Chapter 8

                                    

                                          
Word count-1116 words
It took a few days of awkward caretaking from Donna for me to heal but I did. It went back to the same routine as before. I was back at square one. 
Great. It's been like over a month and all I know is Mother Miranda is some psycho baby-sacrificing witch and I'm deep in a forest in Romania. 
There was still something I could try. But it would require me to run away. And be sure that it was what I wanted to do. 
If my memory is right, I might be able to find the area where I first stumbled upon the village. And if I reached that spot I could stumble through the forest again and try to find the road. 
Of course, it's an insane idea. But what else could I do? With vague warnings and riddles from everyone, all I knew was Mother Miranda is some god. That's why I couldn't do much. Also why the plan was so risky. Not only her but also those lycans that seem to lurk everywhere. 
I glance at my mattress. The handgun. Of course, I could use it but that was for emergencies. And I only had so many bullets. 
I pace back and forth thinking of wild plans that would never work. Plans of starting a rebellion with the villagers or killing Mother Miranda. 
A knock at the door makes me jump, almost causing me to fall. I curse loudly and begin yelling at Angie when I open the door to Donna. 
"Oh! Sorry about that-I thought..." I awkwardly chuckle. 
"It's fine. I'm...here to tell you that I need...no. I'm telling you to assist me with an experiment. As part of your job as maid of course." Donna struggles. 
Cute, she's trying to be commanding. 
I grin slightly and nod my head, "Yeah, of course, anything."

She leads me downstairs into the basement. Telling me to wait in the film room. A few minutes the door opens but she's silent. Instead, an entirely different voice speaks. 
"Y/N?" A familiar voice gasps. 
My heart drops and I turn around instantly. 
"E-Ethan? What...why are you here!?" I quickly stand up, taking a step back. 
"You've been gone for so long. I came looking for you Y/N. Thank god you're okay!" Ethan quickly moves towards me and hugs me tightly. 
I hug him back and begin sobbing quietly. 
"I'm sorry it's all my fault. I tried to get to you but..." His jacket muffles me. 
"No it's okay, what matters is that you're safe now."
After a few minutes of silence, we sit down and I take a look at him. He has huge bags under his eyes. His pupils dilated extremely big. His body seemed much skinnier than the last time I saw him. A thick beard grew on him. Greasy hair beginning to flow down his face. He looked awful.
"God, what happened? You look like shit." I joke, hiding my unease.
"I've been busy looking for you," He smiles in return. "Mia tried to stop me. She threatened to divorce me and do all this but I didn't let her. She fought back so hard but I was stronger."
I look at him confused, "Fought back? What do you mean?"
"Well, when I told her that Rosemary's crying was a distraction she told me I needed to calm down. But how else would I have gotten her to shut up?"
My blood runs cold. 
"Once Rose was quiet Mia decided she wanted to be loud next so I shut her up as well. And that's how I found you. Those werewolves bit me. And those villagers especially but they were no match. I'll do anything to save my little sister."
I didn't move. Didn't move to breathe or speak. Sweat began forming at the back of my neck. My palms became clammy. 
There's no way right. He wouldn't...
"Ethan did you....did you kill them...?" I ask hesitantly. 
His face drops and quickly becomes angry, "Are you saying I'm the bad guy here? Mia was trying to stop me Y/N! What else was I supposed to do!?"
I get up and back away. I turn towards the door and call for Donna. Ethan scoffs. 
"What? So now you're all buddy-buddy with these fucking monstrosities? Just because they haven't killed you?" He seethes. 
"Ethan stop you're scaring me," I warn lowly. 
I call for Donna again and this time Ethan jumps for me. I quickly move away and scream for Donna. 
"Donna? Is that the name of your new pet huh? I did all this just for you to want her!?" He shouts and grabs my arm. 
I stare up at him fearfully. I was completely frozen. I didn't know what to do. My heart beat races impossibly fast and my breathing becomes hard to control. My thoughts ran rapidly. 
I've never seen him like this. God I've fucked up I knew I fucked up.
I begin sobbing as Ethan yells more insults at me. He suddenly disappears and I fall to the floor in a heap. Quick footsteps make me crawl away at first but someone grabs me. The familiar scent informs me that it's Donna and I cling to her. She soothes me and holds me back, apologizing profusely. 
It takes a while before I calm down and I wipe my face sniffling. Donna helps me up and frowns slightly at me. 
"I'm sorry I shouldn't have let it get to that point. I just want to make sure we'll be safe." She explains. 
"I understand it was just...too realistic....what even was that?" I groan as a headache begins forming. 
"It's these flowers that release a pollen. It's actually-" Donna realizes my confused look. 
"Basically, these flowers have the power to make people hallucinate. I can control it to my will. For example, I used your worst fear on you."
That's my worst fear? Ethan going crazy and lashing out at me? What a joke. 
I sigh, "I'm not sure if it's my worst fear but damn did it work."
"You should've seen your face maid! I wish I had a camera to carry the picture of it with me everywhere." Angie cackled. 
I glared at her and held my head in my hands. I excuse myself quietly and move upstairs into my room. I collapse on my bed and start to overthink about that experience. 
Could it be that's why I'm struggling to go through with my escape plan? Is it because of Donna? 
Whatever it was, I had to make a decision. And soon.