The Wolf Within

Chapter 5

The next day I waited for Ashley in the common room. I had barely slept last night thinking of what was happening with the new nurse. I was so worried Ashley was going to get seriously hurt. Worse still, if she reported what he was doing, they probably wouldn't believe her. He had cut her in the same spots she had previously cut herself. The staff would think she was simply self harming again. 

 When Ashley finally came out she was walking with a young male nurse. This must be the guy. What did she say his name was? Oh yeah, Paul. I got up and made my way over to Ashley. She was clearly flirting with Paul who had to be in his mid-twenties. Far too old to be messing with a 17 year old girl. He was attractive as Ashley had said. He had slightly curly hair that was sandy in color. He was tan and fit. About 6 feet tall. But I hated him on sight and so did the voice. "Look at her again and I'll gouge your eyes out" the voice chimed. For once, we were in agreement. 

"Hey Ashley!" I said, ignoring Paul. 

"Hey Carrie! Have you met the new nurse Paul?" Ashley looked excited to introduce me to him. All I wanted to do was scream at him to leave Ashley alone. 

"No, I haven't. Hi Paul. Nice to meet you." I plastered on my best fake smile thankful he didn't try for a handshake. Paul looked at me clearly sizing me up and smiled as well. But when we made eye contact, I was taken aback. Paul had dark brown eyes. So dark they were almost black. If eyes were the window to the soul it was clear Paul's was a dark soul. It wasn't just the color. His eyes were cold. Something about Paul made me seriously uncomfortable. 

"Ashley, do you want to sit with me?" I asked,  wanting to steer her away from Paul. Ashley looked at Paul, almost as if she was asking permission. 

"I'd better get back to work anyways. Nice to meet you Carrie." He said. His words sent shivers down my spine. I didn't know why. What he said was innocent enough but I felt like there was something behind those words. 

 Once Paul was gone, Ashley turned to me. 

"Isn't he hot Carrie!?" She asked excitedly.

" He's too old for you Ashley." I said. 

"Oh, he's only 26." She said. 

"You're only 17 Ashley. He shouldn't be flirting with you." I replied.

"We're just friends Carrie. It's fine." 

"It's not appropriate Ashley. He works here."

"Can we just talk about something else. Paul is cool, ok." I realized this wasn't getting anywhere and decided to drop it for the moment. 

Ashley and I talked and visited for a while. When Ashley's favorite game show came on, she got excited and clapped. That's when I saw the two new cuts on her arm. 

I grabbed her arm "Ashley, what the hell!?" I hissed in harsh tones. "You let him do this to you again!?" Ashley blushed and quickly covered her arm. 

"He didn't do it this time. He… he gave me an Ipod Carrie. An Ipod! I'm telling you, Paul is cool." 

" You cut yourself and he gave you an Ipod. Bullshit. What did you do, or let him do, to get the Ipod?" I questioned her. 

 "Shhhh...nothing. Ok. He just wanted to watch me do it. Just wanted to see me do the cut myself. It's not a big deal Carrie. I've done it enough times on my own." I was shocked and oh so angry. My hands started to shake and I knew I had to be careful not to lose control. 

"He's a predator Ashley! He's abusing you. Just like your Dad and Step Dad. And you're letting him."  I couldn't believe she was going along with this. 

"Oh, you're just jealous" she whispered. "You're jealous that a cute guy is giving me attention. Just leave us alone Carrie. You don't know what you're talking about."

" I'm going to report him." I stated. 

Ashley's eyes grew wide. Now I had her attention. "Do it Carrie and I'll say I cut myself and you're just crazy. Just leave me the hell alone." She hissed as she stormed off.

 s**t. I hadn't meant to let things escalate like this. I just wanted Ashley to wake up. I sat there for a minute to calm down before I decided to go back to my room. When I stood up the first thing I saw was Paul standing across the room and his black eyes were zeroed in on me. I gave him a quick glare before I walked away. 

 I sat in my room for a while trying to decide what to do. Reporting Paul seemed like the right thing to do but I was pretty sure Ashley would hate me if I did. Not only that but I wasn't sure anyone would believe me. If Ashley lied, then it was my word against hers and Pauls. I was so conflicted and wasn't sure what I should do. I sat there until sunset, not even realizing I had missed dinner until I heard a knock at the door. 

 I figured it was just someone coming to check on me and didn't even turn around as they came in. But after the door closed I heard another noise, the click of a lock. Why would they lock the door I thought as I spun around. 

