Growing Pains of a Teenage Werewolf: Hilary 9

Chapter 2

2

Mark jerked awake. Something was licking his face. He opened his eyes. A big red tongue snaked out towards him.

                “Here, boy, that’s enough of that.”

                The dog was pulled backwards. Mark rubbed his face.

                The man holding the dog’s lead frowned. “Are you all right, son? What are you doing here? You’ll get your death of cold. What happened to your clothes? What’s happened to you? What are you doing here?” The questions came thick and fast.

                Mark stood up shivering. He was completely naked. The one good thing was he was a boy again.

                “Here, son, take my coat. Let’s get you somewhere warm.”

                The man wrapped his long thick coat around Mark and led him quickly through the wood to the clearing where half a dozen old wooden cottages – more like huts – stood. They were supposed to be used only as holiday places but sometimes you found someone who wanted to be alone living there permanently or at least as long as they could before being discovered.

                This was a stroke of luck for Mark.

                The man unlocked the door of one of the more run down looking places and showed him in. The place was bare and showed signs of poverty but there was a good fire in the fireplace and the man obviously looked after his home as best he could.

                “Sit down, son, close to the fire.” Gently the man guided him to an old comfortable chair beside the fire.

                “Now, I don’t live here. Do you understand?”

                Mark nodded.

                The man went on. “I had a good job but lost it as a result of all these government cuts. My marriage broke up and I became homeless.  All I have is my dog Buck. I don’t claim any benefits as I don’t officially have a home. Now, how about you? What are you doing naked in the wood on a cold winter night with Christmas just around the corner?”

                Mark opened his mouth to speak. He was relieved when he could speak. “I don’t know. I sometimes suffer from sleep walking but I cannot remember how I got here.”

                “Sleepwalking, eh? Well, I suppose it’s as good a reason as any. My name’s Joe by the way,  Joe Walker.” He put his hand out for Mark to shake.

                “I’m Ma …” he hesitated.

                “It’s all right, son. I won’t tell anyone about you as long as you promise to keep your mouth shut about me.”

                Mark nodded his head. “Mark Clanthorpe. Thanks for finding me. You’re very kind.”

                “Don’t thank me, Mark. Thank old Buck here. He sniffed you out almost as soon as we left the house.”

                Mark warmed his hands by the fire. He was feeling better by the minute. Then he remembered what had happened. Mercedes! Was she all right? What would she think of him?

                “Would you like a cup of coffee, Mark? Or tea?”

                Mark shook his head. “No, I had better be going but I promise I’ll repay you.”