My Weaknesses

Chapter 7

You can't protect yourself from hunger or thirst. It's just a fact. I've been on the run for weeks but I'm just delaying the inevitable. They'll pick up my scent soon enough. Or I'll starve out here.

I'm running low on food. To make matters worse I'm lost and I have no sense of direction. The cold has settled into the woods and my sweater isn't doing much to help, but it's better than nothing. I go to sleep at night with my teeth chattering but silently praying to myself that someone would come and just kill me.
There's a low fog over the woods and I can tell it's going to rain later. My fingers are turning blue and I can't stop shivering. I'd kill for a fire. I'd kill for my old life. Who was I kidding? Charlie was right I am too weak for this.

I'm down to my last cracker and I've been saving it. I haven't eaten a full meal in two days. My stomach is hurting from hunger pains. All I hear nowadays is the grumbling of my stomach and my wolf. I want an actual companion.

Suddenly my nostrils are enchanted by a wonderful aroma. Meat. I can feel myself drooling. My energy skyrockets at the possibility of meat. And maybe another person!
I walk faster, the aroma propelling my legs forward. The fire is a tiny orange light in the distance and I immediately sprint for it.

When I reach the camp, I'm slightly disappointed. I see the fire, rocks, and a backpack. Where's the meat? I set down my pack and walk towards the backpack. Maybe it has some things worth stealing. Look who I've become. I put my hands under my armpits to try and generate heat.
I get down on my knees, not caring that stray branches are scraping my legs. I've become numb to those things. I've become numb to a lot of things.

I open the pack as fast as I can and take out its contents. There's a book, one can of beans, and a knife that begins to glisten when I take it out. I need to start hunting soon. I'm too weak to shift, I'll need this for later.
"Put it back." I am startled by a man leaning against a nearby tree. He looks beyond pissed to see me. This man looks just as haggard as I probably do but he could easily take me. I can bluff my way out of this, I hope.

"Don't make me tell you again." He takes a meaning step towards me and I stand up clutching the knife between my two shaky hands. He laughs at how pathetic I look.

"Don't make me hurt you!"

He scoffs, "What are you going to do?" His tone sounds spiteful. I swallow hard but stay silent.

He takes more steps towards me, "Stop! Hey!" He kicks my knee causing me to stumble backwards. He catches my arm and somehow takes the knife from me. After he has it in his hand he releases my arm which makes me fall on my ass.

I barely have time to register what just happened when he takes both of my wrists in one hand and uses the other to press the knife against my neck. I struggle against him but his grip only tightens.

"Struggling won't make it any better for you, pumpkin." His voice is perfectly calm, it's chilling.

"Screw you!" His face twists in annoyance and presses down slightly with the knife.

"I think you should shut the fuck up before I slit your throat. I don't think you know how easily I could do that right now. I just have to press down slightly-" I watch as his eyes glint with excitement. This man is sick.

"All I wanted was food. Please just let me go." He narrows his dark brown eyes in doubt. He presses his lips together in a thin line.

"I'm not a threat to you, I promise! You could easily take me down."
This only makes him laugh, making my hopes droop. "Why would I send an innocent thing like you back out into these dangerous woods all by herself?"

"I'm ok by myself!" I plead. He chuckles and gets off. Rubbing his dark hair. Although he looks as bad as I do, he only looks a few years older than me. I stay on the ground until he offers me his hand, along with a smile.

I take it and stand up, dusting myself of the dirt on my pants. "So what's your name?" I smile at him and do the best thing that comes to mind: kick him in the balls and run away as fast as I can.