"No... no... not again... please..." Selim said as he began walking down the eerie stone path.
The wind blew through the trees; a cold chill ran down Selim's spine. Each step he took felt like an eternity. He could see his cold breath quivering as he walked.
Then, he saw it. In the distance stood a black wolf. His mane was like a lion's, and his eyes were as sharp as blades. Fear gripped Selim as he slowly approached. He didn't know why he walked closer, but against his better judgment, he continued.
The wolf looked at him with a sharp gaze, reading his every move. The wolf growled, revealing his sharp, terrifying fangs. The wind continued to blow as Selim's heart raced.
"Selim..." A powerful voice echoed like thunder. Selim's knees gave out, and he fell with his head to the ground. The pressure seemed to bury him alive. Sweat slowly trickled down his face.
"Truth... shall be given to you..." the voice continued. "However, you must face your own inner wolves... your fear is what holds you back... show that you have what it takes... put your hand in the mouth of the wolf. Face what you have always run away from."
Selim, shaking bitterly, rose from his fetal position. Then, hesitantly, he took his first step toward the terrifying wolf. The wolf stared while growling, drool dripping from the long, pointed fangs. Selim shut his eyes tight and thrust his arm into the wolf's mouth.
The wolf suddenly stopped growling and disappeared into black smoke.
"WAKE UP!"
Selim jerked awake to find his sister angrily staring down at him. Selim felt his bedsheets, realizing he had had another nightmare.
"Selim, we were supposed to go with Mom for groceries today!" Sarah exclaimed, her expression stern and unforgiving.
"Ah... I'm sorry... Sarah, can you just remind me what day it is... today?" Selim asked, a curious and pitiful look on his face.
"Selim? It's Saturday... and not only is it Saturday, it's almost three in the afternoon!" Sarah replied, annoyed and concerned.
"Okay, okay... I'm coming... just... give me a minute," Selim mumbled, putting a hand to his face.
Sarah stared at her brother; a worried expression took over. Usually, she would continue to pick on him, but today, she had no such intention. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. However, for now, all she could do was let him wake up properly.
"Well, I'm going to go see what Mom's up to. Just... let me know if you need anything," Sarah said, pausing before turning toward the door.
"Pfft! I didn't know my dear sister had a heart for her big brother!" Selim joked, trying to lift the mood.
"Don't push your luck," Sarah replied, closing the door behind her.
As Selim stared at the ceiling, he began to reflect, his previous dream flashing through his mind.
He pressed a hand over his face. Slowly, a grin spread beneath his palm, visible only through the gaps between his fingers. He chuckled softly.
He realized something.
"Oh my God, there you are!" his mom cried out as Selim walked into the kitchen.
"I was so worried! Honey, what's been going on? Sarah and I have been worried sick..." his mom stated, a concerned look spreading across her face.
She quickly pulled him into a tight hug. Before Selim could say anything, she continued, "Honey... please know, if you need to talk... I am here."
Tears slowly began to spill from Selim's eyes, blurring his vision. Still holding onto his mom, his grip tightened.
"I... I'm okay, Mom," he replied, his voice shaking.
Sarah watched from the hallway, her eyes wide. Her brother was changing. Who was he becoming? And what had happened to the brother she once knew?
Sarah watched from the hallway, her eyes widening in horror. Over their mother's shoulder, a grin slowly crept onto Selim's face. Then, suddenly, his eyes shifted to lock onto Sarah.
Sarah's heart stopped; she began to shake.
This is not the brother I know, was the only thought in her mind. Her brother had changed. What was he becoming?
"Sarah, you're pretty quiet today!" their mom said, eyes focused on the road.
Sarah, sitting in the passenger seat, replied, "Oh, uhm... yeah. I've just been worried about Selim, I guess." She tried to compose the constant fear she felt in her chest.
Selim sat silently in the back seat, his gaze darting between Sarah and their mom.
"Yeah, that makes two of us!" their mom replied.
"I'm sorry I've been putting you both through a lot," Selim sighed, suddenly breaking his silence.
"Well, this is what families do, Selim. When you're down, we pick you up, and vice versa!" their mother replied, a sense of pride and conviction radiating from her voice.
Sarah glanced at Selim through the rearview mirror, her heart pounding, her mind racing as she saw a sharp grin slowly forming on her brother's face. His very presence became suffocating.
