The Dreamer

Chapter 2

The next time I went to the zoo, I sat next to Nico's exhibit again. Unfortunately, I had unwanted guests come up to me as I drew. "Drawing again?" Clara asks, but I ignore her. I keep my eyes on my paper and pencil, trying to focus my attention there. As I drew, Nico watches me from behind.

Clara clears her throat loudly to try and get my attention again, but I ignore her again. "Are you deaf?" I ignore her yet again, which angers her enough to rip my sketchbook from me. The pencil draws a deep line in the paper, ruining it. The paper's now scarred so even if I erase it, you would still see it. I finally look up to see her glaring at me.

"Pay attention when I talk to you!" she yells at me. My own eyes narrow at her. "And what are you wearing?" She looks me over with a half smirk. "Now I can see why none of the boys even talk to you." Clara smiles while the other girls snicker behind her and I just snap. Anger flares through me like never before and I've had enough of her. "Or maybe it's because I'm not as focused on them as you are. Unlike you, I'm trying to get through school to go to college and get a good job where you'll be too focused on your reputation and boys to even care about it that you'll regret it. You'll be living in a run-down apartment with your high school sweetheart just lazing about in a chair while you're doing all the work."

She was taken by surprise at first, but then she smirks. "Actually, I get pretty high up with just my looks. Ever hear of modeling?"

"Did you ever hear that beauty never lasts?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"That you'll eventually lose all of this," I said using a finger to circle around her. She scowls at me and takes a threatening step closer. "You little bi-"

She's cut off by a sudden deep growl behind me. When she glances towards the sound, she pales for a second before laughing. "What's this, the big bad wolf?" She steps around me to get a better look at Nico. "Yeah, this is fake, look at its obliviously fake red eyes." They all laugh and I step between them and the wolf. "It's the little red riding hood coming to save the day," she says mockingly. "Or is the other way around? Seeing as someone may actually mistake you for a boy, or even a beast." Another growl was threatened towards them.

"It looks like he's hungry better jump in to feed him." Then she left, dropping my sketchbook on her way. I sigh and bend down to pick it up. I hear the wolf behind me huff before it shuffles away. "I wouldn't worry about her. At least you can scare her away. Trust me, she was scared." I smile at Nico. "She just acts like she isn't." I sit back down and look at the drawing that Clara made me mess up on. There's a long dark line stretching across the paper, cutting the drawing in half.

I rip out the page and crinkle it up, throwing it into the trash bin nearby. I start from scratch on a new drawing. The ideas just flow through my hand and into the pencil, making it come to life. I keep my mind busy from today as I drew. This time, I'm drawing the scene from my dream. There are trees surrounding the wolf as it stands in the middle of the paper.

It's still so vivid in my mind as I thought about it. The wind brushing past his fur and the trees shivering. Leaves flying about in freedom. The piercing red eyes intently staring right at me. It's like I'm reliving it as I drew. When I finish, I look at it and smile. "That looks good, don't you think?" I turned the book around to show the wolf and his eyes scan the drawing. "It's a weird dream I had last night. I don't know why though." I put the book down next to me and look at my phone, realizing what time it is. "Crap! I gotta go!" I grab my stuff and left, hoping I'll have enough time to make it to dinner.

********

I finish eating and went up to my room as usual. As I was digging through my bag, however, my sketchbook isn't there. My heart drops and I continue to look. It's not here! Where is it?! I dump everything out of my bag but I still can't find it. My eyes widen when I remember. I left it at the zoo?!

I look at the time and frown. It's already late. I can only hope the zoo is still open. I grab my jacket and left for the zoo again.

*******

"Where is it?" I got to the wolf exhibit and I found my sketchbook right where I left it. I sigh in relief and pick it up. I smile and flip through it to make sure that none of my drawings were taken. I saw movement from the corner of my eyes and when I look up, I scream. The figure suddenly turns around and freezes. Is there someone in there?!

My heart is beating too quickly, but I try to look calm. "Hello? Are you okay?" I take a step closer and the figure immediately rushes towards me. I jump back. "I need your help."

"What?"

"I need to get out of here." I look at the guys face and he looks about my age, maybe a bit older. I can't get a very good look though. "How did you get in there?"

"Does that matter?" I raise a brow and he sighs. "Please?" I look around and nod. "I'll see what I can do." I rush away and found the employees only door that leads to the back of the exhibit. I open it, surprised that it was unlocked for me. Inside is just an area with a metal door that slides to the side.

There's a big cage to the side which looks like it could be for the black wolf, Nico. The strange thing is that the wolf isn't even in here and he's not outside either. I wondered where he is and feared that he's running around free. Trying to not think about it, I open the metal door and it loudly creaks.

I pull as hard as I could, but I still need help. I then feel the door suddenly get lighter and see that the stranger's helping me now. When it was open wide enough, he slips through and we close it. I cringe at the sound as it closes, hoping it didn't make too much sound that'll attract unwanted attention.

"We have to go," he says and suddenly grabs my hand. He drags me out, but I stop and pull my hand out. "I don't even know you. I just helped you out, doesn't mean you can sweep me off my feet and take me away." I narrow my eyes at him but we both turn towards shouting voices. "The wolf is gone!" Crap.

"There's no time!" He takes my hand and drags me away again, only I didn't protest this time. I didn't want to get in trouble. We ran out the entrance and stopped in the parking lot that only had a few cars, mine included. I take a few deep breaths and straighten myself up. "Okay, well I helped you out. Good luck." I turned to leave, but he stops me.

"Actually, there's something else." I froze and mentally groaned, turning around. "This is going to sound really strange, but you need to listen and not panic." Panic? Why would I panic? It's not like I'm standing in the middle of an almost empty parking lot with a stranger who could kidnap me or anything.

"I need your help to break a curse. You said you have weird dreams, right?"

"What? How do you know that?" The worst suddenly sprang to mind and the word stalker was blinking at me in a red alarm with raised flags. The bells start ringing and my panic set in. "I'm the wolf that you've been seeing and talking to for the past few weeks."

"What?" Nothing made sense anymore. "Just come with me and I'll show you." He held out his hand, but I take a step back. "I don't even know your name. What makes you think I'm going anywhere with you?" He sighs and shakes his head. "Guess I'll have to show you." Then his shape changed. The street lamps that are around the parking lot gave me enough light to see. He changed from a man to a wolf.

The color drains from my face and the red-eyed wolf looks at me. Is he a werewolf?! I took a step back, ready to run to my car, but he growls at me. I didn't know what to do. Run, or stay still. Which will hurt me more? "Curse," I said. I hear him huff before he sat down in front of me. "You're cursed to be a wolf?" The wolf nods and he changes back. "I need to break the curse, and I need your help to do that."

"I have to be dreaming. This isn't real." I take a deep breath and pinched myself, finding that it actually hurt. I'm not dreaming! "But I still don't even know you or why you need me to help you."

"Once again, it's a long story. One I'll tell later." Then he holds out a hand to me. "My name is Zeke."