The Tribrid

Someone's at the door

 
  Mike's POV
  After Luna Maria leaves I decide I need to take a shower, it's been a couple days. I go to the bathroom and turn on the warm water. I get undressed and hop in the shower. The water feels so good. I wash my body with the bar of soap they had in there. I rub my face and feel my stubble, I need to shave. Once I'm finally all clean I shut off the water. Oh crap, I forgot a towel. I peek my head out from the shower and look around the bathroom. I see a little closet where I hope to find a towel. I let my body air dry for a moment before committing to make this sprint across the bathroom. I finally get the nerve and pull back the shower curtain and step out of the shower and rush over to the little closet
  "Please, please, please." I open the door.
  "Yes!" I take a towel out.
  "Mike!" I hear Rue shout my name. I wrap the towel around my waist as quick as possible.
  "I just got out of the shower!"  I shout out to her.
  "Oh! Well I brought you some more clothes. I'll set them on the desk in your room and I'll wait for you in your living room." Rue yells to me.
  "Okaaay thanks!" I shout back. I sigh, thank goddess for some fresh clothes.
  I step out into my room but I guess I was too quick because Rue was still in there. My hand quickly went for my towel to make sure it was secure. Im frozen in place. I have no idea what to say right now. Rue just stands there staring at me for a moment. I notice her brown eyes are much more vibrant than I originally thought. The light from my window is illuminating them revealing all sorts of different hues of chocolate and coffee. We're staring at each other for probably just a few seconds but it felt like a couple of minutes. Finally Rue breaks our stand off.
  "Oh! Uhh, I'm sorry. I'll leave." She turns away quickly and sprints out of the room. I close the door behind her and get dressed as fast as I can. I open the door back up and see Rue standing across my living room looking out of the window.
  "Hey, sorry about that. I just realized I hadn't showered in a few days." I say. She turn to face me. Her face is flushed red with embarrassment.
  "Oh no worries! I should have just come back later." She says.
  "We'll I appreciate the freshly cleaned clothes." I say.
  "You're welcome." She says before I finish my sentence.
   We stand there awkwardly for a moment. Come on Mike, think of something to talk about.
  "So your mom told me about the full moon run." I say.
  "Oh yeah. That will be a lot of fun. Are you going to come with us?" She asks.
  "No, I guess my wolf isn't like everyone else's." I say.
  "Oh right. Sorry. It's been so long since we've had a new person. But did she tell you? You can learn. I think Malachi was the last new person we've had. He picked it up quick. I bet you'll pick it up really fast, you'll be running with us in no time." She says.
  "Thanks. I'm really interested in learning." I say.
  "The training can be a lot though, so they are probably waiting until you are fully healed, which you looked good. I mean healed, you look good and healed. I mean, I should probably get ready for the run. We have to hydrate beforehand. I'll see you tomorrow afternoon." She says and heads for the front door.
  "Rue." I say, she turns around.
  "Thanks again for the clothes." I say. She smiles at me and heads out the door. I collapse on the couch and sigh. She is definitely not what I need right now. I sit there for a moment in silence.
  "So Rex, what should we do?" I ask. He's silent.
  "Rex?" I ask. I know he's in there. I can feel him.
  "You were coming out here to die?" He asks. I could feel the hurt in his voice.
  "Rex I'm sorry. I just, I have nothing left. I can't be a rogue." I say.
  "Then accept their offer. Stay here." Rex says.
  "They know your whole story and still are willing to accept us." He adds.
  "Alright, we'll give it a shot." I says. I feel his excitement. I get up and organized the clothes Rue dropped off for me, and put them away in the dresser in my room. I hear a knock at the door.
  "Come in." I shout. It's Rain.
  "Hey Rain, what's up man? Don't you have to get ready for the run?" I ask him.
  "Yeah I do, but I wanted to drop by and see if you made a decision yet. If not that's ok, we're all just a bit anxious to know." He says.
  "I think I have. And I'd like to stay." I say.
  "Really?" He asks with excitement.
  "Yeah, really."
  "Awesome. I'll let my dad know. We'll come by tomorrow and we can talk more." He says.
  "Well I have to get out there. See you tomorrow." Rain leaves and I'm back to just me. I decide to just relax and read up more on the rules of Scythe. I want to try that game again, and maybe I'll comprehend it better if I read the rules myself.
  I'm about a quarter of the way through the rules and definitely ready to give up on this game when I hear animal noises coming from my bedroom. I get up to investigate.  Growls and howls are coming from outside, the noises were echoing in through my bedroom window. The sun was going down and the moon was coming out. I turned off the lights in the house to try and get a better view of outside. I look out the window to try and catch of glimpse of their wolves. At first I don't see anything, just the reds and oranges of a sunset spreading across the desert sky. My stomach growls at me and I decided to check out what Luna Maria left me for dinner. I walk to the kitchen and see a bowl of pasta. I heat it up in the microwave and wait for it to heat up. I walk back over to the window to see if there is anything I can see. It has gotten a lot darker out. Suddenly I see a dark figure running in between the huts. I squint my eyes to try and get a better look. I notice it's getting closer and closer to my hut. Is it coming here?
  "Let me out." Rex says.
  "No you aren't strong enough." I go to the door and make sure it's locked and press my back up against the door. Just as I do there is banging on the door. I hear growling from the other side of the door as something bangs against it. The banging grows with intensity and I feel like I'm holding the door in place. What is going on? Am I about to be attacked?! My heart starts beating faster. Adrenaline is racing through my veins.
  BANG BANG BANG.
  I hold the door firm. I close my eyes and just try to stay strong.
  BANG BANG BANG.
  I feel my heart pounding in my chest. But then just as quickly as it started, the banging stops. I peek open my eyes, afraid I'm going to see some beast standing infront of me, but I am all alone. My eyes search the room, just to be sure. I carefully take a step away from the door, trying not to make a sound, scared I might call it back. What the hell was that?
  "More like who was that." Rex says. I scoot my desk across the house and barricade it in front of my door. The rest of the night was quiet thank goddess. I didn't hear any more animals sounds or anything else really. I eventually ate the pasta, being scared made me a lot hungrier. It's late now and I'm laying in bed trying to fall asleep. Who's wolf was that? We're they trying to attack me? Or maybe it was just a misunderstanding? Maybe it was Rain popping by to say hello and show me his wolf. It sure as hell didn't feel like a friendly visit. Luna Maria assured me I was safe here.. but that encounter left me a little shaken. Eventually though my mind wonders to the other events of the day. Life here is so different from what I am used to. I'm happy to have found a place to accept me. The last thing I remember before falling asleep is Rue and her chocolate brown eyes.