01

"So, what do you think? " My mom asks, waving her hand around.

Giving the kitchen, which is where we are right now, a double take, I scroll through my brain for memories of every inch of our new home, so I can have something to say.

"It's very nice," I finally say, looking at her.

Her face falls for a second before her lips curve up into a small smile.

She's trying to hide her disappointment, but she is failing miserably.

" I thought you were fine with us moving, " she says.

There is resignation to her tone, as if she has concluded my every thought until now.

" I am," I respond, moving away from her to take a seat on the barstool.

" You don't sound like it." She complains.

She now leans by the cupboards, with her arms crossed.

" How else do you want me to express it? Would you like me to run around the neighbourhood naked, shouting out loud about how much I love our new, much bigger, and brighter house? " I ask in amusement.

" You're not funny." She grumbles while shaking her head, making her shoulder length, blonde locks, to move in sync with her movements.

" Mom, you were the one who sprung the idea of moving, to me. So, you can't expect me to jump in happy mode, each time you come up with something. "

I watch her expression change to one of concern, as she slumps against the kitchen drawers, her arms uncrossing.

Uh oh.....

" I know. I just-when you were attacked that night and........." She takes a breath. " Oh, what was I supposed to do, let you live out your terrors at that place? No way. " She shakes her head vigorously.

" I'm fine, besides, it's just a scratch."

At the mention of my wound, I realise that my fingers found their way to the spot, already scratching on it. It's almost like a natural thing, it's getting scary.

"No, that animal tried to kill you and place you, in one of his many collections. "

I snicker at her choice of words.

" Not funny, you almost died that night and I almost lost my baby. "

Oh no, I can see the tears threatening to come out. She's shed too many tears now, I don't want the same thing to happen right now.

" But I didn't, so stop stressing. Now, I'll be upstairs to get the feel of my new room, if you need me." I say, getting off the stool and start for the stairs.

" Oh, Casey? " She calls me, halting my steps, where I look over my shoulder.

" You know I love you, right?... And I'd do everything in me, to protect you," she continues to say.

I might have teased her a bit, on her getting all soppy with me, but the look of seriousness on her face, with pleading-concerned eyes, I accept her words with my utmost honesty.

" I know and I love you too." I respond, turning around and continuing my way.

Anyone who knows me, knows very well how careful I am with that word, I don't just throw it around because I hold them dear to me.

Now entering back into my new, moody green painted room, I almost smile at the thought of earlier, when my mom first showed me this room. Her excitement was endearing, she, pointing out my much bigger closet, my own bathroom, my dream queen sized bed and two most important things.... My cool window seat, leading to the largest window in this house and my own small book shelf, that was a definite must have.

I can tell by the fine details of a plush rug, the nice wallpaper behind my bed that matches the rest of the wall so well, and neatly placed collection of my teddy bears, that so much heart was put into this. It has made accepting my new room much easier.

Having gone to the bathroom, I couldn't help my feet from leading me to the mirror, where I now stare right back at my own reflection. I pull up my shirt and have another look at the long, scary looking scratch turned wound, right on my abdomen area .

A light touch on it and I'm immediately transported back to that fateful night.

It had been one of those nights, a night meant for a stroll around town. Mom and I had a bit of an argument, this leading to me storming out and later finding myself lost in the woods. I guess I'd been too into my head to notice my change of route. Now looking back at our little argument, it was a silly spat, resulting to me, meeting my horror.

I can remember the fog around that area, making it quite hard to see clearly. Being the stubborn person I am, I truly found myself going in deeper into the woods, with the belief of me eventually finding my way back. Soon my feet were exhausted and through defeat, I knew I had to go back, because I was truly lost.

I remember having walked a couple lengths, and feeling eyes at my back. Moments of surveying my surroundings and with assurance that there was nothing suspicious, I continued my way. By that time, the fog had gotten thicker and it didn't help that my feet were just dragging along the ground.

