Page 2 of Blood, Shadow & Claw

"Excellent! We'll send you all the necessary details shortly. Prepare yourself for a life-changing experience, Mazie."

"Thank you,"I replied, my heart pounding as I hung up the phone.

The decision had been made, and there was no turning back now. I felt a surge of confidence. As little as a year ago, I couldn't have dreamed of going to such an event. I had become so fearful of life that I'd hardly left home. I'd made it so far through years of therapy with Dr. Baker. I made a note to call work to get some time off and made sure I didn't have any bills that needed to be paid in the next little bit.

All that was left to do was pack my things.

Two days later,I was packed and driving down the winding mountain roads as the sun cast an eerie glow across the rugged landscape. With each turn, I could feel my heart beating faster—a mixture of excitement and trepidation coursing through my veins.

"Seriously, Mazie, where the hell are you going?"I muttered under my breath, gripping the steering wheel tighter. The mountains seemed to close in on me, their shadows playing tricks on my mind as the light faded.

"Keep it together, girl,"I whispered, flicking on the car's high beams. It was just a road trip, right? Ordinary people did this all the time. But nothing was ordinary about this journey or the strange sense of isolation creeping up on me.

"Turn left onto Pine Ridge Road,"the GPS instructed, its robotic voice cutting through the silence. As I followed the directions, the roads became even more treacherous – steep inclines, sharp turns, and no guardrails in sight.

"Great. Just great,"I sighed, focusing on driving and not the growing pit in my stomach. A sudden downpour pelted the windshield, reducing visibility even further.

"Seriously?"I exclaimed, flipping on the wipers and leaning forward in my seat. "As if this wasn't already difficult enough."

A yellow sign appeared through the rain, announcing a road closure ahead. My heart sank as I pulled over, staring blankly at the detour sign pointing towards an unmarked dirt road.

"Of course,"I groaned, hesitating momentarily before turning the wheel and veering off onto the muddy path. "Because why would things go smoothly?"

"Stay calm, Mazie,"I told myself, struggling to maintain control of the car as it slipped and slid in the mud. "You've come this far. You can't turn back now."

As I continued deeper into the wilderness, I couldn't shake the feeling of vulnerability that had settled around me like a heavy fog. Was this worth it? Had I made a massive mistake in accepting that mysterious invitation?

"Focus on what's ahead,"I whispered, trying to ignore the doubts swirling in my mind. "There has to be something amazing waiting for you at the end of this road. Right?"

But as the darkness closed in and the rain grew heavier, I couldn't help but feel utterly alone—a small, fragile being lost in the vast expanse of the wild, untamed mountains. With each passing mile, I couldn't escape the nagging thought that perhaps I was searching for something more than just fame and fortune.

The rain fell in heavy sheets, blurring my vision as the windshield wipers struggled to keep up. I gripped the steering wheel tightly, knuckles white, and leaned forward, trying to focus on the rapidly disappearing road ahead.

"Come on, Mazie,"I muttered, forcing a shaky breath between clenched teeth. "You've been through worse than this."

But as the storm intensified, so did my anxiety. The howling wind seemed to echo the whispers of self-doubt that had haunted me for years. Would I ever find a place where I truly belonged?

"Watch out!"I screamed, my heart pounding in my chest as a fallen tree branch suddenly appeared in the headlights. I jerked the wheel, swerving to avoid the obstacle – but it was too late. The car skidded on the slick road, tires screeching as I fought to regain control.

"No, no, no!"I cried, terror gripping me as the car hurtledtowards the edge of a steep embankment. And then, with a stomach-churning lurch, we were airborne.

The world spun around me in a dizzying whirl of darkness and fear. My screams were lost in the storm's roar, swallowed by the relentless rain as the car tumbled down the hillside. Pain flared through my body, sharp and blinding – and then, mercifully, everything went black.

Beep,beep, beep… Was that the alarm clock? No! Once it went off, I would have to get up, pour myself into something Lycra, and head to the gym. Why couldn't I have lived in the Renaissance period when chub and a few rolls were sexy? Not that I was roll-less, let's be honest here. But I was trying to care for myself, which had to count for something.

I hated working out despite the vast amount of workout clothing I owned. The thought of squeezing into something meant to fit the size of a toddler was less than pleasing. Although, maybe the viral cheeky pants that everyone raved about on TikTok would make my ass look amazing. I wondered if that new brand would have me wear any.

Cheeky pants.

I sat bolt upright in bed, remembering that I was supposed to be going to a retreat for a photo shoot and review for the hottest workout wear brand. My head swam as intense pain threatened to put me under. What on earth?I snapped my eyes closed before they could focus on anything. My head was throbbing.

My phone. I needed to check out my Instagram. Why did my head hurt so badly? Was I ill?

Prying my eyes open, I reached for my phone. Sadly, my phone wasn't there, so I fell out of bed. Now, it wasn't just my head that was hurting. My entire body felt like I had been run over by a truck—maybe six or seven trucks. I wasn't in my bed or even in my room.Panic stole my breath away as I scrambled to figure out what was going on while clutching the utilitarian sheet to my chest.

Please don't panic; it's okay, Mazie.Only I was panicking—big time. Mind reeling, I attempted to employ the latest breathing technique that my therapist was always harping about. It was something like 4-7-8 or 10-12-30. Shit, now the fact that I couldn't remember my breathing technique was putting me over the edge.

Get yourself together, Mazie. However, the warning sounded more like my foster mother than my therapist. It helped enough to allow me to remember what Dr. Baker had taught me. First, you exhale with a whoosh sound through your mouth. Second, close your eyes and inhale quietly for a count of four. Third, hold your breath for the count of seven. Last, exhale through your mouth, making another whooshing sound to the eight count.

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