As I take everyone back to the house, one by one, I can't stop thinking about the wolf. The way it looked at me as if it didn't try to kill me just days ago. It's unsettling. Maybe I'm just imagining things. The wolf ran off after it attacked me. It wouldn't have come back just to stare at me.
I park my bike back where it was before and take my helmet off, trying to forget about what I think I saw. Going inside, I set my helmet next to the blue one.
"You guys want food?" I ask.
"Sure," Olivia nods while Bree and Caleb's faces light up as if I just gave them a Christmas present.
"Pizza and chicken from Clark's?" I suggest.
"You know it," Olivia nods while the others just shrug or nod way too excitedly. I dial the number and order two large pizzas and two things of chicken before sitting down. We decide to take turns playing random games from the shelf, ones that Caleb is old enough for at least.
The food gets here a little over half an hour after ordering it and I know by the goofy knock that it's Jack. He works at Clark's on weekends. Thankfully, you can hear most of what happens upstairs from the basement but when you're upstairs it's harder to hear what goes on in the basement.
"Hey," he smiles as I open the door. He stands with our food in his work uniform. "Thought you were still recovering."
"Yeah, turns out I can heal faster than I thought," I show him my arm as I take the food.
"Damn, dude. That's cool as hell," he examines my arm and messes with the scars.
"Yeah, it's pretty weird though. I don't know how it happened," I shrug as he takes my money for the food.
"You having a party to celebrate?" he nods inside to the food that I've set aside for the moment.
"No, this happened in like a minute flat and I had to explain to Lizzy what I am," I explain. "Now you all know and the only person in this house that doesn't is Caleb."
"Oh, cool," he nods. "My shift ends in like an hour, think I can join you guys?"
"Sure, as far as I know, we aren't going anywhere," I nod with a smile.
"Cool, I'll see you later," he smiles and steps away from the door.
"See you later," I nod and he gets in the car he has to drive for work. I give him a wave before closing the door and bringing the food to the basement. Dad comes down to take a slice of pizza before returning upstairs. After a while, Jack comes downstairs in his regular clothes and joins in eating and playing video games. When Lizzy's phone rings she hands Caleb her controller to take over so she can answer.
"Hello?... We're at Travis's house. Some stuff happened and we had to hurry... No, it wasn't too serious, everything's fine," I don't mean to eavesdrop but the basement's not very soundproof. "Yes, we'll be home before eight," Lizzy hangs up and seems to check the time before sitting back down.
"What's up?" I ask.
"I have to get Caleb home in two hours," she shrugs.
"Okay, let me know when you want to head out and I'll drive you guys," she nods and we play for another hour before Caleb falls asleep.
"I'll get him," I pick him up carefully so I don't wake him and we go upstairs. I carefully grab the keys to my truck and Lizzy follows me outside. The only light outside is the porch light until we get to the garage where the light comes on. I nod to the door and Lizzy opens it. I set Caleb in the back seat and buckle him up as Lizzy gets in the passenger seat.
"Think he had fun?" she asks, looking back at him as he leans against the door and I get in the driver's seat.
"Yeah," I nod with a smile. "Did you?"
"Yeah," she nods and smiles as the garage door opens and I drive out.
As I pull out of the long driveway I remember the wolf and how it stared at me earlier. Why am I thinking about this now?! I already established that it was probably my imagination!
I must be making a face when Lizzy asks, "what's up?" with a thoughtful look.
"The moon," I distract from the question.
"Duh, I mean what are you thinking about?" Mission failed.
"Just something I saw earlier," I shrug as the windshield starts to slowly get drops of water on it.
"Besides what we both saw?" she questions.
"Yeah," I sigh at the thought of the stupid wolf.
"What?"
"I thought I saw the wolf after I fell off my bike," I admit.
"How? We were all right there and we didn't see anything," she questions.
"I don't know. It was there when I looked up. Staring at me as if it knew me. Then I moved back, and it was gone when I looked back," I explain.
"Maybe it was-"
"I already told myself it was just my imagination," I cut her off. "But it felt too real. Like it was there and one of its eyes is the same hazel as mine, except the other, was gold that almost glows. It's unsettling."
"Okay, do you think it came back and just stared at you?" she suggests, being cautious.
"I don't know. I just know I never want to see that thing again," I turn the corner towards the store.
"I don't blame you," she quietly agrees as I turn into the, almost empty, parking lot.
"Do you think I should be worried about it?" I stop by the RV.
"Right now, I don't think so. If you see it more I think you might need to worry, though." I nod and we both unbuckle and get out. I carry Caleb inside as their mom opens the door for us.
"Thank you," Jane whispers with a small smile as I step outside. I nod and return the smile.
"See you on Monday," Lizzy smiles.
"See you on Monday," I nod and go to my truck. The drive home is silent, and I can't help my mind from wandering back to that stupid wolf.
Why can't I get that thing out of my head?! It's so stupid. I wish it would just leave me alone. As I focus back on the road I'm already swerving towards the trees. I quickly slam my foot on the brakes and turn to stay on the side of the road. I manage to keep the truck from hitting anything as it stops in the grassy area next to the road. With a sigh, I rest my forehead on the steering wheel.
"Why won't you let me focus?" I ask aloud as if someone will answer.
I take my head off the steering wheel and look around. It's almost pitch-black outside beside the light from the truck. Suddenly two orbs glow from the woods. Shining against the headlights.
I rub my eyes and look again. The glowing orbs are gone. I think they were eyes. Letting out a sigh. I pull out my phone. It's already 8:30
"I must be going crazy," I put my phone away, and as I start to pull back onto the road something sprints in front of the truck. As it disappears into the woods I swear I can see a few scars on a furry leg.
I shake my head and continue driving. I'm imagining things. It was probably just a deer or something. They like sprinting across the roads around here. As I see my driveway I have to slam on the brakes again as something sprints across the road again. I dig through the glove compartmentto find a flashlight before rolling the passenger side window down slightly to shine it through. The only thing I can see are trees.
The leaves russell slightly and I brush it off as the wind as I roll the window back up and put the flashlight back. I start driving again and focus on only the road until I park the truck back in the garage. As I walk out of the garage Jack, Bree and Olivia sit on the porch with drinks next to them. I join them on the porch and watch the woods.
"Hey, you look tired," Olivia observes.
"Yeah, I'm a bit tired. It's been a wacky day," I force a light laugh as I turn and lean on the railing.
"I bet," Jack nods. "From the looks of it, you need a break."
"You might wanna go to bed," Bree suggests.
"I think I just need to relax," I shrug. "I just want to know how I healed like that. Even when I got scraped it still took a day."
"Maybe it was your adrenaline? Leo was being himself and it looked like it hurt," Olivia shrugs and I turn to watch the woods.
"I don't know," I shrug. "How about we play more games?" Olivia eyes me but we all go back downstairs for a while.