THE BOY WHO WATCHES THE MOON [werewolf]

CH 4

CHAPTER 4

I laid on the couch emotionlessly, staring blankly at the ceiling above me. Although the air was nearly frigid— curse this house and their lack of heating— I was pretty hot. I figured it was still just some of the leftover effects still lingering from the tranq; it's not limited to just heat spells even, seeing that I still had paralysis in my legs. It seemed almost as if the walls were caving in on me; I found myself flinching every now and then, waiting for the final collapse and termination of my life. Maybe that wouldn't be too bad.

My thoughts landed back on my aunt and uncle, who would wake up the next morning only to realize that there was no Chase Holser to be seen for who knows how many miles. What would they think, when there wasn't the familiar rhythm of moccasins colliding with the floor in the early hours? What would they think, when there wasn't a pair of peculiar green eyes to look into as they nag for ages about getting off my butt to go outside, as it's 'surely a whole lot healthier than sitting indoors all day'. The one that haunted me the most, however, is what would they think, when my aunt realized that her dead sister's most prized possession is just... gone?

It wasn't so much that I just absolutely loved my aunt and uncle— which surely was far from true— I just couldn't help but wonder how the thought of my disappearance would finally sink in for them. I half expected my face to be on the back of every milk carton across the country; they were pretty well off with money. But on the inside... I think I knew that they weren't going to mind. Perhaps blindly shove it under the mattress, pretend I had never came in the first place.

I folded my hands together at my waist and closed my eyes, as my head tilted back onto the arm of the couch. I imagined floating through the fog again. I felt the wind purring against the branches, and floating up to stroke my cheeks. I smelled the faint, crisp smell of autumn, and I finally, finally felt free. That's the only place I would ever want to be, I decided, as I gently forced myself back to sleep. The only words that repeated through my head were the final words said to me that night: Happy Halloween.

. . .

I woke up to the warm scent of toast and jelly coming from only a room away; with a careful ear, I listened to curious mumbles and hostile footsteps filled the air. Every so often, a voice would raise, and I could hear Kai's strong tone reminding them that 'Sleeping Beauty is only twenty feet away'. It made me smile, a subconscious ambition to be their center of attention was thriving beneath my skin.

I felt the air change, a somewhat arid feeling replaced with warmth. Someone was in the room. They gently stepped forward, making their way over to my side with cautious feet.

Two of their fingers brushed against my neck, then they travelled down against my wrist, and to my stomach— as if my steady pulse wasn't enough to prove that I was alive. He left the room, but I could tell by his brisk fingertips and warm aura that it was Dustin. Only a couple moments later, I was gently shaken awake. I was met with a pair of eyes similar to Dustin's, but not a face to match: it was Dillon.

"It's time for you to wake up," he released, "breakfast is going to be ready in a minute." He held out a hand to me. Hesitantly, I stood, but he and I both realized that I was going to need his hand all of the way to the table, my weak legs threatening to collapse underneath me. His arm snaked around my waist, his cold fingers clutching to me as we began to walk. It was an agonizingly slow walk, as I stumbled like a young child to wobble to where I needed to be.

Dustin was already there, his eyes traveling from mine to the arm around my waist. His eyebrows scrunched together as he sipped on his orange juice, which seemed to have left a sour taste in his mouth, inwardly producing some sort of odd delight. I imagined that the juice wasn't the problem. Just for the fun of building onto his envy, I made sure to thank Dillon for his kindness and help.