Wa-ya lake
Chapter One
Within minutes she stepped under the hot water and let it drench her where she stood. The hot water relaxed the muscles that were still clenched from her nightmare. Sophia focused on the feel of the water rolling down her chest, stomach and then thighs. She focused on the sound of the individual drops of water hitting the shower's glass walls. Gradually her mind and muscles sighed in relief as they loosened. A bath would have been more relaxing but she had felt too shaken from her nightmare to wait for the bath to fill.
As she blow dried her hair she silently acknowledged that the nightmares were leaving her more and more upset each morning. Sophia's reflection caught her eye through her musings. She saw nothing wrong with this reflection except the delicate bruises under her eyes from lack of sleep. The Sophia in her dream had appeared to her more . . . well more everything. Exotic, beautiful, confident, bold and invincible. But mostly she had been complete in every way possible, she was whole. The exact opposite of how Sophia always felt when she looked at her reflection. It was Monday. She had school this week and then she was off for the summer. She grabbed her old comfort jeans and a blue short sleeved top and stuck her hair up in a ponytail. As always.
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Once she had packed her book bag, Sophia quietly raced down stairs trying not to wake her dad. Who was luckily, still asleep as it was his three day break between shifts. Cassi quickly prepared a breakfast on whole meal toast and a glass of orange juice. The kitchen clock read 6:15 am. she had over an hour and a half to kill before she could leave for school. Sophia quickly picked up her dishes and brought them to the sink. She gently placed her plate and glass in the soapy water, lifting the sponge she gently wiped and rinsed them. Sophia then placed them gently in the drainer to dry and silently she returned to her seat and retrieved her book, "Midsummer night's dream," from her back pack. And she quickly became absorbed within the words of the book. When she glanced at the kitchen clock it read 6:58. She was meant to have left the house nearly ten minutes ago. She grabbed up her jacket, bag and the keys to her dad's old jeep, she silently raced through the front door and towards the rust bucket as she commonly called her dad's old truck.
The drive to wolf creek high took longer than usual due to her late departure and morning traffic through town. Although traffic at Wa-ya lake was never really bad, It still took nearly twice as long before she arrived at the school at twenty to eight. With only five minutes to spare. Cassi got out of the truck compartment. A chilled wind swept her hair around her face. As she shivered her gaze slid to the woods that surrounded the school. For a split second she thought she saw a pair of dark as coal eyes stare out at her from the shadows. But as she blinked to get a better view, the eyes vanished as though they were never there. The bell for registration tore through the winter air. This caused her to rip her head towards the sound. Shaking herself both mentally and physically she turned and raced toward the science building, her form room. The clouds flickered across the sun and the sky dulled. Something was brewing; Sophia could feel it in the air all around her. And whatever it was it couldn't be good. Wolf creek high was completely different from other high schools. It was a private school for local born kids. There were only a handful of kids who hadn't grown up here that attended the school. The classes were different compared to other schools. There were regular years juniors, freshmen and seniors. But each year was compiled with separate class groups. These were Intermediate and advance placement. Only a selected few where placed in the advanced class and often not for their educational ability. Wa-ya lake was built upon the strength of its community. Every member worked to conceal the secret the town was built upon.
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Every year was split into five classes, each class based upon the students within theses classes' ability there were W, O, L, F and C. each letter signified the classes' ability. With W being the lowest ability and C the highest. Sophia was in the C intermediate class. She arrived at her form room and was greeted at the threshold by Miss Grayson her form teacher. She was the first to arrive. Miss Grayson was a petite brunette with pale as ivory skin. She had beautiful light blue eyes and wide luscious lips. Her face was clear with no trace of foundation. The only make-up she wore was clear lip gloss. Her face was often drawn with worry but when she smiled, her face was instantly transformed. She was really quite beautiful. Sophia guessed she was late twenties, no more. She was unmarried and was never seen around town. Either out with friends or on dates. She seemed to be a lonely person. But although lonely she remained one of the most generous and kind people who lived in wolf creek. Sophia thought they were both very alike both personality ways and mannerisms. Miss Grayson was the only other person she felt comfortable with besides her father. She felt out of place and isolated to the rest of her small home town population.
Sophia quickly took her assigned seat which was alphabetical. She was seated beside Luc Cates due to the fact that her surname began with C and D, Sophia Donner. Luc Cates was one of the most popular seniors. Unlike Sophia who was considered a geek and a loner. Five minutes passed before other members of her class entered the room. First through the door were the nerds, boys who believed they were the smartest people in the school. Each one more eccentric and sexists than the one before. Next to enter were the Geeks, girls who preferred the name jewel club. The smartest girls in the school, although I was considered a geek by my class mates I was not seen as a member of their group. They were followed by the IT crowd, which was made up with jocks, cheerleaders, bad boys and social girls. Social girls was just a politically correct name for the girls who openly slept with numerous guys. All of whom received a fearsome scowl from Miss Grayson and quickly took their places.
