Chapter 3
As much as Thomas had tried to avoid thinking of what Lydia had said him earlier that day, he still had nightmares that night of shadows lurking near him. He had a feeling as if something was about to jump out to snatch him and that would be the end of him. In dream, he broke in sprint.
Next morning, Thomas woke sweating and shivering. He glanced in mirror and saw he was absolutely pale, ghostly pale. Dream was etched deeply in his memory. He was tempted to skip the jog and jump straight in hot shower but seeing as he had no substitute for the jog later on, he changed in his jogging clothes and disappeared in woods.
Even his morning jog didn't help him with all the music blasting in his ears. Flashes of the nightmare kept creeping in his mind, and showing up before his eyes. Feet just stopped moving, shutting down and Thomas bent to his legs and rested his hands on them while regained breath. His headphones fell out of his ears and that's when he heard it.
Somewhere near him, something growled. At first, it was deep, gentle rumble but gradually became louder. Thomas slowly straightened up, confused as to where was the sound coming from. Then, he saw it.
Thomas froze. Before his eyes was a black wolf, its fangs bared and looking straight at Thomas. Thomas couldn't lift his gaze from it, as if that would set the wolf off and it would launch itself on Thomas. It was hard to tell, who was hypnotizing who but both Thomas and the wolf just stood there, looking at each other. Thomas took step backwards.
That was a mistake. Wolf noticed the movement and launched itself upon Thomas and Thomas slipped and fell down.
- 'AAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!' Thomas screamed and automatically curled up, covering his face with his arms.
- 'RUN!' Someone near him half-growled, half-shouted and there was a low thud. Thomas quickly uncoiled and saw something human-shape hitting wolf in mid-jump and both tumbled away, locked together in a struggle, out of the view. He didn't need to be said that twice so he quickly got to his feet and half stumbling, half swearing ran.
When he got back home, he quickly bolted the doors and pushed himself against wall, recovering. His mom had left for work already, so he was grateful he was all alone. Slowly, his gasps and pants evened and he regained control of his own breathing. That was too close for my own comfort. Thomas grimaced and fear turned to panic, panic to nervousness and nervousness back to normal. His legs slightly wobbly from adrenaline hit, he slowly slouched upstairs to his bathroom to take a hot shower before school.
Seniors had free period on Tuesday and it was exactly before Sports lesson. He knew coach was planning lacrosse tryouts as it was placed on notice board. This sports lesson could be avoided by those, who didn't want to, so Thomas was more than happy to get another free period. First free period he spent outside under shade of a tree, doing his English Literature homework.
- 'Hey, Thomas, right?' Said a voice above him. Thomas looked up and noticed a guy standing and looking down at him.
- 'Umm, yeah. What's up?'
- 'You forgot this earlier.' The guy handed him his mp3 player and the headphones.
- 'Oh, thanks! Damn, I completely forgot about it! Where did you-' but he broke mid-question because he remembered exactly where he had left it. Thomas looked once again at the guy and the guy flinched as he saw Thomas' expression – it was pure terror.
- 'Easy Thomas, I am no-' but Thomas was not listening. He had already scrambled on his feet and backing away.
- 'You're McCall, aren't you.' He said it in a flat tone, as a statement not question.
- 'How do you know my name?' the guy asked, confused.
- 'It was you this morning.' Thomas said, backing away even more.
- 'I don't know what you are talking about.' Scott said, his expression perfectly smooth.
- 'Don't lie to me. You were the one who rammed in that wolf this morning because I clearly remember I forgot my mp3 player in forest!' Thomas half-hissed, half whispered. Scott raised his hand palms forward.
- 'Thomas, don't freak, it's okay just list-' Scott began but Thomas cut him off.
- 'I know exactly who you are, mutt and please tell your other freaks to stay away from me!' Thomas exclaimed and panted. Scott stood there, his expression frozen.
- 'Thomas, if you are talking about Lydia, she can't control her powers-' but Scott stopped himself. How could he be so careless and just speak out about Lydia?!
- 'I know she can't because she's a banshee-in-training but that does not give her the right to threaten me!' Thomas turned around and ran. He didn't look back at Scott, he just wanted to disappear, he wanted to cry. Tears threatened to overflow just about any second out of frustration and anger. He ran inside and ducked in bathroom and nearest cubicle.
Seconds later, someone else came in.
- 'Thomas, I know you are here.' Scott said, calmly. Thomas froze but didn't speak. He was not about to give himself away he was here. 'I can hear your heartbeat Thomas. You are scared, angry and…' Scott said but there was something else. He could feel something else emitting from Thomas, a sad, full of sorrow feeling. Scott stopped.
- 'McCall, please, go away.' Thomas said. He couldn't face him. He was too scared and too wounded. It all both mixed up with anger he felt towards him and his friends he could not control. He whimpered.
- 'You are mourning.' Scott stated. Thomas gave a shaking hard sarcasm laughter.
- 'No shit, Sherlock!' Thomas exclaimed. He walked out of the cubicle; his head up, looking straight at Scott, his palms balled in fists and body slightly shaking.
- 'I can help you.' Scott said. Thomas shook his head violently.
- 'Help me? HELP ME?! Like you tried to help Alli-' but Thomas gasped and broke mid-sentence. Scott's eyes narrowed. He looked at Thomas, silent for a moment, Thomas still shaking. Slowly, dawn crossed Scott's face.
- 'Lydia did say something about familiar aura….' He whispered and his eyes went wide. It clicked. Somehow, all of the pieces clicked.
- 'Took you a while, mutt!' Thomas said and ran out of bathroom. Scott didn't follow.
Thomas wanted to go straight home. He didn't care about breaking his attendance already in second day of school but this was too much. Scott had pressed on pressure point and it all overflowed. His feelings went everywhere.
- 'Hi T-' a familiar voice greeted Thomas but didn't finish as noticed look on Thomas' face. He saw the pain it contained. Jonathan grabbed Thomas by arm.
- 'LET ME GO!' Thomas shouted and aimed punch straight for Jonathan's face. Jonathan easily caught his other arm and held it in strong but gentle grip. Thomas tried to shake them free but couldn't. He knew when his emotions were in control he was too weak.
- 'It's okay, Thomas.' Jonathan just said. Thomas looked at Jonathan, his expression torn between confusion and pain.
- 'Jonathan, let me go!' Thomas tried again, to no avail. It was as if he was talking to a walk, a human wall. Jonathan looked back in Thomas' face, trying to find something, anything but could not see past the both expressions he had. Jonathan let Thomas go and Thomas without looking back, left.
When Thomas got home for second time that day, he just collapsed. He sat down on floor in kitchen, curled up and locked his legs in tight grip and pushed his face between his knees. It took almost no time at all when first sobs broke out of his chest and came out as sharp gasps. I hate you McCall, I hate you!