Note: This chapter won't be too long. I'm listening to 'Make This Go on Forever' by Snow Patrol while I write this. It's a good song. So if you like to listen to music while you read, that's a suggestion. Now back to the story!
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Chapter 5 - Unhappy.
I was running again through the thick forest, after forcing myself to my feet. It felt as though the gnarled roots were purposefully trying to trip me up. The steady stream of tears that had been cascading down my cheeks had almost stopped and now the cold wind whipping against my face caused my tear-stained cheeks to sting. My chest heaved in and out painfully. It had been a long time since I had ran like this. I felt free, but like there was something following me, wanting to contain me. I didn't understand half the things going through my head.
Finally, my foot caught on a fallen branch, and I fell, feeling like I was going in slow-motion as I saw the ground come ever nearer to me. The breath was knocked out of me as I crashed down. Weakly, I hauled myself into sitting position and attempted to return my breathing pattern to normal. I looked up into the trees. The branches reached up and meshed together, blocking much light. It was beautiful in an eerie way. I began to calm down, the sounds of nature soothing me. Crickets sang, an owl hooted in the distance and the insects buzzed and chirped. I could hear the sweet call of the birds and the startling rustling of an animal in the undergrowth near me. Swaying slightly, I stood once again and shut my eyes, relishing the peace.
A peace that was broken by a single howl.
My head swiveled around to the direction it had come from. I blinked. From the shadows, emerged golden eyes. In each pair there was a subtle difference. A hint of green, a tinge of burnt sienna... In total, there were three pairs coming into better focus as the animals neared me. I gasped.
Wolves.
But not normal wolves. Wolves didn't even belong to these parts. But that wasn't even what made these ones different. They were huge, much bigger than the average wolf but it was the intelligence in their eyes that captured my interest. From them, I got a vibe much like the one that rolled off Nate. And yet this was different. I squeezed my eyes tight, unhappy about my new realisation. These guys were werewolves.
A few days ago, I was simply a girl getting abused, desiring nothing more than my death. I had realised the futility of my life years ago. I regretted the times where I had held a gleaming blade in my hands but could not bring myself to push it through my chest. Now. somehow, I was getting entangled in a world of fantasy. Maybe I should've waited for Nate. He would've done what I could not. Then, I wouldn't be here, surrounded by creatures that I wished remained fiction.
I looked at them, sadness evident in my eyes. They kept watching me. I hardly felt anything as I looked at them. Not fear, not curious in the least. Not anger. I just felt depressed.
"Does it ever bother you, changing from one form to another?" I asked them bleakly.
Their ears perked up at this. I continued.
"It must. Changing faces, pretending to be one thing; something you're not? Ha! Everyone seems to have a mask; some have a whole collection. A secret identity." I mumbled this despairingly, but they could hear every word clearly, I was sure.
"That's why people can hide their screams with a smile. So easy to pretend. You must find it tiring. Holding back such a large part of yourselves. From most, bar your pack I suppose."
My voice was quiet and yet it carried through the now silent forest, only the wind distorting it a bit. I was proud of how rational I was being through this ordeal. One of the wolves growled.
"If you're growling at me, you better cop on! I'm no fool. Even now, I can recognise you. Going to hit me, or better yet bite me for a change?"
They would not meet my eyes. I knew that my presumptions had been correct then. The corner of my mouth turned up at this.
"Go ahead. I don't care. Kill me, whatever. I don't hit dogs and I have no reason to fight back."
One of them dared to meet my gaze. I felt quite serene at that moment, waiting for them to decide my faith.
At last, one suddenly lunged for my throat. I spread out my arms, welcoming what was to come. My eyes fluttered shut. I felt joy...
YOU ARE READING
Secrets.
Fantasy(This story has been on hold for a long time. Once college eases up, I'll go back on schedule. ) Sarah is a young girl of sixteen. Already in her life, she has come up against many battles and just barely got through them. She did not go unscathed...