Luc gave Sophia a friendly smile which she returned shyly. Although one of the most popular boys in school, Luc always gave her a smile each morning trying to include her as a member of the class. Registration like always was a noisy affair and as the bell rang for the class to go to their separate classes intermediate and advanced, Sophia experienced a sinking feeling in her stomach. She glanced over and saw Luc gather his jacket and bag, smile at her again and run off to join his friends. Throughout the room many students began pulling tables together with their friends while Sophia remained alone. Sophia thought bitterly to herself, " It's better that way, that's why I have the best grades in my class and am a finalist in the Maria Garcia Scholarship line-up of thousands of applicants across Europe," I quickly got out my file pad and pens and got ready to take down notes.
Class as usual flew in, it was lunch time and Sophia began to slowly pack up her bag. She slowly made her way to the front of the room bid Farwell to Miss Grayson and made her way to the cafeteria. By the time Sophia reached the cafeteria it was completely packed. Every seat was filled. But over in the far corner of the cafeteria was a window seat where Sophia always sat. And like every day no one took her seat. Sophia quickly choose her lunch a chicken and mayo toastie, pineapple smoothie and a chocolate muffin and took her seat. The window seat view was that of the forest. Usually the sky was blue and the sun shone brightly but today, the sky was dark and fog crept around the tree trunks. The sight which seemed so un-natural it caused a shudder to course through Sophia's body. The clouds darkened suddenly and thunder rolled through the air. The atmosphere was changing with each passing day. Lightening split the clouds and thunder followed on its heels. Howls tore through the air. A dead silence over swept the cafeteria.
As quickly as the silence descended it lifted and laughter and chatter over took the cafeteria. The howls weren't an unusual occurrence and not one person spoke of them. Except for the silence that descended after the howls no other reaction was made by the filled room of people. Except Sophia, it terrified her.
As she tore her frightened gaze from the window and stared down at her lunch, she quickly fetched her book , cut her toastie into two triangles and began to eat. As usual Sophia was lost in her book within seconds and time ceased to matter. Sophia didn't even notice the person who approached her, it was Sherman. A strange and curious man but obviously extremely wise in his own way. He was considered the shaman of Wa-ya lake and an adviser to many. "What did he want, crazy old man," Sophia thought to herself bitterly. He didn't annoy anyone else. "good afternoon, young Sophia," Sherman greeted her merrily. "Have I ever told you the tale of the raven and the wolves?" He inquired eyes sparkling in delight. " yes Sherman, you have many times, if you'll excuse me I have to read this book before English after lunch." Sophia replied calmly. "Really, I wasn't aware Miss Grayson taught a Midsummer night's dream for English." Sherman murmured sceptically. Shit, Sophia thought to herself. Well … um … You see I'm … I'm actually …" Sophia stammered. " Please Sophia I completely understand, why would you want to listen to an old man rant during your lunch time. Goodbye Sophia, enjoy the rest of your day." Sherman assured her as he backed away. Well now he'd tell her dad she was unsocial at school and rude to boot. The old clock on the cafeteria wall read; 1:15. She had fifteen minutes to get to the library before afternoon classes began. Sophia quickly gathered her books, dumped the rest of her lunch in the bin and spun to leave the room.
As she whirled around to the exit, Sophia slammed against the male chest of someone. Hands quickly gripped her upper arms to stop her from falling backwards from the impact. As she re-gathered her senses and looked up at whom she'd collided with and her heart rate doubled. Luc Cates. Oh god please, not him of all people. "I'm so sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going!" Sophia's words rushed out on top of one another and her face heated with embarrassment. She was such a klutz. "it's okay, no harm done Sophia," Luc smiled and winked at her. Which in turn caused the heat to spread from her face to her chest and intensify, her skin turning a bright unattractive colour. She quickly shrugged out of Luc's grasp smiled shyly and turned to leave. Her eyesight blurred with each step she took.
Changing from colour to bright, vibrant blotches. Shapes merged and loud noise filled her ears. Sophia's legs weakened and a whimper escaped her lips as her limbs began to shake. Luc called out Sophia's name and quickly began to follow her. As he caught up with her, he heard a small whimper as her knees buckled and quickly before she collapsed boneless to the ground, Luc secured his hands around her waist and swung her up into his arms as she passed out in a dead faint. Silence once again over took the cafeteria as all eyes turned to look at Luc, who now cradled an unconscious Sophia. Sniggers and giggles spread across the room and Luc quickly left, heading for the nurse's office, Sophia was going to be so embarrassed when she woke. As he walked through the cafeteria doors Luc came face-to-face with Sherman and Sherriff Donner. Oh just great, I just had to run smack dab into Sophia's dad, Luc thought in despair. Colour drained from the Sherriff's face as he took in the scene of Luc Cates carrying his daughter unconscious from the Cafeteria. As the laughter from the room increased Luc hastened to explain. "Sir, I think she's fine, she just fainted. I was bringing her to the nurse." As Luc finished explaining the nurse's door opposite the cafeteria opened and Old miss Thompson emerged and shrieked in shock. " what on earth happened to this poor girl?"