right-he was enormous, far larger than any ordinary wolf. If he’d attacked the lamb, there’d be no trace of it.
Heartbroken, I stared at the lamb’s lifeless body. That night, we returned to the dormitory they had arranged for us. Evelyn closed all the windows.
The others looked at her curiously. “Evelyn, why are you closing the windows?”
“Don’t you remember the wolf that attacked the lamb this evening? Aren’t you afraid it might break in?”
Her words sent the others scrambling under their blankets. “And the door! Make sure the door’s locked too. We can’t let that damned wolf in.”
After double-checking everything, Evelyn lay down on the bed next to mine. “Get some rest, Seraph. Don’t worry. Everything will be fine.”
But could I truly relax? My heart was heavy with dread, and I felt as though something terrible was about to happen.
I lay awake, staring at the ceiling. The others soon fell asleep, their breathing steady. But sleep eluded me. The thought of the monster lurking nearby kept me on edge. I regretted not taking the day off.
Suddenly, a chill ran through me, and my body began to tremble uncontrollably. I felt a horrifying gaze fixed upon me. Had the monster returned?
I could sense him, feel his eyes on me. Panicked, I turned to the window-and there he was. The red-eyed monster, his face pressed against the glass, staring directly at me.
I froze, unable to utter a sound. I wanted to wake Evelyn, but in an instant, the creature vanished. The paralyzing fear dissipated, leaving me breathless.
He was gone-for now. I tried to calm myself, but sleep was impossible. I didn’t know when he might return.
Then, I heard Kael’s voice. “Seraphina, are you okay?”
At first, I thought I was imagining it. But when I turned, he was there, standing by the window. How had he appeared so silently? Everyone else was still asleep.
“Why are you here?” I whispered.
“Listen, Seraphina. This place is dangerous. You’ve seen the monster. I’m going after him. Stay here until dawn. Don’t leave.” His brow furrowed as if grappling with a grave situation.
Before I could respond, a gust of wind swept through, and Kael vanished as quickly as he’d appeared.
It was all so strange. I sat up, trying to wake Evelyn, but she was in a deep sleep. The others were the same.
One thing was certain now-Kael wasn’t human.