Blood Only Runs Crimson When It Comes From You

Chapter 1: Snow Under Fingertips

It was cold, too cold. No matter how much Mike rubbed his shoulders with his hands, and how much he buried his face into the coat he had on. Nothing could block off the cold winter air of Hawkins, Indiana, from slapping his face. With every breath he took and swallowed the cold air, it became increasingly hard to take a step forward. Mike took another labouring deep breath as he took another step, listening to the crunch of the snow getting compacted under his foot.

Another step, breathe, another step, and breathe again. Mike had to continue forward, even if he felt like he was being stabbed on his right side. Mike had to find somewhere to stay, any place that wasn't his home. Next thing Mike knew, his face was pressed against the snow. His nose was centimeters away from the snow under him; he could almost taste it in his mouth.

Took another deep breath before closing his eyes. Mike allowed sleep to consume him. If he didn't, he knew the only other options were to let his thoughts be the ones to consume him, or his father. Either face his dirty, sinful thoughts, or face his father, who now knew of such thoughts.

Mike never wanted to wake up again. Until he did. His eyelids were heavy when he opened them to see walls made of stone, and an exit where the falling snow was visible from Mike's point of view. Mike blinked a couple of times and rubbed his eyes.

As he continued to stare at the white dust falling like little dancers facing their impending doom, he also noticed something else. He was warm.

"Huh?"

Mike made an involuntary noise as he realized that he wasn't freezing like he was just a couple of moments prior. He turned his head slowly and stretched out his hand to feel fur.

Mike gasped as he fell back and scurried away from the softness that kept him warm. A low growl was emitted from the source of his newfound warmth as it woke up. Yipping followed the growl, and once the creature stood up, it revealed itself as a wolf.

Mike took a deep breath as his eyes widened. The wolf had a coat of brown fur; it looked soft and well taken care of, and had brown, round eyes, but Mike couldn't notice that. He couldn't notice its beauty, not when the only thing that the black-haired boy could notice was the sharp canines that the wolf had.

"Pl-please..."

Mike whispered, the words scratched at his sensitive and dried throat. Still damaged from the screaming match he had with his parents before he landed here, and from all the crying he did.

"Do...don't kill m-me."

Mike pleaded. He knew the wolf couldn't understand him, but what else could he do? He could kick it, but it might just cause the creature to attack him more aggressively. The wolf stood up and walked menacingly and slowly towards Mike; it had its head hung low. Mike took deep and heavy breaths as the wolf got closer and closer.

Mike's blood ran cold as he remembered the familiar feeling of his dad yelling at him to leave and to never come back. He remembered the cold wind as the snow fell on top of him. Most of all, he remembered the cold, sickening face of Chance smirking at Mike as he told Ted about their kiss.

Mike felt something wet run down his cheek as he took another breath. He wouldn't mind death right now. If he died, he wouldn't have to face his dad, or his mom, or the ruined reputation he may have, or worse, Chance.

Mike recalled a time when Chance's name made him feel warm. When Chance's brown eyes made his cheeks warm up and turn pink, and his touch made him feel like he would never feel the cold. Now the idea of Chance made him feel like he was outside in the cold again.

"Cold."

Mike muttered as he moved back more and more, closer to the exit where the cold wind hit him. Yet, it didn't make his spine shiver as much as the view he was looking at currently. The Wolf continued to get bigger and bigger as Mike made his way closer to the exit. The wolf was moving much faster than Mike, even though it was clearly trying to move slower.