LOST IN THE WOLF'S SHADOW

"The Bowman's Bar"- this was where it all began. I had closed the family's flower shop early today as I needed to focus on writing my résumé for the B-List agency casting.

Acting had always been my forlorn passion. I craved the spotlight so bad, with all the paparazzi and showbiz glitz, but I didn't really know anything about the industry; I had no experience, no College degree, no ground-laid information, literally nothing gratifying.

Just some naïve dorky girl in her early 20s, who rehearses random movie scenes in front of her family every dinner night.

Not forgetting to mention the tons of pilled up magazines in my room, featuring the 'who's who' in the industry. Not that I was interested in their faces ; I bought them mainly to search for scouting informations.

"Hey, Pops," I voiced, pressing my phone against my ear. I had rang dad's phone for the fifteenth time today.

"Lylah, is everything okay?"

"Uh, yeah. I'm closing the shop early. Sorry Dad, I need to write that résumé I told you about. The entry closes at midnight."

"You could just stay and figure it out in there, don't you think?"

"I know dad, I just need a different kind of environment, my inspiration ain't kicking in here."

"Honestly, I've got nothing attention-piquing to say about my self, you know. I need a spice in my application." The weight of low esteem hung heavily in the tone of my voice.

"Come on, you know a lot about flowers! That's a plus for real," a voice chimed in from the background. That was Lucas, my eldest brother, he was off work today- had a thing with his girlfriend, Mila.

The whole family worked in the flower shop by the way. Mom and Dad met in college, both studying floriculture, they decided to open a flower shop soon after getting married, training me, Lucas and Liam in the line of business since we were kids.

"Flowers are alive, they can talk like you, you just have to listen closely," mom would always tell us casually.

"Dad..?" I sighed, bringing him back to our conversation.

"Mmm hmm?" "Could you take me off speaker next time?

He chuckled. "I'll see to that."

"Don't go wandering far off this time, it'll come naturally," mom's voice echoed through."

"Your mom's right, take it easy on yourself pumpkin. You'll figure it out," dad added simultaneously.

"Love you too, dad," I said and hung up.

I waded off after locking up the entrance, gently sliding a piece of mint into my mouth with every crush masking thoughts of what it'd actually feel like if I make it into the agency.

The streets looked alive and cautious like my every step was guarded and directed by an invisible flow.

I hummed the Papinko; dad's favorite boy band track, while I tried to organize the scattered voices in my head. I thought of what could make me unique even without basic qualifications, I knew I had something, I just couldn't get the words out.

"I gotta get around," I cussed in frustration.

Strolling further as my legs took me, without paying attention to my steps or stops. I held my tote bag closely as I walked into a dark alley raiding with scary looking cats.

I'd seen the path before but never ventured through it, today was a first.

I trotted with caution and a little panic, it was dark and almost like no one neared the area at night. Still, I stubbornly moved my cute little feet in front of the other, smoothly ahead. What's the worse that could happen?

After what felt like an endless walk through darkness, a towering glass building loomed ahead- boasting of luxury and lavishness. It gleamed white and bright cutting through the darkness that lurked.

Standing wholesomely intriguing with gothic-like graphics lining it's center in oxblood colored wordings, boldly announcing its name, "The Bowman's Bar."

The building's entire exterior outlook exuded opulence and sophistication. Encased in grand designs that looked stylishly irregular, wraith-like gargoyles scattering across its expanse with each standing watch like living silent sentinels.

Ornate accents framed the sliding entry door, adorned with black hollyhocks while two imposingly huge figures stood meters away in guard, both masked up and menacing. One would think they were padded up beneath their sleeves.

My eyes reflected in admiration to this haunting beauty as I remained in the dark path.

"Are you lost, lad?" growled the watcher in Venetian masks, turning briskly, he narrowed his bloodshot eyes at my direction. My heart skipped. How could he know I was there? Sensing my exact position in the dark where I stood.

I stepped forward nervously, vibrant hues of crimson and deep violet illuminated from within, casting ambient lighting on my small statue.

