Lupophobia (Ultima Series)

|Chapter Seven| Decision Day

"And that's how you do multiplication." I finish up helping a girl with her math homework, "Tomorrow, I'll help with division."

"Thanks, Aph. You're a real one." She closes up her binder and puts it up, running out of the room.

"Hey." A deep voice startles the living daylights out of me. I jump in my chair and then I realize it's just that Alpha guy. Aaron? Yeah, I think it's Aaron.

"Oh hey, I wasn't expecting to see you. I haven't had any contact with you since the first day I got here."

"I've been a little busy and I thought now was a good time to chat." He responds and chuckles, "Nice shirt."

I look down at the huge white tee shirt that has a bunch of paint splashes on it. "When your only friends down here are kids and Melissa, you kinda have to deal with what you have." I laugh with him.

"So how has your stay been? Comfortable? Any complaints?"

I just shake her head, "I love it here. The kids are so sweet and it's a really beautiful city." She puts up the books she's checked out, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I better get back to my room and get started on my reading."

"Woah woah woah," Aaron stops me, "You said it yourself, we're in a beautiful city. Have you seen the entire area yet?"

"Not yet, I'm usually at the park, the library, or my room. What else can I really do here?"

"Let me show you."

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"Men, prepare yourself, we leave at dawn. Tonight, spend your last few hours with your family and friends. Who knows how long we'll be gone." Zach announces to the troop. "Tomorrow morning, I'll give you your list of where you're stationed. Now go home and spend your time wisely."

Every Guardian Force member exits the large meeting room, leaving Zach, Michael, Elizabeth and Sylvana on the stage. "You're doing the right thing, honey." Sylvana says. "It's kind of you to get them a night with their loved ones."

"I don't want them to regret not having a night with them. Who knows what could happen."

"Okay, I'm sorry but this needs to be said." Elizabeth steps in. "But we are sending more than 3/4 of the Guardians to this trip just to find your daughter? We have citizens to protect here and sending most of our forces out isn't a smart move."

"We don't know what to happen on this trip. What if she's actually being held captive by the werewolves? It's a scary thought."

"Yeah and so is losing our team. It took so long just to gather them and I am not about to let five years of training go to waste."

"Elizabeth, I'm in charge. It's my choice to send them out. You have a say in this matter, but it's been overruled."

"Ha, yeah, by you and your wife! Of course it was overruled!" She exclaims.

"And me too." Michael steps up, "Think about it. What if this was your child? Wouldn't you want all the help you can get?"

"Except her daughter hates her." Sylvana mumbles under her breath.

"I heard that!" Elizabeth yells, "What do you have against me?"

"You didn't argue with this plan UNTIL now. So what do you have against us?"

"Zach, get your wife." Michael holds her back and Zach holds Sylvana back.

"Ladies, calm down." Zach says, "You two will be working together when me and Michael are gone so whether you have, solve it before tomorrow morning."

"What?" Sylvana and Elizabeth exclaim together.

~~~

"So what is this plan?" Aaron leads me into a clearing. It has a few small spots of sunshine and a few grass patches, but after that, it was empty.

"This is what we call our outskirts of town that does touch the surface a little. Some of us come out here to clear out head or have conversations we don't want anyone to hear."

"I assume that's why you brought me here today. To talk about something."

"I'm sorry, but this has been stuck on my mind ever since you got here." He responds, "But I wanted to ask you about your beliefs."

"Everyone does when they find out. Shoot."

"Why don't you believe in Ultimas? Ever since 30 years ago, all people did was believe in them and feared us."

"Believing in a myth about a werewolf who can turn humans into werewolves sounds as believable as unicorns that only come out to people who have a heart of gold." I sit down on a patch of grass, so does Aaron. "And when your father shoves story after story after story in your face for 24 years, it seems all made up."

"Who all have you told about this?"

"No one but you guys and my closest friend. Because I know everyone else would look at me crazy. "Zach's daughter doesn't believe in his work? Shameful!" or if my dad found out, "I raised you better than this." I just want to avoid the drama."

"This is blowing me. I have never met anyone who doesn't fear us."

"What's there to fear? You're people, just like us. You should be treated as such." Aaron looks down at his lap, "I'm so sorry for everything my father's done to you and your pact. I wish I could say something but he wouldn't listen." I really do feel bad. These innocent people are forced to hide because they're afraid.

I really wish I could do something about this, but I know the media. People see me protesting and they will lose faith in him and he will get shut down after working so hard on it. I know, I should be happy at the thought, but he is my father. I don't want him to fail.

"It's fine, not your fault. It's refreshing to know that someone doesn't fear us after 30 years of isolation."

"You were isolated for 30 years."

"My parents wanted to protect me from humans so I've never been in contact with the outside world. I've always been down here."

I gasp, "Are you serious?" He just nods at me. I am not about to let him live his ENTIRE life down here. I stand up and grab his arm. "You're coming with me."

"Where?"

"You'll see."

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