Bounded

Sword of Raymona

November 28th 2030

Unfortunately for me there was no way I could hide from anyone let alone escape my fate. I couldn’t even sleep last night too afraid of what everyone meant for the past month. At one point I was excited but now I’m petrified. I wasn’t allowed to stay at the cabin since the day before last all due to the fact that no one wants me to be alone there along with the fact that my family wants me to be nearby for my big day. You’d think that a wedding was being held or something along those lines but no, just a birthday. My day started out with being sent on errands at first then Lizzy and Ben dragged me to the movies which I guess isn’t so bad considering how things have gone lately. Next we went to eat at my favorite joint followed by a little game shopping.

I ended up getting the complete assassins creed collection for my PS7. I mean I had to make sure Ben wouldn’t get too bored but what we did next couldn’t be helped. Lizzy and I stopped by a jewelry store while Ben stayed back at the game store. We must have spent three hours there until we found something that we wanted. Lizzy found a pair of diamond studs and a small diamond necklace with a sterling silver chain. I found an earring for double piercings and a pair of stud diamond earrings. I also found a crescent moon lined with diamonds.

Since I was little I remember having a metal allergy so I always had to make sure that all my jewelry was made from stainless steel. I could wear sterling silver but after a little while I’d start to have a reaction. No one in the family knew but mom. The later it got the more I noticed subtle things like my whole body aching. The need to run grew to the point of annoying me, and I couldn’t forget the increasing need to be near Trent. As we walk out the jewelry store I stop at the exit bracing my head groaning. Lizzy stopped beside me concerned “Hey Ray you cool?”

I remove my hand, slightly shaking my head “Yeah, just a sudden headache is all.” We stopped by a curb store so I could get something for my head while we were here. We decided to also grab some drinks and snacks. By the time we made it to the arcade it was already starting to get dark and yet all we cared about was having as much fun as possible before having to return home. By five thirty we were heading back home bummed that our fun had to end. In a way I was grateful since this morning I haven’t been feeling the best and it seems like I've been getting worse. I walk as normally as I could up the stairs gritting my teeth in the process to my room.

When I finally make it I quickly shut it instantly regretting it as I slide down my door groaning from the ever intensifying pain radiating across my whole body. Unshed tears linger before sliding down my face gathering the courage I had to get back to my feet. I slowly gather my clothes for tonight and take them to my bathroom. My breathing gets shallow but it's also quick at the same time. I stubble into the bathroom in a hurry scrambling to get into the shower. I freeze when I hear mom’s voice on the other end of the door “Please let me in.” I groan once again bent over bracing myself from my knees dripping in sweat.

I gingerly walk to the door unlocking it for mom. Within seconds she is in the bathroom locking the door back behind her. At this point I feel as though I’m gonna pass out seconds from now. Mom catches me as I begin to fall and her hands feel like ice against my scorching skin. I gasp “Oh dear you need to get under cool water now.” Mom helps me to the toilet then turns to the tub preparing it for me. She turns back around hesitating for a moment as though she has something important to say to me.

She shakes her head instead then helps me strip out of my drenched clothes. She then helped me into the tub that immediately soothed some of my heat along with my pain. A moan slips from my lips as I sink further into the tub. We stayed quiet for a while allowing me to wash up once I felt a little better. Mom helps me get out when I am finished and hugs me close silently crying into my wet hair “I know you won’t forgive me anytime soon but please forgive me someday my little princess.” I hug her back soothingly “I’m sure whatever you’ve kept from me all this time had a reason behind it.” She helped me dry off, get dressed, put makeup on then lastly my jewelry and shoes.

I still felt pretty weak sadly yet I knew that I had a better chance doing things without any aid now. Instead of allowing her to help me down the stairs I shooed her away taking a moment to collect myself. I look at my reflection from the mirror. My reflection doesn't look like me in any way. My skin has a shimmer while my hair is glistening. My eyes are even shining a little. My phone buzzes, taking me from my thoughts. I pick up my phone to read the message.

________________________________________

Mom

Take the path in the back yard leading to the forest and by no means stray. See you in a little dear.

________________________________________

________________________________________

Ray

Yes ma’am.

________________________________________

I walk out of the bathroom to the stairs taking them all the way to the bottom. I look around noticing how dark and quiet things are. I spot a bright light shining from outside to inside. I open the back door and step out then close the door behind me. I stop at the foot of the porch taking the opportunity to enjoy the night's beauty which is exactly what I did. I look into the sky seeing the moon is whole and shining bright. I take a deep breath before heading the way mom instructed me to go.

At the edge of the back yard leading to the forest I can hear howling in the distance. My eyes water because to me their howls are mournful and yet beautiful at the same time. I step forward already anticipating the foreboding I seem to be sensing. About thirty minutes later I know I must be nearing the end. I’ve stopped at least twice by now from the wolves howling. Rustling near by me has me stiffening completely terrified. My que was the low mincing growling that was so close had me jump into overdrive dashing off the path.

Adrenaline pumped through my veins encouraging me on. The air blows against my hair whipping it behind me. A moment later I broke past a line of trees to be met with a clif that was two feet away causing me to slide to a stop. I turn around slowly. My body shakes uncontrollably as the dark wolf stalks closer to me. My hands are in front of me “Don’t come any closer.” The wolf ignores my protest by steadily stalking forward.

