Chapter 2
After having put her carry-on bags in the overhead compartment, Olivia dropped down on the seat by the window. She tried to look outside, but the darkness that had long fallen obscured her vision. It had stopped raining. Instead of clear splatters tapping the glass, an eerie frost collected on the window.
"Attention everyone, please fasten your seatbelts ladies and gentlemen. Please turn off all electronic games, cell phones..."
Olivia tuned out the drone of the pilot's voice and put on her seat belt. She prepared to yawn, so her ears wouldn't explode in such a high altitude. Then she heard the airplane engines whirr to life and the plane started to roll down the pad, collecting speed as it went. She gripped the arm rests; she never liked being in the air unless she was in control of the flying. The ground dropped from under her, and her plane was in the air.
"Excuse me."
Olivia practically jumped out of her skin. She felt her heart skip a beat as she slowly turned to face the stranger who had spoken to her. "What do you want?" she yelled.
The person who had spoken to her was a beautiful flight attendant, dressed in a red and black pleated skirt and shirt. Her eyes popped out of their sockets and her left hand flew to her big, protruding bosom. She practically stumbled over the chair across the aisle. "II would you like a beverage of some sort?"
Olivia felt her cheeks flush from pink to scarlet. She could not have felt more humiliation if she tried. She wrung her hands and replied, "I am sorry. I was just startled and... this is my first time on a plane by myself. If you please, I would like a Rootbeer and a bag of chips."
The flight attendant, still speechless, nodded and brushed her brown bangs out of her face. With shaking hands, she snatched a plastic cup and sprinkled ice into its bowels. The lady tossed down Olivia's chips and can of soda, and sped down the next isle with a glance over her shoulder.
Feeling stupid, Olivia turned back to the window, and tore open the bag. The fumes tantalized her nostrils. Her taste buds tingled with anticipation. Olivia realized how hungry she actually was, and she quickly emptied the small package. Thirst from both the salt and nerves tickled her parched throat, and Olivia gulped down her soda. With her stomach full and her restless mind temporarily calmed, her thoughts shifted into daydreams. She leaned over and rested her head on the clammy window. Slowly but surely, her eyes closed and she fell fast asleep.
The full moon peered through he darkness as the girl ran. The fog grabbed at her bare ankles, then swallowed her completely as she ran deeper into it. She looked behind her shoulder, only to find mist curling itself around her environment. She heard nothing except her hard breathing and the throbbing of her temples. Sweat beaded on her upper lip, trickled in between her breasts. Suddenly a cold breeze flew in and chilled her to the bone. An earthshattering howl split her ears.
"Damn!"
She ran faster, ignoring the stabbing pain in her side. Cracking, similar to the sound of sticks breaking and leaves crunching, overwhelmed every other sensation she'd been attentive to. As pain ripped through her body, she realized those snapping noises weren't twigs; they were her bones. She dropped to the ground in agony.
She shrieked in pain as her jaw bones elongated. Her eyes screwed up in a grimace but the pull of the moon forced her to open them. Her attentions were focused on the moon, the one object that could destroy her chances of escape. Unable to do anything but endure the agony of her body ripping open, she cursed it, cursed the earth, cursed herself.
Writhing in pain, she raked her rapidly growing claws down her face. Blood streamed down her face and mixed with her salty tears. Her clothes ripped into bloody shreds. Her human skin disintegrated as the beast in her emerged. With one final snap, the transformation was complete. Her senses were magnified eight times. Her ears perked up and twitched. She heard the pounding feet of her pursuers. She smelled the rancid breath of her enemies, and the overpowering stench of blood that collected on their leader. She rolled out of a pool of her blood and ran.
Her lungs burned unmercifully. She skidded to a halt, wheezing loudly. She licked her face, trying to erase the scent of her sticky, metallic blood. They were coming fast, less than one hundred yards away. She heard their howls of excitement growing louder. She'd run toward the lake, which was smooth as crystal, reflecting the dark sky above it. Way too perfect on such a night.
She crouched on all fours at the water's edge. If only she had a plan...
