Bloody Paws

Chapter 1

It was half past nine and my shift was just now ending. I had been working as a waitress at Bobby's cafe for only a few months now. It was a mom and pop restaurant that I loved. I was working my way through school and I it made me happy to finally have a place to fit in.

I walked past all the empty tables, sweeping as I went. I stopped and let my long, brown hair out of my ponytail. I always got migraines when I wore my hair up, so it was a relief to let it sway around my body. 

"Grace!"

I turned around at my name being called by another waitress named Kelly. She was about 32, ten years my senior, and was the closest thing I had to a mom.

"Yes ma'am?" I asked. Even if I wasn't in the South anymore, it didn't mean I couldn't be polite.

"Ready to get out of here?"

I nodded and quickly swept up all the trash on the ground. I put away the broom and took off my apron; setting it down on the counter.

"Let's go." I said with a smile.

A car was already outside to pick Kelly up. It was her husband George who was a nice man, but too quiet for my taste.

"You need a ride honey?" Kelly asked.

"No. I have some errands to run before I go home. Thanks anyway!" I said.

I hated having people drive me around, I felt like a burden. I usually just took the bus to make it easier and that is where I was headed now.

Kelly waved as the green clunker her husband drove pulled away from diner and out onto the street.

I straightened my plain, white tshirt and thanked the stars that I wore a sweater tonight because it was chilly outside. I kept my bag close to me and wrapped my arms around me to keep me warm from the chilly air.

I walked down the deserted street, trying to stay under the light posts. Where the light wasn't  touching the ground, the darkness took over. It was so dark that my eyes wouldn't even adjust and that scared me a little.

 The bus stop wasn't that far from Bobby's so I didn't have to walk for more than five minutes. I sat down on the bench and waited. The bus should have been here by now but it was nowhere in sight. I looked up at the full moon and sighed, this was just great.

My grandmother use to tell me stories of the moon. How it was the mother to a whole hidden community. She spoke of people who could turn into beautiful wolves and dance about the night. She spoke of vampires and witches. I knew it was all just stories but it was so odd for my grandmother to tell me stories like that. 

I still shivered though when I heard a howl in the distance. I didn't think there were any wolves around the city of Portwood but the howl came again, moments later, and this time others joined after it.

It was after ten and I silently cursed the bus driver. He was too late for me to wait any longer and the howls were getting closer. I would have to walk and hope I didn't run into anything with claws.

"Not real, Grace. It's not real." I silently chastised myself.

I hurried along the street until I came to Burns Park. It was a park directly in the middle of the city. It was huge and unbelievably dark at night. Unfortunately cutting through it was the quickest way to my apartment.

There was more howling and it was closer this time. I know I was just freaking myself out but I think they were really following me.

I sprinted through the park as fast as I could, not caring what was behind me. I got to the swings, which were halfway across the park and stopped. I gasped for breath and told myself I would definitely be picking up a gym membership soon.

I looked up when my breathing went back to normal, only to find that five wolves stood on the other side of the swings. I backed up slowly but when I turned around there were four more wolves lined up behind me too.

I turned back to the first wolves and one was standing in front of the rest like he was a leader or something, he was red and had matted hair. Nine wolves surrounded me and they were all fixated on my movements. They wanted me, I could see it in their eyes.

All of the wolves were growling and drooling at their mouths. I knew this was it. I knew my life ended here. 

I shrank down and held my hands out in front of me in a gesture of peace.

The growls got louder and louder. I looked at the red wolf and he began to snap at me as he advanced. 

"Nice doggy. " I said knowing it wasn't any use. I think my bat shit grandmother was right!

The red wolf started lowering himself to the ground. He was about to pounce and he wanted me to know it. 

It look like he was about to do just that when another howl came from a distance. The other wolves started acting nuts, fidgeting in wolf ways and backing up from me. 

The mysterious howl did not phase the red wolf however because the last thing I saw before he leapt towards me was nothing but hate.

***

I really thought I was a goner as I fell down to the ground. I was ready for the impact though, I could hear his growl getting closer but then I heard something hard hit the red wolf before he was able to hit me. 

I looked up to a giant, black and silver wolf rolling around with the red wolf. Their teeth were bared and their claws unsheathed. More wolves emerged from the trees and attacked the wolves that had once had me surrounded. It was wolf on wolf madness!

"Move, Grace." I told myself. I started to crawl away from the furry bodies.

Jaws were snapping everywhere and I saw blood stains in the grass around me. I tentatively stood up but kept crouched just in case another wolf decided to attack. 

The black and silver wolf looked as though he was winning against the red wolf. I silently rooted for him, the least I could do since he saved me.

I made it out of the bloody mess and inched down a hill that led back to the wooded part of the park. I ran through the woods as fast as I could. I needed to make it home and forget this lunatic dream I seemed to be having.

I stopped running when I thought I was far enough away and began to walk. I stopped by a tree, leaning against it for support. I needed to decipher what was going on and why me! I bent my head down, letting a few tears drop, then leaned my head back up. There, in front of me was a mud colored wolf. He was just looking at me which was making it really hard to tell if he was friend or foe.

Just when I thought friend, the wolf began to growl.

"Shit. " I said. I turned and made a run for it.

There was a rocky patch up ahead with a small river on the other side and if I could just get to that I would be okay. I almost made it to the rocks when the muddy wolf struck me from behind, hitting my head on a rock as I went down.

The blow to the head didn't render me unconscious yet but I could feel the hot, sticky blood running down my face and the darkened edges of my vision were getting worse. The wolf looked at me, snapped his jaws but never came at me because out of nowhere a black shape hit him from the side. The black wolf was back to saving my life again.

I tried to move a little but nausea hit me like a ton of bricks so I stopped all movement. I watched the wolves dance the dance of death. Snapping, jumping and clawing at each other until the black wolf made it on top of the brown one. The black wolf had his jaws around the brown ones neck and all I heard was a defeating crack before I closed my eyes in defeat.

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I am also in the process of editing as I continue to complete this book, so bear with me.