Eight.
"What's the strangest thing you've ever seen?" Ryan asked, his eyes gazing out the rain-darkened windows. The fog still swirled outside and the pounding rain didn't make driving any safer. It's been half an hour and the horrendous weather still hadn't let up. It was still as wet, cold, misty and steaming as ever. Looking out the window, I was suddenly worried about my mother and brother. I didn't know where they were or if they were okay. This is the second biggest storm in Houston since the nineteenth hundreds; I beg to differ as sheets of rain washed insistently down the windshield. All around us, cars were parked against the curb, engines cut off but headlights still shined, sweeping against the trunk of the cars in front.
"Strangest thing? Uh..." I pondered all the events that I'd crossed so far. There was that time I caught my older brother sleeping with my best friend; I mean, they argue and hassle each other constantly. The fact that they could even be remotely attracted to each other is by far the strangest thing I've seen. But the incident I'd encountered with that wolf overrode everything.
We were playing twenty questions and the things I've discovered about him was amusing. For most embarrassing moment, he'd told me about the time he was pantsed when he was in grade school right in the middle of the recess field full of his friends. They laughed at him for weeks; even retelling the story to me made his cheeks flushed red and he stared vacantly out the windshield, refusing to meet my entertained and disbelieving stare. When he asked me about my favorite movies, we had a full-blown discussion about our likes and dislikes of the movie Avatar.
I'd never lie once when we were swapping questions and answers and I didn't intend to. He'd never lie to me; at least, he haven't had the reason to. So, I shove all the doubts and alarm bells from my mind and plunged ahead, following my gut-wrenching instincts to tell him about the glimpse of the lone wolf. "A few nights ago," I started, making sure I had his attention and that he wasn't going to tease me about my overactive imagination. "I looked out my window and I saw a wolf."
I felt him stiffen and his arms went slack around my hips. "And?" He replied quietly. I couldn't pinpoint the exact emotion his voice outwardly displayed but I was baffled, confused, by the mixture of anger and fright.
"And," I took a deep breath. "it turned its head and stared straight at me. That's when I freaked and drew the drapes closed. I mean, it sounds silly but when I saw its eyes, it wasn't yellow, like I assumed most wolves would be. Instead, it was the color of jade. Like your eyes." I reached up and traced his cheeks, feeling a strange intimacy in the simple gesture. "Except it's a shade lighter. I-I wouldn't know! I'm just guessing."
"What was it doing?" He asked, ignoring my shameful expression on his eye colors.
I shrugged. "It was just walking around though, for some reason, I have a strange feeling that it was waiting for me, as weird as that might sound." I stared up at him, my eyes searching for any signs that he was judging me, labeling me as a psychopath. "You think I'm crazy, don't you?"
"Get in the seat and put on your seat belt. Now." Ryan ordered, lifting me up and plopping me down on the passenger's seat. I did as he told and buckled my seat belt with trembling hands, unsure if his sudden change of attitude was brought on because of something I'd said.
"What's going on?" I asked, gripping the seat so taut that my knuckles shone white.
He expertly maneuver out of the position between two cars; one in front and one behind. Dismissing the perilous weather, he drove with incredible speeds, out-driving cars that were too slow or those that were parked haphazardly around the roads. I sneaked a glance at him and shrank back from the venom in his eyes. I'd noticed that his hands were clutching the steering wheel so tightly they seemed to be shaking from the impact of it all. I was afraid that if he removed his hold, the indentation of his fingers and palms would be carved in the plastic.
My short life shuffled in my mind, showing me different events of my existence. All throughout the ride, I couldn't stop shaking as if I was on the brink of death. Was I going to die? Is this how they will find my body? Embedded in the leather seat of a silver Mercedes?
Miraculously, Ryan screeched to a stop in front of my house and sat idly in his seat, face set in stone. He pointed a finger at the house and said hoarsely, "Lock all the doors and window and stay inside tonight. Don't leave the house and don't let anybody in. If your mom and brother isn't home, call me and I'll come get you. You're not staying in there by yourself."
I shivered from the intensity of his command. "I-you're scaring me, Ryan. What's going on? Why are you acting like this?"
"Listen to me!" He demanded. "I don't have time to explain but you need to trust me! Trust that I won't let anybody hurt you! Please." His voice took on a more desperate tone as he struggled with the war waging within himself. "Do this for me. I need you to be safe."
I nodded mutely, stunned into silence by his request. I've never seen him like this and it scared me. If a person so strong and impenetrable to all fears and dangers could break down so easily then how bad is the situation? What exactly is the situation? I had no idea yet I knew him well enough to detect a hint of hysterics in his voice. I opened the door and was greeted by the unrelenting winds. Ryan shrugged off his jacket and passed it to me, draping it over my shoulders. I found my voice as I stepped out of the door and into the freezing cold; his jacket did little to keep me warm. Whispering a shaky, "Be careful!" I raced to the shelter of the porch, fumbling inside my pockets for the keys.
