Until Next Time

I looked over my shoulder at the strange werewolf as I ran for my life. It was green and not nearly as hairy as I would have thought, but even so I knew what it was. It was gaining speed right behind me waiting for it's chance to pounce. I quickly looked before me to try and make out the trees that should have been towering over me. They were nowhere, but they were there. I knew they were. The only source of light was the full moon shining through the invisible branches, but I could have sworn the light was coming from all around me. I looked down and saw nothing, but I knew better. There were tree roots on the forest floor that were not visible to me, and it had nothing to do with the dark. I pumped my arms like crazy trying to escape the monster. There was almost nothing to be heard. All I could hear was the sound of my own panting. I scanned the forest for an escape route. There was an opening in the unseen trees about fifty feet away from me on the right. I aimed for that area. When I got there, I turned sharply, slipped on the hidden grass and tumbled sideways into the weeds. I yelled in agony though I felt no pain. I looked to my right and the green creature jumped into a pool of moonlight. Suddenly I felt something cold drip onto my leg. I looked down. Blood. But blood isn't cold. Nor should it drip on my leg. The werewolf stood up on it's hind legs and roared to the moon. But this roar didn't sound like an animal's. It sounded more like a . . .
"Cut!" I heard from somewhere to my left. Lights flashed on and people shuffled around. The green werewolf walked over to me and held out it's hand. Yes, it was a hand. I took it knowing that I was safe, and the creature pulled me up. It yanked a green mask from it's face. It was human.
"Thanks Nick." I grinned. "It's morning already?"
He chuckled. "Very funny, Sue." He was a little chunky, but not overweight. More like that strong, muscular kind of guy. He had chocolatey brown eyes, that warmed you from the inside out. He was thirty-six years old, and he wore a loose, green body suit. He had messy strangely hair. With just a little more, he would look like a real werewolf.
"I should never have told you my middle name." I muttered to the ground still smiling. "It's just Audria."
He chuckled again. "Yeah, yeah."
"McGlean!" I heard someone call who was tangled in cords. I walked over to him and he pounded my back probably harder than he intended. "Great job out there. Same time tomorrow." And he got back to work with the equipment, tripping over the wires.
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Some time later, I took a frozen pizza from the microwave and brought it upstairs to my bedroom. I set down the food, walked over to my full body mirror and looked at my reflection. I was thin, and was considered short for a sixteen year old girl, being only 5'3". I wore a thin forest green sweater on a black t-shirt, and dark blue jeans. My purple highlights contrasted beautifully against my long, slightly wavy, dark brown hair. I had dazzling blue eyes that penetrated the souls of those who dared look into them. I turned away from the mirror, wondering what would become of my own soul if I stared too much longer. I flopped down on my bed and began eating my food. I felt a vibration in my back pocket and brought out my phone.
"Oh come on!" I exclaimed once again, not too surprised with my friend's response. I threw my phone down on my bed. Why doesn't it ever work out? She never wants to hang out with me anymore. Why doesn't it feel like anyone really cares about me lately? People should, right? That's supposed to be the life of a superstar, isn't it? Ok so maybe I'm not a superstar, but I'm still a famous actress. Well at least more famous than Mr. Wilkinson next door. I mean, sure this is my first movie, but people should already know who I am, shouldn't they? I thought the life of a celebrity was supposed to make me happy. Well, I'm definitely happier than before in some ways, but now Sheila, my best friend, won't talk to me, and my parents still fight. I guess I didn't expect being famous would change that, but . . . I don't know. This isn't exactly what I expected. But I really don't know what I expected.
I pushed myself up from the bed and walked to my closet. There, up on the shelf, I found it lying there where I left it months before. I took it down and brought it to my bed. My old leg brace.
It was that kind of medical boot thing that braces your lower leg and foot. When I had nothing to do, I studied it. I memorized every detail about it. It came up just between my ankle and knee. It had no particular size, lots of velcros, and it was soft and comfy. There was hard plastic on the bottom. I needed it when I broke my leg three months ago while acting. I was out for about eight weeks.
It brought back so many memories - good and bad. It made me remember the day I called my parents at the studio and told them what happened. They said it could wait and they had more pressing things to deal with, so they stayed at work doing the same old stuff they always do.
The brace also reminded me of Nick. The first time I met him. I was new at 20th Century Fox studios, working on the movie. He knew my parents were not so kind to me, and he wanted to be like a father to me. He brought me food when my parents were gone. He came over sometimes just to chill. He was the nicest person I had met in a long time.
He said that celebrities get spoiled a lot of the time, which I already knew. He didn't want that for me. When I broke my leg and had to take some time off work, he said it was for the best. He said I should try walking in someone else's shoes. I thought he was trying to make a lame pun, but now I'm not so sure. He wanted me to remember what it was like before I moved to my apartment in Los Angeles. To remind me who I was before, even though I didn't like it. He didn't want me to become spoiled like a lot of others. He just wanted me to be okay being me. He wanted what was best for me, and I am grateful for that.
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My leg was still bleeding from when I slipped, trying to escape the werewolf. I screamed for help as loud as I could when I saw the lights of a nearby village through the green walls of the studio. Fortunately my cries for help were heard by the townspeople. Unfortunately they were also heard by the werewolf. It ran toward me and pounced. I just barely dodged it and hurtled myself in the opposite direction. I staggered to my feet and started running from the green monster as fast as I could. I heard the townspeople hurrying toward the creature carrying rifles. I hid in the invisible bushes, not sure what else to do. I didn't dare look in the direction of the violent sounds. Guns were firing all around me, not nearly as loud as they should have been. I turned around and stood up slowly, making as little sound as I could, but alas, I was too loud. A man in front of me heard it. He spun around, without knowing who I was, took aim, and . . . CRACK! An invisible force shot into my chest. I stumbled backward onto the ground, and tried to take a deep breath, but it hurt severely. The man looked closer at what he had hit. He dove down to help me, but it was too late. A camera slowly moved toward my face like an angel hovering over me. I took quick intakes of breath through my mouth, but my breath quickly slowed until there was nothing left. I stared just above the lens into the heavens. I could feel my heart thumping throughout my whole body, and heard blood roar in my ears. I let my eyelids relax and my unfocused eyes watch the sky. The hollers of the people drowned away. Slowly everything turned white, and I felt a warm peace envelop me.
And that's it. That's the end of my role. My part is finished. I will take Nicks advice, have a little time off, and remember who I am. At least until my next movie. Even then, I must remember. Especially then. I must. Until next time.