Howl To Be A Girl

Fear. The excruciating feeling when in danger or threatened. My heart feels as if it’ll leap out of my chest as I ran down a rocky hill. I could hear the growls getting closer and closer to me, the burning in my lungs got worse as I panted roughly. My legs felt sore, my head spinning, I just knew I had to escape somehow. How incredibly stupid was I, why did I go look for the wolf pack in the first place? Upon reaching another hill, my foot finally gives out and I stumble and fly down, rolling down rocks and twigs. I could feel them pierce my skin and bruises were definitely made. Finally stopping at the bottom of the hill, I struggle to get up and run more, and just when I got to stand up, I’m knocked back down to the floor. I scream and cry out as a large black wolf pins me down and starts scratching me.     “Help! Someone help me!”  The wolf’s jaw closed around my left arm and with a powerful bite, a snap left my arm. Tears streamed down my face and I could smell the blood. My vision goes blurry, and I couldn’t even struggle anymore. The world around me is engulfed with darkness, and I can’t help but think what a way to die. ~                                                                    ~                                                         ~     Rain drops kiss my cheek, my eyes flutter open and immediately I whimper at the pain from my arm. I realize I was being held, and look up to see none other than one of my best friends, Simon Browns, carrying me towards the center of the campsite.      “S-Sai, what are you-? How did-”     “Shh, I heard you screaming and rushed to find you. You lost a lot of blood, I’m taking you to the hospital.” He said sternly. “Why the hell did you even leave is beyond me, you know how dangerous it is. If anything you could have asked me to come with you.”     I shrink back slightly, I’ve seen Sai upset, but never this upset. I squeak out an “I’m sorry” and then winced while looking at my arm. It’s been wrapped with his sweater and now leaking blood, staining his shirt. He reached everyone at the site and panic broke once they saw the blood. My friends Lynn and Kristy came up to us and gasped.     “Oh my god, what the hell Saria!?” Lynn said.     “Jeeze, I’ll go tell Mr. Woods what’s happening. You two take her to the hospital.” Kristy said. Sai nodded and started jogging with Lynn to his car.     “Lynn, grab my keys and start it while I put Saria in the back seat.” He said as Lynn swipes the keys from around his neck and bolts to the driver’s side.     “You’ll be okay Ri, the hospital isn’t too far but hang in there.” Sai said with worry clear in his bright green eyes, he places me into the backseat of his Corolla and sits up front with Lynn. She backs up sharply and speeds off onto the road, going nearly 20 over the speed limit.      “C-calm down, we have to get there alive!” I called from the backseat.     We arrived at the hospital and Sai carried me in while frantically asking for help. A nurse tells us where to go and I get whisked away from several staff members.      “Your arm is broken sweetie, we have to put it in a cast after you get cleaned and sewn up.” One said. When we got into a room, I laid on the bed and finally passed out a second time from the pain.      In a flash I’m awake once again, my eyes sting under the bright lights and my nose burns from the intensity of the alcohol. Groggily sitting up, I look over to see Sai sitting next to my bed.     “Hey, how you feeling?” He asked. I could only groan in response as he leans forward to give me a hug. “You scared me. Don’t ever do that again, ‘kay?”     “I-I know. I’m really sorry Sai.” I replied.     “I would say it’s okay, but it’s not.” He grimaced at the cast on my arm and sat back down. We sat in silence for a while before I realized something was bugging me.     “Hey, how’d you know where to find me? I was pretty deep in the woods.” I said. Before he could answer, a doctor comes into the room, a sympathetic look on her face.     “Well, well, Saria Sanchez. You sure had a horrible accident. I’m putting you on pain meds and some antibiotics, and you are free to leave when you’re not as groggy.” She said before zipping out of the room. Sai and I looked at each other before laughing at how quick she was; he helped me out of the bed carefully before we walked out to his car where Lynn was waiting for us.     “And she lives! Jeeze, you scared the living hell out of me.” Lynn almost shrieked as she hugged me.      “I know, I know. I’m sorry! And watch the arm!” I squeaked. Lynn lets go quickly and gave me a sheepish smile.         “Sorry Ri, anyways, we gotta get you home.” Lynn said as she got back into the car. I was about to agree with her when I got a buzz from my phone. My mom was calling; I groan internally already knowing the lecture I was going to get.     “What were you even thinking about being away from your friends? This was supposed to be fun for you, it was the annual senior camping trip! You’re nearly 18 Saria, I expected better from you.” My mom said through the phone as soon as I picked up. I sighed loudly, wincing at the pain in my arm. Sai gave me a look from the passenger seat.      “I know mom...it was really stupid of me..does dad know?”     “Yes he does, he got a call from Lynn at the station but he couldn’t leave. And I couldn’t  get you since it’s a whole hour and a half drive away.” Mom said as she sniffled, she also mentioned that she cried her eyes out when the hospital notified her about me.     “The doctors say I’ll be fine, I just need to take painkillers and antibiotics so my arm doesn’t get infected. Lynn and Sai are driving  me home as we speak.” I said as mom hums in response. We said goodbye and I just groaned again, Sai looked up from his phone and Lynn gave me a glance from the rearview mirror.     “Oh, I didn’t tell you. Erik called me and was very concerned. Which I find weird because he hasn’t hung out with us all year but whatever.” Lynn said. Sai whipped his head back to her and furrowed his eyebrows.     “That i***t was concerned about Ri? Why didn’t he call her himself?”     “Sai, chill. I don’t know why you hate him so much, he’s your friend too. And I’m glad to know he was concerned for me…” I blushed as I said that. Erik Peters, with his piercing blue eyes and dirty blond hair, he’s been my crush since the day I met him; he was always so sweet right up until this year when he decided to date Portia Green, the typical blond, blue eyed cheerleader and resident mean girl of the school. God, I can’t wait to graduate so I can be freed from this bullshit.      “He’s an i***t for ditching the group for a hoe, and for being such a jerk when people are watching him.” Sai retorted, his green eyes darkened as he spoke about him.      “Hey, it’s okay. He’s acting like the typical jock in a rom-com. Besides, we’re better off without him.” Lynn pipped up as she turned onto the highway. Sai goes silent and looks out the window, Lynn and I exchange a look, knowing that he’s pissed. Lynn turns up the radio and I lay back in my seat, trying to figure out how my mom will react once we get home. ~                                                      ~                     ~     “Saria!!” Mom screeched as Sai walked me into my house. “I still can’t believe you needed a cast.”     “She got hurt pretty bad Mrs. Sanchez. The doctor said it should take a couple weeks to heal since her arm broke.” Sai said as he put down my backpack.     “I have to be on antibiotics so it doesn’t get  infected, Doc already sent it to the pharmacy in town.” I reminded her, Mom sighed before giving me a hug.      “Thank you Simon for bringing her home in one piece.” She said as she grabbed my bag.       “Any time.” He replied as I walked with him toward the front door. “I’ll see you Monday?”      “Of course. Thanks for today again.” I said as he wraps his arms around me and hugs me gently.     “No problem. And I’m really sorry it happened.” Sai said as he walked out onto the porch.     “It’s not like it’s your fault.” Sai only looked at me apologetically before walking back to his car. My eyebrows furrowed as I closed the door, wondering why he gave me that look. An uneasy feeling fills my stomach and chills go up my spine. I shook the feeling off before heading to the kitchen. Why do I have such a weird feeling? ~                                                        ~                                                 ~     “Ugh.” I gasped as I sat up in bed. Looking over to my night stand, the red letters on my clock read 2:35. Pain shoots up and down my arm, my forehead sweats as I stood to walk around my room; trying my best to distract myself from the pain. I breathed in shakily, pacing back and forth; my leg ended up giving out and I landed on my knees. Tears stung my eyes and I bit down on a pillow to keep from screaming. It is going to be a very long night.