Chapter 6: Guardian Angel

DANICA

I found myself standing at the edge of the forest. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw Creed’s house, now a distant speck. If anything were to happen, I wouldn’t be able to make it back in time.

But why was I even entertaining such thoughts? I didn’t believe in the forest’s tales. They were just stories people clung to, to stave off the monotony of their lives.

I ventured into the forest, following a well-trodden path to avoid getting lost. The forest was dense and shadowy, not necessarily unpleasant, just different. A cracking sound echoed from the distance, causing me to pause.

I cautiously moved closer, discovering a hole in the ground. It was just an empty pit, not deep enough to trap anyone, but it was a bit of a drop. Probably just a rat or mouse, I thought, although it would have to be a pretty big one to make that noise.

I laughed at my own paranoia. I was just being silly. But as I turned around, I jumped in surprise. A massive wolf stood before me, growling, saliva dripping from its sharp teeth.

I screamed, stumbling backward in shock, forgetting about the pit behind me. I fell, my leg landing awkwardly on rocks, twisting in a way it shouldn’t. I groaned in pain.

I didn’t dare look at my leg. I tried to stand, to run, but the pain was excruciating. I fell back down, sitting on the ground, my leg throbbing, my breath coming in ragged gasps. I whimpered, trying to make sense of what had just happened.

The wolf was closing in on me. I tried to back away, but there was nowhere to go. It continued to approach, growling, taking its time. I was helpless.

Tears streamed down my face, my heart pounding in my chest. I closed my eyes, feeling the wolf’s hot breath on my face. I was trembling. Was this how I was going to die?

“She’s one of us,” a male voice said angrily. “If one hair falls from her head, you’ll have to deal with me, understand?”

The voice was familiar. It was the man who had been haunting me.

“Let others know too!” he added, and the wolf retreated. It obeyed him, just like that. I was stunned. Why did the wolf listen? Why was this man here? I was frozen in shock, trying to process what had just happened.

He looked at my injured leg.

I tried to stand again, but the pain was too much. He moved closer, and I panicked, trying to crawl away. But the pain was unbearable. I sobbed uncontrollably as he reached me. He knelt beside me, pulling something from his pocket. It was a crystal.

He leaned in, but I flinched away, and he pulled back. He looked me in the eyes.

“It will help with your pain,” he said, his face devoid of emotion. He seemed annoyed, as if I was a nuisance.

He tried to move closer again, but I recoiled. He looked at me, his jaw clenched in frustration.

“You’d rather be in pain?” he asked.

“You have a stone in your hands,” I cried. “I need a hospital!” I was angry, not at him, but at the pain.

He didn’t seem to appreciate my response.

He moved closer, sitting on the ground next to me. He draped his body over my thighs, his back to me. I tried to push him away, but he was too strong. I couldn’t see what he was doing, his back blocking my view. I heard the sound of fabric tearing as he accessed my injury.

Suddenly, the pain in my leg disappeared. I couldn’t feel anything.

“What did you do?” I asked, my voice trembling.

He lifted himself off me, and I looked at him in terror.

“I can’t feel my leg!” I exclaimed.

“Wait,” he said calmly.

“I can’t feel my leg!” I repeated, scratching at my leg, trying to feel something.

“Can you stop?” he asked, seemingly unfazed.

“You’re the one who did this!” I cried, tears streaming down my face. “Take me to the hospital or I swear I’ll scream!”

“Hospital isn’t the best option for you when I’m here,” he said, but I wasn’t listening to him.

“Help!” I screamed, my voice echoing in the empty space. “Help!” I screamed again, but he was already sliding up to me, his hand clamping over my mouth.

He was rough, his grip unyielding. I struggled against him, but he caught my hands with his free one, pinning me down. I was trapped, no chance of escape.

When I realized he wasn’t going to let go, I stopped fighting. I went still, surrendering to his hold.

He was looking at me now, his face inches from mine. We were eye to eye, and I forced myself to calm down. Then, something shifted in his expression. He looked…regretful.

“You’re not supposed to be scared of me,” he murmured. “I’m here to protect you, to make you feel safe. You need to trust me. With your life. You need to know that I would take a bullet for you. Drink poison meant for you. You should know that! I would do anything to keep you safe. I already have.” His voice dropped to a mumble on the last part.

Slowly, he removed his hand from my mouth. I didn’t move.

“I’m your assigned protector,” he said, but that didn’t answer my question. He must have seen the confusion on my face. “I’m your guardian angel.”

“You’re no angel!” I shot back, not believing a word he said.

Suddenly, he grabbed my leg and yanked it. I screamed, but he spoke before I could say anything.

“I put your bone back in place. I’m here to help you in situations like this. To care for your wellbeing, your health. Your life.”

I must have dislocated my knee. I even heard the crack as he was putting it back in.

He looked down at the ground. I started to feel sensation returning to my leg, but I didn’t tell him. He reached out his hand toward me, but I didn’t understand what he wanted. He extended his ring finger and I saw a symbol on the inside of his finger, red like a burn mark. A star with a “D” over it. I didn’t ask, I just stared at him.

“Guardian angels get that mark once they are assigned someone,” he said, and before I could react, he grabbed my hand and made me look at my own ring finger. The same symbol. I had no idea it was there. I opened my mouth to speak, but I didn’t know what to say.

He was just some kind of creep. Trying to play a sick joke on me.

“I need to go home,” I said, ignoring his claim. I bent my leg to test it. I didn’t understand what he had done, but he had helped, and it made no sense.

From that kind of injury, it isn’t possible to heal my leg in a few minutes. He moved closer, trying to help me up, but I pushed him away. He looked at me, shocked.

“Don’t touch me,” I said, avoiding his gaze. To my surprise, he stepped back.

I slowly got up, my head starting to throb. I thought it was because of the approaching evening, but when I touched my temple, it stung. I pulled my hand away and saw blood on my fingers.

I must have hit my head. “I can help with that,” he offered.

I didn’t even look at him. “Don’t,” was all I said, my teeth gritted. I started to walk away, but I could hear him following me.

I hoped he would stop once we were out of the forest, but he didn’t. As I walked, my leg felt better, and after a while, there was no pain at all. Only my head still hurt.

I quickened my pace, and he matched it. I stopped abruptly, and so did he.

“Please, leave me alone,” I said, tired of him, of everything he was saying. I had the feeling that if he wanted to hurt me, he would have done it already. So why was he following me?

“I was sent to you and I can’t leave you now. You need my protection. If you hurt, I hurt,” he said, but I was too confused to accept his answer.

I stepped in front of him. “What was that thing in the forest?”

“Werewolf,” he answered. Werewolves weren’t real. He was just playing a prank on me, or maybe he was crazy.

“If you don’t leave, I’ll call the cops,” I threatened, and his jaw tightened.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he said, his voice laced with a hint of irritation and weariness. “We’re connected now, you and I. More than you realize.”

His voice dropped to a whisper, barely audible. “I know the pain you’re in. I feel every sting, every ache. I’m here to shoulder all your burdens, to take on all your pain. To live and die in your name.”