I slowly open my eyes a crack, then slam them shut again afraid of going blind as the sun’s rays beat down through a crack in the curtains straight into my eyes. Groaning I roll over hoping to go back to sleep but after a tussle with the pillows and blanket I find myself more awake than ever. Admitting defeat I sit up wiping my eyes clear squinting slightly as my eyes adjust to the light. Like a snail peeping out of its shell I emerge from my bed and wrap myself in my dressing gown. Half asleep, I wander down the stairs yawning and stretching my arms above my head. As I walk into the kitchen I find all the rest of the family sat around the table with smiles on their faces
“Finally, you’re awake I was about to come up and jump on you” my little brother David laughs his light blue eyes gleaming with glee
“It’s alive its alive, I tell you” my Dad laughs joining in and with the pair of them sat next to each other you would swear that they are the same person just aged a couple of decades. Both with the same blue eyes, the same light blonde hair on their heads with David’s stubble failing to compare to dads well-trimmed beard.
“ Nice of you to join us, I’ve been having to make sure that this lot don’t eat everything before you get up” Mum smiles as I sit down to the table to find that despite her best efforts all I’m left with is a few bits of bacon and some toast.
“I had the last egg” Laurens laughs with childish glee spotting the disappointment on my face her light blonde hair a mess obviously not brushed and traces of toast around her mouth.
I say nothing as I sit there munching on my cold bacon sandwich, the others talk around me. They look like two sets of twins. Lauren has Mum’s dark brown eyes and brown hair. I look nothing like any of them, my hair a dirty blonde growing into curls as it gets longer and my eyes a darker ocean blue, a small nose and a set of rather prominent ears complete my abnormalities but I like the way I look especially my eyes. I sometimes myself losing myself in my own gaze, hypnotising myself.
“Have you finished that book you were reading yet Jason I want to read it?” David asks across the table his mouth full of half chewed food.
I’m a huge fantasy nut. Dragons, ghosts, werewolves, vampires the lot I love it, I much prefer books to films I mean a films fine, but with a book you create the world in your own imagination. It's how you picture it to be. The latest book to be added to the collection is one about a boy who finds a dragon in the modern world and I loved it.
“ I finished it last night so after breakfast you can get it if you want, just don’t ruin it, ” I reply still cautious about lending him books since he left one outside in the rain and it was destroyed
“I’ll look after it don’t worry,” he replies darting off from the table excitedly marching up the stairs like a herd of elephants.
Excusing myself, I head upstairs to get dressed and as I have done for the last month I walk over to the calendar that hangs on my wall. Each month with a picture of a different mythological creature. From fairies to centaurs, but this month has one of my favourites. A werewolf. The picture is of a huge, powerful creature standing on two legs like a man but that’s all that remains. Every inch of its body ripple with muscles and is covered in straw like black hair. Its eyes a crimson red so bright it stands out in the dark, its mouth more like the muzzle of a dog full of ivory white fangs ready to rip a chunk of flesh out of its next victim. Rooting through my draws I pull out a bright blue shirt and navy Tracksuit and head downstairs making a bee-line for the door. “See you later guys I’m going to go and see if Connor’s up yet” I shout and I’m out the door before they can reply. Even though it’s the heart of summer there is a chill in the air this morning as I walk down the path. Our town is in the middle of nowhere, so much so that the roads are pristine smooth black pathways. Walking past the rows of attached houses and slowly getting further and further from the main town I get closer to Connor’s home. He and his mum moved here a few years ago literally overnight. Countless theories began circling about the pair being judged without even a word. I decided to introduce myself one day to discover the truth. I’ve been going there ever since. Connor explained it all to me and I was I little disappointed it was a regular story. Divorce. He spoke about it plainly but asked me not to ask about it. His mum Sarah is the opposite of what people said she would be. She welcomed me with open arms and became fast friends with my mum. The walk to his house is short but the house is so isolated you could nearly miss it. Surrounded by fields it looks out of place. Opening the gate and walking up the path to the front door I admire the garden notice new white lilies knocking on the front door I find it opened almost instantly by Sarah who just smiles walking back down the light hallway. “I don’t know why you bother knocking you practically live here” Sarah jokes as we walk into the kitchen, Connor sits at the table polishing of the last few cornflakes. “It still amazes me you eat those things” I laugh pulling a face of disgust. “Quite easily actually” he laughs as I sit at the table. “I noticed the new flowers. They look nice” I praise Sarah. She just smiles. “I’m pleased someone noticed” she laughs playfully scowling Connor.
