Chapter two

The night was very dark as Alina found herself in a thick, scary forest. The full moon shone in the sky, casting a faint silver light through the trees. Every sound, every rustle of leaves, and every small animal moving sent chills down her spine.

The heavy silence, broken only by occasional animal calls, felt like it was closing in on her. Panic filled her as she spun around, desperately looking for a way out or a familiar face.

"Is there anyone there?" she screamed, her voice echoing back mockingly.

Her heart raced when she heard footsteps on the leaves. She quickly turned toward the sound, and her breath caught in her throat. Emerging from the shadows was a woman of ravishing beauty. She was elegantly dressed in a long red dress, her hair pure white like snow that shone in the moonlight, and her eyes a bright blue. She had long, claw-like fingers that moved threateningly as she came closer.

Alina was paralyzed by fear, her body trembling uncontrollably as she tried to back away. She tried to scream, but her voice failed her, her scream stuck in her throat as the strange woman's gaze pinned her in place. The woman's lips curled into a chilling, creepy smile, and she laughed, a sound that echoed throughout the forest.

"So, you are she," she said, her voice a haunting melody. "Susan's daughter, you look just like her."

Alina's mind reeled. How did she know her mother? Before she could ask, the woman turned her head slightly and yelled, "Alpha, I have found her!"

Alina's eyes looked around in terror, wondering who or what was about to emerge. Her heart nearly stopped when a massive black wolf stepped out of the shadows. It was a monstrous beast, its fur glistening in the moonlight, and it let out a long, bone-chilling howl that echoed through the forest.

Alina was shivering all over. She fell flat on the ground, feeling goosebumps all over her body. She screamed in horror, the sound tearing from her throat. With all the strength she could muster, she stood on her feet, spun on her heel, and ran.

The underbrush scratched at her legs, and branches whipped her face. Her breath came in ragged gasps, but she could hear them behind her – the woman's mocking laughter and the wolf's relentless pursuit.

She risked a glance back and saw them closing in. Despair flooded her as the wolf leaped, its powerful legs propelling it forward with terrifying speed. She felt its weight slam into her, knocking her to the ground. Sharp claws pinned her down, and its hot breath washed over her face, filled with rage and something far worse – intelligence.

Drool dripped from its snarling mouth, and in the silence of her mind, she heard its voice clear as day. "I will find you," it said, each word dripping with venom. "And when I do, you will end up dead like your mother."

Tears blurred her vision as she looked up at the woman with white hair, who stood beside the wolf, her eyes gleaming with malice. The wolf raised a massive claw, poised to strike. Alina's mind screamed for mercy, but no sound escaped her lips.

The claw descended. Alina squeezed her eyes shut and screamed with every ounce of strength left in her.

Alina's eyes fluttered open, her body still trembling. The remnants of her nightmare clung to her mind like cobwebs. She sat up in bed, rubbing her eyes, trying to shake off the unsettling dream. It had felt so real – the sexy, scary witch and the huge talking wolf.

She concluded it must be because of all the werewolf and vampire films she'd been watching lately. Just last night, she had finished four episodes of "Teen Wolf."

But one part of the dream kept nagging at her: the mention of her mom. Her mother had died years ago when Alina was just an infant, a victim of a hit-and-run accident – at least, that's what her dad had always told her. It felt weird that the ugly big bad wolf in her dream had mentioned her mom by name. She shivered again, trying to push the thought away.

She glanced at the window. The morning sunlight was already streaming in, and she realized she was late for school. With a groan, she hoped today would be free of drama. Marcus had been really bothering her, and she still didn't know how to handle the scrapbook situation.

Alina hurried to the bathroom and took her bath. After bathing, she stood in front of her mirror, frustration bubbling up. No matter what she wore, she didn't feel like herself. Her small, petite yet curvy body frame just wouldn't fit any clothes right. Not to mention, her long, straight red hair was a mess. She tied it into a ponytail and settled on a plain white top and blue jeans.

Downstairs, her father was already dressed for work, sipping his coffee. He glanced at his watch as she entered the kitchen. "Kiddo, you're very late for school, are you sick?"

"Good morning," Alina mumbled, her tone low and lazy.

"Good morning, dear," he replied, walking over to her and placing a hand on her forehead. "You're not sick. Your temperature is alright."

"Yes, Dad, I'm fine," she said, forcing a smile. "Can you give me some lunch money? I'm too late to eat breakfast," she added, making a cute face.

He opened his wallet and handed her some money. Alina grabbed it immediately and dashed to the front door. "Bye!" she called over her shoulder.

"Okay, honey. Be safe," he replied, watching her go.

At school, Alina stood at the entrance of the classroom, her heart pounding. After the disastrous attempt to retrieve her scrapbook yesterday, she felt utterly humiliated to enter the class.

She knew Marcus and his friends would be there, ready to mock her. She debated whether to skip school or face her fears. Realizing that she couldn't avoid the problem forever, she took a deep breath and decided to brave it.

As soon as she entered the classroom, laughter erupted from Marcus and his friends. "Hey, look, it's the lovesick poet!" Marcus jeered, banging on his desk. Alina's cheeks burned with embarrassment as she hurried to her seat, burying her head in her desk. Lizzy hurried to her seat and tried to cheer her up and console her.

"Don't let them get to you, Alina. They are just immature and good for nothing," Lizzy whispered, patting her back. But Alina's mood remained bleak.

The situation worsened when Evan, the subject of her scrapbook, walked in with his girlfriend, Kendra, who happened to be Alina's friend. Marcus saw his opportunity and began banging on his desk, singing a mocking song. "There's a girl in one-sided love, pining for her best friend's guy," he chanted, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Alina's face turned red with embarrassment. She couldn't take it anymore. She jumped up from her seat, marched over to Marcus, and clamped her hand over his mouth. "We need to talk. Now," she hissed.

Marcus raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Sure, why not?" he said, standing up and following her out of the classroom.

Once they were outside, Alina took a deep breath. "Marcus, please, give me back the scrapbook," she pleaded.

Marcus crossed his arms, a smirk playing on his lips. "And why should I do that?"

"Because it's mine, and it's private!" Alina said, her frustration boiling over. "Please, Marcus, I'm begging you."

He pretended to ponder her request, then shook his head. "Nope. But I have a proposition for you."

Alina's heart sank. "What do you want?"

"I want you to prank Mr. Thompson, the math teacher, during lunch. You know, something memorable," Marcus said, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Do that, and I'll give you your precious scrapbook back."

Alina's jaw dropped. "Are you serious?"

"As a heart attack," Marcus said, grinning. "Think of it as... entertainment for me. And maybe a little revenge for daring to challenge me."

Mr. Thompson was the strictest teacher in school, and getting caught would mean serious trouble. But losing her scrapbook, with all her private thoughts and feelings, was unthinkable.

Alina stared at him, weighing her options. She knew it was risky, but she had no choice. "Fine," she said finally. "I'll do it."

"Good girl," Marcus said, patting her on the head as if she were a dog. "I look forward to the show. Meet me in the cafeteria at lunch, and don't be late."

Alina watched him saunter back into the classroom, her stomach churning with a mix of fear and determination. She had to pull off the prank, or her humiliation would only get worse. Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself for what lay ahead.