The Cursed Bride

They were going to kill her.

Nyra paused to catch her breath but the sound of footsteps approaching made her start running once more. She didn't even bother to turn around to see how close they were.

The Lycans were a supernatural breed of creatures that had more special abilities than she could imagine. She'd heard of their speed and strength, and knew there were more wicked things to them from the whispers in the town.

That's why she knew running was futile. The three Lycans that were following her were still catcalling as they walked, a casual ease to their chase. She knew if they wanted to, they would have her head in a matter of seconds, but instead, they were drawing this out. Enjoying the hunt like she was some sort of prey.

"Come on, Red," One of them leered, his voice echoing in the dense silence of the forest she'd stumbled into. "We just want to talk."

The sun had begun to set mere moments ago but it was already getting dark. She sent up a prayer of gratitude that it wasn't a full moon tonight, or else she was as good as dead.

Stupid. She felt so stupid for even being here. For letting herself even get caught in this situation. She should've gone back home with everyone else after the festival ended.

All the humans in Chaolsen, young and old alike, knew better than to hang around outside past sunset, especially this close to the full moon. Yet she'd defied that rule today when she had hung back to take down some of the decorations.

Why hadn't she just left it until tomorrow? Her breathing was becoming strained now as she leaned against a tree, panting harder than ever, and remembering the stern warning her aunt and best friend had given her before they'd left. She had been going stall to stall, making things easier for her tomorrow when the three Lycans had shown up. All too late, she looked around and realised she was the only human left in the square.

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. The voice in her voice echoed as the sound of footsteps trampling on the fallen leaves on the forest floor got even louder.

"Where are you?" One of them called out in a singsong tone, his voice even more menacing in the dead silence.

"Don't worry, human. We won't hurt you."

A trickle of fear ran through her body as she turned her head, feeling herself freeze at the sight of their silhouettes just a few feet away. She willed her body to run but something about their approach made her suddenly feel like a deer caught in headlights with no chance of escape.

She was an idiot. That was something her family, and her best friend, had said several times but today it was confirmed. Why did she run into the forest, and not towards the town where people could save her? How stupid was she?

Chaolsen had a running peace treaty between the Lycans and the humans who lived there. They had their own parts of the town, and while the Lycans mingled freely in human territory, the humans never dared to step foot on the Lycan side.

It was a tentative peace they had shared after years of endless feuds and petty bloodshed. No Lycan had hurt a human since it had been set in place and no human would even think of attacking a Lycan. At least, not until today.

"There you are." The tall one sneered as they came ever closer. A wicked grin was plastered on each of their faces and Nyra felt her heart sink. She was going to die. This was it.

In a moment, they were all around her, surrounding her and making the trapped air in her chest burn as she struggled against her rising panic. Of all the times to have a panic attack, this had to be the worst.

Nyra tried to take one step back but her back was already against the tree and with the Lycans crowding her from the front and both sides, she had nowhere left to run.

She could feel the tightness in her chest becoming even more painful but she still defiantly looked at the lead man and rasped, "Please...help! Somebody!!..." She managed to let out a scream at the last word. Her legs gave way and she sank to the ground as the sound of their boisterous laughter boomed through the woods around her.