NOVEL WEB Chapter 4: Wonder
The three of them stared at Cerci, their faces a mix of confusion and disbelief. Josh was the first to break the silence, his voice shaky and frantic. "Where did you come from? How long have you been here? Am I losing it, or were you here the whole time?" He looked at Paul and Gwen, desperate for confirmation.
Gwen and Paul exchanged uneasy glances, then slowly shook their heads. They had seen it too—Cerci and her dog appearing out of nowhere. Josh wasn't imagining things, and that realization only made the situation feel more surreal.
Cerci let out a tired sigh. "This is Loki," she said, gesturing to her dog. "He's my friend, and he brought me here when I asked him to." She paused, studying their shocked expressions.
Josh, Paul, and Gwen stared at the dog, they couldn't help but notice how strange it looked. Loki was a Labrador, but unlike any they had seen before. His fur was patchy and unkempt, almost as if it had been neglected for too long. The once golden coat had faded to a dull, sickly yellow, with dark spots scattered across his skin. His ribs were visible, a sign of malnutrition, and his eyes—wide and eerie—glowed with an unnatural gleam. There was a certain ominous aura about him, his presence unsettling despite his small stature. He didn't seem like the playful, friendly dog most would expect. Instead, his stare was piercing, as if he was sizing up each of them. When he moved, it was with a strange, almost jerky motion, like something wasn't quite right. The dog exuded a quiet menace, and despite his apparent frailty, there was something commanding about him, as though he had the power to control the situation with a mere glance. The group couldn't shake the feeling that this dog was more than just an innocent pet—he was something else entirely.
"I know this is a lot to take in. You've probably heard rumors, and now you're seeing it first-hand. How about we go to my place, calm down, and I'll explain everything. Sound good?" Cerci's voice cut through the silence, pulling them back to reality.
Josh crossed his arms, his eyes narrowing. "Why should we trust you? For all we know, you're part of the problem. I didn't sign up for this—Victor's a mess, those guys are babbling like new-borns, and I just want out." His voice wavered, betraying his fear.
Paul ran both hands through his hair, trying to stay calm. "We can't leave, Josh. Like it or not, we're in this. She might have answers." He glanced at Cerci, his distrust clear. **"But we're not going to your place. How about we go to Gwen's?"**
Gwen shook her head quickly. "No way. My parents are crazy strict about visitors, and they'd lose it if I slept over somewhere else. It's not happening."
Josh stood up, his frustration boiling over. "I'm done with this. I'm leaving." He took a step toward the alley, but Paul moved to block him.
"Josh, wait," Paul said, his voice firm. "We can't just walk away. We need to figure this out together."
Josh's hands clenched into fists. "Why? We're not friends. Your buddy Kevin's a jerk, and now everything's gone to hell. Victor's wandering around aimlessly, those guys are still out there, and I've had enough. I need to get out of here and forget any of this ever happened. If you're worried about me talking, don't be. For all I know, nothing happened!"
Paul held his ground, his jaw tight. "I get it, Josh. I do. But running away isn't going to solve anything. We need to stick together."
Josh's anger flared, and he grabbed Paul by the shirt, pulling him closer. "I'm not going to say it again. Move."
Before things could escalate further, Cerci stepped between them. She placed a hand on Josh's arm, her touch surprisingly gentle but firm. "Let him go," she said calmly. When Josh hesitated, she added, "If you need to leave, then leave. But this isn't over."
Josh glared at her for a moment, then released Paul and took a step back. Without another word, he turned and walked away, his shoulders tense with anger and fear.
Paul watched him go, his expression a mix of frustration and worry. He turned to Cerci, his voice low. "Fine. We'll go to your place. But if you try anything..."
Cerci cut him off with a small smirk. "No funny business. Got it." She glanced down at Loki, who barked excitedly and wagged his tail. "Ready?"
Paul hesitated, then nodded. He bent down to lift Kevin, grunting under the weight. Cerci took a step forward, and Loki followed. The air around them seemed to shimmer for a moment, and then, in the blink of an eye, the alley was gone. They were standing in a room that looked like it belonged in a palace.
The walls were adorned with rich red tapestries, embroidered with intricate gold patterns that shimmered in the soft light. A grand chandelier hung from the ceiling, its crystals casting tiny rainbows across the room. Plush gold-and-crimson furniture was arranged neatly, and a large, ornate rug covered the floor. Bookshelves lined one wall, filled with ancient-looking tomes, while another wall displayed strange artifacts that seemed to hum with energy.
Paul's eyes widened as he took it all in. "What is this place?" he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. Glancing around, he noticed Gwen wasn't with them. "Where's Gwen?" he asked.
