MY SANCTUARY: THE BEGINNING

†CHAPTER THREE†

  I sat up straight in bed. At first I thouht it was my imagination but I heard it again -long and loud.

It was coming from the forest behind my house. I lay down and tried to shut it out but it just kept getting louder and louder. Finally, unable to bear it any longer, I got up and strode over to the window.

There was nothing unusual about it. A movement in the trees got my attention. At that moment the moon flooded everywhere with it's slippery silver light, obscuring my vision for a while.

I saw a flash from a tree and squinted. I cold see two golden eyes glowing under the moonlight.

Then the moon chose that moment to disappear behind a cloud,plunging the forest into total darkness-and I saw it!

It was almost hidden behind the thick algrove of trees.

Gosh, it was bigger than any dog I'd ever seen. The eyes seemed to glow amber now.
What in the world is out there? I wondered, backing away from the window. A wolf?

I tripped over my bed frame and landed on the soft mattress. I dove under the covers like a scaredy cat and said a silent prayer.

Thankfully, I fell asleep.

* * *

I was awake and ready before my alarm clock went off the next day. I got to the breakfast table in the kitchen to find no one was up yet.

Today had me in a nervous state. I guessed it was because of yesterday. I was a bit scared to eavr the house due to my fear.
I'm not afraid. I thought, putting my hand on the door handle-but I was shaking. I breathed deeply and yanked open the door, half-expecting a creature to jump at me. But nothing happened. I stepped into the garden, letting the soft morning breeze wash all over me.
You're being silly Dehlia. I thought. It could have been a dog or a wild animal. Wolf. How childish. I grinned as I walked to the bus stop.

"Whatcha grinning about,red blondie?" June said from somewhere behind me.

"Oh nothing. Uh...say June, is this place popular for wild dogs? Or wolves?" I asked.

She shook her head, clearly surprised.

"Wild animals? For all the years I've lived here, we've had no case of wild animals on the loose. It cold have been a really hungry doggie."

"Yeah it could..." I repeated, but I still had my doubts with me. And speaking if hungry, I just remembered I hadn't had breakfast that morning and my stomach was informing me.

June heard it and laughed, promising to buy me lunch that afternoon.

We got into the bus and got seated. I looked out the window and began to enjoy the way the trees raced past the bus. I was vaguely aware of June's voice droning on beside me.

I thought of my first day at school and thought of the friends I'd made. I thought a lot about the guy I'd seen at the campfire and wondered who he really was. If I remember, his name was Veiko.

His name was enough to send shock waves up and down my body over and over again.
Hang on love, you don't know him. How sure are you that you'll see him today?

"Chances are' I muttered 'zero"

"Huh?'June asked. 'girl, are you even listening to me?"

I jerked out of my daydream.

"Wha-? Oh yeah...I was" I grinned sheepishly at her.'I heard every word you said"

She looked sceptical