Like I've said, that moment when wolfbloods were revealed to the world is permanently etched into my memory, along with that feeling of dread which told me nothing would ever be the same. I thought that was the moment when my life and all wolfbloods' lives were forever changed. And it was in a way, but I think the true moment that will forever stand out in my life when everything changed is when I was discovered as a wolfblood.
It was a week before the second full moon which I was already beginning to dread. I sometimes feel like I must have jinxed myself by worrying and hoping for that second full moon of hiding in fear never to come, because it never did. I was sitting in history class focussing on not twitching or shifting too much from boredom, a sign that could possibly give me away. An announcement came over the PA for everyone to gather in the gym for an assembly. It was unusual for an assembly to be held in the middle of the day. I immediately felt alert, doubt and worry seeping into my mind as it had done for every slightly out of the ordinary situation that had occurred at school over the last six weeks. Jana must have felt my unease because she put her hand on my arm and warned me with her eyes to stay calm.
As we made our way to the gym, I began to calm down and think rationally. If they knew we were wolfbloods, surely they would just come and confront us or take us from class. They probably wouldn't want us in the gym when they announced it because they'd think we might go crazy and attack someone. The assembly might have nothing to do with wolfbloods anyway, so there was no need to overreact. We lined up outside the gym doors in single file in classes as usual. Tom and Shannon were a bit ahead of me and Jana was somewhere behind. I looked around, along with everybody else, noticing several sleek black cars parked in the usually empty carpark. I could hear a faint sound too, like a crackling cross buzzing sound. I discreetly tried to locate the source of this sound when I saw several large security men in dark suits and darker sunglasses. The sound was emanating from earpieces they wore. They were standing on either side of the gym entrance almost like a guard of honour. I think my heart skipped a beat when I saw them, but I quickly checked my breathing and stayed calm. It's probably nothing, I told myself over and over. There were also people standing near the security men in sharp business suits. They looked like they would be more suited to a high-functioning office than a country school. They were each holding a bunch of white flowers that I didn't recognise. I knew it was strange because I have a lot of experience in recognising plants since I lived in…. One by one the classes entering the gym, each student walking past the strangers with curious glances. As our class started moving I looked ahead and saw Shannon walking through the strange people lining the entrance. I saw her look intensely at the flowers for a moment as though trying to recall something. Her eyes widened and a look of horror came upon her face. I saw her desperately trying to look back at me and try to tell me something with her eyes, but she was pushed in by the people coming up behind her. I felt my blood run cold and I knew something was very wrong, but it was already too late because it was my turn to enter the gym and the crowd pushing up behind me shoved me through the suited men standing like statues.
It happened so fast that there was nothing I could do, but still see every detail in slow motion. The strange crumpled white petals of the flowers were suddenly decorated with red spots, almost like they were blushing at seeing me but perhaps it looked more like blood seeping onto the petals, marking me a vicious monster to the humans around me. I remember trying to turn. I don't really know what I was planning. Maybe I was trying to warn Jana or maybe I was just trying to get out of there. I didn't get the chance to do either. Two of the muscle-bound security men grabbed me and pulled me into the gym. They slammed my back into the wall just inside the door and my head snapped back, hitting the solid wall. My vision blurred for a moment and I was disoriented. Everything sounded fuzzy and my body seemed to slow to respond to anything. The other students who had followed in behind me were staring. I couldn't tell if it was fear of me or confusion that drew their eyes. My mind was numb and I couldn't remember what was going on. After I few moments my mind cleared enough to hear one thought leap into my head: 'What about Jana?'. I immediately lurched forward, intent on stopping Jana from being discovered only to find the two men who had grabbed me still held my arms firmly against the wall. As they felt me move they tightened their grip and a third man stood in front of me, a handgun aimed at my head. I saw Jana being pulled in and held in a similar fashion a few metres away, but I was frozen to the spot.
I think I must have been in shock because I can't really remember the few minutes after that it took to finish filling up the gym. I do remember being hauled up on stage alongside Jana, still being held by security like criminals with more stationed around the gym, hands resting on the guns strapped to their hips. My mind went into overdrive, flitting through all possible explanations and escape routes in minutes. The whole assembly stared at us. Perhaps some had guessed already why we had been singled out, but everyone was dead silent. A very official looking woman walked up stage with the clacking of her high heels echoing through the gym. She wore a business suit with a grey skirt and had her hair pulled back in a tight bun. She walked up to the podium and pulled the microphone towards her mouth:
"Good afternoon students of Stoneybridge High. I understand that some of you may be feeling confused and scared, but I assure you that you are in no danger. In fact, we have removed danger from your school. I apologise for the secrecy and the distress it may have caused you, but we had to ensure the purpose of this assembly was unknown to all so that no one would try to leave school before it. You probably noticed the flowers as you entered the gym. These are called mottled poppies and have recently been discovered by our government. They are being mass produced and distributed to schools and workplaces across the country because they are able to detect wolfbloods…"
At that the woman had to cut off her obviously well-rehearsed speech as the murmuring in the crowd of gathered students suddenly grew louder at this proclamation. I saw people hurriedly turning to their neighbours, sharing their shock. Then I saw the inevitable turning of heads towards the stage. He whispering began accompanied by the pointing towards me and Jana. At this the lady took up her speech again,
"Yes. As some of you may have guessed these students behind me are, in fact, wolfbloods who have been concealing themselves among you…"
She was interrupted again, but this time by Jana. As the woman had said this I had processed about six different ineffective plans of escape. Luckily Jana kept her wits better than me because she called out, "We don't know what you're talking about! We're just people! We haven't done anything wrong!"
The woman turned to us, with the smallest, coldest smile I have ever witnessed. "Oh, denying it is no use anymore, dear."
Then Tom, bless his soul, stood up in the middle of assembly and called out, "They can't be werewolves! We have been friends for ages!"
Shannon leapt up beside him, "That's right! We have been together for movie nights and full moon or not we have never seen hide nor hair of werewolves!"
I think their courage snapped me out of my frozen stupor of disbelief. I was about to join in, to defend us as well, but the woman spoke first.
"Liars," she said calmly, "these poppies have been proven to detect wolfbloods. All wolfbloods and only wolfbloods, otherwise the government would not have permitted their use. It is only my confidence in them that stops me from assuming you two as wolfbloods also. So sit down."
Tom and Shannon sunk into their seats, apology to Jana and I written across their faces. I didn't blame them and forever I will think that act was one of bravest I have ever known.
At this point, I thought that everything would be okay. If we stayed calm, something would work out. We didn't really know what they wanted with us, but perhaps if these flowers were being used across the nation, then they would have hundreds of wolfbloods to study and we would not be dragged off to a lab. These thoughts floated over me as I decided to switch my focus to staying calm and remaining in human form to appear non-threatening. Of course, as I think I've already mentioned, good luck does not tend to favour me.