Invitation
“Sorry mam, all the roads out of the city are closed due to the storm and it may take about a day or two for them to open.”
“Oh no, is there no other way to get to the airport? Today my flight is to India.”
“I don't think you will be able to catch the flight today. If you need anything else you can let me know. Have a nice day!”
From the hotel lobby window, the sky was breathtaking with the bright sun shining after a stormy night. The mini garden of my homestay was buried under a blanket of fair white snow. As far as my eye could go, the view was pretty much the same.
That's pretty much expected when you come to explore the coldest part of the United States.
Well… I am not complaining exactly, it was my dream to be here, memorized by the beauty of Alaska.
You must be wondering who this stupid person is who kept babbling nonstop!
Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Ria Mehra, a content creator by profession but I also do other freelance gigs. Flight tickets and staying in decent hotels didn't come cheap.
You might have guessed it already from my name or if not, my caramel color skin and dark eyes leave no room for mistakes, revealing my nationality as Indian.
Don't take it wrong, I am obsessed with myself. In a good way.
Today was the last day of my tour but due to roadblocks, I couldn't leave town.
No good in crying over spilled milk so despite sulking I decided to make myself productive.
Sitting in the small cafe extension to my hotel, I grabbed the corner table, opened my MacBook, and ordered myself a black coffee.
I started checking the piles of mail which were yet to be answered. I was so busy wandering around all the places filming videos that I didn't get a chance to look into it.
Now that I have time, why not do some work? Who knows when roads are gonna open?
Welcome to the life of content creators.
Sipping my hot coffee, one by one I started to answer the important emails. Most of them were about brand collaboration which should be dealt with by my lazy manager Noor but she had an old habit of letting me share her burden.
In school, she used to make me do her project, after completing mine.
While thinking of punishing her by cutting her this month's salary my gaze fell on the screen and my fingers stopped scrolling.
“What the fuck!" I panicked. To shed some light on the matter I made a video call to my manager. She picked up at the second call.
Looking back at me via my mobile screen was my best friend/ manager's sleepy face. She was sleeping during working hours?
“Noor, Did you sign me up for the new travel sports brand collaboration without notifying me first?" Other than the two of us, nobody else has access to my Gmail. I didn't do it so it left little option to guess, though I gave her the benefit of doubt before starting to yell at her.
“Umm… Oh hey, boss…he... Good evening.” She chuckled nervously, waking up from her sleep completely.
“Did you?” This time I asked sternly, glaring at my mobile screen.
“Ummm….Yes, but you asked me to check emails and agreed to some collaboration deals if their terms are good.” She spoke hastily.
“I did. But did you read the mail properly? Before agreeing to.” I remembered telling her the same. That saves her from being beaten.
“Let me check. ” She picked up his laptop from the bedside table and opened the mail in it and started reading it line by line.
Suddenly all the colors vanished from her face. She bit her tongue with her teeth, turned slowly, and looked at me.
Making a naive appearance, she said, “Please forgive me, Ree. I don't know how I forgot to read such important detail?”
Reprimanding her lightly, I said, "Noor, how can you do that? You do not know that my temporary visa is going to expire in two days? I have to catch the return flight by tomorrow since today I can't get out of this place so how will I be able to do an ad campaign this week?”
“And you already sent them confirmation mail. Now we have to pay them if we cancel it at the time.” I grabbed my head in my hand and slightly started to give it a light massage.
“Why don't you try to explain the problem to them by talking to them, maybe we don't have to pay the penalty?" She suggested.
“Are you crazy? That's not how it works with these big brands. There is no other way now.” I had a bad experience earlier when I had just started my career.
“Come on Ree, at least give it a try. Who knows maybe it works? I'm sending you her contact information. Check your messenger. Try talking to her, the lady I talked to earlier sounds nice." Noor pushed again and as said she sent me the client's details. My cell phone chimed when I received a dm.
“Okay if you insist. I will give her a call and see what could happen." Looking at the cell phone number and address she sent me, I thought of trying Noor's great plan. And if she didn't answer the call then I could just go to their company which was nearby analyzing the details Noor sent me.
“Good luck! And dm to inform whatever their response is going to be. See ya soon." Offering an encouraging smile she said.
“Okay, I will. See ya." I replied with a small smile before hanging up the call and sighing deeply. I looked at the contact information on my mobile screen and clicked on the call button before pressing it against my ear.
