LUCE
I could hear birds chirping nearby, I groaned as the pain radiated from every inch of my body. My head was still throbbing uncontrollably.
My eyes flickered open and I was laying in the dewy grass outside of my house. My clothes were torn and covered in mud. I inspected my body and I had scrapes and bruises all over my arms and legs.
I sat up quickly looking around in confusion. How did I get here and why was I in so much pain. I hardly had anything to drink last night.
My mind was still foggy but I forced myself to get up and climb the stairs to my balcony. Luckily the door was unlocked and I slipped inside my room. I didn't want my mom to see me and worry.
I quickly turned on the shower and as it warmed up I stripped off my tattered clothes and threw them in the trash.
I saw a glimpse of my reflection in the mirror and was horrified. I was covered in blood.
I quickly jumped into the shower and scrubbed my aching body. The water ran a muddy red color as it washed down the drain.
So many thoughts were rushing through my mind, why was I covered in blood, how did I get home and what happened to me.
I had no other injuries other than the small scrapes and bruises, which were probably from stumbling through the woods back home last night.
I tried to pull the memories from my mind but the last thing I remember was staring out at their pool before my mind became too foggy.
My hands and feet was pale and wrinkly by the time I got out of the shower, the warm water had run out long ago but I couldn't bring myself to look at my reflection again.
I laid in my bed thinking about what had happened last night but I still had no recollection.
My phone buzzed bringing me out of my daze, "Hello?"
"Oh my god, are you okay?" Ari question, her voice full of concern.
"Yeah, I'm okay" I lied trying to keep my voice steady.
"How did you get home? I looked for you everywhere last night." I could almost hear her heartbeat through the phone.
I had to be hallucinating that, there was no way I would be able to hear her heartbeat.
"Honestly, I have no idea. I was hoping you knew. The last thing I remember is trying to get outside because I wasn't feeling well" I sighed. I was hoping she had more information of what happened last night.
"I'm just glad you're okay. No one hurt you right? A couple girls were roofied at our party! Luckily we found them before anything happened. I started freaking out when I couldn't find you. I was calling you and texting you all night and you weren't answering" It sounded like she had been crying.
"I'm okay Ari don't worry, I woke up in my bed perfectly safe. My feet hurt, if anything I just walked home"
"Are you lying to me?" She questioned
I bit my lip hard, almost hard enough to draw blood to keep my voice from cracking as I fought back the tears.
"Can you come over?" I whispered as a tear spilled over. I cradled my knees against my chest as I fought back the wave of tears that were trying to break free.
I heard her say "on my way" before the line went dead.
The memories of what happened last night had came crashing back to me. I remember the fear I felt and all of the pain I had encountered. It felt like every single one of my bones broke and reformed.
It had to have been a dream, but my body said otherwise. I suspected I had been drugged after fighting to even stay awake.
I remember seeing his eyes, the fear in them as he stumbled away from me. But I had no idea why he was running from me when I wasn't even able to fight back. I'm thankful for whatever happened because I was safe, and it sounded like the other girls were safe too.
Within 5 minutes there was a knock on my door. I hurried downstairs and opened the door. Ari shoved the door open and grabbed me in a bear hug.
"What happened to you?" She looked concerned as she looked me up and down.
I grabbed her hand and guided her upstairs to my room, I hurried her inside and shut the door. I didn't want my mom hearing anything about this.
"I'm pretty sure I was drugged last night, I only had a couple shots and then I started not to feel well not long into the night."
Her eyes scanned over me and she looked so guilty, like it was her fault this happened to me because she made me go to her party.
"This isn't your fault stop looking at me like that" I whispered softly and grabbed her hand trying to comfort her.
"Do you remember anything else that happened"
I sighed, it was hard to talk about because that's the most scared I've ever been in my life. "I remember making it outside and I had sat down to get fresh air. But I wasn't feeling right and couldn't keep my eyes open"
I avoided eye contact with her as I continued, "Someone came out there, I don't know who it was but he grabbed me and started taking me into the woods. Everything about him seemed creepy and I hated his touch." I inhaled sharply to stay calm as I relived this again.
Ari wrapped her arm around me and pulled me into her.
