The Boy Next Door

Chapter Nineteen

... ... ...

Something isn't right. It's been ten suns since the tall boy with the tongue got the horse. The days have been long and hard. So many snows have fallen. So many prey killed.

Now today, the tall boy is sick. He won't cook, clean, or walk. I'm worried. He smells like a big sick. Maybe he will die, I smell a hint of death. I hope he doesn't die, he's nice.

Gorilla boy is getting the sick. He smells like health and sick. Mostly health.

The girl is health. She is annoying. I don't like her. She needs to get sick.

Wolf is health. The horse is wounded. I don't mind her, she is still mean though. As long as I stay away from her we're fine. Hopefully it'll last.

...

I sit up. Jamie is awake. So is Wolf. The horse isn't though. I wish she'd stop being mean. It's annoying.

I crawl off of my hay and go to the horse. Luckily everyone that was asleep is still asleep. I get her up by petting her muzzle. I make her stand by pushing her healed side. I get on her back and walk her to the forest, Jamie and Wolf follow. We walk through the forest until the sun is high.

I get off of the horse and listen. I hear Jamie above me on a branch. Wolf is crouching, breathing evenly. The horse is panting and stamping the ground. I quiet her and a minute later I hear a screech. I feel pain as Jamie lands on my shoulder and my back feels numb as it hits the ground. I feel wet. I see red. I hear a pop. I see a man. I feel the horse rearing and hear her hooves hit something. Something hard and soft, like flesh. I see Wolf run by my head and hear his growls as he bites. I feel Jamie shaking and hear her whimpers.

I see blurs and stars. I feel dizzy and weak. I hear a ringing. I taste blood. I smell blood and fear. I smell anger and hear it too.

I feel nothing.

I wake in a dark room. I see nothing. I feel pain, sharp and throbbing. I smell water and worry. I hear water and panting. I hear whimpering. I am nothing in this dark room. I am nothing.

I wake in a dark room. I see nothing. I feel pain, dull and thriving. I smell fire and fear. I hear scraping and fear induced anger. I am nothing in this room.

I wake in a dark room. I see nothing. I feel three shapes in the room. I smell their worry and fear. I hear their breathing and whispers of worry. I am nothing in this room.

I . . . I can't . . . . I can't . . . . . can't.

"Eeeeeee!" A screech makes me sit up fast. I see nothing. I'm in a dark room. I feel three living things in the room. I see nothing. I hear a sharp whine. I see nothing. I smell fear. I see nothing. I hear clicks.

I see the burned face of a wolf. Wolf.

I stare at him with no expression. I feel nothing. I feel numb, inside and out. I am nothing.

I touch his burned neck. I feel him flinch. I smell his worry and see his recognition. I feel his gaze on my closed eyes. I am nothing.

Wolf backs away. Into the darkness. Where I can't see. Where I am blind. Where I am nothing.

I feel a wet something in my hand. I look down and see a nose. A wolf nose. A wolf that isn't Wolf. A wolf?

I hear a dog. Or a rabbit. Or a cat? Or a pig? Or a dog? I've already said dog. Dumb ass. I see nothing. I am nothing.

Words. Words are nothing. I am nothing.

I wake.

In

A

Light

Room.