Mythical Link ▸ Link Neal {Book One}

Forty Six

     Terra raised an eyebrow. "I have no idea. I wouldn't be asking if I knew, would I?" 

     Rhett tilted his head to the side and licked his lips. "You know, the sarcasm isn't really necessary right now," he shot. Terra flinched backward as if he had swung at her. "My best friend's house looks like a tornado swept through it after a brawl with a giant wolf, and here you come in having us thinking that you're gonna help us when you turn around and try to kill him." Rhett jerked his thumb toward Link, who had drawn his knees up to his chest and had kept his eyes downcast. 

     Terra's eyes widened and her mouth worked to find the right words to say. "Rhett, what are you talking about? I'm not trying to be sarcastic, I'm being honest!" 

     Rhett nudged Link with his elbow which forced him to look up. "Why don't you tell her what she did man? I think she's trying to put us on."

     "You wolfed out and tried to suffocate me to death." Link said plainly. 

     She lowered her eyes and thought really hard. Her subconscious fought her in retrieving any memory of almost killing Link, but her eyes watered nonetheless. How she had been unable to control herself was beyond comprehensible, and it scared the living daylights out of her. Now she was certain that Rhett and Link would hate her, especially now that Rhett was glaring daggers at her while he waited for her to speak. What was she supposed to say? "Link, I'm... I had no idea what I was doing." 

     Rhett scoffed. "I've heard that excuse before," he mumbled under his breath as he forced himself to his feet. 

     Terra scrambled to her feet as well, stepping toward Rhett so that they were inches apart. "Yeah, from your best friend that has no idea why he's screaming like that right?" 

     Rhett's face melted to sheer anger as his brows knit over his eyes like ominous thunder clouds. He advanced toward her and pointed a finger. "Don't you dare bring him into this, Terra. Link hasn't killed anybody!"

     "You're just being defensive because you know I'm right! Neither of you have a freaking clue why he's doing the things that he's doing and you're trying to turn this all on me! I was bitten by some freak animal and now I'm turning into a werewolf on the full moon. Don't you think I'm just as puzzled?" 

     Link slowly raised his head enough so that he could look up at the two of them, Terra specifically. "Could you please just stop? Maybe you didn't know what you were doing, maybe you did. I don't care. You do have a point that I have no idea what I'm doing and you know what, it's scaring the ever loving hell out of me." He swallowed after he spoke, then he buried his mouth in his knees again. 

     Rhett's shoulders slumped with defeat. Terra stooped to the ground in front of Link and Rhett tightened his jaw, making sure to bite his tongue so that he wouldn't upset Link even more. "Link, I'm really sorry. Really, really sorry. I honest to God had no idea what I was doing, and I know you know that feeling all too well. I heard your scream before... a couple nights ago, actually." Link raised his head to look at her. 

     Rhett's curiosity was piqued and he crossed his arms over his chest as she continued. "Ever since I was bitten, strange things have been happening. I can see better like I've been eating 10 helpings of carrots a day. I can hear things for miles but I can also hear things that a normal person shouldn't like the beating of your heart... the trail that you were on when you screamed is only two miles from my house. I can move so much faster and I have unbelievable strength—"

     "Sounds like a real hardship," Rhett cut her off with a dramatic eye roll. "You get to be super human while Link is literally suffering from the inside out." 

     Terra made a sympathetic face and she turned her head to look up at Rhett. "Look, I'm not trying to make it sound like my situation is worse okay? I'm trying to sympathize with him because right now, no one really knows what he's going through." 

     Rhett's facial features softened considerably and he rubbed the back of his neck gingerly. He had to admit that Terra had a point. If anything, she would be able to sympathize with Link more than he could. He took a deep breath, rolling his neck. "I'm sorry Terra." His apology sounded forced, but Terra managed a smile. 

     Only slightly, the smile never reaching her eyes. "I am too. To the both of you. I didn't realize the full moon would turn me into a killer." She looked into Link's eyes, her own eyes watering. "If I had actually succeeded in killing you—" she choked. 

     Link's eyes watered, and he lurched forward, taking her into his arms. The both of them embraced and cried into each other's shoulders. Rhett sniffled and stooped to the ground, wrapping his arms around the both of them.

     Link broke away from the two of them after several moments, and Rhett looked him in the eyes.