The Cursed Lycan

Chapter 2: Venturing Out

Chapter 2: Venturing Out

Sophie woke up shivering. The soft breeze had turned to strong wind by the evening. She had tore up her clothes, as customary for one of her days. They didn't allow any furniture or blankets since she would just end up destroying them and it grew to expensive to replace each day.

Lucky for her, the door was quickly unlocked as the sun finished disappearing. Warm clothes and a blanket were brought and she was helped into them.

Her wounds had already begun healing but Sophie saw her mother wince as she got a look at a gash on her arm from the now gored steel wall. Deep claw marks were slashed across the wall near the window.

"Looks like I was trying to escape that way today," Sophie said in a light tone. There was really no other way for her to deal with it.

"Let's get you some food," Steven helped Sophie stand and the small family exited the basement. They entered a cozy first floor, where dinner, or breakfast in Sophie's case, was ready to be eaten. Sophie had insisted that they eat 'normal' food, so her breakfast consisted of steak, broccoli, mashed potatoes, and gravy. Her dinner would be pancakes or cereal or oatmeal.

"How was your day?" Sophie casually started eating, pretending she hadn't lost control of herself for another entire day.

"Well, we found a new doctor—"

Sophie cut off Steven, "Dad, seriously? I thought we were done with doctors."

"You are cursed! We have to figure out what's going on," Eleanor slammed her hand on the table. "We found this new doctor and we think she'll be able to determine who did this to you."

"We just want our lives to be normal again," Steven reached across the table and squeezed Sophie's hand.

Sophie then noticed how tired her parents looked. As if the entire world was resting on their shoulders.

"You, you don't have to keep trying to fix me," Sophie tried to keep her voice steady, but it cracked a little. "You can just let me go."

"You did nothing to deserve this," Steven stood and rounded the table, hugging Sophie to his chest. "We will fix this, don't you worry." Eleanor joined the hug and Sophie closed her eyes, enjoying the warmth of the hug.

If they wouldn't do it, she'd make the choice for them.

After her parents went to bed, Sophie packed a small bag with a few necessities. It felt weird to know that she'd probably destroy everything in the pack so bringing it was a moot point, but it felt strange to just leave with the clothes on her back.

Sophie left a note and marched out the door. The moon was a crescent in the sky, the area quite dark. But her eyes would always be able to see, even if the moon had disappeared.

"I give it three days at most," Sophie said to herself. "Three days and I'll be dead." Her voice didn't waver, but a pit in her stomach formed. She hoped there'd be no other casualties in the making. Her mind tried to go back to a memory, but she forced it from her mind. Returning to that day wouldn't do her any good.

So, she set off for the woods. Not going anywhere in particular, just away from her parents. The forest surrounding her cottage home was dense and she easily blended into the surroundings. Sophie knew she would be faster if she was transformed. Determined to make it far enough away that she wouldn't immediately go back home in the morning, Sophie started jogging. Hours past, clouds periodically covering and uncovering the moon. Animals could sense her dangerous aura, so there weren't any birds chirping or squirrels running up and down trees. Outside of the crunch of the leaves underfoot and the window through the branches, it was silent.