by Melissa Haag
“It would. Thank you,” I said, trying to ignore my guilt. Using my ability for personal gain made me sick. Yet, what other choice did I have? The faster I left town, the safer I would be. If I thought of what I did as self-preservation, it made what I was doing tolerable.
He reached into his wallet and pulled out a dollar. I felt better when I saw it wasn’t his only bill. After thanking him again, I left the park.
Walking kept me warm so I stayed on the move as the sky lightened. The rising sun heated my back . I continued to speak with people I ran into and forced them to consider helping me.
I managed to collect ten dollars before one man offered something other than money; he offered me a ride to the next town. I gratefully accepted, and we drove west, away from Penny and my parents.
Bud was a mellow fellow who didn’t ask many questions. He still liked to talk, though. He’d woken up that morning and decided he wanted to visit his brother in Canada. So he’d quit his job and gotten in his car. He wasn’t sure if he had enough money to get there, but it didn’t seem to concern him.
The prospect of leaving the States intrigued me, and I asked if I could tag along. He smiled, told me I was good company, and agreed to take me with him. Over the next few days, we made our way north.
At our first stop just on the other side of the Canadian border, I told him I was ready to travel on my own and thanked him for the ride. I couldn’t take any more of the rank smell from his hand-rolled cigarettes.
With a wave, I walked away from Bud. I’d put enough distance between Penny and me. Yet, every time someone glanced my way, nervousness would grip me. A little voice told me I needed to keep moving and find somewhere to hide until Penny forgot.
Recalling her furious expression, I wondered how long that might take.
* * * *
I roamed for weeks, begging for food or money and sleeping in the open. The full bloom of summer made my nights more comfortable as did the knit poncho someone had given me. Yet, each sunrise brought less light to my life. How could I keep going like this? I wanted a bed, a shower, and a real meal. More than that, I didn’t want to be alone anymore. I wanted a friend. A kind soul to shelter me from the reality of the scary world I lived in.
Distracted by self-pity, I took a drink from my canteen, stood, and started walking again, paying little attention to the road. I didn’t need to. It was the same with every town. I drifted in, stayed a day—any more than that drew attention to my begging—and drifted out after buying some food. Then, I walked until I came to the next town. Sometimes, it was the same day. Sometimes, it took more than a day. I figured it didn’t really matter as long as I kept moving.
Hours later, the pavement ended and turned into a narrow dirt road. I kept walking. It wasn’t until the sun kissed the treetops that I really looked around. There was nothing but trees and the dirt road on which I stood. No, not true.
A sign stood sentinel in the overgrown ditch. I stared at it, not reading the words but focusing on the numbers. Over one hundred miles separated me from the next town. I turned around and looked back the way I’d come. Nothing but the narrow road and trees. How long had I been walking? How many nights had I slept against a tree?
The leaves rustled in the light breeze as I stood there trying to decide what to do. I didn’t have much food left. The container of water I’d refilled yesterday at a creek beside the road was still fine, though.
With a tired sigh, I kept walking.
Just before dark, I spotted a trail that led away from the road. Waist-high grass covered the breadth of the path. No trees obstructed it, however, and I wondered if it was an old logging trail. Nothing about it seemed welcoming. In fact, dusk had already sent most of the track into shadow. Yet, for some reason, I felt compelled to walk the lane as if the universe were again answering my “what next?” question.
I started forward, parting the grass. The trail seemed never ending, and as I walked, night claimed the sky. Only the soft glow of the moon kept me from wandering lost.
The trees ended abruptly and revealed a large clearing with several buildings. Excitement and relief filled me. Finally, a bed. Then, as I studied the dark and quiet structures, a sense of abandonment touched me. Moonlight glinted off the broken glass in a few of the windows. Weeds crowded against the walls and surrounded the stubby porch.
The buildings were alone and forgotten, but it didn’t matter. The largest of them appeared to have a solid roof, and that was more than I’d had in weeks.
