Chapter 8 :I Don't Think I trust You ?

I was standing in a small clearing encircled by tall trees and suddenly a familiar figure materialized from the darkness and slowly intertwined our fingers as a small smile formed on my lips. Then through the eerie quietness and frostbite cold then deafening howls shattered through as we bolted into the thick forests.

"Rogues. "We muttered in harmony.

Footsteps pounded through the grainy dirt and pounded through the fluffy snow as we entered deeper into the forest and the darkness swallowed us whole. His long cold fingers unclasped from mine as we diverted paths into the forest .Long arched braches hit me as I rolled over the stones as it scratched me and wet dirt matted my shirt as I coughed.

Howls echoed older and closer as my eardrums shattered as I crouched and covered my ears. Through the darkness emerged a giant shaggy wolf the size of an elephant. Through his snout was a scar from his eyebrows to his nose and clouded grey eyes. It shook it's tanned fur and roared as strings of Silvia oozed out wetting its fur.

"Run, Heather, run! "Zale screamed through the darkness as I scrambled off and dipped into the forest.

"Where? "I asked pushing and swatting plants as it scarped my outfits. I winced in pain. "Go anywhere? "He echoed through the air only sounding like a distant memory as his voice choked with panic. Zale appeared and charged.

The wolf hovered above me snarling and scowling. Then he leaped over and shifted in mid-air then growled at him. His canines pierced the side of the wolf as it growled in pain as it jumped and tramped on the floor as it skidded through the ground as a large gaping hole sprouted over as it sneered .Zale's coat was soaked in blood as he barged his blooded canines.

They circled around each other and howled at me as I moved slowly backwards, and suddenly it howled then lunged at him. It sanked it's fangs into Zale's thin neck as he screamed in pain. His eyes flickering as his life was drained out of him as I screamed. His skull cracked and smashed as his head then wolves circled me and growled loudly. Wicked laughter echoed through the darkness as I screamed.

'Your life is by the line.'

***

Then I yanked back into reality as cold sweat trickled my head as I jolted out wiping my cold forehead. I was panting and shaking profusely. My head jolted to the alarm and gasped. My legs entangled in the sheets as it churned beneath me .It was twenty minutes passed one in the Moring. The sky was still blue as a bruise as Sadie slept on her small bed and was wrapped in fluffy pink comforter.

What does this dream mean?

I thought before I finally fell asleep still bothered by the odd dream. Pale sunlight light filtered through the wide windows .I trashed and turned in the bed until sleep washed upon me but the sound of voices, whispering and tap gurgling .I knew it was time.

The sound of gurgling water and Sadie's humming brought me back. "Heather, wake up. "She groaned, looked at something on her wrist then pulled my blanket from my bed. "Is like6:14 am." She screamed, placed her hands on her waist. Then glared at me. I groaned, my eyes fluttered open. I jolted from the itchy carpet the sprinted into the washroom as Sadie laughed. Already dressed as she waved.

Pouring cold water on my face as I groaned. I can't believe I overslept was it warning of my absolute stupidity or a simple nightmare. Sometimes I wish I could also myself but course it was the latter.

You know how high school is shown in novels and in movies. Feast your eyes on this. People here are popular or super rich but they all seat with their peers and bullies do exist but not that extreme. People mind their business unless is social media or stupid rumours. But sometimes I wonder if my life is now a stupid cliché.

Passing by my locker, a piece of folded paper was peeking out of the holes. I tugged it, skimmed the words, and rolled my eyes. Hello, newbie nice to see how calm you reacted to this world .It would be a shame if someone else dies and leads to you or when your little brother ...I froze and tense as I slowly looked over my shoulder as I heard snickering. Some way somehow or it felt like something Ares might do? Or maybe another supernatural.

I whirled and wiped my nose with my elbow. Two girls with thick hair were snickering and snorting while sending glares at my direction. A small crowd appeared and some paused then briskly walked or sprinted to class. I nodded and passed by but the girls seemed to block the place. I was cornered.

The first girl strode forward. Her long brown hair in a high ponytail and dark green stockings was flashing a pics as her sister or friend giggled too and with bright blue eyes and dark hair in long curls.

"What's your problem, huh?" I demanded angrily, crossing my arms and impatiently tapping my feet on the wooden floor.This hallway was excessively narrow for a small fight.

She snorted. "You are crazy, a stupid slut and extremely gullible. We did need stupid people running the image of this school. "She spat as people froze at the burn as heels clicked on the tiles as people dispersed.