"I don't feel good..." Sarah said suddenly, her face clearly uncomfortable.
"Oh, honey... we can drop you back at the house if you need to?" their mother replied, a worried expression washing over her face.
"No... it's okay, Mom... just let me out so I can catch my breath," Sarah replied, breathless, anxious thoughts overtaking her mind.
Sarah's mother stared at her, worried and confused. This was her second child acting weird. Was she not doing her job as a mother? Was it just puberty? She had to push these thoughts aside. There was one objective: to help her daughter.
"Oh my God! Heyyy, Sarahhh!" a voice shouted from behind. Sarah quickly turned to see her friend, Alice, running across the parking lot toward her.
"Oh, heyy!" Sarah shouted with a mix of excitement and lingering anxiety. Her mom and Selim were both inside shopping.
"What are you doing here, girl!" Alice said, wrapping her arms around Sarah.
"Ah... my mom insisted we go with her for groceries," Sarah replied, forcing a fake smile.
"You know, we should hang out more! Maybe that little boyfriend can come with you!" Alice exclaimed with a teasing, sarcastic demeanor.
"Alice! How many times do I have to tell everyone it's not like that?" Sarah replied, flustered and slightly annoyed.
Just as they were finishing up, Selim and their mom began walking towards the car, hands full of groceries.
"Is that your brother?!" Alice asked, her eyes widening.
"Yeah, that's him..." Sarah replied, nervous and unsure.
What is he going to do? Am I just overthinking? Is Selim really that bad? She couldn't help but question herself.
"Wow, he's hot," Alice stated, biting her lip.
"What?!" Sarah couldn't help but be taken aback. The brother who always had trouble with girls suddenly didn't even have to try? This made no sense. He had changed—either for the better... or the worse.
"I don't think we've had the pleasure of meeting?" Sarah's mom asked Alice, putting groceries in the back of the car.
"Oh, hey Miss Debra! I'm Alice, a friend of your daughter!" Alice replied, excited to finally meet her friend's family.
"I see you already know my name! I guess my dear daughter talks about her beautiful mother a lot, huh?" Sarah's mom said, a sarcastic grin on her face.
"Haha, yes! Trust me when I say she lovesss you!" Alice replied, clearly playing along.
"Sorry, I haven't introduced myself. I'm Selim, Sarah's dear brother." Selim reached out a hand as he spoke.
"Hey! The pleasure is mine! I'm Alice," Alice replied, promptly reaching out her hand.
His hands felt warm and firm; his eyes looked full of life. This was the brother her dear friend had all along? She couldn't escape his captivating gaze.
"Okay, I think you've been holding my brother's hand a little too long..." Sarah chimed in, pushing Alice away from Selim.
"Haha, please, it's okay, Sarah! I'm thrilled to see who my sister hangs out with!" Selim said. He then continued, "I'm even more thrilled to find her character quite charming!"
Selim's eyes were full of compassion and love. Was this the brother she's been scared of all this time? Why did he feel so warm and compassionate? He felt so... human.
Sarah's anxiety began to quickly disappear. Maybe she was just overthinking.
"You know, I was just talking with your sister... Maybe you and Sarah could come to a house party my friends are hosting this Friday?" Alice's eyes lit up with interest, hoping Selim would agree.
"I think that would be quite delightful! What do you think, Sarah?" Selim replied, his warm gaze shifting towards Sarah.
"Oh, uhm... yeah! I think we could make that happen..." Sarah replied, taken aback by the sudden warmth and comfort she felt radiating from Selim.
"Look at my son go! You're making friends left and right!" their mom chimed in, a sarcastic yet loving tone in her remark.
"Haha, sounds great! Then I will text Sarah the details!" Alice paused. A nervous smile crept onto her face. "Would it be possible... if I got your number? It would make it easier to give you the details!" Alice asked, nervously picking at her nails.
Sarah clearly knew what she was doing but chose to ignore it and just watch.
"I would be delighted, Alice," Selim replied, taking the phone from Alice's nervous, shaking hand.
Alice's stomach fluttered when he said her name gently. A warm, gentle smile emerged onto Selim's face as he typed in his number.
"See you Friday, then!" Alice exclaimed, waving as she walked away, her smile genuine and her energy high.
"I look forward to it!" Selim replied. He tilted his head and closed his eyes, a beautiful smile plastered across his face.