The Beast At Midnight

Eva's POV



I awoke from my peaceful slumber to the sounds of the wind piping against the balcony doors, instantly reminding me of the howls I heard at midnight. I narrowed my eyes toward the glowing red numbers of my alarm clock and sat upright. It was only 6:54 am, but I knew I wouldn't be able to fall back asleep, so I slid out of the duvet and scurried across the cold wooden floor to get to the bathroom. I flicked on the light switch and shut the door closed behind me before running the faucet and splashing cold water onto my face.


Was last night real?


This was the question I would come to spend all day contemplating. I could hardly find anything else to focus on in French class even with the curly haired boy sitting quietly beside me. I've never heard that kind of intonation before nor did I think I ever would. It wasn't a sound that one could find in this town, at least, not until now.


Once school ended, I said my goodbyes to Violet and walked along the stone path leading back to the forest. I didn't get to stop here in the morning, so I made the trip by foot after school. The aroma of pine trees and evergreen leaves began to fill my nostrils as the bench near the waterfall came into sight, a small smile tugging at the corner of my lips. I set my book bag down next to me when I reached the waterfall and closed my eyes; I felt content.


Suddenly, the strange feeling of vigilant eyes watching over me crept into my thoughts. I opened my eyes, and then it became a reality. There he stood with arms crossed over his broad chest and curls hanging off his head in a quiff. Harry observed me intently, and it was the first time I'd ever been rendered speechless by the beauty of a complete stranger, but, before I could blink twice, he was gone, not a single trace of him at all.


I ended up leaving the forest shortly after he did, continuously questioning my sanity as I followed the familiar route home. I made it back just in time before my mom came waltzing through the front door and ran upstairs to do homework. I was in the midst of answering questions when the rattle of the doorknob disrupted my train of thought. I locked my bedroom door at times when I didn't want to be disturbed, and right now I wanted to be left alone in solitude.


"Eva, what do you want to eat? It's takeout night," My mother asked me through the door.

"Nothing," I sighed, "I'm not hungry." I called back.

"Okay. Well, I'll order a large pepperoni pie in case you change your mind. Make sure you finish doing your homework, sweetie," I remember her saying.


I nodded, though she couldn't see me, and finished writing my responses to the short answer questions my English teacher gave at the end of class. We had read a short story written by Jack London called "To Build a Fire" and were expected to write a paper on his use of rhetoric next week.


After I completed the rest of my homework, I took a hot shower and got dressed for bed. I tossed and turned underneath the sheets of the duvet before finally settling down in one position and looking up at the ceiling. I could clearly see the shadows of the tree branches rock back and forth due to the powerful gusts of wind which traveled their way. A yawn withdrew itself from my lips as I averted my gaze to the alarm clock sitting on the nightstand, the numbers glowing twelve. Then, out of nowhere, I heard it. The sound was faint in the beginning, but with each fleeting moment it grew louder, like a crescendo rising to its peak.


I stumbled out of bed and flung open the balcony doors only to hear the beautiful noise end abruptly. I stayed outside for a little while longer hoping the howls would return, but I was left disappointed. I sighed, biting my bottom lip as I ran my fingers through my hair and went back inside to confide in the warmth of my bed.


If there was one thing I knew for sure, this creature I heard every night at twelve was real, and its howls would be the ones to fill my dreams tonight as I dreamt up the mystery that was the beast lurking the town's streets at midnight.

Notes

Hey guys. This is your coauthor kkgal14. I re-wrote this entire chapter <3 I'm really excited to be working on this story with Telichia because she's a great writer. Go check out my story Picture Perfect :)

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