I waded through the grass and stepped up onto the sagging porch. Thankfully, the boards held my weight. I reached out and pulled the latch on the large door. The panel quietly swung open, and the scents of must and dust drifted out. An abyss waited just inside.
I eased the backpack from my shoulders, and from an outside compartment, I withdrew a lighter. It sparked to life on the first strike and created a pocket of light. It was bright enough to see my way as I stepped over the threshold into a large, empty room.
Weathered boards lined the floor and made up the walls. In a straight horizontal line, a few rusty nails poked from the boards near the door. An obvious place to hang coats. I slowly made my way into the interior, swinging the lighter back and forth to see.
On the far side of the room, I found a hallway. I wandered down its length and watched the spider webs that clogged the ceiling disappear as my flame neared.
When I came to a partially closed door, I paused to nudge it open with my foot. It was just an empty room with a broken window. I moved on until I found another door. Each room I found equally disappointed me. There was never a bed, just broken glass and leaves that mingled with the dust on the floors. Yet, the number of rooms amazed me.
When I found a set of stairs, I carefully ascended and continued to check doors until I found a room that still had a whole window. The window afforded a view of the moonlit clearing. The weak light through the window was enough to see by, so I extinguished the lighter and closed the door.
Exhausted from a day of walking, I was ready to sleep even without the bed I’d hoped for. Using my bag as a pillow, I made myself comfortable on the floor. As I lay in the moonlight, I wondered what I’d found here. Based on what I’d seen outside, the buildings were definitely not new. Yet, they weren’t falling apart either. There were so many rooms, all of varying sizes. I wondered if perhaps this was an old commune or something.
I exhaled slowly and shut my eyes, listening to the night sounds. It didn’t take me long to drift off, but I woke often since the hard floor was more uncomfortable than the ground.
By morning light, I stood with a slow stretch. My spine cracked in several spots, and I felt sore.
Shouldering my pack, I began exploring the rest of the building. The empty rooms seemed never ending. Then, I came to a set of heavy double-doors.
I pushed them open and stared at the enormous space I’d discovered. Two old stone fireplaces, blackened by soot and age, were the room’s source of heat. I frowned, thinking back to the rooms I’d checked, and couldn’t recall one outlet or heating vent. How had the people who lived here kept warm in winter?
Along the interior wall to the left of the main doors, a rough counter set with a small stone trough and an old hand pump gave me a good indication of the lifestyle of those who’d once lived here. I stepped into the room and pushed the doors closed behind me. There weren’t as many cobwebs in this room but just as many leaves littered the floor near the room’s broken window.
I walked over to the pump and started pumping. A loud, metallic groan filled the air; and though I cringed at the noise, I didn’t stop. My arm grew tired by the time any water came out. It ran brown at first then clear. I scooped a handful and sniffed it. It smelled fine and was cold in my palm. I tried a bit and smiled at the fresh, crisp taste.
As I pulled the water container from my backpack, I heard a distant howl. The sound didn’t scare me. I rather liked it. It meant I wasn’t alone.
I set the con
tainer in the sunken trough and started pumping again. Water splashed the top of it, almost knocking it over. I kept the handle moving with one hand and held the container steady with the other. It took a few minutes, but I filled it.
After the handle fell for the last time and the water stopped splashing, I thought I heard something. As I quietly capped the container and slid it into my pack, I listened. Slight noises reached me. Nothing definite. It could have been the building settling; or because of the racket of the pump, I might have drawn the curious attention of whatever had howled.
It didn’t overly concern me. Animals were generally cautious around humans. I slipped my arms through the straps of the backpack.
A noise came from the other side of the double doors. I froze. Perhaps it was a wild critter looking for a nice place to stay just as I had.
I crossed the large area and pulled the latch of another door I had yet to explore. Sunlight poured through the opening. I stepped outside, gladly leaving whatever it was to roam as it might. The latch fell into place; and a moment later, a loud thud echoed in the empty room. My eyes widened, and I started to back away.
