Escaping from the wolf
19

"What did they say? Me, in love with Thomas? And what do you mean he succeeded?" Elleon and Clark had a macabre grin on their pale faces. Thomas started tightening his grip on my hand, not taking his eyes off them. I swallowed hard, imagining that Thomas had genuinely approached me to fulfill Elleon's order, only to deceive me. That would be... painful.

I tried to loosen my hand from his grip, but he wouldn't let go.

"Stop saying nonsense, Elleon," Thomas spat with some resentment.

Elleon laughed.

"Alright, Thomas, have a little more fun. I was just here to say goodbye; Clark will be in charge." He turned to leave but stopped and turned back to us. "Don't get too attached, Thomas."

And in the blink of an eye, he was gone. Clark gave us one last look before following his boss. We were left there, with nothing to say.

Thomas still held my hand tightly. I wanted him to let go. So, I turned to him, giving him a look full of reproach, demanding an explanation for all this. I didn't want to be played with. It's not that I like Thomas, pff, obviously not... He is... Thomas.

"Do you believe what Elleon and Clark said, or not?" he inquired.

I freed myself from his grip.

"Well, I don't know. They always say the same thing. Why am I involved, Thomas? Didn't you tell me I wasn't?"

His jaw hardened, and he exhaled in resignation. It seemed he was bored with me continuing this line of questioning, but I can't stop insisting. If there's something involving me, I have the right to know. I believe I do. "You told me it had nothing to do with it," I reminded him.

"Anne, please, don't ask. This isn't the time for that," he insisted. "I just want to spend this day with you, without Clark, without Elleon, without... your ex lurking around." He said the last part with a sour taste. Did I sense some annoyance? But thinking about Apolo and what he had said made my anxiety return. I looked down at the snow, crossed my arms, and thought about my mom. Was that why Dad hated me? Did he know? And why did Mom abandon Apolo? So many unanswered questions.

"Are you okay, little one? You seem worried."

Thomas's voice made me look at him. He's hiding things from me, and I'm going to find them out. I have a lot to investigate.

"I'm fine. So, where were you going to take me?" I asked. I'm not good at pretending, but I had to use all my willpower to keep him from suspecting.

Thomas is hiding something. And I have to see what it is.

"Eh, I don't think it's a good idea at the moment."

"Why not?"

"They already ruined the surprise, little one. Let's save it for another day."

I scanned him with my eyes.

"Are you sure?"

He nodded.

"Then... Are we going to your house? You know mine, and I don't know yours. Will you take me?" I smiled at him, not to the point of looking like a manipulative psychopath but with a sincere and gentle smile. His expression changed, grew darker, and I noticed he tensed. His shirt was a bit tight.

"I don't think it's a good idea. Let's better return to the others." He grabbed my arm and started leading me back the way we came. I didn't object; I just followed.

Thomas, I'll find out everything.

When we returned to the others, I noticed Carolina was chatting animatedly with Kenzie and Kayler. I hadn't seen Will or Ale, nor Connor.

"Nice friends you have," Thomas said, crossing his arms.

I looked at him with a frown.

"What's the problem?"

He shrugged.

"Nothing, just saying."

I rolled my eyes and left him alone, walking towards the guys.

"... And then he was sitting there with her. I don't know what happened, but it gives me a bad vibe," Kenzie's comment made me doubt. When I arrived, the three turned to me. "Oh, Anne, where have you been?" Kenzie asked.

I looked at Carolina and then at her.

"I was... around," I wasn't going to tell her I was with Thomas. "Did something happen?" I asked, since I had heard her.

"Nothing," she looked down. "It's just that since I told Connor that it wasn't time to live together yet, he's been acting weird. Now I found him with a friend, supposedly a classmate from school."

I raised my eyebrows in surprise. It's obvious Connor got upset, but I imagine he'll get over it. That's how men are; they get angry first and then come back.

"Oh no, the last person I needed to see," Carolina murmured, looking behind me.

I turned around in confusion, only to see Kara arriving with her entourage. She was wearing a short pink skirt, a top, and high heels. Doesn't she feel cold? Her other new friends were dressed similarly. They gave us a quick glance before approaching Thomas. Kara gave him a kiss on the cheek and then looked at me as if rubbing it in my face.

I clenched my fists unconsciously.

Her blonde hair was loose; she looked like a damn princess. No, she looked like Regina George herself, along with Karen and her other brunette friend. And Thomas, well, he seemed like the typical guy who would be with a plastic like her. And me, well, I look like the bookish rat, as she had said.

"Bitch..." Carolina murmured under her breath.

"What if we go skating, Anne? Carolina refuses," Kenzie said.

Kara approached the skate shop and chose a pair. Thomas helped her put them on.

Idiot.

"Alright, let's go."

I took Kenzie's hand and we went to get skates. Kara and Thomas headed to the center of the lake; he wasn't wearing skates, but what the stupid Kara did was grab his hand, pretending she couldn't skate. Thomas didn't look happy but not uncomfortable either.

"Two pairs, please."

Kenzie picked out the skates. I couldn't take my eyes off those two. But I have to hide it. I have to.

"Here, Anne."

I took off my shoes and quickly put on the skates, being careful not to cut myself with the blade. Once ready, we skated with difficulty towards the lake. Around us, there were more people skating, and music started playing from the shop. Damn, why romantic music? The other couples began to dance together.

"I guess we're up for a dance, Anne." She said.

I looked at Thomas; Kara couldn't dance with him because he wasn't wearing skates. People around us watched closely, well, everyone except for us.

"I don't even know how to dance."

"Don't worry, I'll help you," she laughed. It was ridiculous to dance together, but whatever.

"Maybe not, um... can you wait for me? I'm going to find something." I said.

She nodded, and then a guy approached her and asked if she wanted to dance. She agreed immediately and they left. I skated slowly towards the dock of Kayler's house but didn't get that far, as I stopped a bit when I felt a twinge in one of my senses.

I closed my eyes as the pain hit.

"Damn..." I murmured.

When the pain subsided, I opened my eyes, but I squinted when I saw to my left on the ice, blood. There were drops of blood. Whose could it be?

"Anne, come back!" I heard Carolina's shout. I turned to her immediately. She was with another man, the store owner. All eyes were on me.

"What's going on...?" I started skating towards them, but on the way, I stopped short when I heard a noise coming from below. It was the ice. It was thin. It can't be.

I stood frozen and looked at everyone. Thomas stopped holding Kara to look at me.

I breathed in, out, in, out... until a sharp scream escaped my throat as I felt the ice below me crack, making me fall into the deep lake.