The Willow Tree

-3-

Thomas's P.O.V 

I shifted uncomfortably, revising what had happened yesterday.

Paige and I were still shocked over what happened. Trying to figure out what had happened. Why it happened. If only people knew that they were innocent. But they think we are murderers.

But now we were stranded out her with little food and water.
We were refuges. Outlaws. I didn't want to admit what I saw yesterday to Paige, she'd worry too much. It wasn't my fault, I swear. I also didn't want to admit what happened with our step-father.

I got up and saw Paige was still asleep. This was a chance to go get some food again. I didn't want to let her down. I wanted to take care of here.

Take care of Paige for me... my mother said as she sat in the hospital bed dying.

There was a cool breeze, and the leaves danced happily on the trees. I walked over to some bushes and saw there were some berries on them.

Why didn't I see this yesterday? They could be poisonous.

But they could also be food.

As I continued walking through the forest, lost in thought, I saw the remains of what was our old house.

The white paint had chipped away dramatically, and no window survived unsmashed. Even the front door was not intact. I found myself walking towards it. Maybe this could ease the pain.

Maybe this could fix it all.

"What's happening? Mother! Please... tell me whats wrong?" Younger Thomas cried.

"Follow what you love most dear, and it will ease pain."

I found myself repeating those words, as I glanced over the remains of my house. Glass littered the moldy floorboards, and bugs and spiders danced among the house.

I found myself frantically searching, for anything that could help ease the pain.

Then I found it...

The photograph.

My mother looked young, her dark brown hair braided neatly down her shoulder. Her blue eyes lit up with happiness. I always remember her being happy.

"Happiness is a great key to success"

I tucked the photo in my pocket carefully, and continued to raid the cupboards for any food or maybe even water.

After leaving the house I had gathered an old cooking pot, a few cans of soup and a half-ruined photo-album.

It was all we needed.

Thank you... mother, thank you.

She might be watching over us. Was she? Could she have been watching over us since she died?

I made my way back towards the Willow tree, would Paige ask questions about where I got the food? I hoped not.

As I entered I found Paige awake, weaving and platting another blanket,

"Where did you-" Paige began, she must have seen the anxious look on my face and quickly replied with, "never mind."

I placed the food into our hole, and left again. I felt bad after not saying anything, but I had nothing to say.

I continued in the opposite direction, away from our old cottage, an over-grown hedge stood in my way about a kilometer away. Climbing through was quite easy, as a small hole appeared a couple meters right, but I was not as prepared for what lay ahead.

A road.

No one was driving down it, but something unbelievable lay on the other side in the distance. A flowing stream glittered in the afternoon sunset. I sprinted across the road and through the field, each step gave me more and more hope.

Hope that we would survive.

I drank and drank from the stream, filling my body with refreshing, soothing water. After 5 minutes of relentless drinking. I lay down underneath and oak tree, and slowly drifted to a deep sleep.

I saw Paige in wolf-form sprinting towards our step-father, a sickening grin spread across his face. I sprinted after her, and quickly put my wolf hands on her, trying to pull her back. Her red eyes, flaming with anger faced me and she swiped at my shoulder. Pain surged through me, and I quickly fell back and yelped with pain. Her claw remained embedded in my shoulder and I pulled it out, my eyes clogged with held-back tears. Throwing the claw down I saw Paige's hands covered in blood, and her dark red eyes glowed in the night. She ran towards the corn field and disappeared into the darkness. I turned toward my step-father and he bent and picked up the claw I dropped, he held it upon his neck, and slowly slit his own throat with it. I turned away, sick with twisted anger and chased after Paige. My heart in my mouth, I twisted and turned trying to follow Paige's scent.

I woke up, my heart pounding, it was late in the evening and I stood up, starting to walk back towards the hedge. I stopped as a truck pulled over  on the road an the faint dialing of a phone could be heard in the distance.

"Hello?" a mans voice could be heard over the phone, a woman voice replied with,

"It's me, Susan, we couldn't find either of them, they're still out there."

I thought it was another police officer, so i began to sink down more, but i was then surprised,

"Poor things, accused of a crime where the evidence all leads to a suicide." The man replied with, "did you find anything?"

"Yes. At the cottage somethings were missing." Susan said,

"What things?" The man said.

"Oh- just a pot, some food and... a photograph, someone dropped it outside the house," Susan said, at this moment I checked my pockets, the photo was gone. Through the window of the truck, I could see Susan hold up a photograph in the light. My heart sunk, I ad totally forgotten about the photo.

"Anyway, remember to keep watch of the house, and also start looking for any places they could have camped, but don't go too near, they may have not of murdered, but they are still werewolves." The man replied with, before hanging up.

The truck started and Susan drove off, leaving me with burning questions. Who are these people? Who was Susan talking to? How do they know we are innocent? Does everyone know we are innocent?

I arrived back at our camp, Paige was already asleep, tomorrow I would bring her water. I slept thinking about the day before.

End of Chapter 3

Hey guys! I am so sorry that I haven't updated much, I have lots of sports and homework to do, but I will be able to update more frequently as some of my sports are finishing soon. Please vote if you like the story and comment your feedback and suggestions!

Ashley Pijoe