The sun has well passed its highest point when Abe called from the porch door beckoning me. I had hardly noticed him, and missed his first call; I was laying in some shade made by one of the outer trees, consumed by my thoughts. I leisurely raised and waddled towards him, floppy and relaxed.
"Want to join our game? We're just playing 'crazy 8's'." Abe asked enthusiastically.
"Who's all playing?" I asked cautiously.
"So far it's only Axle and I." He smiled.
"Um... Sure." I replied. I sat down with the boys rather awkwardly. I could also detect bashfulness from the silent Axle to my left. I noticed the cards were already dealt with a hand for me, giving me the impression that Abe knew I would agree or was very confident in his persuasion. The hand may have also been set for Aria, who was nowhere to be seen. Part of me missed her, and the other was relieved. It seems I always want her close, but far away; to hug, then to push. It's a constant war fighting in my mind and in my heart... After Axle won far too quickly, and nothing better to do; we agreed on playing 'crazy 8's countdown'. That lasted us right until dusk, when I began getting really hungry and planning what to cook.
"You know you don't need to make us anything? We take turns preparing food. And we don't believe in the whole 'a woman belongs in the kitchen,'" Abe blushed.
"That term is a little too broad. Most anything involving an entire gender is. But- I can easily say that I am skilled in the kitchen. Just like I am skilled at kicking both of your butts." I smiled as I placed my last card onto the pile of cards in the center of the table, winning first place. A chorus of 'awwww' by the defeated proved my victory as I turned by back and strode into the kitchen a couple feet away. "Well, then at least let someone help?" Abe asked.
"Alright. To keep it fair; whose turn was it to be tonight? I probably won't feel like cooking every night, but when I do, I'll use a helper."
"That would be me!" Abe answered enthusiastically. He looked and sounded trapped suddenly as his gaze shifted from his unfinished game and the stove. Axle left him to squirm for an extra few seconds before smiling to himself and softly saying;
"You're free... and the looser." as he drops his winning card on the pile. Abe smiles and goes to get up, but before leaving the table he gives Axle a good WACK to the back of his head. Axle just laughs and starts collecting all the cards into a neat pile. I join in on the laughter as I kneel to look into the lower shelves of their pantry to see what has been placed out of sight.
"Put a pot of water on the stove, will you, Abe?" I asked.
"Yes, Ma'am!" he said as he straightened and gave me a quick solute. I laughed silently to myself at his exaggeration. I sniffed out a container of pre-made chicken stalk and put it into the now boiling pot Abe set out for me. I had him search the fridge for all the vegetables they have hidden in there and to chop them up. As he does that, I found some shell pasta and tossed it in. Abe and I chopped the remainder of the vegetables and tossed them in as well. Once everything was cooked thoroughly, we grabbed bowls and sat around the table again for a casual meal. "Should someone look for Aria to tell her there's food?" I asked them as we served ourselves.
"Nah- she must be very tired if she hasn't come out yet. Usually food is the only thing that wakes that girl up. If she is still in her room; she's ether really tired and passed out or has some reason for not coming out."
"What if she's not here?"
"Well, then there would surely be no way of getting her. We wouldn't know where she went and would still have to wait for her to return anyways." Axle countered. "Besides, I saw her go down the hallway hours ago and the only way out of the house from that direction is to go through a window." He laughed.
"Please, Rae. Don't worry. She'll probably get hungry in the middle of the night, and can come out here and heat up some herself. There will be plenty left over." Abe assured me. I nodded and filled my bowl with my make-shift soup. As we sat down I asked;
"Is there a town with a market nearby?". At this, both men stiffened and shared uncertain glances. I was confused for a second before remembering the situation. It seems I keep forgetting I am a prisoner of some sorts.
"Oh... right. I'm still held captive here, aren't I? We could go into town and I could try and run, or scream bloody murder?"
"Rae, it's not like that... we just-"
"Just don't want to risk it. I get it. Forget I said anything..." I cut Abe off. We sat in silence for several seconds before I stood up and excused myself from the meal with half my soup uneaten. They called to me as I left the room and stepped down the hall to my cell. I slid through the door and into the room. With a sigh, I leaned my forehead against the gently shut door. Turning my back to it, I looked at 'my room'. Part of me does enjoy it here, but the other half feels trapped and as though I'm suffocating. My heart starts to pound as my eyes dodge around the room. I race to the window, throwing it open. The light in the room remains off and hidden as the wind sweeps into the room, lifting my hair with it. I feel like I can run; I can leave at this moment and be free. Finally get home. I duck down into the dresser and rifle through the old clothes the boys had left for me. I threw on black, thin sweats and a black turtle neck that was slightly too slim for me, but I don't care. I swipe all the trinkets that are on the dresser into my arms and move them onto the desk. In a tight hop and the light help of my arms; I am perched on top of the dresser before the open, screen-less window. The night air pulses in again and I barely breathe the fresh night air; adrenaline flooding through my veins. I could dive out this window and run faster than the wind. My muscles tense as I recoil back, preparing to pounce-
"Rae, Please stop." Aria says calmly, but seems incredibly on edge about something. Her eyes don't leave me, but her head keeps tilting to the sides as though she was listening for something. My skin feels as though it will tear from bone.
"Please, calm yourself. You're putting all of us in danger." I rip my eyes from her cowering form and stair into the trees and think of the dirt road around the corner that leads away from this place. I look back at her and snarl, letting out a low growl that felt like it came from my chest. She bent lower at the knees and lowered her eyes. Why is she so afraid of me?
"Rae, I am very serious... please calm down. You aren't yourself right now..." I growl at her again and snap in her direction. What the hell does she think she knows about me?!
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I didn't mean it like that! I mean literally... Rae, you're a wolf." She looked up at me at that and smiled. A distant, happy smile that didn't make sense with what she said. None of that made sense. I tilt my head at her and look down, but don't find my hands and knees, but paws and fur. Surprised, I try and push away from them, crashing to the floor, I scratch around trying to gather myself to my feet, which took too long to not be embarrassing and frightening. Not being used to having four legs rather than two, which I think is understandable, I feel like I only flop around on my stomach. Aria comes to my side, placing a hand on my side. I jump and bite her arm and hold it in my mouth until I taste blood. My surprise takes over and I look at her, slowly letting go. I nudge her arm with my nose, calming down and gathering my unfamiliar limbs underneath me, then pushing my head and chest from the floor, not breaking eye contact with Aria. Her other hand is under my shoulder, helping me up and comforting me. Guilt overflows my mind as I see the blood pour from her arm. She kneels down to be closer to me, wrapping her good arm behind my back as she looks into my eyes, gently and calming and whispers;
"You are safe, Rae. Please relax yourself. Think of your toes, and your elbows." I blinked, not opening my eyes right away, taking in a deep breath. I hear her sigh, and my muscles go limp as I collapse into her chest. She pulls me close around my shoulders, tucking my head under her chin. I want to scream and freak out. I want to cry. I want to continue being held close to her...
"Will you explain some things to me now...?" I asked. I pulled away to look into her eyes, "I need answers."
YOU ARE READING
The Last Hope
Fantasy"Sitting silently, I notice the stars behind golden leaves fade above me; the sun must be rising already. The glimpse of light peaking above mountain ridges uncovers the faces around me. We will have to keep running soon." Confusion about her identi...
