Fated Hearts (Echoes of Darkness Prequel)

17

Ava

B usy with work, the days melt into each other, time passes in a blur, and before I know it, Halloween is already knocking at the door. It was a bit strange to be back at the bar after the attack, Wednesday night being the hardest, but Tony and Emily helped me keep my mind off it, and we fell into our routine.

Logan hasn’t shown his face since he left my apartment in a haste, which doesn’t lessen the blow I suffered to my ego. I hoped he would at least give me a reason for acting like that. I guess I don’t deserve an explanation.

Well, fuck him.

The sound of my phone ringing pulls me out of my thoughts. I lift it from the coffee table and let out a deep breath at the caller’s name on the screen. Tucking my legs under me on the couch, I pause the show I zoned out on and tap to accept the call, my stomach a ball of restless energy.

“ Hola, Mamá ,” I say dryly.

“ Ya te olvidaste de tu madre , Ava. I was expecting more from you,” she huffs in my ear, and I can already picture my mother pinching her lips in displeasure. It’s been two months since I left home to move across the country, and I haven’t spoken to her since.

“What were your exact words? Oh yeah…‘You’re dead to me. Don’t bother calling me or coming back home because I don’t want to see you ever again. You’re a disgrace. My biggest disappointment.’ So, I was just respecting your wishes.” My tone is clipped, but it’s nothing compared to the scalding tongue lashing my mother gave me when I said goodbye. I knew our relationship changed the moment I started taking control of my life, but still, hearing those words from my mother cut deeper than I would like to admit.

“ Ay, qué dramática eres ,” she scoffs.

Oh, so I’m being dramatic now? I just repeated her exact words.

“When are you going to stop this nonsense and come back home? I talked to your professors, and they told me you can go back if you—”

My jaw ticks as I cut her off. “Please don’t start again, Mamá . I’m not going home or back to law school. I’m happy here. This is my home now.”

“Well, your inheritance will dwindle to nothing eventually, and then you won’t be able to afford rent. You can’t expect me to send you money—”

“When did I ever ask you for money? Besides, I have a job. I can pay my own rent.”

“What job?” she asks, surprise evident in her tone.

I roll my eyes in preparation for her reaction before I answer her. “Server at a bar.”

Here it goes…

“ ?Ay, Dios mio, qué vergüenza! Are you out of your mind, Ava? I busted my ass after your deadbeat father left us for you to have a hot meal on the table and be able to attend college, and this is how you repay me? By leaving law school, moving across the country, and working at a bar como una puta ?” she screeches and ends the call abruptly.

Grinding my teeth, I inhale a calming breath despite my fingers tightening on my phone. I barely stop myself from hurling it at the TV as I let out a frustrated scream. After a few moments, my heart rate goes back to normal, and I shake my head in disappointment. Until now, I felt guilty for not reaching out to my mother for two months, but honestly, I was expecting this sort of reaction from her, especially after I started working at the Shabby Shotglass.

She didn’t even ask how I’m feeling. I mean, I did have a heart transplant four months ago. I get up, stride to the kitchen, and pull out all the ingredients I need to bake a chocolate cake. I was planning on being a couch potato until Tony came over so we could get ready together for the Halloween party. But my mother’s phone call left me with a bitter taste in my mouth and a pang in my chest that just won’t go away, so I’ll bake something in an attempt to make myself feel better. I hope it works.

“ Oh my God , you made this?” Tony says a few hours later, his voice traveling through the crack in the bathroom door.

“Do you like it?” I ask as I pull on the purple jumpsuit he brought over for me, trying to stick it to the tape on my boobs as best as I can. I definitely cannot wear a bra under it. Hopefully, the tape will be strong enough, and I won’t flash anyone at the party.

“Do I like it? It’s like an orgasm but in my mouth. Girl, you’ve got mad talent. It’s the best cake I’ve eaten in my entire life. If my mamma would hear me right now, she would whoop my ass, but damn, I dare say it’s better than sex.” He pauses, seemingly considering what he just said. “Okay, maybe not better, but a close second.”

“Well, I’m happy you love it so much,” I chuckle out as I get out of the bathroom. “You can have as much as you want, and I’ll bake you another whenever; just let me know,” I say. My gaze flits to Tony, who’s sitting on my couch. He looks amazing in his full Freddy Mercury costume while stuffing his face with the chocolate cake I served him a few minutes ago.