The winds carried his farewells to me as he drove off, heading north. I found the keys and inserted it in the lock, twisting it and opening it. The house was dark and empty. I flipped on the lights and a lazy haze of yellow made me squint my eyes. I dropped my backpack at the bottom of the stairs and surveyed the house, looking for signs of intrusion. Finding none, I tiptoed upstairs; all the while, a sudden rush of chills swept over me and I stopped halfway, eyes raking the landing. Blaming my jumpiness on the heaviness of the dark and vacancy of the house, I ran the rest of the way up the steps.
I peered into my brother's room and smiled slightly at its messy state. Then I headed down the little way to my room and turned the knob slowly. I gripped my phone and sent a quick message to both my mom and brother, asking where they are and if they're okay. I took off Ryan's jacket and prepared to switch on the lights when a low growl erupted from the darkness, stilling me. I blindly ran my fingers rapidly over the keys and almost lost my grip on the device when the sounds of paws on hardwood floors came closer. I didn't dare to breath, afraid that whatever it was inside my room would jump and pounce.
I reached out my hands, moving along the walls, searching for the light switch. When I finally found it, I hesitated before flipping it on. Light illuminated the room, bouncing and reflecting off the windows. Though I was certain the drapes were pulled when I left the house this morning...
Moving my eyes downward, my heart leapt in my throat and I tried futilely to swallow pass the lump in my esophagus. Standing on all fours was a large wolf. I gasped and then whimpered, stumbling back; its green eyes followed my movements with shocking intellect. It was the same one I'd glimpsed out on the streets days back! With its white coat and long, flickering tail, it looked majestic rather than dangerous. Though, like Ryan said, looks can be deceiving. It was sleek and incredibly beautiful. These were the kind of animals that should be on the endangered species list. And I've no doubt that they are.
The wolf's eyes seemed to narrow as my legs shook and I crumbled to the ground, unable to support myself.
Downstairs, a guy's voice shouted, "Jamie! Are you here?" Ryan sounded panicked and vulnerable.
I opened my mouth to answer but a low growl emitted from the wolf's maw and I snapped my mouth shut.
"Jamie!"
Tears leaked down my cheeks as I willed Ryan to stop searching for me and go home! Where he'll be safe.
Footsteps pounded up the stairs and I whimpered. Doors opened and closed as Ryan came closer. Finally, Ryan appeared in the doorway. One look at the wolf and his jaw clenched and his fists tightened by his sides. "What the hell are you doing here?" He spat, his words aimed at the animal sitting in the middle of my room.
I didn't expect the wolf to acknowledge his question but when the animal's image distorted and I had to squint to clear away the sudden haze that abruptly clouded my vision, my expectations flew out the window. Sitting on its haunches, there was a young man in the wolf's place. I gasped and backed away. Ryan stepped in front of me protectively.
"Is that any way to talk to me?" The guy sneered in an incredibly seductive timbre.
"Why are you here?" Ryan growled.
"I'm just paying your friend a visit. She's a beauty. Just like Lila." He stared at me intently and I shrank back, hiding myself behind Ryan's towering form.
"Don't talk about Lila!" Ryan snapped; his voice shaking with anger.
"Why not?" The guy snarled, coming closer.
Despite my fears, I took a long look at him. He was handsome, that was a given. He had dirty blond cropped short hair and strong facial structures. He had high cheekbones and strong jaws that lined with stubble. After his transformation, he was wearing a loose fitting shirt with puffy sleeves and cargo pants. I couldn't see the similarities between him and Ryan except for their eye colors and that's where they end. There were more differences than likeness.
"Get out." Ryan ordered.
"You were always so touchy." The guy answered, smirking.
"Get the hell out of her house!"
The guy shrugged. "Alright, fine by me. You can't keep her away from me forever. I was going to find out eventually."
Ryan didn't reply but gave the guy a steely glare.
Then before my eyes, the man's image distorted once more and I blinked. When I snapped open my eyes, there was once more a wolf. It stalked out the door and down the stairs. I gazed after it, shocked and uncomprehending.
Ryan pinched the bridge of his nose and turned to me, eyes wary. "Are you okay?"
"W-what the h-hell was that?" I sputtered, getting to my feet.
"Did he hurt you?"
"No." I replied. "Who - what - was that?"
"I-I...come on!" He gave a frustrated heave and grabbed my hand, pulling me up.
"No!" I boomed, wrenching my hand away from his hold. "Answer my question! What the hell was that?!"
"A lycanthrope."
I uttered, "Y-you're...you're kidding!"
_________
This chapter has a bit more action and adventure in it...kind of. It mentions Lila and I'm leaving it at that. It's like one of those mysteries thingies. Haha. Anyways! I found out that my last chapter marked the one millionth upload and I...was shocked! I didn't even know what it was or what happened. But I want to thank all those people who congratulated me and to my readers who continues to support me! It's amazing! Thank you!
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