Craving Charlotte

Chapter 7

           

A cold breeze nips at my skin as I open my eyes, everything seems to be on a higher level, sight, smell and sound. I see nothing but dark shadows in the dim light of the moon as I glance around confused. I can feel the crisp leaves under my palms, I scrunch them feeling them crumble under my touch. Sitting up right feeling sick feeling churn in my stomach, I feel the hairs on my arms stand on end. Shivering for the lack of heat I cuddle myself. Unfortunately, I am still lost and I am not dead.

"Hello!" I call out into the night but as expected I get no reply. I find my feet and begin to walk. I navigate around the trees. The further I walk the darker it seems. I'm lost and isolated. I should have asked Ethan which way to go. I should have never left that club on my own. Stupid silly mistakes that now can't be remade for a better outcome. My heart sinks as my thoughts cast to my parents, they must be worried sick, and then I recall Ethan's words- 'Stay away from people.'

Tears prick the corners of my eyes; my stomach burns with hunger and I can feel myself panicking once more. If I can't go near people, then why am I trying to head home? Do I just try and wonder out of here until I can find some sort of help? And helping meaning who? If I can't go near people, then who can I trust?

"Hello! Can anyone hear me? Please!" I scream with the tiniest bit of hope that I may just get a reply, whether it's a stranger or Ethan I don't care. I just want to go home despite Ethan's words. It could be just a threat not to tell anyone of what happened. But how can I not? He violated my body and trust; I am left with a painful reminded both emotionally and physically.

I let the tears fall as I start to run once again although my body feels weak from the lack of food. I find myself increasing in speed faster than I have ever ran before. The trees and bushes skin past with their claw like branches grabbing out at me as though to stop me from leaving. Once a prisoner to Ethan now a prisoner to the forest. I pant hard realizing my vision becomes clearer and then my nails start to grow. I stop running... I watch my nails grow right before my eyes into terrifyingly sharp claws.

"What's happening to me," I speak aloud. A shiver of fear runs down my spine, the burning in my throat comes back and sharp pains shoot through my skull making me clench my scalp in hope to ease the pain. Suddenly, my gums ache as fangs begin to grow once more. I scream out in pain as the monster within takes over once more.

"Make it stop!  Make it stop!" I squeal falling to my knees as I clamp my pounding being head. The pain increases and my blood runs cold as I roll around on the dirt like an injured animal. My heart beats hard but becomes slower as if going in slow motion, it hurts; everything hurts!

I scream out once more, the pain shoots through my body making my stomach cramp. My eyes burn like having acid thrown at them which extends into my nostrils. My gums being to ache as though my teeth are being completely rearranged and my throat becomes excessively dry.

"Help me!  Help me!" I scream louder to no one as I roll in agony. Then just as fast as the pain came I feel it fading away, it fades till all I feel is the burning in my stomach. I stop rolling and let my arms fall from my head in exhaustion. My heart stops beating. I breathe in and out slow at first but suddenly panic wavers over me. My heart has stopped beating! Why am I not dead?

I feel my neck for a pulse, and lay my hand on my chest.  Nothing beats, everything is still.  Have I died?  Am I a ghost?

I jump to my feet and stare around me something then catches my eye. A figure perched against a tree.  Someone's been watching me from a distance, despite my calls for help they have just been standing there the whole time watching me.

"Hello?" I call and wait for a reply looking around the trees at them, I try focus on them but their silhouette stays the same, black as coal. They stay silent for a short time while I assume they watch me; then all of a sudden, they turn and walk away. For a second I stand bewildered as they disappear into the darkness. Then my head catches up.

Without thinking too much I follow them into the darkness and soon see the dark shadowed figure again, he or she weaves gracefully through the trees.

"Hey! Please stop... wait," I call after them. The person doesn't reply, perhaps they want me to follow them? I quicken my pace but as I do, the figure also quickens their pace. I soon come to the conclusion that they don't want to be seen, I believe they just intend that I follow. I comply peacefully following in hope this may be my only way out of this god forsaken place!