Solstice

Chapter 3

“Are you free tomorrow?” Jamie asked from my side during the last period. My Mathematics teacher kept on repeating the formula numerous times that it finally got into my head.

It’s been a week since my arrival in Australia. I noticed Henry rarely comes to school. Jamie told me that people thinks he was on drugs or something.

“I’m all yours. What’s the matter?”

She fiddled with the pencil in her fidgeting fingers. “I was hopping you can come over to my house and then we could go to the new shopping mall nearby called The Curve since tomorrow is Saturday.”

I was never invited for a girls’ day out with the whole gang before even in London. Victoria spent her time shopping and talking to me about fashion. Sabrina will talk about boys. We never had a sleepover or a slumber party.

“Sure. What time do you want me?”

She hugged me unexpectedly. “Thank you! I’m getting bored nowadays. Nine o’clock in the morning. That reminds me, can you pick Maryanne up as well? Bibiana has her parents to send her.”

“Consider it done. I need Maryanne’s and your address,” I told her.

She wrote down the addresses and below she wrote ‘You better come or you will miss the fun!’ The bell signals our freedom. Jamie stared at my motorbike at the school’s parking lot. “Is that your bike? Why didn’t you tell me you have one?” she asked.

Sam taught me to ride the motorbike yesterday. “I will have to teach you how to ride your motorbike.” He left Red in his stable and I left some hay for him. We walked to the barn where my motorbike was waiting for me.

I sat on the motorbike trying to think I was sitting on a bicycle instead. Riding Red was much easier but motorbikes are faster. I even fall off sitting on it.

“I keep falling off everything I sit on. I’m sure driving a car is so much easier than this,” I complained.

Sam chuckled. “I never did know that you’re this whiny. Tell you what, tomorrow you can ride it to school.”

I remembered that Jamie was still waiting for my answer. “Because you never ask,” I told her. This moment reminds me of the time when Victoria get her new car. It was like I was in her place, getting all the attention. Val sat at the back of me, putting on her helmet.

I zoomed away from the building. I told Alice about my plan for tomorrow and she agreed immediately.

After dinner, I straight away lie on the bed and hit the sack.

Just keep running. If you stop, you’re dead, I thought. I ran at my body’s maximum capabilities. Before I could stop myself, my right hand found a knife. I looked back to see who was chasing me. Surprisingly, no one was there. I stopped instantly. It wasn’t because of fatigue. It was because of a wolf. It wasn’t an ordinary wolf. It was huge and black. Fangs appeared and eyes filled with rage. Get out of there, a voice told me. I knew it wasn’t me. It wasn’t a familiar voice. I pointed the knife at the wolf. A ghost of an old woman appeared near the wolf. She smiled at me, not a deadly smile though. I immediately recognized her. The photograph mum showed me and the portraits in the living room in Val’s house. The ghost was Gran.

I woke up at a start and fell off bed, landed on my back. My throat felt so dry that I wondered whether I was screaming all night. I cupped my throat and gulped a glass of water on a small table next to the bed. I checked the time. It was seven o’clock in the morning. I sneaked into the kitchen after I had a shower and changed my clothes. Val and Alice must be still asleep. I had a few pieces of crackers and coffee for breakfast. I left a note to Alice that I was going out with my friends.