Dark Departure

Chapter Five

I was stuck in a forest, wolves circling me, watching me with greedy, bloodthirsty eyes. They snarled and snapped as they slowly orbited around me. I stood in the middle scared and terrified, but knowing that they wouldn’t attack.

Until they did.

In unison, they all bounded towards me; death written in their eyes. It was then I knew I thought I would die, for surely I could not overcome these beasts. But then, unexpectedly, my legs went into motion and I was running. Running through the dark forest, the only light guiding me was the full moon shining through the gaps in the trees. I sprinted so fast that it was hard to believe that it was actually me running. I could hear the heavy footsteps of the wolves behind me, in hot pursuit. My black hair flowed behind me as I weaved through the trees, my body never exhausting. I felt as if I could run all night, until I was stopped by a midnight black wolf standing in my path of escape. I stood terrified once again as the beast stood only meters away from me. Its green eyes bore into mine intensely before it leapt away in the direction I was planning to go, it was like it wanted me to follow him, so I did.

I woke up, sweat covering my cold exhausted body. It felt as if I had been running like I had been in my dream. I was short of breath and had the feeling as if the wolves in my dream were somehow real. I laid still for a while, momentum absent in my body.

It had been a couple of days since the shock announcement of the death of Mum and Dad, and it hadn’t gotten any easier. It didn’t help that Louise spent her entire days in her room refusing to speak to me. But today it was too much, I had to get out of this house, had to go to school. I had missed enough anyway, with QCS approaching and the confinement of walls was only a constant reminder of what was gone. This huge house was too much for just two.

Somehow, half an hour later, I managed to drag myself out of bed. I stood in front of my vanity table and stared at the ghostly figure reflecting back at me. The dark circles under my eyes showed up vibrantly against my pale skin, the lack of sleep evident on my face. I couldn’t stand to look at this ghost anymore, I needed familiarity and that came with getting ready for school.

Once I was as ready as I would ever be, I made my way to Louise’s room and opened the door a little before opening it all the way. I stood still and silent for a few seconds as I watched her, slowly breathing as she slept on peacefully. Sleep was probably the only place she would get any peace at a time like this. Though peace was hard to achieve in or out of reality. I finally broke the trance and sat softly on her bed stroking her blonde hair out of her eyes. Her hair was so much like Dad’s golden hair that had always strayed into his eyes. She stirred a little before finally waking. She blinked a few times before staring into oblivion.

“Hey,” I greeted her softly, receiving a weak smile in return, “Do you feel up for school today?”

“Please don’t do that, don’t play Mum.” She said bluntly. This shocked me. I was just trying to be there for her.

“I wasn’t trying to be Mum, I’m being your sister and trying to be there for you.” I replied as the hurt I felt slipped into my voice, which I was trying to avoid.

“Well try less. I’m really tired so if you don’t mind…” She responded before rolling away from me, signalling that she wanted me to leave. I guess some of me was rubbing off on her. Her action was something I would have down if the position were in reverse.

“Right, well I’ll see you when I get home.” I said as I left. I stood hesitantly at her door looking back into her room and saw the slight shake of her body as she undoubtedly cried. But I knew I couldn’t comfort her and she didn’t want my sympathy. I closed her door quietly and let her be. I took a deep breath trying to pump myself up for the day, to no avail. I sighed and grabbed my bag before heading out just as the bus arrived.