He makes a circle with his finger in the air, urging me to turn around as he chews and then swallows. I do a pirouette and pose like a model on a runway with a fierce stare. “So, what do you think?”

“Shit, you look hot, buttercup. If only I were straight,” he jests with mock aggravation.

We both laugh. “Can you help me with my wig? I never wore one before.”

“Oh, sweet innocent child, of course, I’ll help you.” He takes the last spoonful of cake from the plate, brings it into the kitchen, and places it in the sink. Then, Tony fusses over me in the bathroom for a good while, making sure my wig will stay in place. He even takes the time to trim the bangs so they look exactly like Selena’s.

The sun rays filtering through the windshield reflect in the golden sequins of Tony’s pants, creating a disco ball effect in my car’s interior. We take full advantage of our makeshift nightclub and sing off-key at the top of our lungs to “I Want to Break Free” by Queen. Tony connected his phone to the speakers and has been playing Queen since we left my apartment.

“To properly get into character,” he said earlier, winking at me.

Children in costumes accompanied by their parents crowd the streets in the residential area of Ashville on their way to trick-or-treating. Most of the mansions in this neighborhood are decorated, and it brings the Halloween spirit to life. I almost do a double take at the massive skeleton that looks like it’s escaping one of the houses, the bony hand splayed on the lawn bigger than my car. As I take in the macabre ornaments, memories of Chloe and me going trick-or-treating together when we were kids flash through my mind. We’ve been best friends since kindergarten. I feel her absence like a missing limb. I hope I’ll get to see her soon.

By the time we manage to find a free parking spot, the sun is already disappearing in the horizon, the sky darkening with every second that passes, now a fiery copper with violet streaks as it gives way to dusk.

The icy air prickles my cheeks as we make our way on the forest trail. The worst part about this is that we unfortunately have to walk about half an hour until we reach Shadow Lake. The part of me that is stuck in the past worries about the exertion, about passing out, and I have to remind myself that I am not half dead anymore. Unlike I would have been four months ago, I’m not out of breath at all, and being here in the forest, surrounded by the smell of damp earth and pine trees, fills me with energy, a sense of all-encompassing belonging. The blanket of rusty leaves that covers the forest floor crunches with our every step, and Tony keeps me entertained with awkward stories from when he was a teenager and still in the closet.

As we reach the clearing near Shadow Lake, the party is already in full swing. Music blasts from two ginormous speakers, and more than a hundred people in costumes surround the massive bonfire in groups, holding red Solo cups. Everyone is talking and laughing, and some are even dancing to the music.

The full moon casts a silvery glow over the thick canopy of trees and on the rippling water, making the lake appear translucent, like a burnished steel mirror. Restlessness overtakes me as I feel static energy skitter over my entire body. I clench and unclench my fingers, trying to shake off the weird feeling.

“C’mon, buttercup. I spotted some of my friends,” Tony squeaks as he grabs my hand and pulls me toward the bonfire to a group of people.

He hugs each of them, and then he comes back to my side. “Everyone, this is Ava. Ava, everyone.” He pauses and gives me a devilish wink. “Ava here is single and ready to mingle,” he proclaims to the whole group of ten people.

They all droll out some sort of “Hey” in my direction, and I wave awkwardly, heat spreading from my chest all the way to my ears for being put in the spotlight like that. Tony steps away and engages in a conversation with one of the guys in the group.

“Oh, I love your costume,” the redhead girl wearing iridescent fairy wings and a silky emerald billowing dress says to me from my right. She looks like I would imagine a real sylph would. The light cast by the bonfire gives a warm glow to the side of her face, making the rhinestones above her eyebrows twinkle.

“Credit goes to Tony. It’s his jumpsuit; I only bought the wig. And I love your costume, too. The wings are incredible.”

“Thanks, I made them myself. I’m Olivia, by the way.” I shake her hand when she thrusts it in my direction. She proceeds to tell me everyone’s name in their group, but I’m terrible at remembering names. As soon as she finishes, I have already forgotten them.

Tony saunters toward me, accompanied by a guy wearing a Joker costume. “Ava, this is Ethan.”

Ethan smiles as his gaze flits to me, tilting his chin since he already said hello earlier. He’s wearing a Joker costume, complete with the face paint. He has a boyish charm, his wavy blond hair curling slightly at his ears, and he is a bit taller than Tony. Not as tall as Logan, though. I clench my jaw and push the errant thought away.

