Ashes Everywhere: The Calm Before the Storm

Eisenwald

NEXT CHAPTER

The infamous week two had come and gone, and by this point we had a routine. Walk to school together, eat together, and go home together. Just about everyone but Mac ignored Kiyoko, which seemed to be fine with her. I asked her about it once, and her answer had been clear cut.

“I don’t like people. I’ll put up with the people you seem to enjoy, but that’s as far as I’ll go. I don’t like humans.” I was going to ask her why she liked me, but the answer scared me. There was another thing that seemed to be repetitive over these couple of weeks. I seemed to have a reoccurring nightmare. Ever since that thought ran through my mind, I seemed to have nightmares, whether I was sleeping or not. I suppose you could call them visions, but if I were to say that to myself I feel like I’d be admitting craziness. There were a few times I almost asked Kiyoko about them, or at least told her. Again though, I didn’t. I was terrified of the fact that I wouldn’t be...human. The chances were low. I mean, I’d lived as a human my entire life. What were the chances things would be changed now? But that nightmare continued to come back, not matter how many times I reassured myself of it’s falseness. And the part that filled me with the most fear was not what happened in the nightmare. It was how clearly I remembered it afterwards. Before this, even the most terrifying nightmares would only remain a feeling in the back of my mind. This one, however, I remembered. I remembered in everyone blood chilling detail. I could feel myself about to slip into the land of sleep. 

“Hey Maura!” A cheerful voice startled me out of my deep and profound (not really) thoughts. “Miss Anderson offered to take us to town to enjoy the weather before it gets too cold. Do you want to come?” Maybe going out the she-wolf would provide a bit of comfort. Just like we were old friends and nothing more. Like she was just a transfer student that I’d made friends with, and not a werewolf on some mission. 

“S-sure. That sounds like fun. When are we going? ” Kiyoko was running up the driveway. 

“To the park. Miss Anderson has some things to do and didn’t want me stay home alone again. I don’t get why not, but whatever.” I had an idea, but telling her would probably just confuse her.

“Sure. Just let me get out of my school clothes.” I heard her scoff. So what if I didn’t wear skirts and such to go to school. I still didn’t want my llama shirt being ruined. 

“I’ll wait for you out here, okay?” I heard her sing quietly under her breath. It surprised me. I’d never heard her sing out loud like that. Sometimes, she’d hum a bit, but never sing. What surprised me more was that I recognized the song. I dashed outside. 

“I didn’t know you could sing! You’re voice is so pretty. That was Wine Red, by the Hush Sound, right?” Kiyoko’s eyes got as big as saucers. 

“I wasn’t singing Maura.” The look in her eyes told me she wasn’t just goofing off either. I laughed awkwardly.

“Oh...I was sure I’d heard you singing Wine Red. Do you know the song?” She nodded, and soon enough we were on our way. Miss Anderson picked us up and we were on our way to Friday night fun time. The silence in the car was unnerving, but I didn’t break it. Everyone seemed to be in deep thoughts. When we got to the park, Kiyoko got out first. I was sitting in the front seat and was surprised when I was grabbed as I got out. Miss Anderson had me in a tight grip. 

“Wait a second Maura. I’m sure it will only take a moment, but I’d like to tell you something. Or rather, ask you. Kiyoko refused to go out without you, and no matter what I do, she doesn’t trust me. She hardly says more than a few words to me. I understand that she’s had it rough, but for whatever reason, she trusts you. So please, watch over her.” I heard every word she’d said, but the moment she’d touched me a horrible feeling shot up my spine. It caused me to shiver in fear. “Oh! Are you cold? You can borrow my jacket. Don’t want you getting sick, now do we?” Her tone was dangerously low. I shook my head quickly. By this point, my ability to think logically had gone out the window.