Chapter Two

Birdsong roused Gwyneth from her slumber. She opened her eyes slowly, squinting as the sun’s rays pierced through the trees. Groaning, she felt as if she had undergone extra training the previous night. Had she? Memories flooded her mind, and she quickly sat up, realizing what had transpired. Looking around, all she saw was a dense forest.

Gwyneth stood up, and turned in every direction, unsure of what to think or do. Her heart raced, and her mind was filled with confusion, but her training kicked in, reminding her to remain composed and not lose her sanity.

Taking deep breaths, she examined herself and noticed that aside from the wound on her arm, there was nothing else amiss. In fact, it seemed to have healed somewhat. Gwyneth tore a strip of fabric from her sleeve and wrapped it around her arm. She wore dark blue clothes with her small nametag and a protective plate beneath her clothes. She continued surveying her surroundings, feeling the warmth of the sun on her skin and the sting in her eyes.

Instead of groaning irritably at the discomfort, she smiled. Tilting her head back, she inhaled the fresh air. When had the air ever been so pure? she wondered. Had it always been this way before the Earth began dying? And the sky! It was blue! Not gray! She could even hear the sounds of animals. They filled her ears, but there was no time to enjoy it. Gwyneth knew she had to figure out where and, more importantly, when she was.

However, she had to proceed with caution. She wasn’t dressed for this time, and she did not know if what she had brought with her would be useful in this era. Her bag had survived the journey but was now lying on the ground instead of attached to her. She picked it up, put it on, and chose a random direction, hoping it would lead her to some clues. The heat was intense as she walked, and she had to take brief breaks to drink water before continuing.

It wasn’t long before she reached a gravel road. She stared at it, taken aback by the sound of the natural road beneath her feet, much like she had been by the Jumper. In her time, all roads were made of concrete. She smiled as she observed it. She believed she had been transported far back in time, but it provided no clues about the specific era.

Gwyneth decided to remain near the road, hoping someone would pass by and provide hints about her location. She concealed herself within the forest, finding a small rock to sit on while keeping an eye on the road. She smiled as she waited, whispering to herself, “Unbelievable. It actually worked.”

Gwyneth chuckled softly, shaking her head. It wasn’t what she had anticipated, and she hadn’t even been certain if time travel was possible. She had been more inclined to believe she would end up as particles rather than as a person stranded in a different time. Nevertheless, she wouldn’t dwell on that. She had been trained to adapt to unfamiliar situations, and as long as she wasn’t deemed a witch, she would manage.

However, time seemed to pass slowly. Nobody came by the road, which confused Gwyneth. Why was it so quiet? Pushing herself up from the rock, she approached the nearest tree and leaned against it, supporting herself with her good arm. It surprised her that her wound wasn’t causing much pain. It had even healed a little. Was it the effect of the Jumper? Did it have other time-altering properties? She was certain she hadn’t regressed to being a child, but perhaps it affected open wounds.

“Come on. Somebody. Tell me where I am,” Gwyneth whispered moments before she heard rustling behind her. She turned her head, the sound of branches snapping and leaves being disturbed reaching her ears.

Something eerie hung in the air as all the birds fell silent. Instinctively, she reached for her gun, only to realize it was no longer attached to her thigh.

“Shit!” Gwyneth had nothing but a taser in her bag and a small knife attached to her, so she grabbed the knife, waiting for whatever was hiding to reveal itself. Soon, something did, and Gwyneth’s eyes widened as a naked man covered in dirt and what appeared to be dried blood stepped out from behind a tree.

He seemed confused at first, as if he didn’t know where he was, but then his eyes locked on Gwyneth. They stared at each other, motionless like deer caught in headlights. Then, something Gwyneth believed to be impossible happened. The man’s mouth curled into an evil smile, and his eyes glowed red… red?

She couldn’t believe what she was seeing, but there was no denying it. His eyes shimmered with a crimson hue, even in the bright daylight. Gwyneth had been prepared for many things, but glowing eyes were not among them. Her brain went into overdrive as something even more unbelievable unfolded before her.