Ocean-blue eyes rake my body appreciatively. “Do you want to get something to drink?” Ethan asks.

“Sure,” I reply and look at Tony. “Are you coming too?”

“No, you lovebirds go without me. But you can bring me some beer.”

Ethan falls into step with me as we start walking toward the keg that’s placed on the ground near a log serving as a makeshift table a few feet away, close to the tree line. “So, how do you know Tony?”

“I work at the same bar as he does, the Shabby Shotglass, in the Raven district.”

“Really? I go there all the time but haven’t seen you before. I can’t believe I didn’t notice someone as beautiful as you.”

“I started working there recently, a month and a half ago. I just moved to Ashville.”

“Ah. I’ve been busy with a school project the past two months, so I haven’t gotten out much. But I would love to show you the city. If you want, of course.”

Sawing my lip between my teeth, I ponder his offer. Even if Logan was such a dick to me, our kiss inevitably pops into my mind. It’s as though something inside me refuses to move on. Ugh, stop thinking about him, Ava. He doesn’t deserve to occupy space in your head. I shakeLogan’s ghost off my shoulders, and tell him, “Yeah, sure, I would like that.”

We finally reach the keg but have to wait in a line to actually get our drinks. “Cool, it’s a date.” He winks and gives me a rueful smile that looks downright sinister with the makeup he has on, sweetened slightly by the boyish dimple.

“What do you study?” I ask after a few beats of silence.

“Architecture,” he responds and takes three red solo cups. “Do you want beer? I think there’s also some Vodka and OJ in the coolers.”

“Um, I can’t drink alcohol.”

“I got you, no worries,” he says, then starts searching through the drinks in the cooler. He throws me a look over his shoulder. “So you got two options, orange juice or alcohol-free cider.”

“Cider, please.”

He hands me the cider after he opens the bottle using his keys. He then pours two beers for himself and Tony, and we fall into an easy conversation as we stride back to the group. It doesn’t take long before I’m jumping to the music alongside Tony and Olivia. I laugh as Tony twirls me and bumps his hips with mine. He then excuses himself to talk to a guy dressed as a firefighter who’s been ogling him since we arrived. Olivia takes his place, and we start grinding to the music. I think the last time I had so much fun was when I went to the Deadly Sins concert with Chloe. Well, before I decided to snort cocaine like a dumbass and trigger my second heart attack, of course.

About an hour later, and after two more drinks supplied by Ethan, I realize I haven’t seen Tony since he went to talk to that guy. “Have you seen Tony?” I ask Olivia.

“When I last saw him, he was pulling the firefighter with him through those trees.” Her eyes are glazed by alcohol when she points with her finger at the tree line on our right. “He’s probably getting some action, if you know what I mean,” she tells me with a smirk, slurring the words.

“I think maybe you should drink some water,” I say, a bit worried that she’s going to get sick soon.

She hiccups. “Yeah, that’s probably a good idea.”

“I’ll take her,” Ethan offers as he returns from his bathroom break. “Do you want another cider?”

“Yeah, thanks.”

They both leave, and at this point, I have to shuffle on my feet a bit and press my thighs together because my bladder is so full I feel like it’s going to burst any minute now. The idea that I have to go squat behind a tree where anyone can see me is not appealing at all, but at the end of the day, the only other option I have is peeing myself. So, I decide to put on my big girl pants and go take care of my business.

I make it past the tree line on my right when it dawns on me. I’m wearing a freakin’ jumpsuit. Mierda. I haven’t thought this through. So, if someone accidentally passes by me, they will get a full damn show. At least I’m wearing my jacket on top, but still. I pinch the bridge of my nose during the second it takes me to gather my courage, and when I think I finally made it far enough and start taking off my jumpsuit, a heaving noise pulls my attention to a guy dressed as Batman puking his guts out only two meters behind me. I hastily retie back my jumpsuit around my neck as the disgusting smell burns my nostrils, making me gag. I step away from him as fast as possible and decide to go further into the woods.

After walking for about fifteen more minutes, I look around and listen, but there’s no one here, only the wind rustling the branches of the pine trees and the lonely hoot of an owl in the distance. I take care of my business with a happy sigh, and when I finally finish sticking the cleavage portion of the jumpsuit back to the tape, a blood-curdling scream cuts through the air.

