"Is he... looking at me?" Evelyn's thoughts spiralled into uncertainty.
He slid into the luxurious vehicle and sped away, leaving Evelyn unsettled. The lingering chill that he left behind was like a puzzle piece from the forest encounter, stirring a sense of unease within her. She shook her head, trying to dispel the eerie sensation, her muttering now a mixture of confusion and self-doubt.
"What was that? Did he hear me? from that far? Is he a dog or something with ultrasonic hearing ability?" Her mind raced with questions, her inner dialogue a jumbled mess.
As Evelyn grappled with her conflicted thoughts, her disdain for the mysterious man grew more palpable.
She shook her head, a mixture of frustration and exasperation painting her features. "Etiquette, manners, who needs those when you can just buy your way through life, right?" Her voice was laden with sarcasm, her eyes narrowing as she glanced in the direction the car had disappeared.
Evelyn's mutterings carried the weight of her indignation as she continued to wait for a taxi, her annoyance becoming a fire that fueled her inner monologue. The collision had left her not only with a sore tailbone but also with a burning desire to unleash her pent-up frustration at the world's injustices.
A distant wail grew louder, and the sudden sound pulled her from her reverie. An ambulance hurtled down the road, its siren wailing like an eerie lament. The vehicle screeched to a halt at the entrance of the hospital, its lights flashing an urgent crimson. Paramedics rushed out with purpose, their energy palpable in the air. Curiosity piqued, Evelyn's gaze fixated on the unfolding drama.
On a stretcher emerged a man, battered and broken. His body bore the signs of a struggle, his form mangled and bruised and drenched with blood. . A gasp escaped Evelyn as she registered the grim state of the injured person. The whispers among the medical team reached her ears, words like "wild animal attack" and "critical condition" slicing through the tense atmosphere.
"Wild animal attack?" Her mn caught onto those words instanlty and she couldn't help but connect it to the animal.
As the injured man was wheeled into the hospital, Evelyn's mind raced, connecting dots in her own swirling labyrinth of thoughts. Could it be...? The memory of the forest's enigmatic creature flashed before her eyes, its dark eyes piercing her soul. Her heart quickened as she contemplated the possibility that this injured man had encountered the same entity.
A pang of guilt and sorrow washed over her, the heavy weight of responsibility settling on her chest. Did the toxic plant alter the animal's behavior, leading to this violent outcome? Her emotions converged into a whirlpool of remorse and concern, the sensation almost physical. Her forehead turned clammy with sweat, her complexion turning paler by the second. Each heartbeat echoed like a drum in her ears.
"What if it's my fault? What if the plant drove that creature to attack him?" Her inner dialogue was a chorus of guilt and panic.
With trembling fingers, she clutched at her chest, as if the physical touch could alleviate the emotional storm raging within her. Her breath quickened, and she found herself enveloped in a chilling aura.
Overwhelmed by curiosity, Evelyn felt a sudden gust of determination propelling her forward. She followed the stretcher, her steps silent and cautious, her presence nearly invisible amidst the whirlwind of activity.
As she stood in the corner, Evelyn observed the injured man being wheeled into the intensive care unit, followed closely by a woman whose tears bore witness to her anguish. The woman seemed to be closely related to the man, perhaps even his wife, given the depth of her grief. She wanted to go to her and ask her about the incident but it felt selfish to her that she was going to engage with her to settle her own personal problem.
Before Evelyn could muster the courage to reach out to her the sound of quick, purposeful footsteps reverberated through the hallway. Turning, she saw a group of uninformed individuals approaching the reception area. Her instinct was to step back, giving them space as they approached Silvia.
"Are you Silvia Delaros?" The lead inspector's voice addressed Silvia with a mix of professionalism and empathy. Silvia nodded shakily, her tear-streaked face reflecting her distress.
"I am Inspector Spark, and this is Forest Ranger Jolly," he introduced himself and his companion. "We received a report of an animal attack on your husband. Could you please cooperate with us and provide details on how and when this happened? We need to track down and neutralise the animal before it causes further harm."
Amid the flurry of emotions and the sterile surroundings of the hospital canteen, Silvia sat in a chair, clutching a glass of warm water as if it could offer solace to her trembling hands. A blanket draped over her shoulders, a feeble attempt to ward off both the physical and emotional cold that had settled in her bones. Her tear-streaked face held an expression of vulnerability, as if the weight of her ordeal had etched itself onto her features.
Evelyn, perched at the nearest table, observed Silvia from her chosen spot, a napkin clenched in her grasp. She couldn't help but feel like an intruder into the private pain that Silvia was sharing with the investigators. Nevertheless, her curiosity overpowered her unease, keeping her rooted in her place as she eavesdropped with a mix of apprehension and compassion.
As Silvia began to speak, her voice quivered with traces of trauma that she struggled to suppress. "Well, me and my husband were out for a hike in the forest, and out of nowhere, a huge dog-like animal appeared. We were on the trails, and that had never happened before, so it was too sudden." Her words came in a hushed rush, punctuated by ragged breaths. She paused, her fingers trembling against the glass she held.
"We had no way to fight it off," Silvia continued, her voice barely above a whisper, "and it charged at me. My husband blocked it, and..." Her voice broke, a bitter sob escaping her lips, the weight of her emotions too much to bear.
Inspector Spark, his demeanour a mixture of professionalism and empathy, placed a comforting hand on Silvia's back, offering silent support as she struggled to regain her composure. Meanwhile, Evelyn's grip on the napkin she held tightened, her fingers nervously tearing at the fabric as she listened intently.
Forest Ranger Jolly leaned forward, her gaze focused on Silvia as she asked, "Can you describe the animal in more detail, ma'am? Anything specific about its appearance or behaviour that stood out?"
Silvia, taking a shaky breath, nodded in response. "Yes, of course. It had gray fur, larger than any dog I've ever seen. Its paws were... strange." Her words tumbled out as if she was attempting to capture the fleeting memory of the animal. "I can't quite explain it, but they were different from normal animal's."
Evelyn's thoughts raced as she absorbed the description. "Gray fur, peculiar paws," she mused inwardly. "It's not the same animal I saw in the forest. " A wave of calmness took over her chest yet Her mind churned with conflicting thoughts, the pieces of the puzzle refusing to align perfectly.