"What is going on here?" A woman shouted angrily, she darted her head as the students scampered to their classes. I paused they tensed. I relaxed and skipped to her and told her. She was old and rough looking with her lips on a line on her stern face. Brown hair steaked with grey and pulled into a bun.

"Anyone who use their phones again, will be seized and put in detention. Don't you care about your education? Bullying isn't tolerated," She paused dramatically, as her lip quirked, they froze and trembled. "Or would you prefer being in my office doing tests four grades higher. "They screamed 'no' as she laughed an ugly line. "Please return to your various classes. "She commanded, crossing her arms.

We nodded and disperse as the twins shot daggers at me and gave me the stank eye and left. I sighed heavily, balling my fist. I, Heather McCarthy will not be bullied nor harassed ever again. Teens muttered about how scary, the vice principal, Miss Angela Vitello. The new foreign principal here and inspector by night. Everyone hates her and its scared shitless by her. But she's strict but so fucking cool.

You know. Life is a bitch.

All I remember was my back collided with the shelves of the janitor's closet or maybe even the wet floor of the basement. I'm so dead. I winced in pain while rubbing my back. I clenched my teeth while scratching my head and through my lens were cracks and side was broken. I groaned and sprang up while rubbing my thighs as cackling echoed only to see an outline of two very familiar girls. I blinked .I was stunned, in pain and confusion fogged my mind. The basement was long and endless. My eyes darted until I prowled then I jumped.

"Hello, "I asked.

They snickered loudly, I groaned. All I saw was blurs and disorientation but their voice was very recognizable.

"Hey Heather. "They spat. I was feeling hot, sticky and dirty but they were shrouded with humidity, as my body seems to heat. "We have a little question? "They clicked their tongues as lurched forward. I nodded still incredibly confused. "So are the photos true? "They asked as they exchanged a look then smirk. I shrugged as my loafers hit the wet floor. My mind distracted by how it's not rusting. I used my dirty cuff to wipe the cold sweat as I huffed. "What photo? "They started cackling loudly. Suddenly, I was shoved onto the floor as I screamed. Dirt and water stuck to my skin as flashes blinded my eyes as I head a crack and laughter. Blinding flashes hurt my eyes as tears trickled down my cheeks. It was hurting and stinging me badly.

I felt a pang of familiarity hit my mind. I wanted to cry or scream but I decided not to as I balled my fists and slowly got up my feet. Their lips curled and laughed as they talked me like prey. Now this was getting stupid and weirder. "Give us a favour and leave him alone. He is way out of your league as they checked me out and stuck their tongues.

I was wet, tickly and dirty as slime and dirt smudged my face. My uniform clung to me as I fumbled with my broken lens as it fogged. My throat was hoarse as humidity blinded me.

With that, they disappeared, their laughs haunting and piercing my brain and the pixelated photo of me thrust to my face. They collected photos and said them through social media. Instagram and snapchat .I wondered what I did to them that they hated me.

Sighing heavily, my eyes darted as I explored the basement looking for a way out. I scrunched my nose and saw an opening with the door fling open as I ran up the metal steps my loafers creaking sand clatter.

***

I entered the class as a hush fell as all eyes were glued on me. I was late for Calculus. They whispered and scrunch their nose. But the teacher asked me to leave and the rest I knew it.

I ended up bathing and scrubbing my self for a long time just to get the stench out of my skin and all the craziness happening at this school.my non-existent social to social media freak.

I did all the works after school as Sadie send me the photos but they still did nothing to terrorize them or punish them. I was worried and extremely concerned. Is like they turned their backs and only believed that I'm crazy.

After school came quicker than flash, well most of the time, I was consulted then resumed the works I missed and the classes. I wore a plain T-shirt, shorts and vans. Because of the upcoming field trip, I was eager to go the Acadia National park but I was cut short when I received an odd text from my email. I boarded the us with some few nature-loving students to the park. Some were divided into groups and some wandered aimlessly like me. Because I, Heather McCarthy will journey to the woods to be a good Lunar and hate myself.

I had mixed feelings about the school's annual camping trip.

Hey, is me Ares. I hate technology but I'm doing this because of you, I need you to come to Arcadia National Park. It's at the southwest of Bar Habor. The last time you arrived, you met the pups at the wrong foot so let us reconcile and make amends.

I strode next to the stone bridges, cut crossed and lost the group, and hopefully this is good. I sprinted down a twisted path inside the woods only to shriek and see the intelligence flickering in the blood red eyes of a very familiar wolf.

