Whisper

~The Beginning Part 2~

Chapter 3:

Waking up to a sharp pain and a pounding headache I sit up and realize I'm still in the woods.

I gasp. My hand instantly reaches for my pocket; pulling out my phone. The screen turns on and reads 1:35 a.m. "Oh God!" I sigh slapping my forehead. I look around in search for the wolf. Gone. No trace of it, with the exception of its prints on the ground. Nana is going to kill me for getting home this late. I sigh tiredly.

I'm reminded of the sharp pain located near my rib cage and whine. Lifting up my shirt I can't help but winch. Blood. A huge scratch runs across my waist and stomach; wolf claws. "Ugh!" Stupid wolf.

Annoyed I put my shirt back down and force myself to stand up.

I shout as a pain shoots up from my right foot; ankle to be exact. It was somewhat sprained. "Ugh!" I groan loudly.

A bloody waist, a pounding headache, and a messed up foot; fantastic!

I am such an i***t.

Then I do something odd.

Before leaving I try to get rid of the wolf's paw prints by dragging my good foot up and down across the ground. Don't ask me why I did that; something just made me do it. I didn't want anyone to know the wolf's location, I didn't want anyone to even know there was a wolf around these areas. I wanted to protect it.

Protecting a beast that attacked me not so long ago, yeah I know pretty stupid.

~*~

Arriving home I see all the lights off. I celebrate within myself, searching for my keys. Carefully opening the front door I slip in. I try my best to move smoothly around the house towards my room without making a sound. Limping my way closer and closer towards my room door I can almost taste victory.

A throat is cleared.

Crap! I shut my eyes knowing I had been caught and wait for what is coming up next.

The lights suddenly turn on. I'm greeted by my grandmother; annoyed as she glares at me. Now Nana was old, but strong for her age. She knew how to cook, take care of me, fight, read, write, and how to work a gun. It may sound and seem like those skills are not all that, but many old folks around here don't know half of what she knows! They just sit in their own pile of misery, aging, and depending on their children who don't want to put up with them. Nana never depended on anyone and I admired that greatly. She had ears like an owl, eyes like a hawk, and almost perfect aim. It's like she was trained on an island where only the fittest could survive. There was no question she could overcome anything thrown at her.

She had gray hair which she usually wore in a bun, baggy pants, and big boots. Her typical outfit for everyday.

"Well look who decided to come home!" she announces sarcastically. "Nana..." I trail off. "Hi!" I shout.

"Where were you child?". She challenges.

I shut my eyes. Pausing for a second I think about lying but finally protest against it sighing out the words, "Woods".

She sighs, "At this time?" she questions.

I nod slowly reopening my eyes to meet her gaze. She's tired; of this same scenario that happens quite often. "I've told you not to go out there all alone. Especially during these hours. You never know what you might encounter." She explains.

Yeah tell me about it.

"You may run really fast, but you barely know how to defend yourself." She adds.

"I apologize Nana." I sigh.

"It's not about apologizing-" I groan loudly pain traveling through my injured parts; she notices.

"Hold on." She stops speaking.

She looks at me confused.

"Yes..?" I question.

"Something is wrong." She senses.

My eyes grow wide, I try to adjust my face so I don't look suspicious.

"What do you mean?" I ask trying to sound confused.

"Stand up straight."

I do as told but winch without realizing it. "There!" she notices. "Take off your sweater." She orders. I sigh slowing obeying her commands. I drop the sweater on the floor, revealing my bloody shirt. "Oh dear child! What did you do!?" She exclaims. She approaches me, "Nana stop!" I demand moving away from her.

"Child you are hurt!" She reminds. "It's not that bad, I swear! I just fell that's all." I lie. "Nonsense!, do you really think I was born yesterday. Get over here!" She argues grabbing my arm.

My shirt is lifted up carefully. "Oh dear!" She gasps. "You've been attacked by an animal. With claws. That wound is pretty deep." She examines. "Whisper." She calls for my full attention, sadness in her eyes.

"I'm so sorry Nana." I apologize.

She sighs shaking her head. "I'm suppose to be taking care of you. You are all I have." She reminds.

"I know Nana-", "You don't!" She cuts me off.

"No more woods." She forbids. My jaw drops. "You can't do that!" I argue. "Whisper look at the size of that wound! That is a permanent scar you'll have! You must stay away from the woods." She defends her point.

"I'll clean this up and then wrap it. Sit here while I get the stuff." She orders.

I do as told.

~*~

The next morning my alarm clock wakes me up as usual to get ready for school. I rub my eyes and stretch before sitting up. Removing my covers I examine my wrapped foot. No running for a good week; great! (please note the sarcasm). I gently place my hand on my stomach that was carefully wrapped as well. Standing up I walk in front of my body sized mirror. I straighten my body and begin to slowly unwrap, revealing my stomach.

I almost tumble down in shock when I peered into the mirror to see my reflection.

The wound was gone..?

"W-what!?"

I run to my bathroom and splash water on my face a few times. Running back to the mirror expecting a different result I stand there shocked. Same thing. No trace of a scar, no scratch, nothing! It was as if the wound had never been there. It was like I was never attacked by that wolf. It was like that wolf and I never had an encounter.

"This is insane..." I whisper as water drips from my face down to my clothes. My fingers trace my stomach all the way to the sides of my waist. I give it a squeeze; no pain. Just regular flat stomach. Normal old me, skinny, fit, with a bit of curves.

"This is crazy." I continue commenting out loud still in complete utter shock.

I twist my body, turn around a few times just to re-examine myself. I looked good as new.

This was a very odd magical trick; with no logically explanation whatsoever.

"Whisper come down for breakfast!" I hear Nana yell from downstairs.