Chapter 8…
Angie walked to the showers after her first day of training. Her body stiffened and she felt an urge to growl and started to scratch. She forced herself to Jade’s room and pounded on the door.
Jade rose from her chair and opened the door. She stepped aside and allowed Angie to enter. The girl’s motions were jerky and awkward.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I figured you could help. My muscles all stiffened up at the same time, my skin is all itchy, and feel like I need to growl at something.”
Jade smiled and led her to the couch, “Come. Sit over here. This sometimes happens to new pups after a rigorous training session. It’s the werewolf blood asserting itself. Do as I say, and you will be fine.”
Angie listened as Jade walked her through a deep meditation session. The itching faded away in increments. Her muscles were no longer in knots and stiff as taffy. The growl at the back of her throat surrendered.
Angie opened her eyes, “Wow, that really worked. What was all that by the way? The muscles and stuff.”
Jade sat next to her and placed a hand on her leg, “That’s how it feels when the change is upon you. I was hoping this stage would pass you by before your first full moon.”
Angie’s eyes flew open, “You mean I would have turned into a werewolf?”
Jade shook her head, “Not this soon. You need to remember this feeling and how I helped you through it. You need to walk through the steps to calm yourself down. The closer it gets to your first full moon, the more you will experience this. Three nights before your first moon, we need to put you in a room from which you cannot escape.”
Angie understood, “I got it. I will practice this until it’s second nature.”
Jade smiled, “Good, good, the faster you take to the lessons and exercises, the quicker we can return you to your family and friends.”
Angie stood and walked to the door. She stopped, “What if I don’t want o go back? I mean it could happen, right?”
“Yes, it could happen. It has happened. That’s how Lorn and I ultimately came to be here.”
Angie thanked Jade and went to her room. She sat at her desk and pulled out a notebook.
Dear Diary,
I really need to buy a diary. This isn’t going to work. My first day here was hard but good at the same time. What I thought was going to be some sort of jail is turning out to be a place where people actually give a crap about me. All my parents wanted out of me was to be the best at everything, excel at everything, and ground me if I brought home so much as a “B” on anything.
Finding out I am a werewolf sucks. I’m not gonna lie about that, but maybe, just maybe, this is my chance to do what I want for a change and not be what my parents have always wanted, the perfect little girl.
Angie stopped and took off her shirt, looking for the marks her parents had put on her for not being the perfect girl they wanted, and found none. She sat back down.
The scars are gone. There is no trace of any marks at all. I wish the memories would disappear as well, but I know they won’t. I may not have to go back to that. I don’t want to go back to that life. This is my chance to be free of that, and I am thinking of taking it.
She walked out of her room and down the hall to the cafeteria where she saw Cody sitting with Ajay. He seemed at peace. She grabbed her tray and walked to where he was sitting.
“Is anyone sitting on the other side of you?”
Cody looked surprised, “No, no one wants to sit with me.”
Angie put on her biggest smile, “I want to sit with you if that’s alright.”
Cody nodded and Angie sat next to him, “How are you feeling?”
Cody took a bite of his burger and swallowed, “The doctor is giving me a new medicine, and it seems to be working. I’m not scratching as much anymore.”
“That’s good. Maybe he can help with all the scratching and stuff.”
“I hope so, too. How are you?”
“Tired and hungry. After my first day of training, I am whoo-, ready for a nap.”
Ajay tilted his head to one side in the direction of Angie but said nothing.
Cody caught it, “Why did you change your wording?”
“It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.”
Cody turned to look at her, “Are you sure?”
“Yup, I’m sure.”
They spent the rest of the dinner hour talking about their new life.
After her shower and studies, Angie slid under her sheets and waited for sleep. She tossed and turned, getting tangled in her sheets. She got out of bed, fixed her sheets, and tried again. She remembered what Jade taught her and tried it to see if it would help her fall asleep. Sleep came, but not the kind she welcomed.
She was making her way to her front door. Every footfall was like walking through the kind of mud that threatened to take off your shoe. It was progress report day, and she had two “C”s. She tried to tell her parents she was too tired to study and she didn’t know if she could keep up the schedule, but they persisted, and now, with her hand on the doorknob, she readied herself for another belting. She knew it was coming. She had brought home “C”s after all.
She turned the knob so it made the least noise possible. The door made no sound as she slid her right foot into the foyer and then her left. She listened for any indication that her parents were home and heard none. She made her way upstairs to her room.
She was just about to walk through her doorway when she heard, “Today is report card day, isn’t it, champ?”
Every fiber of her being froze with her hand on her door. The voice that came from her was small and full of fear, “Y-yeah, it is.”
She turned to face her father who was standing with his arm out and palm up, “Let’s see it.”
She slid her backpack off her shoulder and unzipped it. Her father didn’t let her take it all the way out of the bag before snatching it and looking at the marks on it.
“Two “C”s. What have we told you about bad grades? About being average?” He asked as he removed the belt from the loops.
The belt was in full swing…
Angie sat bolt upright before the belt made contact, her forehead was drenched in sweat, and she looked down at her hands in horror. Her nails were claws.
It was at this time, she heard Jade come into her room. Swift as the wind and quiet as a mouse, Jade was by her side, holding her and rocking her.
“It’s fine. You’re here now. You’re safe here, hun.” Jade stroked her hair, and Angie closed her eyes and the tears started streaming down her face.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you. I didn’t mean to be loud. Don’t be angry, please.”
Jade pulled back and looked at the tear-streaked face, “Angie, you are not my first pup who has been abused. You are not in trouble for howling and making noise because of your nightmare. Shush now, and relax.”
Jade held her once more, rocking her and humming.
House of Geek 