The huge tawny wolf sat down and craned her head. I breathed heavily and laughed. Slowly emerging from the darkness were several other wolves of colour, size and shape.I assumed these were the pups as they formed a semi-circle around her then she perked her ears ,howled then sprinted deeper into the woods accompanied by the pups like a magnet. I gawked at the sunset and the red sky and saluted.

Oddly enough, it reminded me of me of my nightmare. My skin prickled and goose bumps formed and my breathe hitched by the thought. We appeared at a clearing as the formed a ring around Ares. They were bubbling with energy yelping, and staring at me with their wolfish grin as they plopped their butt onto the bright green grass. Hidden in the crowd of joyful and conflicted wolves a little white wolf kept on jumping but was shoved and barked on. She whimpered and emerged. But wow, she was tiny and skinny with big brown eyes and happiness laced on her features. She barked, wagged her tail and trotted as some wolves growled and bared their fangs. She cowered. Age sniffed my hand with her wet nose as I laughed her body hesitant then brought out her small paw as I shook it. Her tail wagging and let out a toothy grin.

Ares just craned her neck, nodded and urge me to continue. The wolves were tensed and baring their fangs at the small pure white wolf. The was something off about the wolf not her fur colour but the mischievous and mysterious twinkle in her big doe eyes.

They were silent and looked at each other. Ares eyes glued to them as the little one waddled back only to be shoved. She shook her fur and growled at them but she was small and bared her canines. I could easily tell she was bullied but in a wolf pack. The weakest don't survive but the strong prevail or they were scared of her. They all yelped and howled in pure joy as she jumped high getting glares by annoyed wolves. Further away at their own group was a group of dirty grey wolves, yawning and bored. Sprawled on the floor in a tiny group. They were neutral and indifferent.

These wolves held personality and it hit to close to home. So human-like and intelligence flickered in their eyes. I shivered at the thought. They howled at the on as Ares trotted to me, nuzzling her fur as her blood red eyes grew with acceptance as a wolfie grin formed on her lips. They howled as they ran with each other. Ares was huge maybe the size of a Mackenzie valley wolf. She nodded at every word but her gaze hardened when I talked about the white wolf.

I was worried and a bit mad, what did she do that was so bad?

In the clearing, of tall looming trees arch on us as a warm breeze blew my curls as another giant ring. They plopped their butts on the grass as Ares stared at them and yipped. They nodded and in a blinding flash, my eyes kept on fluttering as I covered my eyes with my elbow. I was stunned as they started chatting and stared at me like I was meat or some delicate human artefact. I felt uncomfortable as I nervously waved. There were mostly teens and kids all laughing and chattering amongst themselves.

Ares rose from her crouch, dusted, wiped her jeans, and gave me a nervous smile and a big thumbs-up. A tall slender girl walked out as girls stuck their tongues and shoved her. She flashed the middle finger as their smiles faded as yell echoed. But compared to me she was small. Her dark brown eyes went and she hooked her fingers on her demin shorts overalls and grinned. "Hi, I'm Turquoise. You must be the new lunar. "She gasped happily, jumping giddily. She had dark brown skin and white twin buns that was kinky. Turquoise what a unique name.

She was even cuter and bubbly even in human form. Turquoise wore white-blue stripped top and black vans. I brought out a hand and said," Nice to meet you, I'm Heather." She laughed and looked at me as if I had two heads. "Yeah, we all know. "She drawled, gesturing to the pack. "We're happy and want to give you a warm welcome. "She muttered. 'but some people are being bitchy.' I laughed.

They all flooded and suffocated me and screamed all their names at ounce.

"Wouldn't Alpha Zale be angry. "A voice shouted from the crowd. Then a long silence feel amongst us as whispers were shared as they all exchanged looks then cowered. They all dispersed as she strode through sending glares as she smirked. A cold breeze washed through me as I shuddered my teeth gritting .I felt cold, hollow and scared. A raspy voice whispered to thoughts.

'Run.'

She was horrifying beautiful like a living corpse or a vampire even. "Why the hell, would the moon Goddess, Selene curse us with a minor and mortal. "She scoffed, glaring at me I felt my neck tightened and my lungs sucked out of air. I was choking.

She laughed her sapphire-blue eyes sparkling as a cruel smile formed in her pink lips. She paced around me and pouted her lips and in a flash, she punched me. I dodged and gripped her fist.

It seems as if everyone hates me or Fates is really playing the cards of life.

"I'm Sapphire, one of top pack warriors. "She introduced her self-and smiled proudly as she stared at me as if I was rotting cheese. An unsettling feeling pang my guts as it twisted it knots.

'tick-tock.'