The man began to change right in front of her. His breathing quickened, and she heard bones snapping as his joints contorted in strange ways. It all happened so quickly that she could barely comprehend it. Before she knew it, a large black wolf stood before her, growling with intensified red eyes contrasting against its dark fur. Gwyneth couldn’t believe what she was seeing, and she felt like she was on the verge of a meltdown. It’s not possible! she thought.

The wolf in front of her growled even deeper, and she instinctively took a small step back. The wolf didn’t appreciate her retreat and reacted instantly. It pounced on her, causing her to let out a small scream as it tackled her to the ground, its head close to hers. She yelled and tried to hold it back as its teeth snapped at the air, attempting to reach her throat.

The wolf’s strength was overwhelming, and her arms felt as if they were about to break. The wound in her arm burned like fire, and she couldn’t find the right angle to use her knife without giving the wolf an opportunity to move. Nevertheless, Gwyneth made an effort, knowing she had no other choice.

However, the moment she loosened her grip even slightly, the wolf lunged closer, sinking its teeth into her shoulder. Gwyneth screamed in agony, causing birds to scatter from the trees. But now, she could move. With the wolf’s jaws locked around her shoulder, she twisted her hand and thrust the knife into its neck. The wolf howled in pain and released its grip, but Gwyneth wasn’t finished.

She continued to stab the creature over and over until it lay motionless beside her. Panting and filled with fear and adrenaline, she sat up, observing the lifeless creature in front of her. Everything seemed eerily silent, but then the birdsong returned. Gwyneth let out a shaky breath, placing her hands on her thighs in an attempt to calm herself. Just then, she heard the sound of bones snapping once more. She turned her head and witnessed the wolf transforming back into the man, who now lay dead on the ground as well.

“What is happening?” she whispered. “This isn’t real…”

But it was real, and her brain struggled to comprehend it. Gwyneth placed a bloody hand against her forehead, feeling as though she were cracking. Or perhaps it was her mind that had been cracked, and now everything was spilling out.

“Werewolves do not exist. Not in any time!” she yelled at herself. “They do not!”

But how could she explain what she had witnessed? What she had fought against? The evidence was right in front of her, yet her mind resisted accepting it. It couldn’t be real. She had learned about werewolf beliefs and their origins in religion, but she had always considered them superstitions with no substantiating evidence. It wasn’t real. It was merely ancient folklore.

But then, what was this? While she wanted to unravel the mystery, the pain in her shoulder demanded her attention. The adrenaline was subsiding, giving way to intense agony. She placed her good hand over the wound, surveying her surroundings and uncertain of her next steps.

Recalling that she had bandages in her backpack, she retrieved it despite the pain it caused. She also found some antibiotic pills and swallowed them after applying the bandage. However, she couldn’t rest in her current location. Exhaustion consumed her body, and she no longer felt safe in the forest. So where should she go?

As if in response to her thoughts, she heard the sounds of people and hooves approaching. She turned her head but saw nothing. Supporting herself against the trees, she positioned herself on the road, aware of the dangers of exposing herself in such a way. Yet, it seemed that she wasn’t safe anywhere in this world that shouldn’t exist.

Gwyneth waited until she could identify the approaching figures. It turned out to be a group of men riding toward her in haste. Despite holding her knife, she moved her hand slightly behind her back, wary of the newcomers and waiting to determine if they could be trusted. The men slowed down, their horses still on edge and shaking as they halted in front of her.

Gwyneth looked up and was met with the sight of astonishingly handsome men, but only one of them met her gaze. His eyes were a deep forest green, captivating her with their intense power. It was evident that he was not a man to be trifled with. He appeared dressed as if he belonged to medieval times, wearing mostly dark leather and even carrying a sword. From the quality of his clothing, she believed he possessed at least some wealth.

“Who are you?” the man asked, inspecting Gwyneth and making her feel naked, yet not uncomfortable. His eyes drew her in, as if something within her were being summoned. It was an unfamiliar sensation. Who was he?