Cerci responded, "Welcome to my home. I'll be heading back to make sure she gets home safely and clean up the mess you all left on the street while I'm at it." She pointed toward two rooms. "Lock Kevin in there and make use of the bathroom in the other." Paul understood clearly why she asked for Kevin to be locked up, and he simply nodded. Cerci let out a warm smile. Paul watched as the space distorted slightly as Cerci and Loki vanished.
Gwen stood frozen in the alley, her eyes wide with confusion and a slight panic curling in her stomach.
One moment, the three of them had been there with Cerci and her strange, eerie dog, Loki, and the next, they were gone.
She had witnessed a lot today, anger, fear, confusion, but this? This was new.
Teleportation. She hadn't even imagined such a thing was possible.
Before she could collect herself, Cerci and Loki appeared right in front of her, so suddenly that Gwen jumped back in fright. The wind shifted, and Cerci's calm, almost nonchalant voice broke through the shock.
"Let's get you home safely, but before we do that, I've got something to take care of," Cerci said, her eyes glinting with determination as she led the way, storming toward the boys and Victor.
Gwen glanced around, her mind still reeling, but the alley was as empty as ever. No one had passed by.
It was eerily quiet, just as it usually was.
As Cerci approached the group, Gwen's heartbeat quickened.
Her thoughts spiraled with unanswered questions.
But what she saw next made her freeze in place, before she could even blink, the boys, including Victor, vanished into thin air, just like that.
Gwen's breath caught in her throat. She felt a cold shiver run down her spine, her heart thudding in her chest. What the hell is happening?
Her knees shook, and for a split second, she was paralyzed by terror.
Cerci must have noticed her hesitation, for she turned, meeting Gwen's wide eyes with a calm smile.
"Are you alright?" Cerci asked softly. "It's okay. There's no need to be scared."
"Where did they go?" Gwen whispered, still trying to make sense of it all.
Cerci's gaze softened.
"That's one of Loki's ability, he can move people from one place to another. Not exactly common, is it?"
"Are there more like you?" Gwen blurted, her voice shaky with the weight of everything happening too quickly.
Cerci tilted her head slightly, studying Gwen with an almost calculating gaze. "I don't get what you mean, but are you referring to the disappearance you just witnessed?"
Gwen nodded, her fear still gnawing at her.
Cerci smiled, her expression reassuring. "I'll explain everything later, Paul can too. Don't be scared. I'm not here to hurt you."
Her calm demeanor helped a little.
Gwen felt a wave of relief washing over her, despite the confusion that lingered.
For the first time since Cerci had shown up, Gwen felt the tight knot in her chest loosen, just slightly.
They continued walking, but Gwen couldn't shake the discomfort of Cerci knowing where she lived.
The thought unsettled her.
As they neared the end of the alley, Gwen suddenly stopped.
She couldn't help but glance toward Cerci, who had kept a steady pace ahead of her.
"I'll be fine from here. Thank you… so much," Gwen said, her voice uncertain, still anxious.
Cerci turned to face her, a warm, understanding smile lighting up her face. "Of course, I understand. Take care, Gwen." She gave a little wave.
Gwen hesitated for a moment, but when Cerci didn't push further, she gave a quick nod. With a final wave, Cerci turned and began to walk off.
Loki padded silently beside her, his eyes glowing faintly in the dim light.
Gwen watched as the wind seemed to swirl around Cerci and Loki, and before she could even blink again, they were gone, vanished into thin air.
The world around Gwen felt suddenly more still, quieter.
She stood alone in the alley, her mind racing with questions and a new, unsettling awareness that things were far more complicated than she had ever imagined.
Then, it happened.
A delicious shudder rolled through her body, heat curling in the pit of her stomach and spreading outward in slow, pulsing waves.
Her breath hitched, her thighs pressing together instinctively as a sharp, pleasurable tension coiled low in her belly.
Not fear, Not confusion, Something better.
Her fingers clenched at the fabric near her waist, her body trembling as the sensation peaked hot, thrilling, and dangerously close to pushing her over the edge right then and there.
The rush of everything, the impossible things she had witnessed, the raw power radiating from Cerci, the eerie presence of Loki, it was intoxicating.
A quiet, breathless laugh escaped her lips. Geez, she had missed this.
She had spent so much of her life bored, trapped in routine, dulled by the mundane. But now? Now, she felt alive.
Biting her lip, she took a slow breath, riding out the lingering pleasure as her body trembled in the aftershocks.
She exhaled, smiling to herself, a thrill coursing through her veins.
With one last glance at the empty alley, Gwen turned on her heels and walked away, her steps light, her heart pounding, and her mind already craving more.