Lucy had always believed hospitals smelled like the absence of hope. Bleach, metal, and fear woven into the air. Tonight, they smelled worse—because every step through the automatic doors felt like walking through another memory of her father's death.
Grandma Edma lay on a stretcher between her and Merlin, her white hair now streaked with sweat and blood. Lucy never believed she would see her strong grandmother this fragile, this small. Edma's fingers twitched occasionally, as if she was reaching for Lucy even in unconsciousness.
"Hold her steady," a nurse ordered as they rushed Edma toward the emergency ward.
Lucy's hands trembled but she held on. Merlin walked beside her—silent, jaw clenched, his military jacket still torn from the fight. He had carried Edma to the jeep as if she weighed nothing, all while Lucy could barely keep herself upright.
The doors flung open. Doctors pulled Edma inside.
"Wait outside!" one shouted.
The doors closed before Lucy could respond.
Silence swallowed her.
Her body finally broke, her knees buckling beneath her. She sank into a plastic chair in the waiting hall, clutching her arms tightly around herself. Adrenaline drained out of her like water through cracked glass. Her throat tightened, breath shallow.
Merlin knelt in front of her immediately.
"Lucy. Hey—look at me."
She lifted her eyes. His were steady, dark, but soft with worry.
"You're safe," he said quietly. "Your grandma is in safe hands. She's strong."
Lucy shook her head, a tear slipping free. "She… she tried to protect me. And they—they—"
Her voice cracked. Merlin didn't say anything. Instead, he placed a hand over hers—warm, grounding.
"They won't touch you again," he said. "I swear it."
For the first time since the assault, Lucy felt her lungs expand fully.
But then her mind flickered back to her father, to the forest, to the sound of wolves in her nightmares.
"Merlin…" she whispered. "Why were you even there? Why were you in my house at that exact time? You should be posted in the capital. I don't understand anything."
His fingers tightened slightly over hers.
"I'll explain," he said. "Everything. Just breathe first."
Before she could answer, the doctor approached—a middle-aged man with rounded glasses and a tired face.
"Family of Edma Desmond?"
Lucy shot up. "Yes—yes, I'm her granddaughter. Is she… is she okay?"
The doctor nodded, adjusting his glasses. "She's out of immediate danger. Multiple contusions, a swollen jaw, and a fractured wrist. But she is conscious. Weak, but conscious."
Lucy's shoulders sagged with relief so sharp it made her dizzy.
"Can I see her?" she asked.
"In a few minutes. She's being stabilized."
Then his eyes drifted to Merlin. "Are you family as well?"
"No," Merlin answered. "A… friend."
The doctor gave him a curious look but said nothing. He simply nodded and walked away.
Lucy let out a shaking breath.
"She's alive… thank god… she's alive…"
"You want water?" Merlin offered.
She nodded, but when he turned toward the water cooler, her fingers instinctively grabbed his sleeve.
"Don't go too far…"
The words came out before she could stop them.
He paused, looked down at her hand.
His voice softened. "I'm not leaving."
Lucy let go, embarrassed, and Merlin went to fetch her water.
When he returned, she sipped quietly, feeling some warmth return to her chest.
A nurse finally guided them inside.
GRANDMA EDMA — WHISPERS OF AN OLD FEAR
Edma lay propped against pillows, her face bruised but her eyes sharp. When she saw Lucy, her breath hitched.
"My child…"
Her voice trembled, full of pain and worry.
Lucy rushed to her, gripping her grandmother's hand and pressing it against her cheek.
"I'm so sorry," she whispered. "I'm so sorry I wasn't strong enough—"
"Hush," Edma breathed. "You did nothing wrong. Your mother… she has lost herself. That boy… that Samuel… he's poison."
Her eyes drifted to Merlin, who stood respectfully at the door.
"You," Edma said slowly. "You're Damien's boy."
Merlin stepped forward. "Yes, Ma'am."
Edma's eyes softened—not with comfort, but with a deep, ancient recognition.
"You came… just in time."
"I did what anyone should've done," Merlin replied.
Lucy looked between them. "Grandma… do you know him?"
Edma gave a slow nod. "When you were younger… your father sometimes spoke of Captain Damien and his son. A brave family. Loyal. Good people."
"Lucy's father saved my life once," Merlin said. "I owe him a debt. I pay my debts."
Lucy's throat tightened.
Merlin didn't owe her father anything. No one did. Robert Desmond had always been the silent sentinel, watching over strangers more than his own family. For someone to speak of him with honor—it felt like a small piece of him returned.
Edma touched Lucy's cheek again. "Are you hurt?"
Lucy shook her head. "No. You… you protected me."
Edma smiled weakly. "That's what grandmothers do."
Then, with a sudden seriousness, she turned to Merlin.
"Why are you here, child? Is it about Robert?"
Lucy stiffened.
Merlin inhaled deeply. "Yes. I came because of him."
Lucy's heart pounded in her chest. "Merlin… what are you talking about?"
The room dimmed with tension.
Merlin took a seat beside them, his expression shifting to something darker, heavier.
"I didn't come back to Wenesó for a casual visit," he began. "And I didn't return just because I heard about your father's death. I came because something about the report didn't make sense."
