The Beast of Fox Hill

Seventeen

"Jasper," a whisper called through my sleepy haze. I ignored it, choosing to roll over and attempt to dive deeper into my sleep. 

"Jasper, wake up," the voice called again. This time, I grumble, trying to tell the voice to leave me alone but my own voice is muffled by my lethargic state. 

"Jasper!" the voice screams so loud and deeply I am shaken awake by the voice. 

"What?" I slightly yell as I sit up quickly. I look to the side of my bed to see a smirking Axel standing beside me. 

He looks handsome, wearing a white plain long sleeve shirt with a darker wash pair of jeans. I ignore this though, as I am now grumpy that he has ripped me from my comfortable dream state. 

"What, Axel?" I ask, now annoyed that he has disturbed my sleep. 

"It's time to wake up!" he says in a chipper voice as he pulls my curtains back. I squint my eyes as the blaring sun dives into my bedroom. I watch the highly energetic man move cheerfully around my room and over to my bedroom door and lands on the creaky spot. 

"Oh, and did I mention I made brunch?" he says before prancing out of my room like it's a magical day today. I grumble again, but then the smell of bacon hits my nostrils and makes my senses perk up to the savory smell. 

I pull myself from the bed, not bothering to change out of my pajama attire and slowly walk myself to the kitchen. 

"How the hell can you be so damn happy in the morning?" I ask with a grumpy sounding tone. 

"Honey, morning has passed. It's already one in the afternoon," Axel says with a chuckle as he sits at the kitchen table with a piece of bacon in hand. I sit across from the curly haired man and I look at the array of food displayed on the table. 

There is orange juice poured into my cup and a wide range of food. There is a pile of scrambled eggs in a bowl, a plate covered in bacon, a stack of pancakes, sausage on another plate, and ketchup and syrup as well. 

"What demon possessed you to make breakfast?" I ask as I begin to fill my plate. 

"Brunch, first of all. Second it was the demon of hunger and realization that the lovely woman of the house was not going to arise any time soon enough to prepare the meal for me. Hence why my demon and I took it upon ourselves to make brunch," he explains, humor and sarcasm dripping from every word. 

"Well thank your demon for me. I'm still a bit mad at you for last nights show," I say, taking a fork full of scrambled eggs and placing it into my mouth. I watch as Axel's cheer fades, and he looks down slightly. 

"Jasper I'm sorry. I was only trying to keep you safe," he explains, or at least tries to. 

"No. Axel. You were risking your life! It would have been safer for you to stay inside but instead you went out there with those beasts and risked the life of my best friend!" I scold him. 

"Best friend?" he asks, as if every other word slipped through his mind. I give him an exasperated look. "That's all I am?" he asks as he keeps his eyes trained on me. 

"I'm not sure what we are okay. Stop changing the subject, Ax. I hated that little stunt you did last night. I have never, ever, been so scared in my life than I was for you last night," I say and the words begin to slowly fade from those of loud anger to a quiet hurt voice. 

"I am really sorry, Jas. I just wanted to keep you safe," he says, his voice becoming hushed as well. A moment of silence passes and I regain my mental stance. 

"I saw how you looked at that thing, Axel. I know you know something I am not aware of. You know what they are or have a theory or something," I state firmly as my eyes rise to meet his. His eyes are fixed on me and I can see it in them that he is calculating something to say next. 

"Jasper. I have seen wolves before. You know I have traveled a bit. All I know is that these wolves are bigger than any other wolf I have ever seen before," he says. I can tell this time he is being truthful with at least part of his words. 

I accept what he says, not wanting to cause a fight and I look down to my plate and continue eating. We finish our brunch in a slightly awkward silence. Once we are finished clearing the kitchen area, we stand and the silence becomes clearly uncomfortable. 

"Jasper, there is something I have wanted to tell you for a long time," Axel breaks the ice block. I hum in response, signalling for him to continue. 

"I like you," he states. I raise an eyebrow and look at him like he's a jester. 

"I like you too, buddy," I say with a chuckle. He shakes his head and a ball forms in my chest. 

"No. I mean I like you more than a friend. I have for a long time, since we met even. You have always been there for me when I needed you and you helped me get away from all the negativity I had in my life. You have this aura about you, a light aura. It makes me smile instantly when I see you and I always want to be with you," he admits. "I suppose I should have probably said all this before we kissed yesterday," he says with a chuckle. 

"Axel you are an amazing guy and an amazing friend and I feel the same way about you on a lot of notes. I just do not know if romantically is one of those things. Yeah, we kissed but it just felt like comfortable and like home, you know?" I say. 

"I don't want to rush you at all. I just wanted to clear the air on how I felt about you. It is only right that we remain honest with each other like we promised we would. I am keeping that promise right now. Just know I'm always an option for you," he says gently and I nod. 

He pulls me into a warm hug and that is where we stay for a few minutes, in a now simple, comfortable quiet. We finally pull away from each other's arms and we look at each other and Axel is the first to crack a smile. We look down and laugh to ourselves, and it feels once again like home to me. 

"So what is on the agenda today?" I ask Axel with a warm smile. 

"I actually have to meet someone. I will be back this evening if you don't mind. I'll bring take out?" he says with a cocky smile because he knows food is always been a weakness of mine. 

"Alright. You may occupy my couch for another night on the basis that you will return with food," I state firmly but with a smile. 

"Yes, my lady. I shall return in a short while baring food as promised," he says with a wink.  

He makes his way over to the door, giving me a smile before opening it and exiting the house. I begin to wonder who he is going to meet, but quickly brush it off as it is none of my concern. I sigh as I realize my house is once again filled with silence and my solitude. 

I decide to make the most of the opportunity and take a shower. As usual, I go to my room first and gather an outfit to wear after my shower. Knowing I will not be leaving the house today, I decide on a comfortable pair of deep red jogger pants and a white long sleeve similar to the one Axel wore today. 

Entering the bathroom, I turn the water on and allow it to warm while I strip my pajamas off. I step into the shower once the droplets are of a comfortable temperature and I enter them. 

The water not only cleanses my skin, but it allows me temporary relief from reality much as a dream would. It's comfortable and peaceful, like sleeping and safe like protective arms wrapped around me. I wallow in the shower for a long while, enjoying the freedom from the real world. 

Unfortunately for me, the hot water tank does not allow hot water to flow for long lengths of time. The water begins to turn lukewarm and I take this as my cue to escape its grasp. 

I step out and dry off before throwing on the outfit I had set out. Deciding  against blow drying my hair, I pull the wet mop into a bun to keep it out of my way. I exit the bathroom, letting the steam flow out of the doorway as I leave. 

As usual, when the peacefulness sets in something disturbs it. This time it is a feeling of anxiety that stems from the memories of the nights in which the red eyed monster was present. I begin to run through possible explanations for the gargantuan wolves that roam the area. 

Perhaps they are a result of a chemical contamination, or perhaps they are hell hounds from the fiery pit itself. Something created these abnormalities, and I wanted to know what it was and why they seemed to continue to keep coming around me and my home. I was determined to know, and I would find the answer if it took me my entire life trying.