“Come one let’s get out of here before she starts ranting about her flowers” Connor laughs ushering me out the door before I can even say goodbye. “I wonder if there will be any more of those tracks. Nothing that should live there could leave tracks like that” I hope as we walk towards the forest. “It was probably a stray dog or something just as boring” Connor dismisses but I can’t help but wonder. “Oh come on Connor don’t you want just one exciting thing to happen around here. I took weeks convince you to even set foot in there” I laugh as we come to our usual entrance the undergrowth clearly squashed by our feet countless times. “Because I’d much rather do something actually fun” Connor snaps coldly but I just shrug it off. “You don’t have to be here I retort walking looking to the ground for any sign of the tracks that shouldn’t be there. “And if I didn’t who would top you walking into trees?” Connor laughs “It was one time!” I shout back embarrassed by the memory knowing it will be a running joke for the rest of my days.
“So Sherlock found any clues?” Connor laughs as we walk the only two people in a sea of trees. “Not yet Watson. Patience good chap is…….” I start as I pull my way through a particularly think patch of undergrowth only to be shaken to the core by the sight on the other side. “Patience is what Jason?” Connor asks following behind me till he too is frozen by the discovery. He lays there perfectly still on his side his lifeless eyes staring straight at the pair of us, his lips apart like he was in the middle of his last words but one thing holds my gaze and refuses to let go. A single bullet hole in the centre of his forehead the blood now dried up caking his forehead stopped only by his eyebrow and drenching the floor below. I stand there for only a second but that is all it takes for the scene to burn itself into my mind I turn and run as hard as my legs will carry me not caring about the stinging nettles that brush my feet or the thorny brambles that cut my hands. Connor runs ahead of me just a terrified. I wanted something exciting but instead I got terrifying, haunting death.
Breaking free off the trees Connor has already vanished leaving me to run in terror alone. I move faster than I have even gone before not giving the world any attention the only thing in my mind is home. I have to get home. Bursting through the door, almost tearing it from its hinges I freeze there my entire body aching, sweat pouring down my skin making my clothes wet and sticky.
“What on earth?” mum shouts running out the sitting room panic on her face. “What’s wrong?” she asks as she leads me into the sitting room, almost pushing me into the soft cushions of the sofa. “There…..in the forest….I saw…..” I stammer fear making me speak nonsense. “Catch our breath for a moment and clear your head and think” mum sooths as dad walks into the room at first oblivious but one look at my face and he realises the state I am in. “I was in the forest walking with Connor and……” I start the words on the tip of my tongue. “We found a body, a man had been shot in the head” I tell them bursting into tears. Every time I close my eyes I see his looking at me blankly. For a moment mum and dad say nothing just exchanging worried glances. Dad leaves presumably to phone the police as mum just wraps me in her arms holding me tight whispering everything will be okay.
The police car soon arrives the red and blue light bouncing off the windows and walls. I can hear the car doors open and shut. Every footstep they take towards the door makes my heart jump. I’ve done nothing wrong but I still find myself intimidated as the two officers walk into the room. One looks older than my parents. Bald with a wrinkled face and hard brown eyes. The second is younger looking only a few years older than me. Much warmer than his partner he smiles gently. “Can you tell us where you found the body” the older policeman asks coldly “in the forest to the west of here” I answer looking down at the floor.
