CAN'T FIGHT THE MOONLIGHT

CHAPTER EIGHT-INVASION OF THE WOLVES

Keely and I headed upstairs after Curtis and Gabrielle. I was really worried about her now.

The laceration was not deep, but I could not keep from worrying about her.

Gabrielle was lying on my bed. Curtis was standing leaning against the wall with a concerned expression on his face.

"How is she doing?" Keely asked swallowing.

"Curtis not sure," Curtis said nervously. "Gabrielle very hot."

I sat down on the bed beside Gabrielle and placed a hand on her forehead. She was burning up.

"Keel, go and get the thermometer," I said.

Keely took off to the bathroom.

She came back with the thermometer. She handed it to me.

I carefully slipped it into Gabrielle's mouth. We waited until it beeped. I took it from her mouth and read it.

"103.2. Get her a cold rag," I said.

Curtis took off.

He came back shortly with a cold rag. I took it from him and placed it across Gabrielle's forehead.

Sweat glistened on Gabrielle's forehead and neck.

"Phil," Keely said suddenly. "What do you know about werewolves and silver from what you've read in the future?"

I kept my eyes on Gabrielle.

"Well, silver destroys them. It kills them," I said.

"Does this mean Gabrielle is going to die?" Keely asked her voice cracking.

"I don't think so," I said. "The silver had to really be entered into her bloodstream. But this might definitely weaken her to a point."

"Gabrielle must get better," Curtis said lowering his brown eyes to Gabrielle.

Mom and Dad came home and immediately notified Mr. Morris.

Even Pim was concerned.

Mr. Morris came over.

"Will she be alright?" Mom asked worriedly.

"Well, if it was just a laceration, she'll be weak that's for sure," Mr. Morris explained slowly. "Thankfully, it wasn't deeper or else she wouldn't be here right now."

Pim swallowed.

"All we can do now is wait it out," Mr. Morris continued.

Over the next few days, we continued to watch Gabrielle's reaction to the laceration from the silver spear tip.

The fever finally broke.

And finally, on Monday, she opened her eyes.

"Hey," she said beaming up at me.

"Thank God you're okay!" Keely cried as she threw her arms around Gabrielle and hugged her.

Gabrielle hugged her back.

"We were so worried about you," I said earnestly.

Gabrielle sat up and ran a hand through her hair.

Our faces were inches apart.

Just then, the door opened to my room. Curtis entered.

"Gabrielle okay!" he said happily as he bounced over to Gabrielle and hugged her.

Gabrielle hugged him back.

"Your father was here before," Keely told her. "He was also concerned about you."

"Tell him I'm okay," Gabrielle grinned. "Thank God that silver spear didn't cut any deeper or else I might not be here now talking to you."

"That's what your father said," I said nodding.

I shyly put a hand on her shoulder.

Mom and Dad entered my room.

"Oh she's okay!" Mom cried happily as she too, hugged Gabrielle.

"I'll go tell Mr. Morris," Dad said beaming at Gabrielle as he turned and left the room.

Curtis sat down on the bed beside her and put his arm around her.

"Curtis, leave her alone," Mom scolded lightly. "She's probably exhausted after all that."

"It's okay, Mrs. Diffy," Gabrielle said softly. "He's not bothering me."

Curtis looked as though Christmas had come early.

Dad entered the room again shortly.

"Okay," he said. "Your father is much relieved now and thanked us for taking care of you."

"You're like a third daughter to us," Mom said giving Keely a big grin too.

Keely grinned back.

Gabrielle beamed.

GABRIELLE.

I felt a bit weak still, but I was okay and that was the main thing.

Phil kept his brown eyes locked on me the whole time.

Curtis left the room to play with Pim, who was also relieved that I was okay.

"So what happens now with the Androse family?" Keely asked.

"I'm not sure," I said sadly. "It's quite possible that they could start something."

"Start something? Like a war?" Phil asked curiously.

He was dressed in a dark blue shirt and jeans. Keely was dressed in a pair of butterfly jeans and a white peasant style blouse.

I nodded gravely.

"We intercepted their plan twice," I explained. "Naturally they're going to want to make sure their plan goes the way it's supposed to this time. They won't hold back their resources."

Keely looked upset.

"So they could start a war?" she asked her voice dropping.

"Possibly," I said thoughtfully. "That would most certainly be a way to get back. But see, if they do, we've got to stop them at the risk of exposing us to the humans."

"This is so tricky," Phil said.

I nodded.

Once I had my strength back, I went home. Dad told the family what had happened and they agreed to fight if necessary.

The next day at school, Pim, Keely, Phil and I met at Phil's locker.

"I told Debbie to stay at home," Pim said. "And out of sight."

"Good idea," I said nodding.

"I just hope they don't start something at school," Keely said hugging her binder against her chest.

"Believe me," I said. "They would. As I said, they don't hold back their resources and they don't care how many innocent people they might have to kill."

"But won't those that they kill become one of them as well?" Phil asked.

"Only if they survive," I said. "If they are killed, the people are doomed to walk the earth as the undead."

"Eww," Pim said. "Normally, I would find that cool, but not now."

"I want to go to the library," Phil said.

So we followed him to the library.

He pulled out as many books as he could on werewolves. Phil and I were sitting next to each other. Across from us were Pim and Keely.

"She's right," Phil said scanning a paragraph.

"I think I'm going to be sick," Keely said slumping down in her chair.

Suddenly, the principal came over the loudspeaker.

"What are you doing in here? This is off limits!"

Keely, Pim, Phil and I exchanged worried glances.