"I was able to fight him off, he took off and escaped. I managed to get home after that because I woke up here"
She let out a breath which she had been holding in and sighed in relief.
"I am so sorry that happened. This is my fault. I should have never left you." Her face was filled with regret.
"I'm okay" I lied, I was everything but okay. But I was just relieved to be alive. I still had so many questions.
She hugged me again and we stayed in my room laying together in silence. Just having her with me made me feel better. I didn't want to talk but I also didn't want to be alone yet.
The weekend seemed to drag on but Ari stayed with me until Sunday night. She helped comfort me at my worst moment and helped me keep my mind from reliving those moments when I was at my worse.
But without her here it was harder to stay calm and not let my mind drift to dangerous thoughts. I forced myself to take a bath before curling up in my bed. I closed my eyes and hoped sleep would take me soon.
* * *
I jolted awake, my heart was racing and I struggled to catch my breath. I had another nightmare. I looked around and tried to slow my breathing.
"You're home you're safe" I whispered to myself
I pulled myself from my bed and walked out to my balcony, the chilly night air didn't bother me this time.
It cooled my hot skin, I've been burning up since Friday,I wonder if I caught a cold being outside all night.
I heard a distant howl and I felt relieved, maybe my wolf was somewhere out there keeping an eye on me. Maybe he helped get me home. Or maybe I was being delusional but I preferred to stay hopeful that he was my guardian.
I curled up on the patio chair and stared out at the tree line. I didn't feel vulnerable being outside anymore, I felt free. I just wanted to run through the trees carefree.
I must have drifted off to sleep because my eyes fluttered open at the sound of branches braking nearby. The moon was still new so there wasn't much light except the light from my room.
From the darkness my wolf appeared again, his sleek black fur camouflaged him with the forest behind him. But I could feel him and sense his presence. It's like all of my sense were heightened. I could smell the pine and musk from his fur.
I didn't know if I was dreaming or not again but I crept down the stairs slowly not to scare him off. I stopped a few feet away from him and sat in the cold damp grass and held my hand out to him.
Maybe I was crazy for doing this again, he was a wild animal. But everything about him calmed my soul and made me feel at ease.
He silently approached me, but kept his distance this time still unsure about me.
"It's okay boy I won't hurt you" I whispered.
He pined his ears back and twitched his tail a couple times, like he understood me. He finally made his way over to me and laid his head in my lap. I stroked his fur and it felt magical.
My hands tingled where I touched him, electricity coursed through my body. He looked up at me concerned and whimpered.
I felt the pain again, the pain where everything in my body felt like it was on fire. He nuzzled my hand with his snout as if he was trying to tell me something or comfort me.
"I don't know what's happening to me." I finally let the tears out that I've been holding in for so long.
My wolf leaned against me and I wrapped my arms around him. And sobbed uncontrollably into him. I think I must have been dreaming but if I was I didn't want to wake up. I finally felt safe.
The pain and the exhaustion were wearing on me and I felt like I was breaking. Literally. My bones felt like they were shattering once again. I threw myself down and rolled in the grass in agonizing pain.
The sweat was pouring down my face. I tried to scream but no sound came out. My bones were slowly rearranging themselves and it felt like I was being ripped apart.
The pain shattered through me all at once and then there was nothing. I looked around and my wolf was eye level with me. I peered into his eyes and it's like my vision had changed.
Everything was so much brighter and easier to see but it was still pitch black outside. I could see my reflection gleaming in his eyes and I was taken back at the wolf staring back at me.
My wolf almost looked shocked if they could have reactions. I felt shocked. I had no idea what was happening anymore, so I bolted.
I ran through the forest weaving in and out of the maze of trees. I looked down to see I had four legs now and fur covered them.
I had to wake up, this had to be a dream. I pushed my legs to the point of exhaustion but I was trying anything to get wake myself up.
I turned around at the sound of footsteps behind me to see my wolf was now chasing behind me. I whipped around to try and escape but it was too late. I came crashing into the base of a tree. My body crunched against it and I whispered as my bones shattered in my shoulder.
The pain from the impact made me feel dizzy and I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer. Everything faded to black.