Only If I Knew

Chapter 2: Strange Behaviour

The clouds broke into a million pieces, spitting rain over the woods. The dense canopy above was useless as the water slid over leaves and eventually dripped onto the forest floor. Overgrown branches invited me to explore deeper inside the woods. Darkness ruled over the woodland; not allowing a single ray of light to enter. Cones burst like tiny grenades, sticky needles picked at my skin and jagged twigs from blackberry bushes scratched my legs. I was being swallowed by the forest.

"Isabel," called out a voice, "follow me." My head turned at the sound. I ran further and further into the woods. I didn't care about the trees that scarred my skin or the cones that lunged themselves at me, I just ran. Having a small glimpse of my surreal surroundings, it seemed like I passed the same places over and over again. However, I came to a stop. An open lawn of lush greenery came into sight. I stood still and quiet. I was waiting for something but I wasn't sure what it was. Sleepy snowflakes obliquely fell to the ground. Silver and dark, a flurry of diamonds began to coat the grass. The darkness throughout the woods grew thicker and thicker as winter descended on the ground layer by layer. The cold clutched to my shoulders. The cold crept under my clothes. The cold numbed my lips to a mouldy purple. The frigid wind wrapped around me like a shawl, woven from the snow.

"Isabel!" growled a deep voice.

Close to blasting my ears, the piercing shout woke me. A ringing lingered in my ear for a while but faded. My second dream was hugely similar to the first. What did they mean? Why am I having these dreams? Who was calling my name? These questions persisted on in my mind, causing me to have a headache. As I stood, my head was pounding.

"This would pass over," I thought to myself and got ready for school.

"Are you alright to walk by yourself? Do you know the way?" questioned my uncle, as we both ate breakfast, "I can take you to school, if you like."

"Yeah, I think I'll be alright. Don't you have that hunting meeting going on?" I replied.

"Are you sure? Yes, but the lads can wait, they wouldn't mind."

"It's ok, uncle. I think it will also help me get used to travelling around the town,"

"Well, if you insist," he said, drinking his coffee and wiping the froth off his moustache, "how is school anyway? New friends?"

"Yeah, it's fine" I finished my last piece of toast and headed to the door, "see you later." It was an icy morning. The snow must have melted overnight but the sky was still white as paper. Making sure I don't slip, I turned left. The forest was enchanting. My breath rose in visible puffs. As I walked through the avenue of naked trees, the freezing frost left bejewelled leaves that crunched under my feet.

"Do you like the winter?" spoke a lively voice, coming out from the trees.

"Good morning Michael," I said, "it'a wonderful here."

"The seasons here change so fast, I'm almost sometimes so unsure of what season we're in," he laughed, pulling a hat over his reddened ears.

"I quite like it, moving in on late autumn and settling down on a frosty winter," I smiled. There was something about the weather that seemed to be inviting.

"Isabel, do you know what happens in the winter?" asked Michael.

"What do you mean?" I asked, curiously.

"It's nothing. Don't worry," he grinned. We walked across the bridge and down the pathway, into school.

It was lunch time and once again, Michael joined me.

"So what's that book about?" he asked.

"Just a book I found in my old house, stuff about werewolves; their packs and leaders. Nothing special." I explained. Michael slightly choked on his sandwiches.

"You shouldn't stuff so much food in your mouth," I said, handing him a bottle of water.

"Hahaha! Force of habit! So, werewolves," he laughed, after taking a sip of water. "what do you think of them?"

"Well they don't exist, do they? I mean, who was ever come across a human turning into a wolf? No one. First of all, there is no proof that they're real and secondly, it's- "

"UGGHH! I HATE THIS WEATHER!" screamed Emma, storming into the cafeteria. She didn't turn up for the first half of school, so I assumed she wasn't coming in. All the commotion stopped and the everyone's attention was on her. Her fur coat was covered in thick snow. Twigs stuck out her golden locks and her clothes were drenched in mud. Water squelched out her boots as she stomped through the canteen. What a damsel in distress. A boy asked if he could help her with anything but she snapped at him and slammed herself onto our table.

"Good day to you too," chuckled Michael, sarcastically.

"Shut up Michael, I'm not in the mood for your silly jokes!" Emma yelled.

"What happened to you?" I asked, offering her a tissue but she ignored it.

"Be nice, Emma." Michael took the napkin and wiped Emma's rosy cheeks.

"Get off me," she winced, but didn't stop him.

"So, what happened?" Michael asked.

"I was going for a run in the woods and a maniac with a moustache attacked me!" She screamed, "so I tried to bite him but his mates caught me in a net then-  "

Michael frantically gave Emma a punch in the arm.

"Ow! What was that for?"

"Are you serious Emma?! That was assault, you have to call the police right away!" I exclaimed, grabbing my phone. Many people around were staring at us.

"No! She's over exaggerating, you don't have to call the police," Michael told me.

"But Emma was attacked- " I argued.

"No, Isabel, don't worry. I guess I was over reacting a bit. I was just jogging in the woods and I slipped in a puddle and fell in some nettles!" Emma laughed, awkwardly. Why did Michael indicate her to stop telling us what had happened? Were they hiding something? If so, what was it? Perhaps she was just trying to make a scene over what happened.

After lunch, we made our way to Science and once again Emma avoided me. What have I done wrong? My second day at a new school and I've made a 'frenemie' or whatever they call it. Glancing around the classroom, I noticed the ice-kissed town. Snowflakes were dancing and prancing in the cold air. I met the eye of a big and muscular boy in my class. He looked at Emma. Her ears were pink, her fingers had been bitten by frost and ice was forming on her lips.

"Oh my gosh, Emma, are you ok?" I asked, putting a hand on her shoulder. Her skin was as cold as ice.

"Don't touch me," she made out through her white lips. I moved away from her but turned on the bunsen burner to keep her warm. The boy, still watching Emma and I, thrust open the window. A swirling storm of silver blew out the flame of the bunsen burner.

"I hate you!" Emma growled at the boy and stormed out of class.