A Wolf's Soul

Chapter 11

"We never should have trusted Timothy! He's kidnapped Alice and-"

Luna pushed him gently. "Jasper, that's enough."

He looked deep into her eyes. Shivers ran down Luna's back.

Jasper smiled. "You know we have to look for Alice. She's your...she's our best friend."

Luna smiled back, her heart thumping against her chest. "Let's tell Gwen, and go."

***

"Timothy? Rubbish", said Gwen scornfully.

"But T.C.! It's got to be Timothy. He's the kidnapper! The mysterious baddie! The-"

"That's quite enough Jaswinder.", Gwen said, sighing. "You won't go looking for them. We think we've tracked down the kidnapper in Dublin..."

Jasper and Luna only needed to glance at each other. Jasper winked. Luna grinned. They ran.

"Hey! Where are you going?"

But the two kept going. They were going to find Alice. And stop Timothy. Even if it meant doing it alone.

***

"Where are we anyway?"

"In London, can't you see?" Luna cuffed her friend in his arm. She pointed to the Big Ben.
For a few seconds, they looked around in silence. Neither of them had been in London before. Then, they grinned at each other. Luna pointed at an Underground timetable. "Maybe we can get a train to Dublin somehow."

"Yeah, sounds gre..."

Jasper's eyes wandered to the sky. The sun was setting. "Luna?", he asked, sounding alarmed, "it's not...Full moon tonight is it?"

Luna's eyes flew up as well. "I...I think it is."

The two of them shared a panicked glance. But before either of them had an idea, the full moon came into sight, shining silver. Luna forgot everything around her. Her eyes were wide.

Not now!, a voice in the back of her head pleaded.

Someone grabbed her hand. It was Jasper. He looked scared. Dead scared. Seeing her friend like that gave Luna a clear head. She pulled him along, feeling herself transform. She was going to control it. She had to control it. Jasper was suddenly a dog next to her. Luna knew she was a wolf. She ran on and on, towards the Big Ben. She touched the tower with her nose. Then suddenly, it felt like everything had gone black.

***

When Luna opened her eyes, she was in the bell tower of the Big Ben and Jasper was lying unconscious next to her. Luna couldn't remember what had happened after she had touched the tower. But she knew she had controlled part of the wolf inside her. She knew she had become a hoper. Jasper groaned beside her. He sat up. "Luna...I think I could control myself at the beginning. Does that mean..."

Luna shushed him. "Don't talk. I don't know how we got up here, but you aren't well."

Jasper ignored her and jumped to his feet. He blinked several times, like he was trying to remember something. Then, he hugged Luna.

"Sorry", he said gruffly, "don't know what came over me."

Luna, who was speechless, felt fireworks going off in her head.

"Let's get out of here.", said Luna.

"The question is how.", replied Jasper, who still looked embarrassed. He pointed around himself. "No stairs."

"We jump."