Lucy swallowed. "The report said… it was an animal attack."
"It wasn't," Merlin said.
Lucy's entire world tilted.
Her hand fell away from Edma's. "What… did you say?"
Merlin leaned forward, voice low.
"I was posted near Evergreen Forest last month. Not in the capital. I was transferred—quietly. And two days before your father died… he contacted my father."
"Your father?" Lucy whispered. "Why? About what?"
Merlin locked eyes with her.
"Robert told my father that something was stalking the forest. Something not human."
Edma made a sharp sound—almost a warning—under her breath.
Lucy stared at Merlin, unable to process the words. Her father? Calling for help? He never asked for help from anyone.
"What do you mean… not human?" Lucy whispered.
Merlin exhaled slowly.
"I didn't believe him at first. And then… after the accident… something didn't sit right. So I started digging."
Lucy held her breath.
Merlin continued.
"I spoke to the forest rangers who were with him that night. They were terrified. They told me Robert ran ahead into the trees because he heard… something. A howl. Not of a wolf… not exactly. Something deeper. Something… wrong."
Edma closed her eyes, as though she already knew these words.
Lucy felt a chill crawl up her spine.
Merlin looked at her again. His next words came like a blade.
"And then I accessed the CCTV footage from the forest cabin."
He paused. "Lucy… you need to hear this."
Lucy nodded silently.
Merlin's voice dropped to a whisper.
"At midnight… under the full moon… a pack of wolves gathered outside the cabin. Dozens of them. But they weren't attacking anything. They were bowing."
Lucy's breath stopped.
"Bowing?" she repeated, barely audible.
"Yes," Merlin said. "Their heads lowered to the ground. All of them facing one direction."
"What direction?" Lucy whispered.
Merlin's jaw tightened.
"Toward a man—standing alone in the clearing."
Edma's eyes snapped open.
Lucy felt her skin crawl. "A… man?"
"Yes." Merlin's voice hardened. "He stood in the center of the wolves. Every wolf bowed to him. His body was glowing under the moonlight."
Lucy shook her head. "Glowing?"
Merlin's eyes darkened.
"It looked like he was absorbing the moonlight. His skin reflected it… like silver fire. I've never seen anything like it. No human should look like that."
Lucy's stomach twisted.
Edma whispered something under her breath in a language Lucy didn't know.
Lucy swallowed hard.
"Did you see his face?"
Merlin shook his head slowly.
"No. That's the worst part. His face was in shadow the entire time. Even with the moon on him… it was like something was hiding it."
Lucy felt the room closing in.
"And after that… what happened?" she asked.
Merlin looked away briefly, gathering himself.
"The wolves howled. All at once. Then they charged into the deeper forest. And the man disappeared. And after that moment—after that exact time stamp—your father's radio went dead."
Lucy felt something inside her shatter.
"No…" she whispered. "No… no…"
Edma placed a trembling hand on Lucy's arm.
Merlin leaned forward, his voice firm.
"Lucy. Whatever killed your father… it wasn't an animal. And it wasn't an accident."
He looked her straight in the eyes.
"It was connected to the man in the clearing."
Lucy stared at him, frozen.
Images flooded her mind:
Her father's smile.
His forest stories.
His warnings.
His silence.
His absence.
And finally—
His death.
She trembled.
"Merlin… why are you telling me this?"
He didn't hesitate.
"Because you deserve the truth. And because whatever killed your father… might not be done yet."
A cold wind seemed to pass through the room though the windows were closed.
Edma whispered, "The forest has awakened."
Lucy turned to her grandmother sharply.
"Grandma… what do you mean?"
Edma stared at the ceiling, her voice thin but sure.
"That man in the moonlight… he is not new. He is ancient. Your father feared him for years. He tried to keep you away from the forest. From him."
Lucy's heart hammered painfully.
"Grandma… how do you know this?"
Edma closed her eyes, a tear sliding down her cheek.
"Because I have seen him too."
The room went silent.
Lucy felt cold all over.
Merlin sat up straighter. "When?"
Edma's voice weakened. "Long before Lucy was born. The forest has its guardian… its cursed lord. And now… something has stirred him awake."
Lucy's voice shook. "Why now?"
Edma finally opened her eyes again.
And Lucy had never seen such fear in them.
"Because someone has crossed his path. Someone has enraged him. Someone… connected to us."
Lucy felt the floor drop beneath her.
Connected.
To her.
To her father.
Her throat tightened. "Grandma… what are you saying?"
Edma took Lucy's hand.
"My child… you are not as ordinary as you believe."
Lucy's breath faltered. "What…?"
Before Edma could answer, her monitor beeped sharply, and a nurse rushed in.
Merlin guided Lucy back as doctors checked Edma again.
Lucy stood frozen at the foot of the bed, her entire world collapsing and rebuilding in a single breath.
Merlin touched her shoulder gently.
"Lucy," he murmured. "Whatever this is… I'm not letting you face it alone."
Lucy turned to him.
His eyes were steady. Unwavering. A promise.
She swallowed.
And for the first time since her father's death…
She felt something other than grief.
Fear.
Curiosity.
And a faint, flickering hope.
But above all—
The forest was calling.
And Lucy Desmond would have to come