When darkness comes

I suddenly open my eyes and smell dampness. I try to focus my vision and have difficulty seeing several torches hanging on the walls of a room. So. But this is not even a room. And I’m actually lying on the ground. I rise slightly and my vision begins to blur again. This place looks like some kind of strange cave, from which I can’t even see the exit. Thanks to the fire, I see that there are only stone walls around, on which some symbols are painted. When I was able to get up, I started to panic. This feeling kept growing. I didn’t remember at all how I even ended up here and what was going on. However, the longer time passed, the more vividly some memories appeared in my head. Another moment, and I remembered everything. A day earlier. "Summer, I hope you’ll be back at least by 10 o’clock. “My mom said as I stood in front of the mirror and decided what I should wear to my first high school party. Of my friends, I was the youngest, well, not counting Jessica, she and I went to 9th grade together this year, and the rest of our group will be older. Even we have one from 12th grade. In general, we are having our party at his house. I most likely won’t drink, because in principle I don’t like this thing, and everyone knew about it very well, so they didn’t force me. Anyway, just celebrating that Jessica and I are now at high school. This is freaking cool. "I’ll come, don’t worry." I answered, and finally decided on regular jeans and a sweatshirt with a cat. "Will there be many of you there?"Mom asked. "Well, as usual, there are six of us.“I answered, but it was true, I never lied to my mother in this regard. Because she knew my friends well, and even more so Jessica, with whom we had been together almost since cradlehood. "Don't drink alcohol!" Mom said, although she knew that I wouldn’t, but apparently she just wanted to remind me of this. “Mooom...” I rolled my eyes, and Mom smiled as I let down my long blonde hair and combed my hair. "I would do my hair. You looked very good with your ponytail yesterday." "But my ponytail is squeezing my brains. " “Well, you’ll just say the same...” Now my mother rolled her eyes, and when I was ready to go out, she walked me to the door. "Don't go on a spree!" "Fine!“I shouted, already running out into the street and joyfully heading to the meeting place. Of course, I was already at school. We studied for a week and so far, I personally have absolutely no complaints. I now like the fact that I can see my friends at school itself, and not only meet on weekends. Isn't that cool? In general, we have a rather strange bunch. I, Jessica, the oldest of us guy Max, who is openly gay. A terrifyingly odd couple, Sophie and James, who never miss an opportunity to tell dirty jokes, Sophie to show off her clothes and manicure, and James to show off how he works out in the gym. And also music lover Betty, who constantly wears headphones and is a little on her own wavelength. She's also my ex. Yes, I'm a lesbian and all my friends know about it too. Only Betty and I dated for only six months and recently broke up, but we realized that we were still awesome friends.And how did we even meet, we didn’t even kiss properly, so I still don’t know how to do it, but of course I haven’t told anyone about it and I don’t intend to. While I was walking to my friends, I managed to get very cold, because after all, in this state in the city of Portland it is often cold outside, especially in the fall. We were lucky that even though it was already dark, the full moon brightly illuminated the road. We got together as planned and just chatted about random things for a while. James and Sophie got drunk and went dancing, blasting the music almost loudly. "Aaah! My ears!“I screamed, not hearing my own voice, but when these two are not adequate, it’s like putting out a fire with gasoline. Max motioned for the rest of us to go into the kitchen while the couple went crazy. "I'm glad that you girls are with us now." Max said.“But I’m just not in the mood for dancing, well, you know, I broke up recently.” "We understand"Jessica said."I personally am not asking to organize a disco of the century." "In fact."I nodded. “It’s just a shame that no new handsome boys came to us this year.”Max started his repertoire again, to which everyone has long been accustomed. "Yeah, and girls."Betty said"Well... although I don’t want a relationship, I would like to draw some beautiful girl." "Yeah, you would give her a portrait."Jessica added.“You could even sell it.” "Well, no, selling is no longer the same." "Oh...“I heard my phone ringing and took it out of my pocket, noticing that my mother was calling me.“I’ll go outside and answer.” I went outside and picked up the phone. "Hello"I said. "Well, are you having fun?"Mom asked. "Yeah I’m not going home yet, but I’ll come soon." "Okay, don't stay there for long." "OK." I don’t know about many people, but my mother and I got along quite well. My dad is at work late as usual today, but maybe when I get home I’ll meet him. I'm lucky that today I don't have to sit with Emily, my little sister, who recently turned 8 years old. It seems like our mother is not very worried about her, because she knows that she will stand up for herself, just like me. Although I don’t particularly shine with strength. And I don't do sports. I’m not sure that I could give a good fight back with actions, but I will be persistent to the last, even if a hunk bodybuilder is standing next to me. Crying and cowering in a corner in fear was never my way out of a situation. For us, this is, so to speak, a family affair. I was torn out of my thoughts by strange sounds coming from the end of the street, since the house we were in was nearby. And at the end of this street the forest began. I looked carefully in the direction of the sound and this time I could hear it better.I came a little closer and noticed a guy lying on the ground, about my age, maybe a little older, who, apparently, felt very bad. He writhed in pain and tried to scream. I freeze not even knowing what to do. I've never been in situations like this. Maybe I should call 911? "Please help me."He said and looked at me. I don't know how he even noticed me. "What happened to you? I'll call an ambulance." "No! “He screamed so loudly that I even jumped."Better go away, get out of here!" "But..."Those times, you try to help a person, and he kicks you out, I didn’t even know what I should say. He looked at me again, and I was horrified when I noticed how his eyes changed color to yellow and began to glow."What the hell?“I screamed and backed away. Horror and panic began to seize me. My mind screamed that I should run to my friends’ house or call an ambulance, or even the police, but my body seemed numb and my legs became weak. My vision even began to swim. A few more moments, and it seemed to me that his bones were breaking, his eyes and face were changing. Something happened, and a huge wolf was already standing in front of me, who for several seconds simply looked at me and growled, baring his teeth. As luck would have it, there was no one on the street yet, and practically no one lives here next to the forest. It felt like it was the end. Suddenly a howl was heard from the forest. The wolf turned around sharply and howled in response, running towards the forest. Soon he disappeared behind the trees, and I stood there for a while and felt tears running down my cheeks.For some reason I was still unable to move. What the hell is this? How this guy turned into a wolf and almost killed me was on my mind. I was able to come to my senses only when I heard heavy footsteps behind me. I turned around sharply, but before I had time to understand anything, a rag was suddenly thrown over my face.