“Can you tell us what you was doing in there?” the younger officer asks softly. “I was just walking in there with Connor a friend of mine.” I tell them feeling like I’m being interrogated. “Can you tell us where he lives Jason?” the cold man asks looking at me like I’m a criminal. “Just down the road on the way there.” I tell them and he groans. “I’ll go with you it can be quite difficult to see sometimes” Mum tells them. “That would be much appreciated thank you” the young officer smiles. The three leave unceremoniously leaving just me and dad sat there. I expect, want dad to say something to reassure me but he just walks out leaving me sat there alone. I sit and try to think of anything else other than that scene. I loose myself in thought so much that I don’t notice Mum and the police officers walk back in the officers scowling at me. “We just went to our so called friend’s house and they said they hadn’t seen you all day but he showed us where you would go. There was nothing there.” The old officer rants frustrated by what look like a waste of his time. “No I saw it! I saw him laying there! Connor was there!” I shout leaping to my feet there disbelief hurting deep but not as deep as Connors lies. “Wasting police time is a serious matter Jason consider this a warning” he sneers walking out the house with his partner in tow leaving me speechless. “Jason…..” mum starts but I just push past her and March towards Connors home so angry so hurt that I feel nothing else. The fear death put in my heart washed away by anger. How could he lie and make me look like an attention seeking child? I fling the metal gate open marching up the path I furiously bang on the door getting no answer I bang harder and harder till my fist gets bruised. Resting my forehead on the door defeated and broken I look down on the floor. A piece of paper lays there my name clear as day in Connor’s hand writing. In my blind rage I must have missed it. Picking it up I expect to find answers inside but all I get is an apology. His apology fails to quell the fire his lie has ignited and I decide there is only one thing for it. I have go back and see if the dead body is really gone. Both possibilities terrify me. If it is there then why the lies and cover up. If it’s not then why did I see one? The sun is still beating down, a huge yellow orb in the clear blue sky as I march towards the source of all this controversy. With every step I’m put more and more on edge the thought of turning back eating at me; tempting me. Walking along I hear footsteps behind me and my heart races. Fear creeps into my bones as I walk the pair behind me always keeping behind matching my pace every second. The further we walk the more isolated I get going further and further away from town only the trees around me for company, their branches hanging over the road dimming the sun tired and unsure of how far I’ve even walked I stop. I keep listening to the pair behind but don’t look back. I expect them to stop when I do but they don’t they carry on slowly getting closer and closer till I can hear their breathing. As they get only a step away from me I start to turn around but I don’t get to see their faces a huge right hook crashing into my chin spinning me to the hard floor blood pumping from my nose. “Stop! We have to take him back alive.” A woman says in hushed urgency. “We will but I’m going to have a bit of fun with him first” the man reply coldly stepping towards me. Grabbing the fabric of my t-shirt he yanks me to my feet holding me face to face with him. My eyes are watering from pain and fear blurring his face but his snarl is unmistakable. “You’re going to pay for what you done” he growls his saliva flying over my face. “ I don’t know what you are talking about” I sob the dead body coming to mind but this time it’s my face looking to the sky but never seeing again. “Liar!” he shouts throwing me through the air. I fly like a missile for seconds before crashing to the floor tearing my clothes, ripping my skin all over as I skip like a stone coming to a painful stop. Looking ahead of me all I see is the trees and I know what I have to do. How I’ll give myself a chance. I’ll have to go back into the forest of death. I slowly pull myself to my feet the pair stopping in their tracks even in shock or to laugh at the state I’m in. every part of my body aches, my blood soaked clothes sticking to my skin. I stand there for a second my heart racing faster than should be possible, my mind blank apart from one word it screams over and over. Run!
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I run as hard as I can. Pushing the muscles in my legs to the brim. The pain numbed by adrenaline and the will to survive as I weave through the trees the heavy clothes dripping blood onto the forest floor. I don’t bother trying to move around the thorns and nettles cutting my already battered body to shreds. I can’t tell if they are following me. I haven’t looked back to see every ounce of energy I have is being used to run. I start to slow and look around trying to see if they have followed me, but I can’t see anything then CRACK. A twig snaps just to the side of me and I whizz around to see what it was and I can’t see anything, then I hear the rustle of leaves behind me and turn to see what is there only to find that there is nothing there again. I turn to start to walk back and find in front of me stands a sight that takes my breath away.
