ORPHAN aka Violet Haired Girl

chapter thirteen

I DON'T KNOW HOW many hours had passed by, or where I was when I awoke but I woke up with a serious headache.

"Oh look, she's awake." Celeste cried out when I made the slightest movement.

I groaned, "Where am I?"

"You passed out hard after Uzzi explained to you how our home got its name so we brought you to the closest inn," Celeste explained as Jack Hunter and two other wolves walked in.

"I must've been heavy..." I gasped and Celeste chuckled,

"You're pretty light for someone who looks as tough as a hammer."

"How are you feeling?" Jack Hunter asked as he leapt onto the bed and stared at me.

"Just a headache," I mumbled and looked around.

The room was small and its floor, as well as the walls, were made of wood. There was a small, round window next to the bed I was laying on that overlooked a small market. Pups chased after each other howling and laughing while they made their way back home.

A tall enough door for an average-sized human was on my left and next to it was a one-seater couch and a round coffee table that held just a glass vase with a single red rose. On the other side of the door was a book-shelf with a few books and a box of tissue.

The brown wolf from earlier, who I assumed was named Uzzi came into the room with a small box in his mouth, "This will stop the headache." Jack Hunter said

I raised an eyebrow and folded my arms, "What is that?"

Jack Hunter and Uzzi looked at each other and rolled their eyes, "Medicine."

"What kind?" I stared at them and Celeste sighed.

"If the girl's not going to take it I'll just make some bone marrow soup." She got up and stretched before walking out the door.

"You're so difficult." Jack Hunter said and I rolled my eyes.

"I'm not the one who's forced to take unknown medication."

"It's just pain killers we stocked up, jeez." Jack grumbled, "I don't know how your grandmother keeps up with you."

"She doesn't. That's why I'm not at home." I shrugged and laid back down, facing the wall so I don't have to look at them.

"Am I gonna get a tour here or something?" I asked.

"We're not staying here for long. We're leaving when the sun rises." Jack Hunter said and then I heard the door close.

I looked behind me and saw Uzzi sitting down on the couch but Jack Hunter was nowhere to be seen.

"Why're you here?" I asked him and sat up.

"Why are you here?" Uzzi shot back and I stuck my tongue out at him.

The room got quiet and I became uncomfortable. I threw the white sheets off of my legs only to find out I don't have on any pants. Startled, I threw the sheets back over me, "Ahh! Where are my pants?"

"You were burning up." Uzzi said, trying his best to avoid eye contact with my body, "You also have no shirt on."

I looked down and turned red, "Where are my clothes?"

"Celeste took them off of you since you were complaining about how hot you were when you were sleeping." Uzzi gulped and jumped off of the chair, "If you want I can bring your clothes for you. I don't want my name to be on anything I didn't do."

"That's b********y and downright gross." I scrunched my nose up, "And yes please bring my clothes...fast."

Uzzi nodded and ran towards the door, fiddling with it. Once he got it open, he looked back at me before running out.

"Weird." I placed my hand next to me and felt a melted, warm icepack.

Was I out for that long?

I laid back down and dragged my arm over my eyes before dozing back off.

━━━

A few moments later the room was filled with everyone and I was wide awake and finished dressed.

I drank some of Celeste's bone marrow soup and my headache was cured along with my hunger. The pain killer was still on the table, untouched.

"Why are we leaving at daytime again?" I asked and scratched my eyebrow after listening to Jack Hunter talk over his plan with everyone.

"That's when Uzzi transforms," Celeste answered.

"Transform into what? A bird?" I scoffed and Uzzi rolled his eyes at me.

"No, a man-eating slug." Uzzi replied with sarcasm, "A human, idiot."

"You're a werewolf?" My mouth dropped open.

"Well not exactly. I'm a human. I was cursed by some weirdo woman because I tried to bring apples back home to my family to eat when I was fourteen. I was forced to live in here since day time was the time I became a wolf."

"Curse? Woman? Can the curse be undone?" I asked, my head tilted.

I was interested. Really interested.

It's just like a fairytale. The ones I have been reading. My quarantine was becoming interesting. Things like these my grandmother were trying to keep from me and I don't know why.

This shouldn't be a mystery. Her keeping these answers from me is the real mystery. Is it because she wants me to learn that these things exist on my own? Is it because she thinks I won't believe her if she answers?

Or was it because she doesn't know?

No that can't be. My grandmother knows just as much as my grandfather does about these wolves.

Could've it been that many things changed in the past eight years?

"Not unless the witch gets defeated." He said with disgust.

"So only you can transform?" I need to know as much as I can carry.

He shook his head.

"That's why we have rooms like these ones, with human beds, there's a bunch more like me that was forced to live here. No normal human knows about this place except you. Despite the fact that I don't think you're normal."

"We just haven't discovered her true power yet." Jack Hunter said, "That's why we're moving at day. And we could use another human hand to help."

"Why? Am I not enough?"

"There's only so much one can do. And without knowing your power, we have no clue how it will go."

"This journey is dangerous, Remi." Uzzi looked into my eyes. His chocolate eyes dark, his pupils dilated.

I smiled at him, "Not when I have you guys. We'll be fine."

But really and truly, that glimpse of hope was gone, and I felt sick to the stomach. I said a quick prayer for safety and we all sat there, waiting for daytime.

1113 words