Chapter 32: Chapter 32

OWEN

I can't be free to manoeuvre because I must consider Jonea's safety. I firmly grip the steering wheel and continue to spur the car with the maximum speed permitted by this country's rules.

Next to me, Jonea screamed in fear. I can't spur even faster because it will trigger alarm danger to us. But they continue to pursue it. I have to direct them to a place far from the supervision of Blue Sapphire.

I glance at every road sign and pay attention to every surveillance camera that actively monitors all road users' movements.

"Damn it! I can only spur up to the maximum limit allowed by the rules. And they are getting closer, almost following us."

"What creature exactly are they, Owen?" Jonea shouted.

"Supernatural creatures sent by someone." I looked at the windshield of the car. "Tonight is the night of hunting. Most werewolves will go to the forest and return to their respective packs to hunt. While the magicians usually release their creatures to practice."

"You mean ... practising us hunting for us?"

"More precisely, hunting you, Jonea!"

The road in front of us is branching. Spontaneously I turned the wheel to the right until the tires were squeezed. The right lane goes to the rural area directly adjacent to the forest. The path is quiet. I hope there is no more surveillance camera.

"Hold on strong! These creatures do not want to give up. They continue to pursue us. Maybe until one of us ends first."

"I've been holding on to earlier!" Jonea shouted in fear. "My hands cramps and tremble. Can't we stop and fight?"

I almost laughed at that. "Oppose? I am alone and see how many they are. Nearly dozens were chasing us."

I kept moving fast while counting their numbers. From the back, about five cars and several motorcycles are chasing. Several motorcycles continue to stalk the direction of our movement from the top of the bridge. They tried to cut our escape path. While from the opposite direction, Oh no!

A Trenton truck drove at maximum speed. The driver is not from our group.

"This is no longer a hunt but an attempt to kill us."

"Owen!" Jonea shouted in panic. "The truck is heading towards us!"

"I know, and I see it too. But we must continue or take another path."

"Are you crazy? Do you plan to commit suicide by crashing our car into the truck?" Jonea's face pale.

I took off the seat belt while still pressing the gas pedal. "Take off your seatbelt too!"

"Why? I don't want to die like this!"

" Jonea! You trust me, right?"

"Of course not!" the girl screamed hysterically.

"Good! You really shouldn't trust anyone." I forcibly removed the seat belt wrapped around Jonea's chest. "On the count of three, close your eyes and open the door beside you as wide as you can!"

"What?" Jonea panicked and was confused.

"There is no time to think and argue. Just carry out my orders now. Two… three… open!"

Clack.

She opened the door on the side. I jumped while hugging Jonea's body. I took her out of the car.

I turned into a wolf to protect Jonea from the impact. We flipped through the air before landing in the bushes by the road.

A massive explosion occurred just as my four feet landed on the damp ground. The truck hit our car, causing an explosion and sparks.

I lifted Jonea onto my back. She hugged my neck so tightly. I could feel her body shaking violently.

"Jonea, open your eyes. We will run from here. Don't fall. Understand?"

She didn't answer my question, but I could feel her nodding weakly. I felt her hands hug my neck tighter. I gritted my jaw and started running through the bushes that were on the side of the road. We crossed the border and into the forest.

"Owen, where are we going?" Jonea's scream was swallowed by the wind that hit our bodies.

"Seeking help," I answered.

My breath is already gasping. I kept running while carrying Jonea on my back. It's troublesome. If I let her run alone, it would be even more problematic.

We enter the forest. The forest was only the entrance to a broader wilderness. A forest inhabited by several packs surrounds blue Sapphire. Although most live in the city, they will return to the woods to hunt during the full moon and certain nights.

I stopped at the confluence of three hiking trails. There is a large rock in the middle surrounded by pine trees. I jumped and stood on the rock. I raised my muzzle and gave a long howl at the silver moon.

"Owen," Jonea whispered. "I'm scared. I've never been this scared. Returning to the forest reminds me of the past I don't want to repeat. Can we get out of here?"

I stopped howling and caught my breath. Jonea spoke in a sobbing voice. I know she's crying. She hid her face in the thick hair around my neck.

