"A Prayer for the Wild at Heart"
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A prayer for the wild at heart
Kept in cages
I know how you long
To run wild and free
To feel your blood pumping
To hear your heart beating faster
Yet you can't
For you are locked inside a prison
One that you will never escape
I can hear your howls of pain
And your growls of frustration
Pacing back and forth
Clawing at the bars
Tearing at your skin
Begging to be set free
Your eyes are wild and full of hate
Your face bears no smile
Only a snarl of anger
.
Blood drips from your hands
Blood from the people
Who didn't understand
Your fearful whimpers fill the air
As you look to the full moon
And let out a mournful howl
Your voice gets louder
As I and the other join in
We let our pleads fill the night
As we sit in out cold cages
Praying someone will hear
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-Tennessee Williams
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CALL TO THE WILD
Chapter 1
GREEN HAIR AND GUILT TRIPS
"Green!" Zed exclaimed as he looked at his reflection in the mirror. He spun back around in his chair, locking in on his best friend with a murderous stare. "You dyed my hair green! You were just supposed to be covering up those god awful highlights! What were you thinking Eliza!"
Eliza laughed and pulled off the black nitrile gloves that she had been wearing and tossed them into the trashcan. "I was thinking that I was tired of looking at that preppy all-American goody-two-shoes look that the studio has had you sporting for the last few months. Besides, I had green leftover from doing mine and Bonzo's… You're welcome."
"My publicists are going to kill me! I have a press junket all next week!"
Eliza rolled her eyes and sat down on the counter across from him. "Well, then I guess you're just going to have to hide out somewhere until it fades enough to cover… I think three or four days should be enough."
He narrowed his eyes. "You did this on purpose."
"Yep."
Zed sighed and looked up to the ceiling, resisting the urge to strangle her. He took a deep calming breath before he said anything else. "E, I've told you… several times... I can't go to Burning Man this weekend. The movie comes out next week!"
"Exactly!" she exclaimed, jumping to her feet. "You're two seconds away from becoming public property! Let's go have some wild crazy fun out in the middle of the desert while you can still be you!"
"I'm always going to be me."
"You say that…" She took out her phone and pulled up his newly purged and re-imaged Instagram account. "But it's already started! Have you seen this shit? There is nothing on here that is you! Where are all the pictures we've taken over the last few years? The concerts, the festivals, the rallies, the protests?! They're all gone! All that's left are these random snaps of the water or of a tree or… is that your grandmother?"
He rubbed his hands over his eyes in frustration. "I told you, my publicists said..."
"Again, with the publicists! I am so tired of hearing about them! Those Acey's are controlling you!"
"That is kind of their job," he said with a small laugh. "Besides, Bucky said..."
"Don't even get me started on him!" she challenged. "Bucky Buchanan..." she rolled her eyes. "What an entitled, talentless, elitest..."
"Wow, E… why don't you say how you really feel."
"I have!"
He laughed and stood up to hug her. "Oh, Eliza… I know you've made it your life's mission to fight for the oppressed, but don't you think it's a little harsh to automatically hate someone because of their last name?"
"Z!" she whined. "He's a Buchanan! That family is a political dynasty! Governors, Senators, Congressmen, a President… Hell, The current Vice President! They're the establishment! Fight the power!
"Okay, okay..." he said backing away with his hands up in surrender. "I get it… Just… try to not go off on him at the premiere."
Eliza stood ramrod straight. "Premiere?"
"Yeah… I mean unless you don't want to go as my plus one."
She narrowed her eyes. "I thought you were bringing your little sister?"
"I may have scored some extra passes… you know… since I am the lead."
She rolled her eyes and laughed. "Totally hasn't gone to your head though."
"Nope! So what do you say?"
"You really want me there?"
"You're my best friend, E. Of course I want you there."
"Fine," she said folding her arms across her chest with a mischievous grin spreading across her face.
"Uh-oh… I know that look."
She smiled wider. "I'll go to your premiere on one condition."
"And what would that be?"
"You go with me and Bonz this weekend."
He shook his head and smirked. "Eliza..." he whined. "Why is this so freakin important?"
"Because we've been saying for YEARS that we were going to go to Burning Man one day."
He arched his brow and smirked, waiting for her to say what she really wanted to say.
"Ugh! You're so infuriating. Fine," she huffed. "You remember that guy we met at Coachella?"
"E, I was high the entire time. I'd barely remember going if it weren't for the pictures."
"Which are no longer on your Instagram."
He rolled his eyes and motioned for her to continue.
"Anyway. That guy happens to run an environmental activism group in Cali."
"And this matters because…."
"Because they are partnered with this awesome grassroots art collective. While you were off in Canada filming, our best friend started working with them. They've been building this massive interactive installation for Burning Man and Bonz is so fucking excited about it."
"He is?! Why is this the first time I'm hearing about this?! This is HUGE!"
Eliza rolled her eyes. "Because he knew you're movie was coming out and you'd feel guilty and show up even though you shouldn't..." She smiled and pushed his shoulder. "I, however, am obviously not above a good guilt trip."
Zed shook his head and sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Fine."
"What was that?" she asked leaning in closer and cupping her hand around her ear.
"I said, fine. I'll go."
"YES!"
"But I'm not drinking anything or taking anything. Got it!"
"You said the same thing last year when we went to Bonaroo."
"Yeah, but I fucking mean it this time."
"Buzzkill."
"Those are my terms," he said holding his arms out.
She rolled her eyes and smiled. "Fine. Deal."
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Two years ago today I published Our Year (later renamed Watch Us Shine), and a year ago today I published On The Edge. So, I'm pretty excited that despite all the craziness currently going on, I managed to get the first chapter of this new story out today! To all the readers who have followed my stories over the last two years, THANK YOU! Your love and support mean the world to me! And to anyone new who happened to stumble across this story first, welcome to the wild ride that my stories tend to be! I hope you all enjoyed this first chapter. Feel free to drop me a review and let me know!