Darkness of the Moon

C2: On The Run Again

I wake to the sound of wolves howling in the distance. The light of the full moon shines through the window, casting a light glow into the room. I quickly get dressed into jeans and a black tank top and slide on my black combat boots. I open the door quietly, as not to disturb Mandy and step out into the dark corridor. I close the door behind me and the moonlight gets blocked out, turning the room pitch black.

I walk down the corridor, sliding my hand along the wall. I let my instincts take me to where I need to go. I walk up a flight of stairs and walk through some more dark corridors, following the strange sensation of safety. Finally I reach a door with light shining through the cracks.

I open the door slowly and poke my head through the gap created. What I see is not nearly what I expected. They boy from this afternoon lounges casually on the bed playing some game on his phone.

"Shouldn't you be asleep?" he asks without looking up from his phone.

"Why are you here?" I question him.

"Because I'm visiting my sister. You didn't answer my question, you shouldn't be here, you should be asleep."

"Who is your sister?"

"You should leave," he looks up at me, "you're not safe here."

"How do you know whether I'm safe or not? This place seems pretty harmless to me."

"I know who you are Harper, I know who your running from. Trust me, you should leave."

"How do you know me? Why are you here?" I step into the room.

"I'm visiting my sister," he should really learn how to explain things a little better.

"Who is your sister?" I look into his eyes, black and lifeless, but they have a glow, like a red tinge around the edges.

He looks so familiar to me. Maybe I met him in some foster home or something. He looks at me and smiles. I will never forget that smile, he is my safety blanket, the aura I have been feeling since I got here. He has always been the only person to ever make me feel safe. It was him.

"Why are you here?"

"Aren't you glad to see me?"

"I thought you were dead," take a small step back towards the door.

"Well, you thought wrong my dear sister."

I take another step backwards but freeze when the door closes behind me, "what happened to you?" I whisper.

"Let's just say, I have been evolved into a better human being," his smile is still bright as day.

He stands up and I feel a breeze blow past me. Suddenly, he is not by the bed anymore and I can feel his breath on my ear sending shivers of electricity down my spine, "you should leave, dear sister. Before he finds you."

That is all it takes for me to run. I don't even grab my stuff I just sprint as fast as I can down the stairs, through empty corridors and finally out the gates of the school. A car pulls up on the curb of the school and I don't even have to look to know who gets out of the car, I just bolt.

I run and run, like I have done my entire life. I run until I reach the edge of the small town and cross over into the cover of the trees. The forest trees loom tall and thick around me. I weave through them until I feel I have covered enough distance between me and my monster of a father. I climb the tree closest to me and settle on one of the highest, sturdiest branches. I lean against the trunk of the tree and rest my head, calming my heart rate and my breathing. He won't follow me in here, I should be safe for tonight.

I let my mind drift for a while, for that is what I do best. What happened to him? Daniel, his eyes were... I really have no idea. How is he not dead? What happened to him? How did he find me? Why didn't he help me like when I we were younger? He always used to keep me safe, or try at least. He never sent me on my own before. Maybe it's just the age difference, I mean I was twelve before, I'm 17 now, I can look after myself.

I hear a growl and I peer down through the leaves. A black wolf stands by a tree a few metres away from the one I am currently in. He just stands there on all fours, watching me with golden eyes. The sound of leaves bristling against each other whispers in my ears, the howling of wolves seem closer than before. The wolf is beautiful, it's fur black as the night itself, glistening in the moonlight. He howls and tilts his head towards the moon, before turning and darting back through the trees.