Chapter 7: Aiden

 

 

 

There's no way he's a panther.

Closed up in my tiny bedroom, I played with a tennis ball I'd found under the bed. I lay on my back, tossed it in the air and caught it, over and over, as I thought about Erick's eyes. They'd been pale orange, the color of amber, with black slits for pupils, nothing like any panther I'd ever seen.

And those hands…

As he raised his hands to cover his eyes, I could've sworn they were covered in scales.

Erick was lying.

There was no doubt in my mind. I couldn't trust him, no matter what my gut was telling me.

So tonight was the night I'd be making my escape.

The sky outside was pitch black, just like the forest surrounding the R.V. Erick had gone to bed, but I wanted to wait a little longer to give him time to slip further and deeper into sleep.

And as I waited, I drifted off a little bit, too.

My mind was swallowed up by a light dream. I saw quick, hazy images. Flashing swords. Men as tall as mountains breathing fire, growing wings…

Realizing I'd fallen asleep, I jerked back awake, breathing to slow my fluttering heart. I checked my watch to see that it was nearly three in the morning.

Showtime, I told myself.

I whipped the covers off of myself. Underneath, I was already dressed, the ankles of my jeans stuffed into boots and a windbreaker stretched around a thick, cable-knit sweater. I felt like I was suffocating under all those layers, but the mountains got cold at night.

I didn't know how long I'd have to walk.

I opened the door slowly so it wouldn't creak, and I peered out. The main cab of the R.V. glowed silver-blue, illuminated by moonlight spilling through the front windows.

The sound of my heartbeat pounded in my ears as I tiptoed out, eyes straining out to see if Erick was asleep or awake in the reclining passenger seat.

When I passed through the kitchen, I stopped in my tracks.

Erick was gone.

I forgot how to breathe for a moment.

"What the hell?" I muttered, staring at the worn, empty quilt thrown carelessly over the seat.

There was no time to dwell. Swallowing a jab of urgency inside, I zipped up my windbreaker, stashed a bag of trail mix in my pocket, and stole out into the night.

Yellowing pine needles crunched dryly under my boots as I jogged into the trees.

I'm free, I thought, exhilarated by the sudden, open air. I'm actually free.

I followed the tire tracks from Rowan's car, two narrow channels cut into the forest floor and curving through the trees. My heart was still racing despite the stillness around me. After a few minutes, I could finally feel my insides winding back down.

I squinted at the ground.

I could use some night vision right now, I caught myself thinking. Then, I gave my head a firm shake.

No.

I didn't need my wolf to survive. I was happy enough being human. It was what I always wanted. I forced my gaze back to the tire tracks, only to realize that at some point, they'd disappeared.

At the same exact moment, something enormous passed in front of the moon.

The world around me went dim, as if someone had flipped a huge light switch in the sky. Instinctively, I ducked.

"What the hell was that?" I whispered aloud to myself.

Whatever it was, it was big enough to block the moon, and I did not want to cross its path.

Steadying myself against a tree, I took a moment to breathe and still my pounding heart. I was dripping cold sweat under my clothes, which made me realize how spooked I was. I stared ahead into the dark unknown.

Whatever that thing was, it was still out there. I wasn't sure if I wanted to risk keeping my life for…finding out whatever unknown thing it was that had flown over the moon.

I'll try another time, I convinced myself.

I turned around and started trudging back, keeping to the shadows in case the gigantic, swooping thing decided to come back.

After a few minutes, I sensed that I was getting close to the R.V. again. The trees ahead formed tall, column-like shadows. When one of them began moving, I almost got a heart attack.

I froze, holding my breath as fear throbbed hard and fast through my veins.

"Aiden?"

I exhaled. Erick. For some reason, hearing his voice made me so relieved I could've kissed him.

"What are you doing out in the dark?" I said as I began walking towards him.

"I could ask you the same thing."

I got close enough to be able to tell that he was a man and not a tree. A split second later, I realized he was completely naked, and I flicked my gaze at the ground.

"I couldn't sleep," I lied, staring hard at a lumpy pine cone nestled in the dirt. "Erick…why aren't you wearing any clothes?"

"I was patrolling. In my panther form," he said.

I stared in the direction of his face, which was veiled in shadow. Is he lying? He probably was.

"Shall we go back?" Erick said.

I exhaled resignedly. "Sure."

I let him lead the way back to the R.V., feeling dejected from what had to be the most pathetic escape attempt ever made.