And NOW! The fourth chappie of Whisper! Enjoy to the few readers I have reading this! Oh well! I'm just happy I got it out on the big I! (Internet)
Disclaimer: I wish I did, I really do, but I don't own WOMF... Still sounds funny... All goes to Maggie Steifvater
WILL
She scared the crap out of me.
I figured, at first, that the wolves were just some freaky animal-saves-the-human story that could pop up on the news. Such things had happened before: a pair of moose had warmed a boy when he'd gotten lost hunting in winter and had caught hypothermia; a cat had practically clawed the face off of a creeper who'd broken into its owner's house and hurt her. It was just some weird thing.
I hightailed it out of the forest, running to my house and slamming the door behind me. My parents were out for the night at some fancy dinner party. I locked the door and stumbled up the stairs into my room.
Once I was inside I collapsed on my bed, breathing heavily. Sweat trickled down my back, and I rolled on my side, tucking my knees to my chest.
What would those wolves do to her? She was hurt and weak and scared, I could tell. When I'd gone into the woods, looking for song inspiration, I hadn't expected to hear a loud "pervert!" I'd wondered if someone was out here, and then when I saw the figure-the wolf girl-she'd punched me! I wasn't sure still if she'd been wearing a thing, she'd been caked in filth.
I'd followed her, and then there was a wolf right where I thought she would have been. She'd made my nose bleed, and my mom had fussily cleaned it up as soon as I got home. I'd lied about its origin, saying I'd tripped and slammed my face.
And then there she was, encircled in wolves. I'd come back out because I'd felt restless.
Now what was I supposed to do? Call the cops? Like they'd listen to me.
In the small town of Riversteen, not many did.
Riversteen was located in the most northern part of Minnesota. It was wild meets modern city. The air was almost always pierced with the odors of the seasons: ice and snow in winter, burning leaves and wood-smoke in autumn, daisies and grass in spring, sun and lilacs in summer. And then it was sharpened with the scents of new cars and the pavement.
I swallowed hard and stood, grabbing my guitar from its position by the door. I strummed thoughtfully on the chords and began composing lyrics in my head.
I gaze into your eyes/Deciphering the lies/Lost here now again/For just the second time/I don't know if I love you/But one thing is still true/You've broken me apart/And I don't know what I'll do/You're more than just a dream/More than a memory/You're past, present, future/And all I want to be/If you must leave darling/Please take me along, too/'Cuz I don't know how to live without you.
I hadn't realized I was singing it softly until I had stopped. When I quit singing it, emptiness filled my stomach.
So I grabbed a pen and notebook, copying down the song. I added more and more as I went along.
And when it ended, it looked like this:
You open your mouth and out tumbles the truth
But your life spells out a myth that I just can't uproot
You're stuck on my mind and I can't get through
But you should know that I'll fight for you
No matter the story you give
I'll make sure you live
CHORUS
I gaze into your eyes deciphering the lies
Lost here now again for just the second time
I don't know if I love you
But one thing is still true
You've broken me apart
And I don't know what I'll do
You're more than just a dream
More than a memory
You're past, present, future
And all I want to be
If you must leave darling
Please take me along too
'Cuz I don't know how to live without you
You're a rose in the storm
Winds pulling you away
The thunder rocks the world
But it won't take you, not today
So delicate, so fragile
I'll hold you for a while
In my palm, in the circle of my hand
And one day, my love
I hope you'll understand
CHORUS
You're my missing puzzle piece
With you I am complete
When you're away
My life's in shades of gray
I want the color back
So dearest, can't you stay?
CHORUS
When I finished, my hand was aching and eyes were stinging with tiredness, but I was content. I figured out some chords, and went along scribbling out some ideas.
The sound of a rich, lonesome howl startled me, and I listened quietly. More sad calls flooded the air and I sat in silence, soaking up the wolves' music. I wondered if Brooke was out there. I wondered why I didn't call 911.
And then I found out why.
I saw the same brown wolf with gray eyes from earlier walking alongside the two wolves that had been with Brooke out my window. The wolf was leaning on the silver one's shoulder, and was limping as if it were hurt.
Brooke.
It had to be…
No. I was being stupid. There was no such thing as werewolves.
But…could it be true?
The moonlight washed their pelts, making them burn with stark cold white fire. The brown wolf looked up and saw me peering down on it. It paused for a moment, lips curving back over its teeth in a gruesome snarl.
For some reason, I laughed. I couldn't help myself.
But what happened next made the smile vanish off my face.
The brown wolf crumpled, body shaking violently like a leaf. Its claws dug into the dark earth, and a high whine escaped it.
Its fur twisted, and there was Brooke. My face warmed; she was without clothing. I turned my face away and gasped, gut wrenching.
She looked a thousand times worse. Blood smattered over her flesh, surrounding her eyes in a haunted, zombielike look. Her fingers curled under her palms, the knuckles white from the strain. She dragged herself along, and eventually stopped, breath coming rapidly.
I was in my parent's room before I knew what was happening. I grabbed my mother's soon-to-be-donated clothes bag and yanked a soft blue sweater and pair of old black sweatpants from its depths. I ran downstairs and flung open the back door, racing outside and clambering over the fence that separated me from the woods.
Brooke was crying, her tears clearing some of the dried gore off her cheeks. I laid the clothes next to her and cradled her in my arms.
"I knew it!" I whispered. "I knew it was you."
She swore softly, body trembling. Her lips moved.
"What?"
"Cold…need…warmth…."
I hugged her tightly to me, then jumped back, embarrassed. I helped the sweater over her head, and she struggled into the sweatpants. I picked her up, only to be greeted by several growls.
"It's…OK…" she managed. "Go…Kylie…"
The silver wolf dipped its head and leaped away, the second wolf following her closely.
I got her into the house, taking her into the guest bedroom and laying her down on the bed. She moaned and slipped under the thick comforter.
"I'm going to call 911, OK?"
"No!" she shuddered. "They'll…hunt them."
I frowned, confused. Then I understood.
"You mean the wolves?"
She nodded.
"OK, hon, but promise that you'll let me know if anything's wrong."
"It's…not…my blood."
"You sure?"
She glared at me. "As…sure as I will…ever be."
"Fine then."
I went into the bathroom and grabbed a washcloth, running it under warm sink water. I then came back and began scrubbing tenderly at the blood on her face. I wiped away the blood showing on her arms and legs. I checked her scrapes, and she was right; they weren't as severe as I'd thought. Not deep at all.
"Can you…put on some music?"
"Sure."
I went upstairs and plucked up my guitar and sheet music. I came back and sat on the desk chair in the corner of the guest room.
"What song?"
"Anything…"
I smiled to myself, and then began.
"Oh life is bigger
It's bigger than you
And you are not me
The lengths that I will go to
The distance in your eyes
I've said enough…"
She joined in weakly.
"That's me in the corner
That's me in the spotlight, losing my religion…"
We sang the song together until the end.
And then I heard the voice.
"That was very nice, dear." My mother stood in the open doorway. "Now…why is there a girl in our guest room?"
BTW, for you reader(s), Will is based on Sam... Yes, he writes songs like Sam... Get over it.
OOOOOOO Cliffie though! Read more to find out what happens! Rnr!
Cheers,
Kylie