A MAZE OF GREED

"You should hold the cutter this way or you will harm yourself, young man." Mr Payne chided a young boy who had recently begun working in his lumber factory.

"Thank you, Mr Payne! I will be careful from now onwards." He nodded and took the cutter from the old man.

"WHAT? What are you saying?" Mr Payne heard loud noises coming from his left. It was the manager of the lumber factory.

Mr Payne dusted his hand on his pants and walked towards the manager.

"Sire, if I may ask is there any problem?"

The manager's furious face softened at his voice. He nodded his head lightly.

"Yes, Mr Payne. There is a big problem."

"What is it? Please tell me if I can help."

The manager looked conflicted but answered anyway. "You know we have to receive the premium quality wood from a caravan tonight."

"Yes, what about that?" Mr Payne nodded. He knew how valuable that kind of wood was.

"The caravan was supposed to reach the borders of Vincardine in the afternoon. But I just received a news that they had some accident on the way and now they will reach late in the evening." The manager explained.

It was not uncommon for things like this to happen. Then why was the manager so worried?

"I do not see any problem in that, sire."

The manager shook his head desperately. "You are not getting it Mr Payne. The O'Dells have ordered not to pass through the woods after sunset. The people that I have sent to collect the wood from that caravan is refusing to stay there till the evening."

Oh, so that was the real problem!

Sighing, the manager continued. "How can I blame them? Everyone treasure their life. Even I would not dare to stay there after the sunset in these circumsatnces. But what is worrying me is that if we do not collect that wood and complete the deal, they will sell that wood to some other lumber factory. And that will cost us a lot, Mr Payne. I do not understand what should I do?"

The manager kept clenching and unclenching his fists in irritation as if they itched to collide with something.

Mr Payne stayed silent for a moment.

"Will you pay me extra if I go there now?"

The manager looked at Mr Payne as if he had grown two heads. "You what?"

Mr Payne explained calmly. "I need money, sire. If you promise to pay me some extra pennies then I will go and collect the wood. We can bring it to the factory tomorrow morning. But if we lose this deal then you need to answer to the owner of the factory."

The manager did not know how to react to Mr Payne's words. He was aware of the dangers and being an old man, Mr Payne was not able to face the trouble if any arises.

But the businessman in him believed Mr Payne's argument. But even then, his heart did not allow him to give the permission.

"Sire, do not worry. Though I am old, I am capable of protecting myelf. Please allow me!" Mr Payne urged the manager to give in.

After a minute of pondering, the manager agreed. "I do not have another option it seems. Please, be careful Mr Payne. I do not want my employee getting hurt or worse." The man shuddered at the thought of another person dying in the woods.

Every person living in Vincardine was terrified of the five deaths that happened in the woods. They could not erase the images of pale and tattered bodies lying on the ground. Their ghosts are believed to be roaming in the woods.

The manager gave Mr Payne some more details and what he should examine before receiving the wood logs.

"You will find three of our men there. They will stock the wood logs neatly and we will transport them here tomorrow morning. All you have to do is instruct and guide our men and pay the price that is aleady fixed."

The manager took Mr Payne to his cabin that was situated in the corner of the factory. He pulled out money from the drawer and placed it in Mr Payne's hand.

"And this is your extra money that I have promised for this work." The manager put the money in front of him.

Mr Payne was happy, to say the least. Ruth had exhausted all her savings for his medications and care. He felt guilty for that.

He was thinking about repaying her, for he knew it was about the time that Ruth needed to get married and settle with a loving man. And this opportunity came right on the time.

"Thank you, sire!"

Mr Payne walked out of the factory with a bright smile and dreams of hope in his eyes.

*

*

*

The fresh cloth felt nice against his skin. His coffee-brown hair got a thorough wash after many days. His feet sighed in bliss at the touch of his favourite pair of shoes instead of a cold floor.

Edwin stared back at his reflection in the mirror. He had seen his face first time in these past days. He noticed how different he looked from his natural form yet it did not surprise him.

One could tell how weak he looked. His cerulean blue eyes did not shine with that mischievous glint. His aura did not carry the dangerous and heavy air. His skin looked paler. His form had become thinner.

Any werewolf could tell it was wolfsbane overflowing in his system. And for the humans, he looked suffering from a severe disease.

"Are you ready?"

Edwin saw Lester's reflection behind him and he nodded after one last glance at himself.

'Am I ready for this? Can I recover from this?' He had asked those questions to himself over and over again.