My stomach drops to the bottom of my feet. Another scream follows. It sounds exactly like Tony. The screech saws through my bones like a serrated knife, and my body reacts instantly. I have to do something to help him. My legs propel me forward at lightning speed.

Icy pine-scented air fills my lungs and burns the back of my throat with every hurried inhale, and I don’t think I’ve ever run this fast in my entire life. The forest is nothing more than a hazy blob around me. The speed ends up being a curse, though, because soon the unmistakable stench of copper is filling my nose so potently I can almost taste it on my tongue.

I skid to a halt behind a tree when I come face to face with a golden, sequined-clad leg twitching on the ground. Ice shards fill my veins the moment I step to the side, and my eyes take in the horror scene before me.

Nonononononononono! It, it can’t be.

I’m dreaming. I have to be dreaming. This can’t be real. My body is frozen in place, and I can’t hear anything over the ringing in my ears and the pounding in my chest.

Everything seems to move in slow motion as the biggest wolf I have ever seen claws Tony’s heart out of his chest.

He’s not alone; a mangled body sits in a pool of blood next to Tony. The firefighter guy is barely recognizable, with his limbs all wrong and his chest slashed open savagely.

I muffle a scream and take a trembling step back—right onto a branch. The crack slices through the eerie silence, and the wolf turns its head back toward me, baring its teeth menacingly. A deep growl leaves its chest as it steps in my direction.

Oh, God. What do I do? What do I do?

It pins me in place with its icy-blue eyes, and they look so human it’s jarring. So jarring that a weird tingling starts at the bottom of my feet, spreading all over my body in seconds. Then, all I feel is agony. It’s like my skin is being pulled too tight over my bones, and someone is pouring boiling water over me at the same time.

I bite my tongue and all I taste is blood when I feel a bone cracking and then another and another until I’m writhing on the cold, damp forest floor. I’m blinded by red-hot pain as my gums burn and my nails extend into sharp claws. Thick fur pierces my skin, and my mouth is filled, all of a sudden, with razor-sharp teeth.

What is happening to me?

This is what dying must feel like.

Am I, am I turning into a wolf?

No, no, no.

?Despiértate, Ava!

Wake the fuck up!

The problem is…I can’t wake up. The nightmare continues.

Blinking a few times, I turn my gaze toward the wolf that looks at me with its too-human eyes as if surprised, its head cocked to the side, auburn fur glittering in the moonlight. It’s all a blur as someone wearing a dark cloak steps next to the mangled bodies, collects the two hearts from the forest floor, and then disappears through the trees. The wolf takes another step toward me, but before I can panic, it stops. It lifts its snout in the air, sniffs, and changes its mind, turning around and running after the person wearing the cloak.

A very canine whimper leaves my chest as I step carefully toward Tony on all fours. The gruesome picture before me will forever be seared into my brain. I’m sure I’ll have nightmares to remember this cursed night by for many years to come. If not my whole life. That motherfucking wolf made a mockery of my dear friend’s body. His face is frozen in a terrified wail, unmoving eyes staring at the star-studded sky. The neck is nothing more than a threadbare piece of meat. And the chest…God...the chest is the worst. Only a cavernous hole, from which the insides spill like a gurgling river of blood, painting the ground in violence. Still, I press my snout into his side.

C’mon, Tony. Please, please wake up!

Realistically, I know it’s impossible. He doesn’t even have a heart anymore, but my mind doesn’t seem to register that as I press my paw into what’s left of his arm, jolting his lifeless body.

A deep, powerful growl rumbles behind me, and I turn around just in time to see yet another gigantic wolf charging at me, fury flashing in its human-like honey eyes. Those eyes…I, I think I recognize them. I think this might be the world I’ve been dreaming about for the last four months.

Instinct takes over, and before I realize what I’m doing, I’m already running away at warp speed through the thick canopy of trees with the wolf at my back. My muscles scream in pain with the sheer effort; he’s so damn fast. It already feels like he’s been chasing me for an eternity, and I don’t know how much longer I can keep running.

Why is he doing this?

“You killed them,” someone growls back in my mind. It’s a voice I recognize, and I’m so shocked by it that I stop for a second before I realize my mistake and start running again.

Only it’s too late. The wolf barrels into my side, and we are a flurry of snapping jaws and flying limbs as we fall into a ravine, rolling and rolling until the back of my head smashes into something solid. Blackness takes over my vision.