Stood a short distance away from me is a creature I only know from books and films. A werewolf. Stood at almost twice my height arms and legs rippling with muscles. What must have been its hands and fingers is now a set of razor sharp claws just waiting to rip into my flesh. Its face is twisted into a vicious snarl. Drool leaking out of its mouth onto the floor. Its teeth showing long and razor sharp. They look like they could even cut through bone like butter. Its eyes look full of hate and anger. What should be the whites of its eyes are like coal. Its iris, the fire burning. Its fur is perfectly black all over and looks almost like it takes the light from around it and makes the place dark. I’m frozen to the spot as this behemoth of a creature starts to pad its way towards me, its eyes fixed on me. I turn to try and run in a panic and in faced by the same sight except this one is not as bulky and not as high up. They start to circle me, toying with me almost. I stand there with fists raised, trying to look like I have a chance of fighting back, but I know I don’t stand a chance the smaller of the two wolves’ jumps at me and I duck and it flies over me. The other one jumps at me and this time I can’t get out the way and it hits me like a car knocking me to the ground. It pins down my arms with its front legs and it looks me straight in the face. Drool leaks from its mouth soaking my top. Its breath stinks like a dogs. I scramble across the floor trying to get away, but in pins my arm down with one paw. I try to pull it loose, but it won’t budge. Using its free paw it seems to take its time slowly cutting up my arm with its claws almost smiling as I scream in pain as it rips through my flesh. As I lay there on the verge of losing consciousness I hear faint footsteps coming towards me growing louder and louder and moving at incredible speed. The two werewolves leave my side to investigate. I open my eyes to look and see what was going on and see the Werewolves stood in front of me parted just enough that I can see what was making the footsteps stood in front of the two wolves is a man I have never seen before. Old enough to be a grandfather, his hair is a light grey colour and is tied in a ponytail. A shabby beard just as grey covers the bottom of his face. His eyes a vibrant purple colour. That is strange enough, but he is not alone stood at his side is a wolf, larger than a normal wolf built more like an ox but other than that it looks ordinary its fur a mix of shades of grey
“Leave know and we will let you live” the man says and both the black wolf turn and start to back away till they're both at my side and one raises a paw and holds it over my neck but the man’s face stays stern as I whimper in fear. I don’t want to die.
“Harm him and I will make sure that you die slowly and painfully” the man replies and the werewolves paw slowly falls from my neck.
“Now leave and there will be no fighting today,” he says almost like an order and the werewolves don’t move clenching and releasing their fists. “Fine then, have it your way” the old reply’s and in an instant he is gone, replaced by a wolf much like the other except this one has fur of a perfect snow white. The sight of the two wolves is enough to send the werewolves fleeing with their tails between their legs.
I stand there with my mind numb with fear, pain and confusion. I can feel the blood running down my arm drenching my skin, but I don’t make a move to stop it as I stare at the two wolves stood in front of me. The cut on the front of my arm begins to burn and I fall to the floor in agony. Crying out in pain I lay on the floor. The grey wolf walks over to where I lay in pain and I must be hallucinating from the pain because the wolf seems to change shape into a boy who looks remarkably like Connor.
“Oh, Jason, what have they done to you,” he says, his voice solemn “hold on Jason it’s going to be okay,” he says as he holds me in his arms. The old man soon joins his side and looks down at me an almost disappointed look on his face. “Leave him Connor, he’s one of them now he’s lost,” he says, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder
“NO…. I won’t let it.” Connor sobs “that is your decision Connor I won’t sway you, you know the risks as well as I do.” the old man says coldly and regaining control of his breathing Connor turns to face him and with a cold determination in his voice replies“
“He is my best friend. I can just sit here and do nothing please forgive me Jason and know that this is not what I wanted for you”. He whispers into my ear and leaving I lay on the ground damp with my running blood, he disappears once more back to his wolven self. Slowly he rests his fangs over my shoulder reaching down my chest his saliva running down onto my skin. I’m powerless to stop this. Sharply he sinks his teeth in cutting through my body like butter the piercing so painful my screams must wake the dead. The pain doesn’t stop there washing over me like a wave. My body is burning up from the inside, my brain is about to explode. The pain is too much. I fall