And every time, his heart told him to believe in Lester-his best friend.

'I will do everything in my power to bring Ruth in the manor for you, Edwin. All you have to do is just be you again.' Lester had promised Edwin.

Edwin turned and walked to Lester. Lester could not help but smile proudly at his friend.

"It is good to see you like this, Edwin. I missed you!" He pulled Edwin for a manly hug that was filled with love.

"Come on, your manor is waiting for you!"

Lester's smile faltered for a moment when Edwin walked to his bed. But he soon realised why.

Edwin picked up the brown cloth and after inhaling it deeply, he folded it, then placed it inside his pant pocket. That gesture reminded Lester of his promise.

'I will bring her here for you, my friend! You deserve every happiness and she is all that can make you happy!' Lester thought.

Stepping outside the metal door of the old building, Edwin took a deep breath to accumulate as much air he could in his lungs.

Inside the walls, you can find solitude but salvation can be achieved only in the outside world!

Steps halted, breaths were held, and eyes widened as Edwin strode confidently on the ground of 'the great manor'. Not a single person could contain the various emotions- happiness, relief, anger, jealousy and shock.

Edwin felt weird walking through the corridors of the place that was named his home. He had done many reckless things before and had walked with a raised chin and puffed chest even though he knew he had done wrong.

Then what happened this time?

With every step and every stare, the guilt in his chest budded, creeping his insides. He could not help but see only one thing in every pair of eyes- disappointment.

He had caused havoc many times before. But he had never shown his back and had taken the complete responsibility with proud shoulders. But this time, he let down his people- humans and werewolves.

He lost himself to his beast and that confused his people. They could not believe that the person who was supposed to control and guide them was broken and weak to the point where he turned blind to his duties.

Edwin's shoulders tensed, his fists clenched at his sides. Lester noticed his state and placed his palm on Edwin's shoulder. That helped Edwin relaxed a bit but, he could not fight with the thoughts running in his mind.

Lester had already instructed Elsie to gather everyone at one place. To his surprise, Harold Davies and Douglas Morgan were also present. But then he thought it was in his favour.

Let the world know that their leader was back.

The words froze in the air as the people in the room noticed Edwin's tall form beside Lester. Their faces were morphed in shock to the point that Edwin wondered if his family had expected his return ever or not.

"Brother Edwin!" Elsie came running to him and hugged him dearly.

Edwin's hardened face softened a little bit but, he did not let his guards down.

"I am so happy that you are back, brother!" Elsie's voice came thick with emotions.

She knew how difficult it was for Edwin to stand again but, she was glad and proud that he did it!

Eloise was shocked but somewhere relived that Edwin was back. She had not seen him after the day he was thrown in the dungeons. And now looking at the weakened man in front of her, her heart twisted in a knot.

"Brother Edwin! Welcome back!" She found only those words to say to him.

She was taken by surprise when Edwin wrapped his hand around her shoulders and pulled her for a hug.

Eloise could never go close to Edwin because he already doted Elsie. She found it difficult to get connected with him. But he was always there for her when she needed a father that Augustus was never for her.

She did not hate Edwin, but instead, she had a soft spot in her heart for him. But she would never confess that to him or herself.

Theodora's hazel eyes darted to Agustus's grey ones. Was Edwin's unexpected return a start of what Theodora felt uneasy about? was it a sign that something terrible was about to happen? She had so many worries that Augustus also shared. She nodded at her husband subtly. Before resting her gaze on Edwin, she shared a look with Douglas.

He raised his brow at her questioningly but she ignored him.

"Oh, Edwin, my son! I am so happy to see you again." With fake tears, Theodora walked to him.

Daring to place her one hand on his cheek and the other on his shoulder, she looked at him with misty eyes.

"You scared me, Edwin. We were worried for you! Welcome back, my dear!"

She was about to hug him but, before that, Edwin stopped her. Her smile faltered as she stared at him with surprise.

Edwin removed her hand from his face and pushed her back a little to maintain a distance between them.

"Thank you, aunt Theodora. I bet you were the most worried for me!"

Edwin's appearance looked different, but the sharpness of his tongue and the coldness of his words were still brutal. Masking her anger, Theodora smiled again but stepped away from him.

Edwin then turned to look at three men. Douglas was quick to place a fake smile on his face while Harold maintained a void face. But Edwin could tell he was not happy with his return.

And then there was Augustus- his uncle whose eyes, face and heartbeats told different stories to tan each other.