Beautiful Things

Chapter 7-Magnificent

     MY EYES WIDENED, AND my legs reacted before the rest of me did. I stood up, hand grabbing for Brian's shoulder as he groped for the hunting rifle. He aimed the sights at the brown wolf as he stumbled back, finger shaking over the trigger.

     "Get back Bailey!" His voice was quaking as he fully enveloped the scene in front of him.

     "Brian, we both know I'm the better shot," I hissed in his ear as we both slowly retreated. "Give me the gun."

     Brian swallowed-his ego-and handed the rifle to me. I immediately trained the crosshairs at the wolves furry chest, my breathing coming to the right pace. I exhaled, about to shoot it as the wolf growled, foaming from its mouth. It angrily leapt to me before I had the nerve to pull the trigger, and another shape hurled out of the darkness as I fell back, clutching the gun to my chest.

     The shape spun on the brown wolf, its yellow eyes piercing. I realized-as I desperately scurried behind a tree-that the shape was a black wolf. There was something... different, and familiar about it. The brown wolf was much smaller than the black wolf, and when the black wolf bristled, growling angrily in the brown wolves direction, the brown wolf submitted, and padded away. I watched from my sanctuary, scared beyond belief as the black wolf swung his head in my direction, blinked once, and then pelted into the forest.

     "BAILEY!" I heard Brian's faraway voice.

     "That was magnificent.." I whispered, before turning to distractedly walk back to my brothers old Chevy.

♡

     I stared, fixated out of the closed window of Brian's rattling Chevy as we neared the hunting lounge area. I had heard loud noises from far away, and at this point I knew where it was coming from. I leaned forward in my seat, narrowing my eyes at the bungalow. Two boys stood out front, yelling at each other. One's eyes slash muscles were unmistakable. Oscar.

Brian pulled into the parking lot, eying the fight with a strange look on his face. As soon as we were in hearing distance, Oscar's back relaxed. He threw a meaningful glance at the mousey haired boy he was arguing with so angrily a minute ago before sauntering over to the Brian's door.

     "What's the issue?" His voice was still tense, and for some reason, deeper than it was earlier. "You guys are back early."

     "We saw wolves," I shot out, gauging Oscar's reaction. Nervous, but not surprised. "Just wanted to report it."

     "Oh. Wow." He slid his attention to me, just as my phone dinged in my pocket. "You guys are going to have to stay here awhile. We're going to call the police in for this, and sometimes they can be backed up. Especially since Saturday's are their busiest days."

"Right," Brian replied as I jumped out of the truck, grabbing clothes to change out of and turning my phone on. I answered Xavier's FaceTime as I made my way inside, asking Oscar's grandmother where the bathroom was. She pointed to her left, smiling at me as if she knew something I didn't.

     "Hey, Bailey." Xavier's voice came through.

     "Hey, love," I smiled into the camera, tugging the bathroom door open. I placed the phone face down on the sinks edge.

     "What's that for?" His voice was muffled now, and I couldn't see his face, but I knew what he'd be wearing and doing. Wearing: his basketball jersey and shorts. Doing: drinking Gatorade, because he says he needs his electrolytes restored after every game.

     "I'm changing out of my hunting clothes." I replied, tugging my shirt over my head.

     "All the more reason to let me see, la belle Bailey." He joked, and I rolled my eyes.

      As soon as I was done getting dressed, I threw my hunting clothes into the camping bag and exchanged my boots for flip flops. I unlocked and opened the bathroom door, narrating what happened in the woods to Xavier. I emerged from the hallway and into the living room, finding Oscar's grandmother in serious conversation with the mousey haired boy from before. His eye's flicked up to me, and I gave a small wave before scooting out the door to put my backpack in the truck. I turned around, finishing the wolf story to Xavier as I bumped into the mousey haired kid from earlier.

     "Oopsies," I said, backing up a step. "Sorry. Wasn't looking where I was going."

     "Wasn'tyourfault," he said so quietly I just awkwardly smiled and opened the door to the main area of the hunting lounge. I sat on the couch, hanging up with Xavier after quick 'talk to you later's, and looking around for Oscar. I saw him in a little reception area, talking to his-surprise-Grandmother. She seemed like a popular lady. I'd have to get to know her.

I was about to walk away, when I heard my name included in their hushed whispers. I swung back around quietly, pressing my ear against the thin wall.

     "...you need to hurry up and do the marking process, Oscar. Your mind won't be able to sustain much longer." It was his grandmother. I could tell by the cracks in her old voice.
"I know. She's human, though; it would hurt her more than it would hurt a-" Oscar's desperate plea was cut off by my phone dinging. My breath caught in my throat as I stood, unable to move. Oscar's footsteps drew closer, and closer, until he turned and saw me. My eyes dilated in a crawling feeling that spread from my stomach-I knew from the look on his face that I had heard something I shouldn't have.

     "Uh.." I stammered nervously, unable to find the words I needed to explain my situation.

     "Hey. You need anything?" He asked me. So... he was going to play it this way. Pretend I didn't hear anything. Okay.

     "Just looking around. I'm kind of restless after the wolves I saw earlier." I said, tugging on a piece of my hair. My phone dinged again, and Oscar narrowed his eyes at my pocket.

     "You gonna check your message?"

     "Oh. Oh yeah," I laughed nervously, turning my phone on. The message was from Sidney. I clicked it open.