The Tormented

Part 5

True to her word the bullying started the first day I got to the school by stealing my shoes. Luckily it was still rather warm and I didn't mind the barefoot walk. Next week I had to swim in my brother's boxers and a t-shirt when I "allegedly" forgot my equipment for gym class. And the following week all my books were covered in mustard. Petty, bitch. She blamed me for Auryn leaving. Not that it made any difference as I was bullied just as much, if not more, after he left. Where to, I didn't give a shit. Good riddance.

I got used to having to cover my bruises I got from being slammed into the lockers. I was so used to hiding my scars of self harm that long sleeves became a second skin to me. I had gotten so used to the constant teasing, name calling and physical abuse that I wore my dried tears like a coat of arms. I just had to repeat my mantra and keep reminding myself to breathe or I would fall into a deep depression and do something irreversible.

I kept my promise to myself and didn't tell a soul of my struggles. My family had had enough of my troubles. Father had given up his position on the council to protect me by moving us from the pack house. It did little to no good to help me as I still had to go to the same school for another year. It just meant that I wouldn't bump into any of the groupies still hanging around waiting for Auryn to come by.

The forest was painted anew in a myriad of colours as the season changed. I think I spent more time outdoors than in, both trying to avoid the bullies and prying eyes of my family members. Putting on a brave face every day was pretty exhausting. I used to find refuge in the library but even that was not an option now as the Fall festival was fast approaching and the library was full of people crafting decorations. The streets were lined with string fairy lights, ribbons, flags and banners. The town square had grown a village of small booths overnight.

I expected Auryn to show up around the Fall festival, but if he did, I didn't see him. I was too occupied enjoying singing in the choir with my sister and afterwards getting some hot fudge apples with my brothers. Mother had knitted all of us matching scarfs and father was selling pheasant sausages at the market. I did however get a glimpse of Melissa and her other she-wolf bimbos down at the fountain flirting with some guards, but they paid me no mind. I was sure that they would return to tease me once the sugar rush came down and the holiday was over.

When the first snow fell it brought me a new wave of problems. I was not fit enough for wolf-winter sports so of course I was always picked last to the teams and teased for it relentlessly. Bunch of pussies. Trying my best I actually managed to somehow make things worse for myself. Instead of hitting the puck to the goalie, it somehow ricocheted from the pole to my face, granting me a swollen lip and a broken tooth. Hence the new nicknames Bucktooth and Fatlip. An improvement from Half breed, I think.

Due to my deformation and wanting to avoid the embarrassment I convinced my parents that I wouldn't have to participate in the pack run. Instead I took a long walk around the mostly empty town. The streets were quiet and calm as I made my way to the library. Stepping into the warmth I noticed the front empty as I walked past the desk. I grabbed a book off the shelf marked fantasy and found my favourite reading nook where I knew I had a perfect view of the square while diving into the imaginary world of the pages.

Leaning on the window I read about a girl who was kind but was treated poorly by her step-family. The light behind the window started to fade as I read how she got to go to a grand ball in a beautiful gown made with magic and glass shoes. I stretched my joints that I had kept balled up for hours. Seeing as the blue velvet had already spread over the sky above I decided to make my way back home and wait for my family to get back from the run.

As I took a step out to the cold, I saw my breath create swirls and clouds of vapour around my mouth. The perfectly untouched white powder rang a crunch under my feet and the moon made the surface shimmer like a coat of glitter. A moment of serenity lulled my stride through the silent city. It was dark but many of the houses were lit up from the inside. Warmth and coziness practically oozed through the windows, illuminating the surroundings.

Tugging at my collar I heard some howling in the distance and the drumming of their paws breaking the snow. I glanced over my shoulder and saw a familiar red wolf carrying a squealing Melissa along with the rest of the gang. I groaned and hoped they would just pass by, but to my horror they turned and headed straight for me. The terrifying gleam of the wolves eyes with the huffing and puffing of their frosty breath sent shivers down my spine and I took off running trying to escape them.

I skidded on the icy road urging my feet not to slip and make me fall. The freezing air burned in my lungs as I took in sharp breaths. These sons of bitches were fast. I had to hop a fence and cut through someone's yard to gain a little distance. I almost twisted my ankle tumbling over a snow shovel that was left out on their driveway. I turned the corner but was blocked by one of the wolves huffing at me, puffs of vapour rising from its mouth like steam. Turning around I took off to another direction but the pursuit was quickly over as I collided with Melissa and the brute of a wolf as her steed.

"Tsik tsik tsik, Fatlip, we just want to have some fun. We were disappointed that you didn't show up at the lake." Melissa said while hopping off the wolf's back. The other girls did the same whereas the guys stayed in their wolf form. Great. I backed away from them but Dirk's wolf stopped me by blocking my path.

"What do you want? Why can't you just leave me alone?"

"It's what you deserve as a filthy human. You are asking for it, being such a pathetic little loser." Her snarl crawled up my skin making it tingle in all the wrong ways. I tried to bolt away from them but was tackled to the ground and hit my face in the ice with a thud. My lip split and I sucked it in, strangling down the whimper that almost escaped me. The red wolf sat on my legs so I couldn't get up as I spat some blood from my mouth. "Or maybe you want to know what it is like to be a werewolf."

"Let me go! Let go of me you fucking monsters." Dirk's wolf growled and it ripped through the fabric on my back but did not break skin. Damn it, they are smart not to leave any evidence. I hissed as I could feel the cold breeze enter through the rip. Then he clawed at me again, again and again till I was laying down naked covered in shreds that were my clothes. I was almost sobbing but kept swallowing my tears as the rage was building up. The ringing in my ears muffled the sound of their laughs and howls as I tried to shield myself from the stinging cold by wrapping my arms around my shivering form.

"Run along Bucktooth or the wolf will eat you." The roars of their laughter were the boost I needed to dash away from them. Feet burning from the frostbite I ran as fast as I could back towards the house. Within minutes I crashed through the front door, hurried upstairs and slammed my bedroom door shut. I trashed what was left of my clothes and hopped into the bath where I watched as the crimson river was once again opened and ran the length of my body down the drain.