“Hello?” After a couple of beeps, a female voice asked from the other side.
“Hey, am I speaking with Karen Blackhawk?" I asked, keeping my tone professional.
“Yes, you're talking…”
***
Formal or party dress?
Don't ask how a business call got me to get ready for a party night.
Noor was right as the woman I spoke to on the phone was different and kinda gave me chill vibes.
I didn't feel awkward talking to her and she solved my problem in seconds. She assured me that my visa problem would be handled by their company so I didn't need to worry about anything.
And at last, she invited me to a party which she was having tonight in a famous club outside of the town.
I wasn't a fun killer but on a second note considering the weather, I might pass the offer but duh she didn't give me the chance.
So here I am draining my brain cells about whether I should dress a bit professionally since we were about to work together or for the sake of party code go for something sexy.
After half an hour I left my hotel room fully dressed up for the party but because I didn't have a plan to turn into an ice sculpture I wore my favorite hoodie over the crop top.
I asked reception to arrange a ride for me. Guess today was not in my favor because the receptionist informed me that at the time no car was available in the hotel.
You gotta be kidding me.
First I missed my flight and now I couldn't even go to the party. What sour luck.
However, before I lost all hope, luckily the hotel owners, who were a very friendly couple, noticed my long face and came up with the solution.
“This is my father's jeep. I hardly let anyone take it out. You are lucky that I like you girl." Josh Hamilton, the man who ran the hotel with his wife Juliana informed me while opening his garage and letting my eyes sink on the red beauty which was kept inside, hidden.
“Wow!" My jaw hit the bottom. Such a beautiful car. A rare and old beauty.
“Take this key, do you know how to drive
Right?"
I nodded my head excitedly as I took the keys and started the car. I drove it out of the garage.
“You have my number, if you get into any trouble, give me a call.”
“Thank you, Mr & Mrs. Hamilton. You guys are a lifesaver." I was grateful for their kindness.
“One more thing, Take Pluto with you tonight. Tonight is a full moon and we have so many wolves spotted around town." Julianne said with a matter of urgency.
As waiting for the word Pluto jumped in the back seat like a pro.
“Wolves?” I gulped anxiously.
She nodded in further confirmation.
Holy shit! I have never seen an actual wolf in my life.
“Oh honey stop it, don't scare the girl, they never attacked anyone, we all live here in peace." Josh wrapped his arm around his wife and pulled her close, lovingly and bestowed me an apologetic glance.
“But still you take Pluto with you. He knows this place well.” Juliana pushed. I turned a glance at the dog who was sitting silently like a good boy. He was a Serbian husky with pretty blue eyes. I smiled at him. “Okay."
I had a soft side for dogs and this furry guy was a total cutie. How could I say no?
***
Because I was not well aware of the roads of this village, I opened google maps to help me navigate the route. Oddly Google suggested to me a less used road that would take me to my destination in ten minutes while the other route would take eighteen minutes.
This town was geographically vast and surrounded by dense forest and less population.
The road was very deserted and no one could be seen in the distance. I kept wondering if I took the wrong route but that was not the case when I checked on the map.
To allay my fear, I turned on the radio. An old movie song started blasting from the speaker.
‘There is nothing to be afraid of, Ree. And you are not alone.' I murmured to myself.
I spared Pluto a look in the rare view mirror. He was sitting quietly, enjoying the ride.
I puffed a breath. And bored my gaze back to the road when out of nowhere a huge animal crashed into the jeep. I pulled the brake instantly.
My breaths came short and my hands were shaking as I watched wide eyes when the animal jumped back to his four and shook off his fur before his gaze set on me.
A black wolf! It was a wolf bigger than they showed on the discovery channel.
His yellow eyes glaring at me, he opened his mouth to offer me a look at his sharp canines. He could have ripped me into pieces.
No, they don't attack humans. Josh said so. Though knowing this didn't help.
I clutched the wheel firmly with both hands. He wasn't leaving my way, both of us having a glaring contest until a howl boomed from somewhere inside the forest in response this wolf let out a similar howl before running back into the forest.
Holy fuck! My heart was hammering in my ears. What was that beast?
I sent a silent prayer to God for not cutting my ticket for heaven and breath in relief before started driving but stopped when my eyes found something missing
Where did Pluto go?