"However bad your experience with the forest is, you can't hate it. Hold on because I'm returning running because the forest is our natural home. They've caught up with us. They're getting closer."

Jonea hugged me tighter. I know she entrusted her life to me. That fact made me more determined to get out of this problem.

I saw that many shadows kept appearing from all directions. Their movements were swift, soundless, and traceless. They kept moving and slipping between the dark trees.

"Bastard, they managed to find us!" I have no choice but to stop.

"I told you we better stop and fight than keep running away."

Jonea got off my back. She pulled out a black bone dagger from the belt on her thigh. She gripped the dagger tightly. Her determination to survive is firm.

"Tell me how to beat them?"

"They are magical creatures, Jonea. Chances are they don't have a heart. You have to determine their weak points and draw them."

I also turned into a human. We stand with our backs to each other. Pitch-black figures with bright red eyes surrounded us.

"They are… shadow creatures?" Jonea sounded in disbelief.

I can't explain it to Jonea. I raised two of my fingers forward and started to chant. I created protective runes in the air and threw them at the shadowy creatures.

Intricate blue pentagram-shaped runes sealed each of these shadowy creatures.

"Wolves?" Jonea began to be able to see their proper form. "So the figures chasing us are wolves?"

"Don't be fooled, Jonea. Their true form was indeed that of a wolf. But they had already lost themselves. There is someone already controlling them. Look at the look in their eyes. They were no longer living wolves. They are just empty shells!"

One of the wolves jumped and charged at Jonea.

I created runes. A blue pentagram formed and became our shield. The wolf hit the pentagram and fell to the ground. Jonea stabbed him with a black bone dagger.

Instantly the wolf's body burned and evaporated into thick smoke. Now only the skeleton remains.

I saw Jonea's surprised reaction. "You get what I mean, right? They used to be werewolves. Someone resurrected the corpse using magic power. We don't know who controls them. But I'm sure he's not far from here."

"I understand," Jonea answered confidently. "I will no longer hesitate to fight them."

"So you're holding back because you think they're sentient beings?"

Tens of black wolves made of shadows surrounded us. They can howl, showing their fangs as well as their claws. They were all genuine and would damage us severely if we were torn apart.

The shadow wolves came together to attack us. I turned myself into a wolf and attacked them first.

Behind me, Jonea was also struggling against them using her black bone dagger. She swung and drew the dagger in the heart, neck, and head until they fell individually.

"Amazing. She is an attractive girl. I like her style more and more."

"What are you talking about, Owen? I can't hear you. By the way, why does their number keep increasing? Even the wolf bones are piled up around us, but this attack is endless."

From the direction of the trees came flickers of light in large numbers. I was stunned to see it. They are so beautiful, but I know they are dangerous.

"Jonea, beware!" I shouted while flipping to avoid the light attack.

"Hey, you guys need some help?"

"Jeverics?" muttered Jonea.

Jonea is familiar with these Jeverics. How did she know about the jeverics?

"Get out of here, you annoying creature! We don't need your help." I swung my claws to split the crowd of the jeverics. "We know that nothing comes for free with everything you have to offer."

I clawed another shadow wolf at its neck and cut its body in two. The shadow wolf was knocked to the ground and became a frail skeleton.

"Oh, so fierce? Good thing you have a pretty face. Unfortunately, we have no business with you, Owen." The jeverics ignore me. "Jonea, don't you need our help?"

"Ignore them, Jonea!" I screamed as two shadow wolves lunged and crushed my chest with claws.

"Jonea, you must be tired of fighting these shadow wolves. Instead of you continuing to fight them and to no avail, how about I tell you who's controlling them?"

"Is it true?" Jonea looked out of breath. I saw she was so interested in the words of the fucking jeverics.

I brushed aside the two shadow wolves trying to rip apart my chest. "Don't believe them, Jonea! Please don't listen to what they say. They are just scammers!"

Ten figures of Jeveric in squirrel form flew around me. They used magic spells to twist my body and silence my mouth.

"Fuck you guys!"

Jonea didn't see me, who was smothered by the magic tendrils made by the jeverics. They dragged me away from Jonea.

"What are you guys planning? I won't let you touch Jonea!"