We heard snarling and then there was a buzzing sound, which meant that the principal went off line.

We heard screaming in the hallways.

"Under the table!" I said urgently. "I don't believe it! They've started the war in broad daylight!"

Phil and I dove under the table. Pim and Keely dove under the table next to us. We were on our hands and knees.

"What are they doing?" Phil whispered to me.

Our faces were close to one another's.

"More than likely, taking over the school. I hope the students manage to escape," I whispered keeping my eyes locked on the bottom of the door to the library.

I heard toenails clicking on the floor, approaching the library.

"Quiet you three," I whispered. "Something's coming."

Phil, Keely and Pim were as silent as a stone.

Because we were under the table, we only managed to see the bottom half of the door swing open and something black and furry entering. We only saw the four legs and the shoulder area.

These wolves were much bigger than I was. I glanced over at Pim and Keely. They were shaking violently. Pim had silent tears running down her cheeks. I've never seen her like this before and I'm sure neither has Phil. This was something you don't normally wish to see…pure fear and terror in someone.

Seeing Pim, Keely put her hand over Pim's and squeezed it. Phil also reached for Pim's other hand and squeezed it as well.

That seemed to help Pim to a point.

The wolf walked around the table. We could hear it sniffing the air.

The paws were about the size of human hands. Pim looked pale and on the verge of vomiting right there.

I saw her constantly swallowing, a sure sign that she wanted to.

The wolf walked around our table.

We listened intently at the wolf's breathing.

Then, suddenly, the wolfs head was thrusted under the table and it clamped its jaws on Phil's jean covered leg. It dragged him out from under the table.

"Phil!" Keely screamed.

We quickly scrambled out from under the table. The wolf was dragging him toward a corner.

Pim's stomach heaved finally and she vomited near one of the bookcases.

Keely was just frozen with pure fear.

I reached into my bag and pulled out one of the small silver spear heads I decided to keep on me incase.

I threw it at the wolf. It missed by inches.

The wolf tossed Phil against one of the bookcases.

Phil crashed into the bookcase. Several books toppled down on top of him. He wasn't moving. Pim was still vomiting and shaking. Keely was still frozen in place.

The wolf stood over Phil, retracting its top lip, exposing white canines and incisors over Phil's throat.

"Don't even think about it, Poochie," I snarled my eyes flashing angrily.

I picked up the silver spear head and walked toward the wolf. The closer I got, the more the wolf lowered its jaws over Phil's throat.

"Leave him alone," I snarled.

The wolf growled in response

I was right on top of the wolf now. The jaws were opened around Phil's throat. All the wolf had to do was close his jaws, and that would be it.

Finally Keely snapped into action. I hadn't seen her sneaking around to the back of the wolf. She pushed the last bookcase on top of the wolf. At the same time, I dragged Phil out of the way.

The bookcase toppled onto the wolf. I tripped over a book and ended up landing on top of Phil.

At that moment, his eyes opened.

"Hey," he said.

I suddenly realized the position we were in. I quickly grabbed Phil's hand and pulled him to his feet.

"Thanks Keely," I said gratefully.

She nodded and seemed to be in awe at her bravery.

"Good thinking," Phil said giving Keely a high-five.

"Pim," I said.

Pim was leaning against the bookcase with one arm against her stomach.

"We've got to get out of here," Phil said putting his arms around Pim.

"Follow me," I said.

They stuck to me like glue as we carefully snuck out of the library.

It looked like most of the students managed to escape the school. Others were still trapped in classrooms or closets. Several wolves were patrolling the hallways and corridors.

We slipped out the back door and took off to Phil's house.

We met Dad there.

"We heard!" Mrs. Diffy cried throwing her arms around Phil and Pim. "Is everyone okay?"

"Yes," Phil said. "Thanks to Gabrielle and Keely."

"What's going on?" Pim asked, her voice strained from vomiting.

"The Androse' have declared war on humans," Dad said gravely.

"What's going to happen now?" Keely asked keeping close to Mr. Diffy.

"Well, my family is calling in their resources as well," Dad said. "Which means the Landrols will have to go into battle against the Tyrix's. This is to ensure that that our species isn't exposed to humans."

"Is it the Androse family?" Phil asked.

Dad nodded.

"Plus several others we didn't know about. But the Landrols have a few tricks up their sleeves too,"

"Will Gabrielle have to do battle too?" Phil asked, nervously glancing at me.

"No," Dad said shaking his head. "She's too young yet. I am going to have to though."

Everyone was stunned.

"We had no idea that you were one too," Mrs. Diffy said.

Dad smiled.

"Of course. Where did you think she got the gene from? I'm able to control the transformations,"

Mrs. Diffy blushed.

"I want to, Dad," I said firmly.

"No, Gabrielle," Dad said shaking his head. "You have your friends that worry about you. You are to stay here and protect them."

"Dad…" I protested.

"NO," Dad said firmly. "And that's it. I will be fine…don't worry."

He threw his arms around me and hugged me tightly.

"I love you, Dad," I said burying my face into his chest.

"I love you too," Dad whispered pressing his face into my hair. "Stay with the Diffy's. They're good people."

Dad released me after a few minutes.

"I'll be back…I promise," Dad said.

He left the Diffy's house.

Mrs. Diffy put her arm around my shoulders and Pim threw her arms around my midsection.

I felt tears forming in my eyes.

Mrs. Diffy removed her arm when Phil threw his arms around me and pulled me tightly against him. I wrapped my arms around his neck and rested my chin on top of his shoulder. I shut my eyes and cried. His arms encircled me tightly. Keely joined in too.