Crushing Emeralds

Chapter Twelve

Within the week that school is still canceled we go to each other houses and out to lunch spending well earned quality time together and when classes resume things go about like nothing ever happened. By the time the end of the first day back is done, I forgive Evan. I know…again. You can tell that groups of people who were at the camp are stronger even though the people are forever changed.

Months go by and I’m still paranoid even though nothing happens. I keep checking Blake’s social media pages, but nothing. My heart still flutters at his words. Mid-thought my phone rings startling me nearly out of my chair.

“Hey Kordie.”

“Get dressed. It's Friday night and we are going to that new café downtown. I’ll pick you up in twenty minutes.” and then the line goes dead as she hangs up on me without me ever aggreeing. Typical Kordie.

AS I hop in the car she whips a piece of paper in my face. I quickly read it. It’s an acceptance letter to UW Oshkosh.

“Looks like you won’t be getting rid of me very easily.”

“As if I ever wanted to get rid of you. Congrats. I knew you could do it.”

The cafe was small and peaceful. It’s a nice night, so we take one of the small circular tables that are outside on the downtown sidewalk a waist high brick wall blocks the area off from pedestrians.

The jokes fly out of Kordie’s mouth and her cackling laugh cause many passerbyers to gawk at us. We even gain the attention from a few people inside the cafe.

It all seems fun and carefree until dishes go crashing to the floor. I tense up automatically and grip the table edge firmly. Quickly, a slick sweat starts to break out along my hairline.

“Em? It’s okay. It’s your first time out without the boys, but I took the responsibility to protect you tonight and my god I will do just that.” Kordie says trying to make me feel better.

“Sure, says the one that faints easily.” I reply with a smirk.

Kordie’s face gets paper white and the smile that was just on her face instantly is gone. I strain my ears refusing to look behind me, faintly I hear it…people screaming. I gradually turn my head to see the people inside the cafe scattering and trying to take cover. Was somebody trying to rob the place? Was there a fire? The glass to the front of the restaurant blows out littering the sidewalk with sparkly crystal bits as a large object crashes through.

No. I slide out from my chair falling to the ground because my legs refuse to work. It can’t be. No.

The wolf rolled its shoulders as if cracking its neck, just as a human would. It stands with an unsaid pride on top of crumpled table. A howl fills the streets drowning out the police and ambulance sirens that are blocks away. Kordie and I are stationary, stuck in place, staring at the wolf as it creeps towards us slowly.

It’s almost face to face with me as Kordie whispers, “It’s looking at us, like watching us, watching…you.” Her lips barely move as she speaks. I can’t be certain I even heard her right.

But it is watching us, watching me.

The sirens are closer now and a confusion comes over the wolf. And then it starts to back away. I keep eye contact with the wild animal and look into those gray eyes. The further it gets the stronger I become and I find that I bend my legs, move my arms. I grab Kordie forcing her to her feet. “Get your keys ready, we need to get to Jordan’s!”

“Why Jordan’s?” She whispers.

“Because it’s away from town and Evan’s over there.”

I gash a hunk out of my knee as I jump the brick barrier surrounding the eating area. I slid into the passenger seat breathing in big gulps of air to stabilize my breathing as Kordie tries multiple times to start the car. Her shaky fingers making the simple task almost too difficult. Finally on the fifth try she gets the ignition to start and squeals out of the parking spot.

I stare at her as she drives with white knuckled hands.

It doesn’t take long to get to Jordan’s house and as soon as she puts it in park we both hop out and run to the front door. I frantically bang on the wood. When he swings the door open and I almost keep knocking, my fist stopping a few centimeters away from his face.

“What the hell are you two doing, you look awful...again by the way,” Jordan says opening the door halfway.

We push our inside, slamming it shut behind us and quickly lock it before going deeper into the house. Hiding.

I lean against a wall in the far corner of the room, my back slides down the length until I’m sitting on the floor. “Its back.” is all I can whisper as I rock myself back and forth.

“What’s back, what are you talking about. You guys look like you seen a ghost.” Evan says gradually walking toward me.

“Not a ghost...a wolf.” Kordie says from across the room.

Both Evan and Jordan look surprised and bewildered at the same time. I put in plain words what the eight o clock news will consist of.

“We need to get to Officer Olsen, he needs to see or hear for himself.” I say slowly walking over to the window. Jordan decides to drive his old mini van because Kordie looks too sick to be behind the wheel. We all fasten our seatbelts and sped off to the police station for some sense of security.

I swear I can see a dark figure, like a large shadow that runs behind houses keeping exact pace with the car, but within no time I lose track of it. The police station is right around the next corner, but that seems like miles away.

Jordan slams on his brakes with curse word hissed through his clenched teeth. The car skids right to a stop right in front of the wolf who blocks the road. It puts one of its large paws onto the hood, grabbing the car throwing it like its a toy. It flip several times. The sound of screeching metal on pavement seers into my ears for all eternity. A sound that will never go away. When we finally do come to a stop, it’s in the police department parking lot.

The only thing I hear are strangers calling for help and my fellow friends’ moans of pain. Then gunshots. Some officers fight off the wolf while others come to our aid. they approach the car shining flashlights at each occupant. A voice of safety tells me that they were going to get us out, that everything is going to okay. But seconds after with shots still ringing out, everything goes black.