They were close now. Scanning the water, she saw a log that stretched to the other side. She dashed toward it, trying to ignore the sounds of bloodlust, the call of the moon. She might make it. Just a few more yards. The ground greeted her as they pounced and they tore at her. She clawed at them clumsily, but they easily sidestepped her. One of the wolves jumped on her back. She reared up to shake him off. He dug his claws into her shoulder. His long fangs had just begun to sink into her neck, but she swung around and sent him flying into another. They surrounded her, forming a circle. The circle got closer and closer.
"Enough!"
The world stopped, except for the fighters' continuous bleeding. Her pursuers turned slowly, whimpered, then backed away. The female also backed away, not in reverence, but in fright. It was him.
He advanced slowly, breathing in and smelling her fear. Chuckling, he continued to pursue her. "It's so nice of you to join us my dear."
Their eyes met, challenging one another. She was the first to break the connection. The other werewolves laughed at her impotence. Spinning around, she headed for the log that was only a few yards away. The angry roar of the leader emanated off the mist, caused ripples to break the peace of the water.
In hot pursuit, the werewolves followed her to the edge of the log. She leapt into the air and landed on it. She heard the leader growl an order. Being careful not to slip, she hurried over to the other side. She felt the pull of the moon tighten its grip around her like a collar. One glance, one false move, and she'd loose control. As cautious as she possibly could, she felt her way toward the other side of the bank. Propelling herself off the log, she landed hard on the opposite bank. She'd soon be safe. She exhaled in relief.
"That was quite an attempt you made young lady. You are a very naughty girl." He said, leering.
Cackling with laughter, he made a motion toward her. Instantly, the others were driving her backward. She found herself backed against a thick tree. The werewolves continued to swipe at her. Then, another signal from the leader. Silence and stillness draped itself over everyone.
Darkness veiled the earth. The moon was blanketed with black clouds. A high pitched scream filled the roaring silence. The girl began to change. Quietly, they watched pain and despair stiffen her body. Her bones transformed into human ones with loud snaps. Standing before them was a naked, cowering girl, veiled in the swirling fog. A man walked toward her. He stopped five from her, not taking advantage of her nakedness, and stared into her face.
"Now, to finish what I've started Olivia Stanford!" His yellow eyes glowed anxiously. With a roar he dived at her, teeth aimed for her throat.
Olivia woke with a start, cold sweat dripping down her face. Breathing hard, she looked around, finding that everything was unconvincingly all right. She peered out the window to see fog form around where she was laying her head. Wiping it off, she stared into the growing light that was spreading across the horizon. She nervously fingered the wand in her pocket.
I hate that man. And everyone who follows him. How could "Lord" Voldemort be just as bad or worse than him?
The pilot's voice filled the plane. "Good morning, Ladies and Gentlemen. Please fasten your seatbelts and remain sitting. We will be arriving in London shortly. The weather today is absolutely beautiful, if I might say so myself. Our altitude is..."
"Blah blah blah." Taking out her headphones, she turned them on full blast listening to Queen.
"Don't believe in Peter Pan, Frankenstein or Superman. All I wanna do is..."
She dug into her bag for her sketchbook. She wrenched it out and opened it. She reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out one of the many pencils she kept in the oddest of places. She dated her page and was once more absorbed into her dream world.
Olivia was still sketching by the time the plane had landed. She continued to do so until Rogue's voice projected out of the speakers.
"Ladies and gents' we have arrived in London, England. The plane has not completely stopped, so please remain seated until one of the attendants tell you to do so."
The speaker went off and Olivia put her things away without looking at her results. She sat still and closed her eyes, more relaxed now that she was on the ground again. An annoying recorded voice disturbed her peace.
Thank you for choosing Hemisphere Airways. We hope you had a comfortable flight. You may unbuckle your seatbelts and retrieve your carry on bags. Please leave the plane in an orderly fashion. Have a wonderful day.
Without a second to lose, Olivia stood up fast. So fast, that she hit her head on the luggage rack. She swore and bent down to retrieve her bag. Head pounding painfully, she scooted into the aisle and off the plane.
Disclamer: I do not own any J.K. Rowling's ideas. I do not own the Bycicle song by Queen. I do, however, own the plot and some of the characters in this story.
