Girl Among the Wolves (Under Editing)

Ch. 5: Church

I ran fast and hard, but they were catching up to me.  The woods were dark and silent.  I dodged the trees in zig zags hoping they wouldn't catch me, but the shadows of the wolves already reached my feet.  I felt a pushing at my back and instantly fell to the hard forest floor.  I turned over on to my back to gaze into blood red eyes.  

I woke up  with my heart pounding out of my chest.  I looked over at Ariel sleeping peacefully.  Now I knew she couldn't return to her beloved wolves.  She had lived with me for days, they would surely attack her.  No matter how badly she wanted to go back, I wouldn't let her.  

I looked over at my clock, 7:30.  It was sunday, church day.  Maybe it would be a good thing give Ariel a taste of God.  I laziily slid out of bed putting on a nice sweater and some dress pants and grabbed Ariel's new dress.  

I looked over at Ariel sleeping soundly and wondered if it was a good idea to wake her.  Taking a chance I gently shook her.  Her eyes flashed open.  She just stared at me with an expression that said, "This better be pretty good."  

"We're going somewhere." I said and handed her the dress.  I heard her groan under her breath but she took the dress into the bathroom and put it on.  I couldn't get over how great it was on her.  

She gave me an unsure look when she came out of the bathroom.  I nodded. "Good."  

I sat her down on the bed.  I kneeled down and slipped her heels on.  My mind instantly traveled to Cinderella and the Prince.  Why couldn't I stop relating things to fairy tales?  

We walked out to the car but Ariel looked to the woods anixiously.  I hadn't told her where we were going, it would be too hard to explain.  

"Come." I said patting the passenger's seat.  She gestured to the woods.  "Home."  She muttered.  I shook my head.  She looked back at the woods but climbed into the car.  

The Church was very noisy with people greeting each other on top of the choir singing.  My best buddy Roger met me at the door. 

"Hey Nathan!" He greeted with a wide grin.  He turned his gaze on Ariel.  "And who is this." He seemed to mimic my boss exactly.  He took her hand and kissed it.  She pulled back.  

"Stay here." I said to Ariel.  I took Roger over to a corner to tell at least one person the truth.  

He stared at me in confusion.  "I rescued her.  She was abandoned in the woods when she was very little and has been living in the woods.  I saved her and teaching her english." I let out a big sigh.  It was good to get that off my chest.  Roger just kept staring.  

"She's hot." He said finally.  He gave me a wide bright grin.  I don't know why, but I didn't want to hear that.  His words made my heart crumple and I suddenly wanted to rip his head off, but I kept my cool.  "I know.  I can't turn her over to the police.  They'd put her in a mental hospital.  They'd probably think that she's suffered severe trauma but she's,....I can't say normal.  But, stable.  You know?  She's just..." 

Roger gazed into my eyes seeming to explore my mind.  "You're in love with her." He said unexpectedly.  I laughed a little.  "Am not."  

He nodded.  "Have you heard yourself lately?" He chuckled.  "Good luck, loverboy." He patted me on the arm before skipping to the Sanctuary.  

Roger had a point.  I was acting like a love sick puppy.  But it was true, Ariel was amazing.  Maybe I did love her, like a father or a brother.  I rescued her, she wasn't a Love Interest.  I thought back to all the fairy tales I've read.  The princesses always married their rescuers, the evidence was stacked high against me.  Well, maybe it was possible.  

Though Ariel didn't know what exactly this place was, the music spoke to her.  She closed her eyes just listening to the choir.  

When we were let out Ariel and I walked back to the car.  "Do you want to go next week?" I asked her.  She nodded with smile.