For a moment, there was silence. Then, the faint sound of snuffling carried through the broken window. Something bumped against the other side of the door. I jumped. What was in there? It didn’t sound like a little critter. It sounded big.
A howl filled the air.
Dear God. A coyote or wolf.
I turned and ran.
Glass shattered behind me. I didn’t glance back but pushed myself hard. It didn’t matter. I’d only made it halfway to the path when something struck me from behind. It was solid and heavy and brought me to the ground.
Dry grass and dirt abraded my cheek, and my breath left me at the sudden impact. I tried to get to my hands and knees, but something weighted me down. A growl filled my ear, stopping my attempt. I brought my arms up to cover my head.
The weight on me shifted as another growl, not far away, joined the first. Two of them? I’d been so worried about people discovering me I never thought to worry about animals. They weren’t supposed to act like this. I’d been sleeping under the stars undisturbed for weeks.
The sound of their snarls escalated. Taking a risk, I lifted my head for a peek while I remained cowered on the ground. I saw a furred leg. I shifted a little further, and a large furry head came into view.
One of the creatures stood above me, long legs boxing me in, as another one stalked it, just ten feet away. I lifted my head further, catching the attention of the one circling. Its gaze met mine briefly, and I trembled. Of all the ways I imagined my life ending when I left home, I’d never considered death by wolf attack.
I moved slightly, trying to position myself so I could spring to my feet and run if the opportunity presented itself. My backpack bumped against the beast above me and distracted it. The newcomer lunged forward. The two clashed together, forelegs locked and mouths open. One of them stepped on my lower back, its claws digging through my shirt. As soon as the paw moved, I scrambled away.
Neither noticed me as I struggled to my knees and then my feet. I darted toward the trees, thinking to climb one.
A high-pitched yip sounded behind me followed by silence then the sound of paws thrumming against the dirt. Once again, I was brought down from behind. Only this time, the thing dove for my neck. I grunted as its teeth pierced my skin. I thought of my mom and dad as tears stung my eyes.
The teeth released me, and a tongue swiped the bite. It took me a moment to realize I could move. Why had the creature stopped? With a shaking hand, I touched my neck. It felt tender and bruised. There were four small holes. My fingers came away bloody. My hand shook.
Numbly, I lifted my head and found a wolf sitting on its haunches, watching me. Beyond it, the defeated wolf watched me as well. Their focus and complete stillness terrified me.
Slowly, I lifted myself off the ground into a sitting position. Neither moved. Blood tickled my skin as it trailed down my neck. I ignored the sensation and warily got to my feet. They both studied me.
“It’s okay,” I whispered in a soothing voice. I wasn’t sure it I was talking to them or myself. Tears continued to trickle from my eyes. My heart raced.
“Please don’t attack me again.” My voice caught on the last word.
The second wolf tilted its head. The first one stood, and I choked on air as I jumped back in fear. It stalked forward, crowding close to me. Without a thought, I kicked out. My foot connected solidly with its face. Its teeth clacked together, and the second wolf started to make a chuffing noise as the first one shook its head.
I spun, intending to run. However, I landed face first in the dirt as something hit me from behind again. This time, desperation made me angry. Using my elbow, I hit it in the danglies. The wolf yipped, yowled, and struggled to stay on its feet as it backed off. I sprang up, breathing hard.
The second wolf stood and ran toward me. In a flash, I was on the ground again with another set of teeth piercing my skin.
“Damn it, Jack. She’s mine. I already Claimed her,” a male voice said.
The teeth left my skin, and I twisted in time to see the wolf beside me stand on its hind legs. Its fur retracted into its pale skin, and its legs lengthened. Hands replaced paws, and long ears shortened.
“She didn’t smell Claimed.”
I watched the abnormal mouth form the words yet didn’t believe what I witnessed. I wheezed as I struggled to my feet. Both men watched me.
