Chapter 8

Choking. Grey. Red. I was scared. Scared about what? I couldn't see anything but felt the pressure that was placed upon me. "You will never see him again." Someone whispered near me.

"Arena."

"Arena..."

"HOPE!"

A voice shouted, and I jolted up from my bed to see Frigg jumping up and down on my bed, Gina hot on her tail laughing.

"Happy birthday Hope!" Frigg and Gina sang for me as they placed gifts in front of me. Gina hopped next to me as Frigg crossed her legs in front of me.

"Open mine first." Gina sang and placed her gift nearer to me. It was a square-shaped object covered in brown paper and bound with string. Opening the paper, I found an old book, it was musky and tinted green. Inside was neatly written recipes some in Spanish and others in English. "It's our family recipes, all our secret recipes since you love to bake and cook so much."

"Oh, I can't Gina. These belong to your family."

"You are already a part of our family"

"You are my best friend, Hope. You're my sister."

"Froggy..." I ahhed and hugged her.

"You know I don't like you calling me that." Frigg gave me a big box closed with ribbons and inside was a brown leather book with pencils and lots of sweets. Frigg always knew what I wanted and needed, she knew I loved to draw and that I now draw book was already full of doodles. She also never forgot my sweet tooth.

"How'd you know?" I asked Frigg, rubbing my thumb over the rough texture of the leather.

"I always know, Hope." She laughed and I thanked her, hugging her too.

"Okay, ladies know that presents are done. Why don't we go downstairs and make so delicious waffles?" Gina asked as I and Frigg rushed downstairs

***

After some delicious blueberry and chocolate waffles, we did some activities when near mid-afternoon Gina suggested that we go to the Lodge.

"Do you girls want to go see the Lodge, they have the best food there?" Gina exclaimed and looked at Frigg with big eyes and a sly smile. It made me suspicions about what they got planned. The plan was just to relax at Gina's house, to have a lazy day of movies with Frigg. The norm of my birthdays.

"Gina..." I said nervously, but Gina just gave Frigg a stare with a hidden message, making me even worrier of what they had planned.

"Yes, yes! Let's go?" Frigg said and rushed me upstairs to get out of my PJ's. Frigg knew of our routine and that I didn't like changing it and knowing Frigg she was quite nervous when helping me dress. She forced me into a short flowy dress and rushed me downstairs.

"You can't go in jeans and baggy T-shirt to a fancy Lodge! You have to dress to impress." Frigg exclaimed after I moaned for the hundredth of time.

"But I don't have anyone to impress." I fired back, my hands swaying for effect in the air. Gina laughed as we came downstairs, also in a long sundress like Frigg and me.

"You girls ready?" she asked and opened the front door for us.

We drove threw town and past a big board with the words 'Welcome to Red Woods, Lodge to the left.' and a big red arrow pointing to the left side of the road with a painting of woods. Gina turned onto the road, which was quite dark and eerie with the woods surrounding it. A mile or two in millions of tiny lights where seen hanging from the trees, lighting the road until you reached the Lodge.

The Lodge was gigantic, now I know where all those tourists lived. It was a three-story building with a big fountain in front of the main door, where all the cars rode around and at the left side of the building a big parking lot full of lavish cars. There where big, thick wood columns that stood up till three feet and big windows where light seeped out, some with grant balconies.

"We're here," Gina exclaimed and stopped in front of the main door. It was a big door, I have never seen such a big door in my life. It was made of thick wood with wolf carvings in them, making it seem mysterious and story-telling.

We climbed out and I silently thanked Frigg for making me wear something presentable because I would have stood out like a sore thumb in my jeans and T-shirt between the tuxes and expensive clothed people in the lodge. Gina gave her keys to the parking valet and thanked him while leading us into the Lodge. I and Frigg were amazed at its beauty.

The inside was themed like the woods and had the smell of them too. "It smells like we're back in the woods," I whispered to Frigg.

"It does, look at the big wood columns. They're ginormous! I bet they're from the woods," she whispered back.

"I'll second you," I laughed, "and the people?"

"Yeah, talk about ching-ching." She joked as Frigg shushed us.

"The restaurant is around the corner."

As we went around the corner I saw a big chandelier hanging from the roof, above a big ball floor with people I was starting to get to know.

"Happy Birthday Hope!" they all shouted as Olive and Olga held up a big banner and the rest throwing confetti at us. Now I knew why Gina and Frigg were so secretive. They planned this. Shocked I turned around and started to walk away, but Frigg caught me and pushed me further inside.

Frigg knew I hated parties, ever since that faithful night at Kenzi's party. "Frigg!" I whispered shout.

"Don't be rude Hope, they planned this for you."

"But," I tried to reason, but she cut me off.

"You need to get more out Hope and Kenzi's party was five years ago and... she isn't here now, is she? So, relax, these people here," she mentioned with her hand, "Are here for you because we love you."

Feeling loved, I hugged Frigg, "Thank you, what will I do without you?"

"Who knows," we both laughed and walked closer to the guests.

"Happy Birthday Hope!" Olive hugged me and handed me her gift, "I hope you love it, I made it myself."

Looking at the little green box I open the lit to find a silver chain with little wolf charm hanging from it.

"It's beautiful," I hugged her over her swollen belly.

"Now you'll always remember us."

"I'll never forget you or anyone here."

We where only a few people. It was me, Frigg, Gina, Olive, Olga and some of there friends that I have met and the three ladies from Moontide. Dalia, Lily and Nina I think.

Everyone wished me a happy birthday and started to party. We had the whole place for our-self and Olive didn't spare any expense. The place was decorated in gold and black decorations, a vintage styled party, with a DJ who played the best music to dance on. You could just see the jealous looks from behind the glass doors from the bypassing people. One particularly person caught my eye, his eyes were as cold as stone when he walked next to Michael.

He was walking with a few other men too but kept quiet as they talked to him. His eyes only focused on mine and just like that they vanished.

We ate cake and drank punch, danced our butts off and just had fun. Everyone enjoyed themselves until just before midnight when the doors swung open and Michael came in followed by Dmitry and another guy. Olive went then straight to Michael and seemed to be arguing with him, giving glances to Dmitry. She was not happy with him being here. Dmitry just stood awkwardly next to the other guy, who looked quite tiny next to him.

"Come on let's go dance," Olive said after she talked with Michael and dragged me to the dance floor. We danced on a song or two when a slow song started to play, and Michael dragged her off.

I admired them, the way they looked at each other's made me believe in soulmates. They looked so in love and I envied them for it, wondering if I'd ever had that.

"May I have this dance?" a husky voice said behind me. Dmitry held his hand out to me an invitation, which I took. "You look beautiful tonight." He whispered into my ear as we started to dance. "Why didn't you tell me it was your birthday?" he asked and twirled me around.

"Why would I? I barely know you, Dmitry." I stated with a laugh as he just smiled at me.

"True, but happy birthday then ..." he said and dipped me low as I blushed.

Then I heard it...

"Hope..." it softly spoke.

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