Midnight Moon

Chapter 3

My face is stinging from the cold and the wind whipping at my face as I run away from something behind me. Sticks are snapping in half beneath my feet and every step makes me want to cry out in agony. My foot is in excruciating pain, but I don't know why. I try to look down at my feet but I can't. I just keep running, listening to my heavy breathing and the twigs and leaves harshly crushing beneath my feet. Blood, the color of blood is everywhere. A rich, dark red from the setting sun projecting onto the snow covered ground making it look like blood. Dark tall shadows mocking me, surrounding me. Trees, trees they're everywhere. No escape.

I run further and further into the woods pushing any leaves or branches out of my way, trying to find safety or shelter. But what I'm trying to escape from I don't know. Where am I? What is happening? My run slowly starts turning into a light jog. I'm exhausted but pure adrenaline is pushing me forward trying to avoid whatever is coming after me.

I can hear it. Whatever is chasing me, it's fast and I start to doubt if I can outrun it. Am I about to die? I frantically look around me and find a clearing, I start running towards it. I don't know why. I just feel like I need to.

I come to a halt when I see more woods surrounding the clearing and spin around in circles trying to find a place to hide. No no no no, I need to get away. Soon I start to hear cracking noises and realize they weren't mine, I freeze. The noise keeps getting closer and closer, very slowly as if whatever was chasing me is now stalking me as if I were it's prey.

I slowly turn around and notice a smoky grey wolf hunched over on all fours practically crawling on the ground. I wouldn't have seen it if there wasn't any snow on the ground or covering the trees and bushes, creating a blank canvas making everything, and me, completely visible. No where to hide.

I don't breathe. I don't dare to move or make any sudden noises. I try to think of any way I could possibly defend myself when the wolf starts to get closer and closer walking slow circles around me, taunting me.

It stops in front of me 10 feet away and starts to growl. It's lips pull back from its teeth and I can see it's large sharp white teeth. It hunkers down on its legs again and then jumps towards me with its mouth wide open letting out a loud snarl.

I jolt forward in my bed panting heavily, a thick layer of sweat coating my skin and a twisting feeling in my stomach. I frantically look at my surroundings and slowly calm down when I notice that I'm in my room, safe. Glancing over at my alarm  clock that sits on top of my dark wood nightstand, I notice it is 6:00 in the morning, my parents don't get up until 7:00. Taking the hair tie off my wrist I gather all of my hair and quickly put it in a loose bun.

Slowly getting out of bed I grab my phone and make my way to the door on the other side of my room. Quietly opening the door I cross the hall and walk into the bathroom, turning the light on. I squint my eyes to adjust to the bright warm light. As soon as my eyes got used to the brightness, I look at myself and notice my silky champagne blond hair is falling out of my loose bun all over my face and has slight waves cascading down my shoulder. But there's one thing that sticks out the most that I haven't seen before. I have scars and bruises all over my arms and chest. I look horrid.

The scars are slightly elevated and a fuming deep red, while the bruises are purple and yellow splotches scattered all over my skin like splattered paint. I bring my hand up to my chest and slightly trace my fingers along the deep scar that sits right below my left collarbone. I leave my hand there for a few more seconds and slowly bring it up to my right cheek tilting my head to the side and notice a tiny cut right on my cheekbone. It couldn't have been anything bad, I can barely notice it, there's just a trace of a puckered pink scab.

I drop my hand and just look at myself in the mirror, not sure what to do. Looking my reflection in the eyes, slowly starting to feel this sinking feeling in my chest. Are these marks going to stay here forever? Sighing I turn towards the door and turn off the light, exiting the bathroom.

As I walk down the hallway towards the living room and kitchen I look at all of the pictures hanging on the wall. Pictures of me riding a bike for the first time, going to the zoo with my parents, prom with all of my friends, my first birthday, and so many more memories that bring a smile to my face. I miss having to worry about nothing but getting enough rainbow sprinkles on my chocolate ice cream.

I reached the end of the hallway and made my way to the kitchen, feeling the solid cold tile below my feet. Flicking the lights on I walked over to the kitchen island and set my phone down on the white marbled slab. I went to the fridge for something to drink, opened the door, snatched a water bottle, and shut it behind me. Then I made my way back to the kitchen island to sit down.

Taking a deep breath after I sit down on one of the black bar stools, I look outside the small square window behind the sink and gazed at the sun starting to slowly rise, painting the sky a pink color that clashes with the light and dark blue. A few stars are still dotting the sky and the moon is full, illuminating the snow in the yard.

Looking down at the counter I reach for my phone and type in my password. Scrolling through it I finally decide to call Emma. Emma has been my best friend since we were in preschool, we would do everything together and were attached at the hip. I haven't talked to her since the accident and I wonder how she's taken all of this. When I find her name in my contacts I press call and hear it start to ring.