***
"Alison? Where are you?" I could hear Melissas voice echoing in the schools bathroom where I was sitting . I cleared my throat and said, "Last stall." Melissa walked over to the stall and knocked three times. "What's wrong?" I said nothing. "Come on Alison. Talk to me." I unlocked the stall door and swung it open in a whoosh of air. "What?! Can't a girl have some space?" I pushed passed Melissa and went to the sink and leaned my sweaty palms on it. Melissa followed behind me. "Alison." She said sturnly. I spun around and glared at her. "What Melissa? What is so important you had to chase after me like some dog to the bathroom?!" She paused and then said calmly as she could, "Well. Considering you just booked it out of class, I thought I would be a good friend and check on you." I sucked in a big breath and held it for a second then exhaled it calmly. "I'm just feeling overwhelmed and stressed." Melissa watched me then smiled and said, "Talk to me. Isn't that what best friends are for?" I gazed at her. "Yeah, you're right." Melissa asked, "Is it time to go back to class now little dog?" I gave her a very unimpressed face then nodded in agreement. We walked out of the bathroom together back down the hall. She always knows how to calm me down.
***
The walk back to the class seemed to take forever. Not to mention the class that followed.
***
At lunch I sat in the crowded caffiteria with Melissa. She was going on and on about this guy, Josh, she had met in her second period class. I just chewed my food and half listened to her. I wasn't really in the mood to hear about guys right now; I was too worried about the test in next class. Just as I was about to open my mouth to comment on something Melissa said, when the end of lunch bell rang and stopped me before I could start. Melissa scampered to grab her back pack and her tray while I just left mine sitting on the lunch table. Melissa looked at the table, then at me, then at the table again. Finally she said, "Excuse me. Are you forgetting something Miss Stone?" I laughed and picked up my tray. She got all happy again and trotted over to the garbage can and dumped her uneaten spaghetti in it. I set my tray on top and follwed behind Melissa. I was holding onto her backpack string when someone yelled, "Look out!" Just as I looked up to get out of the way, some guy ran into my shoulder knocking me to the ground hard. The last thing I remember was a sharp pain in my left arm where he ran into me and a splitting headache as I lay on the floor. Then everything went black.
***
"Alison? Alison? Can you hear me?" I heard something, but it sounded more like a buzzing from a bug then something human. I heard more buzzing around me. "She got hit pretty hard." A third more softer buzzing said, "Do you think she's alright?" I remember a white light going left then right and then everything was very blurry. I heard the noises again but this time they sounded more clear. "Alison. Open your eyes." I groaned and opened my eyes. Everything was a blur. I blinked a few time then everything came into focus. I cleared my throat and said, "W-what happened?" Everyone in the room looked at Melissa; her eyes were red and beady. She took a faint breath and said, "We were at school, and someone came running through the cafeteria like a mad man!" Her words got shaky and she looked frightened. She continued, "The man was covered in blood and was screaming 'they are coming!' Then he ran into you." She reached out and touched my arm. I looked at it. It was bandaged in a off white bandage that was taped on one side. I looked at her and asked, "Why is my arm bandaged?" She said, "When the guy ran past you, he sliced you with a.." She paused and tried to catch her thoughts; then continued, "It was a blade. The police said it was made of wolf tooth and it had a wolf head carved out on the handle." She stopped and looked at me with worried eyes. I just sat there. My head was now pounding. "Can I go home yet?" Melissa looked around and then went out to the hall to get a nurse. After a few minutes a nurse came in and told me how to take care of my wound. I asked Melissa if she would drive me home. She agreed to. My headache wasn't as bad anymore but my cut felt like it was on fire.
All I could think about was that knife.
Why a wolf?
