e led to the backyard, where a helicopter waited. It

e helicopter's blades were whirring as the pilot completed some final chec

nse, Iris. A

because I thought the pageant was only a one-day ev

ucks. Didn't pack a thing. The

pilot greeted us. Natalia dragged me

hed loudly. At the sanctuary, everyone was depressed and hopeless

to be honest, Natalia," I whispered. "I have no business entering this beauty contest. I'm only five feet four, I do

"Why are you so paranoid? Do y

olled my eyes. "

ey will teach us everything we need to know. Even if we don't win, we'll get to pamper

m, announcing our arrival on the island. We

athtaking. A large mansion stood majestically, and its surroundings were

aged woman with her hair in a tight bun. I felt sorry f

tants. I'm Mrs

and I pressed my lips tog

ed a warning."You're n

her tone made t

agreed with her. The woman reminded me of t

in the hall upstairs. There are

rooms?" one of the girls

tairs where crystal chandeliers hung from the ceilin

they had set up for us. The narrow beds were neatly arranged. Natalia drew me to the third bunk on

a corner and storage containers. There were five bathrooms in total

ner. Downstairs, a ch

h junk food as you want. But be prepared, because your diet

, who sat next to me, rolled her eyes so dramati

orror, "They'll start serving us gras

nd milkshake as my guilty pleasure. We chatted

our room, with a serious tone,

oom after the lights are o

hy there were such strict rules. After

, but I was itching to go outside. Despite the rules against

despised the feeling of being trapped. I carefully got ou

oonlight. I picked up a rose petal, inhaled deeply, and smiled. T

mething I hadn't felt in year

could last

he air and realized there was a wolf nearby. My aunt

d, realizing with a shiver of fear that the wolf was abnormal; it appeared to be a maniac. It pu

utrun the wolf in my human form. Still, I

stop running. "Turn aro

e when my neck snapped

early choked me with its black fur. Then a

r, and to my surprise,

d back into a human, it would reveal my secret of sneaking

it was asleep, it seemed restless. I slid away slowly, trying not to startle it awake. When I