Moon

8

"Eliscot!" 

I froze, no longer were they chasing me, but now a woman's voice screamed in their absence.

"Help! Help me Eliscot, help!"

I faltered, my breath catching in my throat. I know that voice, I know who she is, but I can't remember. Suddenly the pounding footsteps were back, they were chasing me once more. I ran, pumping my arms harder and feeling each slap of the pavement as my feet flew. 

"Eliscot.."

"Eliscot!" I awoke to a bright light and blurred colors. 

"Oh, thank god you're awake!"

Someone murmured their disagreement in the background. 

I groaned, reaching to hold my pounding head, but my arms wouldn't budge, as if strapped down beside me. Blinking, my vision cleared, and realized that needles were stuck in my arm. "Where am I?" I asked, alarmed. But my voice came out weak, nearly a croak.

A face appeared beside me, their features were tired and weary, it was Mrs. Stellard. "You're in the Lunville Hospital," she gave me a sad smile, "Something knocked you out real hard at Mark's party."

I frowned, "A wolf."

Mrs. Stellard's eyebrows furrowed, the crease in between deepened. "Elis, there's no wolves near the residency, don't worry. Chris says you fell onto something and hit your head."

I shook my head, trying to sit up. "It was a wolf, I know it was. It smelled...of alcohol?" flashes of memories flew by in my head, no matter how hard I tried to grasp onto them, they always found a way to slip away.

"Maybe we should give you some time to rest, right now the nurses just need to finish checking up on your head, okay?" Mrs. Stellard hesitated, before leaning down and giving me a kiss on the forehead. "Please don't get hurt again."

Soon the door closed, and I was locked in silence of the white room. The smell of pines, mint, alcohol, and wet dog was imprinted in my mind. No matter how hard I tried to think of what happened last night, that was all that came up..and the idea of a wolf. At least that's what I thought I saw in the reflection of Chris's eye.

A nurse suddenly came in, she handed me a pill. "We just need you to get some sleep to ensure a fast recovery. You'll be home by tomorrow." she gave me a sugary smile before bustling out of the room.

*

"Elis!" Chris ran up to me, we haven't even parked in the garage yet and he had thrown open the door and tackled me in the back seat. I groaned, both my wrists were sprained, but all they did at the hospital was rub some ointment on them and wished me well. "Sorry dude." he gave me a watery smile, before hugging me again.

"Were you crying?" I asked.

"No," he sniffed, "Maybe."

"Why?" I couldn't help but smile.

"I swear, I'm so sorry. It was all my fault."

I rolled my eyes, trying to get out of the car without using my wrists or hands. "Don't be."

Chris scowled, "It was my fault! And you could've died!"

I laughed, "Chris, I fell. It's not like a cliff, stop worrying."

"No, it's not the same," he murmured, but he followed me silently into the house and to my room. Once we were in, he let out a hard breath and fell face down onto the bed.

"How was the rest of the party?" I asked, trying to lighten the mood, despite me being the injured one.

"It ended once I got Mark and the others to carry you up to the car."

I frowned, "It was just a fall, I would've lived if I stayed there."

"It's not what you think it is." was his muffled response. 

"Then what? Because I feel fine," I snapped, my mood turned sour.

Chris turned over onto his back and gave me a look, "Dude, are you okay?"

"I just got back from the hospital."

Chris sighed, "Neither of us are happy at the moment, wanna hit up Cheese N' Burgers?"

I counted to three in my head and pulled off my dirty shirt. "I'm going to snap if I have to interact with more people."

He snorted, "I bet it's not even that bad."

I furrowed my eyebrows at him, though he was facing the window now. He doesn't know, he doesn't need  to know. Get yourself together, Elis, no one can know.

Chris sighed again, before getting up and smoothing the covers. "C'mon, I'm taking you whether you like it or not. Their food really helps, take my word for it."

I threw on a shirt in defeat and followed him out.

*

Cheese N' Burgers was like any other fast food restuarant, we took a seat at a window booth watching as the few cars pulled through the rainy weather.

"Are you going to go to school tomorrow?"

I shrugged, watching my reflection weakly attempt to eat the large burger. "Mrs. Stellard gave me a choice, we already have my school records and grades from this year at the orphanage."

Chris slurped down his smoothie, "Cool. I hope I did well enough on the exams to get into next year."

"Aren't the teachers family friends? Not to be rude or anything, but this town is tiny."

"Yeah, they are. But it's different...and they won't go easy on me no matter what I get them for Christmas," Chris chuckled. "It's down to coffee mugs now that say 'Homework Sucks'."

I laughed, it felt good. "No wonder."

"Hey," Chris held his hands up, "I got them those nice polos and ties, but they just seem immune to sympathy and emphathy."

Suddenly a gust of cold, wet air entered the room as two people entered.

"Elis!" one of them, Mark, came over with an apologetic smile. "I'm really sorry that had to happen to you at the party." when he mentioned 'party' a hard edge entered his eyes.

Dane who was next to him, scratched the back of his neck. "You're okay, aren't you?"

I shrugged, moving over in the booth so the two could take a seat. "I'm fine, don't sweat it."

Mark sighed, "I am really sorry, Chris. Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?"

"I'm fine, it was just a knock in the head, Mark. It's okay," I answered, hoping they would leave, I was not one to deal with pity.

Chris cleared his throat, as if trying to get a message across, which the two seemed to get as they gave us one more smile before ordering a take-out and leaving.

I watched them get in the car and drive away. This town was confusing.