"Tch, lad?" I scoffed, trying to suppress my racing heart. "I'm a grown-ass lady, just here for a drink."

"165 beats per minute, that's too loud for a lad so mouthy," the other one in cyborg masks said gruffly, peering at me as if he could see my internal organs.

I tugged at the hem of my strapless ivory dress, in slight discomfort to their indifference.

"You got me," I chuckled uneasily to their stern faces, calculating my next words.

"I've got a lot going on right now and I think a drink may just fix me, " I added sharply, attempting to walk past them toward the door, but they blocked me with their broad frames.

"Your pass?" the cyborg mask demanded.

"Uh, what's that?" I halted, itching my arms slightly.

"Scoot off, lad, or I might just eat you."

For some reason, the repeated use of 'lad' from this men grated on my nerves. Irritation crept inside me, and I wasn't about to back off easily.

"You are really stretching your boundaries," I started provokingly, voice sharp.

"Be nice to your guests. I'm not some random high school teenager. If you want money to let me through, ask nicely."

The guards remained stone-faced, unfazed by my ravings. As I attempted to lash out more, Venetian mask suddenly advanced towards me as if he wanted to stop my words before they could fall through.

His eyes were different like that of an apex predator. Tension built in my shoulders as I retreated quickly. But still, I wasn't going to let anyone intimidate me for doing no wrong.

"Go on, eat me."

"I taste just as good as I look," I taunted carelessly, in doubt that they could actually do anything harmful.

In a flick unnoticed motion, almost too fast for my eyes to trace, the watcher was all in my face. I yelped in shock at the possibility of what happened.

My breath came in shallow gasps as I stood frozen in the light, struggling to comprehend what had just happened. One moment, he was several feet away from me, and the next he had my arms in his grasp.

His gaze darted towards my neck in a passionate longing, a look I was familiar with; one I always had whenever Dad made my favorite chocolate cupcakes. I stumbled backwards in fear of being food for real, but that didn't seem possible to me. Who eats a fellow human?

He pulled me back easily, closing the distance between us. A gush of wind brushed harshly against my face as adrenaline pumped up aggressively.

I saw his eyes change into a golden glow, fangs shooting out from within his mouth, fear clawed at my chest. This can't be real.

The thought of dying became surreal, for a second I thought of the grief it'll bring to Pops and the entire family, drops of tears trickled from the corners of my eyes as my whole body trembled.

He locked me in a rigid position, I swallowed loads of saliva as I felt his breath heavily on my neck as his mouth widened for a bite.

"She's with me," a voice called out from the shadows, startling me in relieve, the watcher paused.

Without releasing me just yet, he turned slightly to the direction of the voice. I struggled to dart my gaze also, to see what my savior looked like but I was completely stuck in rippling muscles and could not move.

The voice was calm yet intimidating, I could hear the click of lighter burning up cigarette, followed by the rash puff of exhalation as he piped on casually. Whoever it was, there was a certain aura to his presence. I could sense it even without direct visuals.

Cyborg masks who was on standby lunged frantically into the dark where my savior stood, silent fell briefly, all I heard after were sounds of punching and hitting, then another that was like claws ripping through the flesh.

A screeching cry gave way from the distance, I bit my lips in panic. Who was down? My savior or scary man?

Just then, Venetian mask slowly loosened his grip on my tender arms like though he had seen something very frightening; something far more dangerous than himself.

I could see the terror in his retreat, I gently rubbed off the soreness on my skin as my gaze remained fixed on him, now it almost seemed like I had suddenly grown an unmatched superiority that scared him off.

"Scoot off lad," I loathe mockingly, feeling myself at the strange turn of events, as if I had become a big deal out of the blues.

The night turned eerily silent, I couldn't place what was exactly going on but I did know I was grateful to whatever it was for saving my life.

A low growl rumbled from the darkness, my heart jumped into my mouth. I turned nervously to scan the shadows, I could feel something- a presence. I froze in jitters. Was it Cyborg mask coming back? Or...something worse?