 Standing in the door way was Paul and he did not look pleased. Oh s**t. This wasn't good. Paul looked at me and his eyes narrowed. 

"So, I hear you've been making threats." He stated in a strangely chipper voice. I sat there stunned. Not sure what to do. 

"Do you really think anyone's going to believe you? You!? You're crazy. I've read your file. Freaking schizo. Attacking people, hearing voices. Now you're trying to fill Ashley's head with all these crazy thoughts." 

He inched closer with every word while I sat there frozen in place. I was horrified and I was frightened. I didn't know what Paul was planning on doing. 

 Finally I found my voice. "What you're doing to Ashley is wrong and you know it! She's just a kid." I said. 

"She's old enough. Stay out of it or else. This is the only warning you're going to get!" he spat. I wished in this moment I had a roommate. All the rooms had double beds but at the moment the other bed in my room was vacant. It was just Paul and I. 

"Leave her alone. I don't care if you paint me as crazy. If you touch her again, I'm going to report it." I said squaring my shoulders. I had to stand up for Ashley. Someone had to. 

Paul looked at me and a sick smile spread across his face. "I gave you a chance. Now you're just asking for it." He said. 

My heart started to race. What was he going to do? I braced myself expecting him to become violent. But he slowly made his way over to me seeming to enjoy my nervous state.

 As he neared the bed, I stood up. Feeling at a disadvantage sitting down. He now had me cornered between the bed and the wall. 

"Paul, I don't know what you're planning on doing but it's only going to get you into more trouble. Please just leave!" I begged. Paul smiled his sadistic smile again. s**t. 

"Maybe I chose the wrong girl. I figured Ashley was young, had Daddy issues and would be easy to manipulate. I was right. But you, hmmm, you're quite the tasty morsel. You want me to leave Ashley alone? What can you give me in return?" He asked inching closer. He started to lick his lips and I realized what he was asking. 

"Never. Get away from me you disgusting…." I didn't even get to finish the sentence when Paul shot forward and grabbed my wrists pinning me to the wall.  I was basically sitting on the end table and started to kick to get free. Paul was inches from my face and watching me with interest. He wedged his legs between mine forcing my legs open and I started to panic. I couldn't let this happen. I couldn't let him do this. I started to thrash around, doing everything I could to get away. My heart was beating so fast and my whole body was shaking. I heard the voice and for the first time I welcomed it. "This pig is gonna die." It chimed. Good, I thought. At that moment I felt a power flow through me, one I'd only felt once before and was able to get my right arm free, hitting Paul in the face. Paul's head snapped to the side with the impact. He stumbled back for a moment, surprised. Then his eyes settled back on me. He smiled again and I could see the blood in his mouth from my attack. I tried to scramble across the bed to get away but Paul was on me before I could get across. Again he pinned me. He was enraged now. He had me held by the arms and he brutally shoved his knee between my legs forcing them apart.  I continued to fight him which only seemed to encourage him as he started to grind himself on me. I was violently shaking at this point and renewed my efforts to get Paul off me. Paul suddenly released my arms and slapped me hard. For a moment I saw stars and then one of his hands covered my mouth as the other started to grope between my legs. 

 Suddenly something in me seemed to break free. I felt a power like I had never known suddenly seem to seep through my veins. Paul must have seen a change because I could see the shock in his eyes. I felt my face contort in a smile that was not my own and heard myself say "Time to die piggy."

   The voice was in control now and I let it take over. I could feel energy pulsing through me and Paul had jumped off me as if he had seen a ghost. Then I started to feel pain. I groaned as I felt my body start to change. My bones seemed to be cracking and my skin felt as though it was being torn apart. It was pain but it was also pleasure as another form took my place. When the pain stopped I could see Paul plastered to the wall in fear. His face was pale and he was sweating. I smiled knowing he was suffering. I was no longer Carrie. In my place now stood a massive golden wolf. The voice that had always been within was in complete control and it felt amazing. Paul started to move clearly wanting to get away and I heard the voice think "Tsk, Tsk, Tsk. You're not going anywhere" My wolf lunged forward and bit into Paul's arm as he screamed in pain. He was thrown to the floor and rage took over as my wolf mauled Paul beyond recognition. 

Satisfied, I let out a deep howl and in that moment the door opened. Taking the nurse standing there by surprise, I bolted through the door. I was one now with my wolf. I could feel myself gaining control as we moved in unison. As I ran through the institute, I busted through every door until I made it outside. I heard the deafening sound of alarms sounding just as I made out of the gates and sped into the woods beyond the borders. I was free.