The Alpha's Beta

Chapter 7

Hey guys! How are you this fine Friday morning? Hope it's going well! :)

How are you liking the story? Is it moving too fast? I can't tell. It's all just up in my head, rolling around. I just write it down before it takes off and I forget it. I hope you like it! :)

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"You three are going to start shooting lasers out of your eyes at any second. Just wanted to tell you so you wouldn't be surprised." I told Ethan, Noah, and Tia. They were staring daggers at the table of goth kids. I had no idea why. They just sat down and stared. The goth kids were staring right back, so it was kind of like a staring contest but on a larger scale.

Ethan was the first to look away. Tia was a close second. "Sorry, they just get on our nerves."

Noah was still staring, and it was getting annoying, since he was looking right over my shoulder. I reached over the table and snapped my fingers in his face. "Hey! Earth to Noah. Come in, Noah."

He shook his head, apparently to clear it. "Yeah, yeah. I'm still here."

"What did they do to annoy you?"

"They hurt one of our own." I looked at Ethan, to see if he was kidding, but his face was dead serious. 

"Uhh, what?" 

Tia started laughing, but nervously. "He's just kidding, aren't you?" That last part was almost a growl.

"Um, yeah. Yep. Kidding. Ha ha. Just a joke." The table could not have gotten any more awkward.

"Well, I've got some studying to do so I'm going off before the bell. See you later." I got up as my friends said 'bye.'

I paused for a second a little while away, to retie my shoe - and no, that wasn't a fake excuse, my shoe really was untied.

"Why can't we tell her? She's proven herself. She found Nick for us. She saw you, thanks to your recklessness. And she's my friend!" I heard Tia's voice.

"You know very well why. She is not one of us. Yes, I know it wasn't safe. But I had to see her. Tia, you'd do well to remember that she's more than my friend. Or yours." Noah Crest answered. 

"Hey, guys. I don't know if you know this, but Raven is kind of within hearing range still." Ethan told them. I sensed eyes on my back as I got up and walked out of the room.

What the freak was that about? Tell me what? What did they mean, I'm not 'one of them?' And I'm not Noah's girlfriend, if that's what he was talking about. So why would he say that?

I can help you, if you'd like. A voice said.

I spun around, but the hallway was empty, except for me. Who said that?

A friend. That's all you have to know. The voice came again.

Well. Just another normal day. Your friends talk about you behind your back about who knows what. And you start hearing voices. To top it off, you talk back to the voice.

So, you know the answers? I asked, tentatively, as I started walking to the library.

I do. All you have to do is go into your woods tonight. I'll be waiting.

This sounds like a crappy setup for a horror story. I thought to it.

It's your choice. Then I felt the voice's 'presence' leave.

Guess there's only one way to find out the truth. If I get lured to my death, then I'd have learned my lesson. 

It's official. I'm going crazy.

***

I snuck out of the house, phone in hand, 911 already dialed. All I had to do was press down my finger. 

Mom had gone to bed an hour ago, out like a light. Even with all the caffeine, she slept like a rock. It was fairly easy to get out of the house.

I walked to the edge of the woods and took a deep breath. Took a step forward, followed by another, and another, until I couldn't see the house anymore. I walked through the woods until there was a small clearing, about the size of the average classroom. I saw a tree stump and sat down.  I figured if this voice could read my mind, it could find me here.

About ten minutes later, my logic proved right. The bushes rustled as something walked through them. But it wasn't who I was expecting.

"Nick? You should go home, boy." He stared up at me and sat down. His ears flicked to the opposite direction he had come. 

The brown husky - Nolan, apparently - entered the clearing and growled at Nick. Nick growled back, crouching in front of me. Nolan crouched down, too. They looked like they were going to fight. I got up, cautiously backing away from the dogs. I stepped on a twig, and their heads swiveled towards me.

Nick trotted over, shoving me back to my impromptu seat. I guess I'm not going anywhere.

Nolan took his chance while Nick was focused on me, leaping at the white dog. Nick turned around, belly to the forest floor. I tried getting up, away from the dog that was now flying towards me, but Nick was on my feet. I covered my face and hoped for the best.

I felt something sharp bite down on my forearm, then warmth flowed down my hand and wrist. I screamed in pain, while Nolan knocked me to the ground behind my stump. Nick had apparently moved while the attack happened. Nolan scurried off of me, tearing off into the woods, biting Nick's scruff to drag Nick with him.

I lay on the ground, tears streaming down my face. I searched for my phone, and found it in pieces. When the blackness came, I let it take me.

My last thought before I passed out was, where was the mystery voice?