The heel of my foot slips at the cliff's edge earning a squeak. I try my best to reposition myself when the wolf before me hunches down with his ears pressed behind him. The wolf's eyes held nothing more than rage. The next thing I saw was more wolves breaking from the tree line further down from where I came from. They start rushing towards me but not before the wolf before me lunches at me. I noticed the large wolf's action a little too late but it happened to be just enough time for me to block my neck from it. I release a blood curdling scream.

The beast only sinks its sharp teeth further into my arm all the while jerking its head side to side creating as much damage to my left arm as possible. Tears are streaming down my face as I am struggling with the wolf's jaws. My blood is seeping out from the beast's mouth dripping onto the ground. Without me realizing it my family has also rushed out from the forest. A group of wolves were to the left of me and my family was to the right, both groups several yards away from me and the single wolf before me. I barely manage to free my left arm from the beast. My feet steadily scrape the edges of the cliff.

Something within me shifts and I lift my right arm into a fighting stance with my left arm dangling. I couldn't feel it and I honestly think I have lost a bit too much blood as is. My vision starts to blur but before it got any worse I noticed my family and the group of wolves fighting as well as one of the wolves and my parents rushing my way. That was my mistake by taking my attention away from the immediate danger. I gasp with widened eyes at the sight of the wolf lurching into the air aiming for my throat. I was only able to jab it into the ribs moving my upper ever so slightly causing the wolf not to have access to my neck. Instead it latches its sharp teeth into my shoulder that's close to the base of the left side of my neck.

I hear a c***k from the impact of my attack on the wolf's ribs but I can also feel the crunch of my bones as the wolf clamps down with incredible strength. I scream from the pain completely oblivious to the fact that the momentum has caused us to fall off the cliff's edge. The split second I realized that I reached upwards towards the spot I fell from where my parents were screaming, reaching out for me, then everything went black. The last thing I saw keeps replaying over and over in my mind. Granted I’m not exactly sure how or why since I’m dead and if that's the case why am I in so much pain? A faint femine voice echoes in my head “We aren't dead yet.” I try searching for the voice to no avail.

Without warning the feeling of being yanked has me waking up choking. There is a tub going down my throat. I ignore the excruciating pain to pull the tub out. Once the tub is out I cough several times while greedily sucking in air. The room is all white with those long light bulbs on the ceiling, and tiles on the floors. I’m wearing a hospital gown and am also laying in a hospital bed with my waist and below covered with covers. My left arm is r***d with gaze but it also has metal rods protruding from it.

My shoulder is covered with a massive bandage. A door that I failed to notice barges open as my family rushes in. Everyone appears to be swamped with mixed emotions. The two main ones I saw were sorrow and fury well that was until my eyes landed on mom. She looks like she’s seen a ghost as her face is tear stricken. Mom was the only one to rush to me, embracing me bursting into tears. Her embrace felt so good I didn’t protest when I felt the pain flare throughout my body.

I berry my nose into her neck inhaling her scent of raspberries and maple but dad smelt like maple and sandalwood. I had a hint of maple but it was faint. I don’t know why let alone how but I’ve always been able to smell, see and even hear extremely well. When mom breaks her embrace I look to each of them asking my unanswered questions “What happened?” “Where am I?” “What kind of wolf was that?” “Why did it attack me?”

“How the f**k am I still alive?” Dad huffs “In this family's eyes you are dead because you will never be one of us now.” I look at mom confused but she only sobs silently. Dad sighs running his hand through his unruly hair “You are in the basement of the house.” “I don’t know exactly why you were attacked.” “And as far as the type of wolf, well it would also explain how you survived.” Lizzy and Ben turn their heads away as if ashamed of me as Dad continues “That species of wolf isn't exactly documented but it is at the sametime.”

I am way more confused now “Wait what?” Lizzy speaks up for the first time “We told you that she should have been taught like others but no you wanted to keep her in the dark and now look what has happened.” Lizzy chokes on her unshed tears at the end of her sentence. I try to make a move to console Lizzy but am stopped by something that immediately causes a burning around my neck. I hiss in pain about to reach for the mysterious object when Mom stops me with her hands shaking her head no. Fear overtakes me making my body shake “H…hey i’m still alive d…don’t cry Lizzy.” Her sobs get louder.

Ben holds her but is looking at me with sorrowful eyes “Ray you're no longer human and our family isn't like most.” Uncle James' voice is rough and yet soft at the same time “The fictional monsters of the night are real.” I laugh without humor then suddenly stop as shock overtakes me. I stare wide eyed between each relative rendered speechless as reality sets in until my eyes land back upon my mom’s yielding an unasked question. She gently clears her throat “The wolves fled when you fell, but one tried to linger……sweetie it got injured in the process.” Worry sets in knowing who exactly she is referring to. Dad suddenly yanks mom from the bed away from me “She’s no longer our little girl, she’s one of them now and on the next full moon she will die as such.”

Mom sobs pleading with dad desperately “Please don’t do this she’s still our baby girl!” Dad forces everyone to leave while he stays behind and for a second I notice his eyes soften but then instantly hardens afterwards “Once I would have killed for you but that has come and gone and now you're a beast instead of my little girl.” He swiftly leaves the room slamming the heavy door shut. Without warning I begin to hyperventilate. I yank at the chain connected to the shackle around my neck ignoring the burning contact created. I scream in frustration, still a bit confused, finally giving up all the while tears streamed down my face as I stared down at my singged hands. Thoughts of Trent plagues my mind only adding to the melancholy feeling. I stay like this until I have cried myself to sleep.