Wolf Country

Chapter 18- After

I wake up to sunlight filtering into the room and the sweet melody of a classical song. Someone's strong hand is gripping mine and a low voice is humming along to the music. I know instantly that I'm back at the Norwood house, in Adam's room. For a moment I almost panic because I feel something around my neck, but then I realize that it's just a neck brace. It all comes flooding back: the ambush, Adam and the rest of the pack coming in, killing Brian, getting choked by Bates.

I move my eyes to the side of the bed and see that Adam is the one sitting on the mattress, holding my hand and humming. "Hey," he says with a smile. "It's about time."

I open my mouth to say something but only feel a searing pain as no sound comes out. "Don't talk," he says in concern. "They said it'd be a while until you were able to. Bates messed your pipes up pretty bad."

I nod slowly and squeeze his hand. "I killed him," he continues, looking down at his lap. "I...I've never had to do that before."

He drags his eyes back up to me and I slowly sit up to kiss him on the cheek. I killed Brian, I want to say to him. Sometimes you do what you have to in order to survive.

He wraps his arms around me and laughs sadly. "My leg's pretty bad, too," he says and I notice his crutches for the first time. "I have this huge gash and I can't walk on it for a week."

We sit in silence for a long time, breathing in sync and comforting each other. I know that once I leave this bed, things won't be the same, so for now I just want to be with him. I want to stay in our little bubble for just a little longer. I know he senses it, too, because he kisses me on the lips so softly as if he thinks I might break.

"Scarlett," he finally says after awhile. "There's something you should know--"

He's cut off by a loud, bloodcurdling scream coming from outside. It sounds like the person is in excruciating pain. I immediately widen my eyes, staring at Adam in confusion and demanding answers.

"I...you need to see for yourself," he sighs, helping me up. 

The two of us are funny couple as we go downstairs and out the front door. He's on his crutches, going slowly because of his leg, and I have my neck brace embarrassingly dominating my face. But I soon see that we're not the only motley crews. Many people milling about outside have arm and leg casts, bruises, bandages, braces, and a whole assortment of injuries. All of us could swap stories and have a good time around a bonfire.

Adam leads me to the backyard, where a crowd of people are gathered around the cellar. I furrow my eyebrows. It's the middle of the day, and Adam is standing next to me. Who would need to be in there right now, and why?

"When we came back last night, he was fine," Adam says. I hear a pinch of guilt in his voice. "But this morning, he started...he started complaining that his shoulder hurt and that he was hallucinating. That's when the screaming started."

Wait a minute...where's Ryan? I immediately feel my entire body go cold. Adam said something about this person's shoulder hurting, and that's when I remember Brian biting Ryan there last night.

"Then Ryan started attacking people, so we had to put him in here," he says as I stumble dumbly to the cellar doors. "We don't know whether or not he'll last the day."

I press my hands against the wooden doors and feel Ryan bang against them on the other side. "Let me out!!" he screams. "Let me out, or I swear I'll tear every last one of you to shreds!"

It doesn't even sound like him. It doesn't even sound human. I back away, pressing a hand to my stomach as it becomes harder to take in air. "My...fault..." I wheeze hoarsely. My throat is so dry it could burst.