The regret and stupidity I felt towards myself on acting on impulse, I wanted to punch myself for acting out when I could have locked myself in my room, instead of walking in circles, in the woods, in the middle of the night.

While mentally scolding myself, I hadn't realized that I had attracted attention, attention from something beyond my wildest imagination. The snapping of a twig got my attention, where my head whipped in every direction and my heart raced fast against my chest. Every possible thought clouded my brain and pushed my body to react.

The only thought in mind was to run and running I did.

The action of running cleared up everything, that now something definitely was there and it was chasing after me. The more I ran, the harder its feet pounded on the ground, almost shaking it.

When the view of my house was in eyesight, I pushed harder on my feet. The passing figure of my mom walking back to the house had me screaming after her. I believe she heard the scream the first time yet didn't trust enough that it was me, who was screaming. That one scream, led to me being tackled to the ground. The hundreds of pounds on me had me gasping for air.

It snarled and growled at me, making me to whimper in fright. The more it growled, the louder my whimpers grew, I don't know how long I laid on my stomach, with a big something hovering over my back.

"Please, " I had whimpered, even though I had no clue to what, I was pleading for.

Even so, my plea seemed to work, when suddenly I felt some of the weight being lifted off me. I took the opportunity to carefully turn around and safely lie on my back. I could feel its eyes on me, its breath and the power radiating off it.

Oh my, so much power.

The low growl of warning I believe, convinced me to slowly open my eyes and to blink a few times in disbelief, of what hovered above me.

A midnight black werewolf.

In all my life I had never seen something so huge, its golden brown eyes stared down at me. When our eyes connected, everything around me stopped. My breathing, my heart and air, before it started up again. I watched it tilt its head to the side, probably out of curiosity. I don't know.

Side to side its head moved, before it stared down at me, more like down my body. Trailing my own eyes down, I realized that it was focused on my midsection, I felt its intense gaze on my chest and before I knew it, it lowered it's head and the feel of its wet snout on where my heart was, made me gasp in surprise.

I held my breath, believing it was about to rip my flesh out, but no, it proved me wrong, when it breathed down on that spot. The wolf changed direction and twisted it's head to the side, it's side almost lying on top of that spot, the action left me confused.

Why did it not attack me, why settle for listening or feel my heartbeat?

I don't know how long we stayed like that, it felt like forever until I started to wiggle in discomfort. I was glad to have it notice my discomfort, it's understanding almost felt human like, confusing me even more. As it moved away from the spot, its eyes connected to mine briefly, before it looked down to the previous area.

I was confused on its fascination with that area, more so where my heart was.

" Casey! " My mom's voice had broken through the night, catching both the wolf and I's attention.

I started to crawl backwards and that's when everything spun out of control.

A low growl had come from the wolf as its eyes grew more intense. The closer her voice sounded, the more the wolf's whole demeaner changed, from calm and curious, to the vicious being I'd ran away from minutes ago.

My heart started up again, this time every fear poked at me. I soon started to wiggle from under it, trying to get away. That didn't go unnoticed by the wolf, which brought out a harsh reaction from it, that its paw swiped at me, acting on impulse. I turned my back to it, as a way to protect myself. Immediately a burning, prickly sensation took over my side.

The pain was too much that I couldn't help but scream for my life. The scream was enough to attract my mom's attention as well as, drive the werewolf away from me.

I didn't miss the glimpse of gold around its black irises, before I passed out.

I don't really remember what happened next, but that I woke up at the hospital. I had told my mom what had happened, except the moment shared between the wolf and I.

I felt it unnecessary but also secretive, weirdly enough.

I guess I'll never know the meaning behind the wolf's actions. It looked like an animal that had just come across a new toy yet not knowing what to do with it. I'm grateful my mom got to me in time before anything worse happened. Apparently I looked dead, but here I am, about to start over.

I do wish it was simple though, to move on without being reminded of that night which changed my life forever, a night that still gives me nightmares.

It not only reminds me that I almost died, but that I was left marked by a midnight black werewolf.