Gone: Someone Find Me Before I'm Gone [Discontinued until further notice]

Chapter One

The harsh wind nipped at my face as I huddled under the large oak tree that had become my home. As the first drops of rain fell from the gray sky I turned to go inside, my fingers brushing back a piece of cloth to reveal the hollowed out tree. I didn't have much inside. A tiny table, a straw bed, thin cotton blanket, a single tin cup, and some firewood. I didn't always live like this, but recently my 'disease' had become worse. My eyes revealed what I was becoming, and any town I went to drove me away. It was only a matter of time before my humanity seeped away taking my life with it. Human and werewolf blood was not meant to be mixed.

The cloth door to my tiny house flew open and I swung around, eyes wide. A man stood in my doorway shirtless and obviously wounded. Dirt and blood covered his skin, a huge cut oozing blood from his chest. His midnight black hair clung to his face with what I suspected to be blood. "Riley," his voice croaked before he collapsed on the ground.

I stared at him in shock for several seconds before I pulled myself together to take action. I turned him on his back was barely able to lift him to the bed. Blood stained my hands and clothes in a matter of seconds. He would die if I didn't find a way to stop the bleeding. Who he was didn't even cross my mind. All I could think of was saving him.

My mother had taught me all the most effective healing herbs when I was younger; I was certain I could save him if I used the correct blend. His skin was warm against my fingers, sending pulses of warmth into my own body. Quickly, I tied a piece of cloth around his chest to help slow the bleeding before I started a fire and went to find the herbs he needed. As I searched for the herbs I had a few minutes to catch my breath and let myself wonder about this mysterious stranger. His appearance was both exciting and terrifying. I hadn't had contact with another human for months.

Five minutes later I came back and got to work. First I had to stop the bleeding...which was what the fire was for. It was raging with hot red flames by then and I let a steel knife rest in the flames for several minutes while I prepared the herbs. I smashed the leaves together with a wooden spoon. The juices and greens oozed together to form a thin green paste.

I pressed the burning metal to his wound, squeezing my eyes shut in horror as he howled in pain. I just kept replaying what my mother had always told me about this process. "The pain is temporary, death is permanent." Her imaginary voice in my mind calmed me a bit as the man's body writhed underneath the knife.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," I whispered. Lifting the metal from the wound, I was pleased to see that the bleeding had stopped. However, there was now a horrific burn on his skin. Burn bubbles began to appear in seconds, the red inflamed skin oozing clear liquid. I flinched. It looked so painful; I could almost feel the pain of the burn against my own skin.

He had fallen back into unconsciousness by the time I finished applying herbs and binding the wound with a clean cotton cloth. I stared at him in curiosity. Who was he? My eyes flickered to his strong jaw line and handsome features. His eyes were closed, a blanket of dark lashes flickering in his restless sleep. Nervousness made me feel sick as I covered him with a thin blanket. He was hot. Like a dangerous, mysterious kind of hot. I traced a finger along his jaw but pulled my hand back when I caught myself. Come on Riley, pull yourself together.

Hours later, his dark brown eyes flicked open. I rushed to his side. "How are you feeling?" His eyes were beautiful. Stop it.

"I've been better," he croaked.

I handed him some water and helped him drink a few sips. His fingers touched my hand as he gripped the cup. Shivers ran through my body. "What happened to you?" I managed to ask in a ridiculously quiet and awkward voice.

He sighed with a scowl on his face from the pain. "Long story." He sat up with a grunt. "No time to explain."

No time to explain? Did he expect to go somewhere in his condition? There was no way I was letting him out of my sight until I knew he wouldn't collapse and die. I smirked. Not that I would mind watching him every second of the day. Riley! "Hey, lie back down. You need to rest," my voice sounded so strange to me.

"No, I'll be fine. We have to get out of here."

"You're not going anywhere. Wait...we?" If he thought I was going anywhere with him he was sorely mistaken. Well maybe it wouldn't be so bad though; he was so cute it was insane. No, no I wasn't going anywhere with him.

"Yes, we." He stood up. "Let's go. Grab whatever you need, but hurry."

"No, no, no. You almost died! Lie down." I pushed him back toward the bed.

His eyes glowed yellow and he shook his head, a low growl coming from deep in his throat. "No!"

I took a step back, terrified. He was going to kill me. I saved his life only to be torn apart by his claws and fangs. "You're one of them." I couldn't keep the panic from showing in my voice.

"One of them? No, I most certainly am not." He looked disgusted with me for asking such a question.

"But your eyes..."

"Yeah, what about them?"

"They glowed...you're a werewolf."

"And?" He shrugged. "So are you."

"Am not a werewolf!" I yelled. How dare he call me one of those dogs!

"Whatever."

I wasn't sure what to say, so I just stared at him. Fascination and fear fought inside me for control of the situation. Fear won. I backed outside and grabbed a knife laying on a fallen tree trunk. I pointed the blade at him. "Stay away from me!"

"Look, I'm not with the pack. I'm alone. In fact, the pack is why we have to leave. I got injured fighting them off on their way here. They're delayed a bit now, but they'll be here any time now."

"What are you talking about?" He was flipping crazy.

"They want you dead, Riley."

"How do you know who I am?" Why couldn't my life just stay nice and simple? Just me in the woods alone, undisturbed by insane hot maniacs.

"Because they do! And they don't like that there's a half-blood alive, so they're coming to kill you. Now let's go!" His voice was low and annoyed.

"You can't go anywhere you're hurt." Then again, maybe if I could get him to leave without me I would be better off.

"I'm fine. I heal quickly." He pulled the bandage away from his wound. It already looked better, slightly red and swollen still, but better. I was amazed, but not enough to lower my knife.

"Now come on," he insisted.

"How do I know you're telling the truth?" How did I know he wasn't? Who was I kidding, of course, he wasn't telling the truth. He was a werewolf.

He growled. "We don't have time for this." His hand flew at me so quickly I didn't have time to feel anything but complete and utter panic before everything went black.

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