The world tilted. I stumbled and pressed a hand against my neck. Everything seemed fuzzy. I didn’t think it was due to blood loss, though. It was the two very naked men standing in front of me. Moments ago, they’d been wolves. I was sure of it...wasn’t I?
“She still doesn’t smell Claimed,” the first one said.
“Why is she bleeding so much?” Jack asked, tilting his head at me.
I couldn’t believe he actually asked. “Because you bit me,” I said. “Twice.”
“Roy...I don’t think she’s one of us.” Worry clouded Jack’s features.
One of us. The phrase pinged around in my mind.
Roy lifted his head. His nostrils flared as he inhaled deeply.
“But she smells so—”
“I know,” Jack said
I blinked slowly. “This isn’t real.”
“Call an Elder,” Jack said, stepping toward me.
“Don’t touch her,” Roy snarled at Jack.
Jack stopped moving, turned toward Roy, and growled. “She is not yours.”
“I Claimed her first.”
Jack snorted. “There’s no first or second. Either you Claim her or you don’t. And you, my friend, didn’t.”
“Neither did you.”
“I know that!”
Their arguing was making my head hurt as badly as my neck. Before I could tell them to stop, a long howl filled the air. On the far side of the clearing, six wolves stepped through the trees.
More? I couldn’t take more.
“If one more of you tries to bite me...” My words came out slurred.
The lead wolf looked back at his followers then at me. He trotted forward, gave the two men a cursory growl, and stopped in front of me.
My vision tunneled, and I caught a glimpse of the sky before nothing obliterated everything.
* * * *
I woke to the sound of my own breathing and something squeezing my neck. When I opened my eyes, darkness surrounded me. I coughed and reached to pull away whatever was at my throat. My fingers touched cloth, and I remembered everything. I sat up, beginning to panic.
My world, which I’d already thought insane, was crazier than I realized. Wolves were actually men, and they argued over who had a right to bite me.
Nearby, I heard the rasp of the lighter. An instant later, I squinted against the radiance of the tiny flame and looked away for a moment. I was once again in the room with the whole window.
Glancing back, I saw the glow illuminat
ing a girl’s face. She didn’t look scary, yet despite her open expression, my heart beat harder once I saw her. Within the tangled mass of her brown hair, her large brown eyes reflected green light back at me. She was one of them.
“My name’s Mary. What’s yours?”
I stared at her, waiting for her to make some kind of move toward me. But she didn’t. She just studied me with open curiosity. I studied her in return. She didn’t look dangerous, just dirty. And she wore one of my shirts. I frowned, remembering how the two men had been naked after they’d changed from wolves. How could any of this be real?
I licked my dry lips and answered her question. “Charlene.”
A storm of growling and snarling broke out in the hall just beyond the door. I shrank away from it. How many were out there?
“Don’t worry. My dad will protect us until the Elder gets here. She is on her way.”
I stared at her as what she said penetrated my stunned mind. Her father was out there. Guarding the door? And someone was coming to help. What was an Elder?
Mary’s eyes continued to reflect at me. It wasn’t the bright reflection of an animal. It was rather dull, and I might have easily overlooked it if not for the flame she held so close to her face.
“What are you?” I finally asked.
She smiled, showing perfectly normal looking teeth, to my relief, lifted her thumb from the lighter, and plunged us back into the black.
“A friend, I hope. Sleep, Charlene. The rest can wait for tomorrow.”
The rest? Of what? And how did she think I could sleep with the racket still going on in the hall? Anger laced the already intimidating growls, punctuated by thumps against the wall. It sounded as if a pack of them were trying to fight their way to the door. Were they really still trying to get to me? I trembled in the dark.
“Why did they attack me?” I asked.
The noise quieted.
“They attacked you?”
“Yes. Didn’t you see my throat?” Perhaps she had arrived after they’d bandaged me.
“Oh. That wasn’t an attack. They were just trying to Claim you.”
