Wolves (English)

Chapter 17

The school day seems to never end. Normally, Tuesday always flies by quickly. Not surprising, since for me that is the day with the most fun lessons: English, French, Spanish, history, and mathematics. But today, all of these courses seem to take up to four times longer than normal. That must be because of my appointment with Finn this afternoon. I don't like to admit it, but secretly it makes me a little nervous. I am finally going to hear what he went through last night, and more importantly: my first meeting with Erik and the other Shadows will take place!

While that's one of the things I look forward to the most, it's also what scares me the most. Suppose those other wolves aren't as nice as Dyre and Finn at all, what am I supposed to do then? I can hardly spend the rest of my new double life dealing with them alone. Or maybe it is not our "fellow Shadows", but that Erik. Maybe he just makes me feel unwelcome ...

Oh, stop it, Ester! There is no point in worrying about something you have yet to experience. I'm sure they're all really nice. And maybe that test will eventually tell you that you're not a Shadow at all.

That is also a thought that constantly haunts my mind. Am I really a Shadow, as Finn thinks? Just because he passed the test does not necessarily mean that my result is positive. Of course, there is a good chance. After all, our parents both have the deviant genes of a Shadow. But could it be the case that only one child inherits those genes from his or her parents? In that case, my result would be negative.

What am I actually hoping for? When I think about it very deeply, I come to the conclusion that I want nothing more than to get a negative result. Then I can breathe a sigh of relief and get on with my normal life, without ever having to deal with all those Human-Wolves again. On the other hand, I'll have everything to do with it for the rest of my life anyway, now that I know the secrets of Finn, Dyre, and my parents. I will never be able to escape their stories and adventures again, as much as I would like to. In that case, it might also be better if I get tested positive for the possession of Shadow genes. At least, then I know what's going on in that world and I can have a say in it at the same time.

With a sigh, I bend over my notebook. I have to stop thinking about wolves for a while. I better now focus on how people used to live in the Middle Ages. At least, that's useful.

Finn

The penultimate hour of class creeps by. I sit in my usual seat in the back of the classroom, next to Kasper, doing everything I can to listen to Mr. Peters's dull voice. His stories about substances and reactions do not fascinate me at the moment. Chemistry never really cared for me anyway. What the hell does that help you?

More important is fighting Evil along with the other Human-Wolves. Erik must know that too, right? If we don't act quickly against the enemy forces, they will defeat us. I am one hundred percent sure of that.

I can feel my phone vibrating in my pocket. With one eye on Peters, I take the Samsung out inconspicuously. While holding it under my table, I pretend to be diligently taking notes. However, with my left hand I open the screen and check the number on the display.

Shit, why does Erik have to speak me right now? This is not the right time. If I don't finish this class, I'll fail that test next week anyway.

But perhaps what he is calling for is much more important ...

For a moment, I am in conflict because I don't know what to do. It must be about his plan for Evil. I know that Erik, like us, has been working on it for a while. He has even read a lot of books about it, and negotiated with a number of colleagues. Today we even have some Shadows of the Enemy, who decided to step over to us. Unfortunately, they are not the most skilled wolves we could have wished for, so what should become of that will be my wonder.

But that does not answer the question in my own head: what should I do? Hang up or answer the phone?

In a few quick seconds, I make a decision.

I raise my hand.

'Yes, Finn?' Peters shakes his bald head and looks at me with an irritated look in his eyes.

It doesn't bother me.

Without any hesitation, I ask, 'Can I just go to the toilet, please?'

I can see the corners of his mouth pull down further. I know why that is. Lately, I have been missing far too many chemistry classes, and all too often asked if I could use the toilet, sometimes secretly walking away. Of course he is hesitant to let me go.

'Is it really necessary?' he asks suspiciously.

'Of course! What do you mistake me for? If there is anyone who never lies about going to the toilet, then it is me!' To prove it, I start to wiggle up and down in my chair excessively, as if I can hardly hold it up.

A few other students, including Kasper, start to laugh.

'Silence!' Again, Peters seems to hesitate. 'Well, alright then. I can see myself that you are not lying. And if you really have to, you just have to go.'

Relieved, I get up from my chair and quickly walk in the direction of the door.

'But be back within five minutes!' Peters emphasizes when I put my hand on the door handle.

'Of course, Mr. Peters,' I nod with an exaggerated smile on my face.

When I'm in the hallway, I lean against the wall and breathe a sigh of relief. First I will call Erik back, and then I can always decide what to do based on what he has to say.