Cassandra's Fate

The fog rolled through the cold forest, the blue-white light from the full moon casting jagged shadows as it broke through leafless branches. A blond girl splashes through sparkling streams as she desperately runs, frantically searching behind her for her pursuant, her voice high pitched and desperately pleading for her life. Blood trickles through the sleeve of her white t-shirt from the scratches and scrapes she has endured as she plowed her body through tree branches and shrubs that ripped her flesh during her get away. She stops to catch her breath, her heart pounding irratically in her chest. Fear seizing her thoughts. Just then she hears it......a deep beastly howl.....she screams.....then...... The television screen goes dark moments before a loud man appears in a bright red shirt excitedly trying to convince viewers to buy the new and improved Turbo Vac. "Werewolf movies are so cheesey" Ben snidley remarked between handfuls of popcorn. "Ugh! Watch your mouth, Sir!" Cassie chastised while elbowing her boyfriend in his ribs. "Werewolf movies are my fave" she added while tossing some popcorn into her own mouth. "I know. You love all this gory crap. Werewolves, vampires, ghosts, zombies. You're demented" "If I'm demented then what does that say about you?" Cassie raised an eyebrow at Ben as a flirty smile began to float across her face. Ben grinned back at her then leaned in to plant a salty kiss on her cherry lip gloss coated mouth. Cassie returned his kiss as Ben slipped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer into his chest. Just as Ben's pulse began to quicken in anticipation the commercials on the TV broke and the movie resumed with the blond girl now laying in the stream, covered in red, seemingly ravaged by the hairy beast on the screen. "Oooooo movie's back on!" Cassie said abruptly ending their affectionate embrace and returned her attention back to the television. "Boy, when you do N*tflix and Chill you really hone in on the N*tflix part" Ben snipped at her, pulling his arm away from her without even attempting to hide his aggravation. "Dude, don't even. You know how this works. Don't get so butt hurt" Cassie snapped back with not an ounce of pity. "If the idea of not getting laid bothers you so much then you don't have to be here. Nobody is forcing you." Cassie returned to her popcorn to stop herself from saying anything more. Ben stared blankly at the television for a long while thinking of all the things he wanted to say to his girlfriend but refraining in an attempt to avoid yet another argument over the subject. The lack of intimacy in their relationship had been a hot button issue for quite a long time and he was not interested in fighting about it again tonight. Eventually Cassie cut her eyes in his direction, his silence getting the best of her. When she saw his brown eyes reflecting the light of the movie, she expected them to look angry but instead there was only confusion and defeat. Seeing him clearly upset caused the typically strong willed and stubborn girl to let her guard down a little. "Look," she began with a softer tone to her voice, "I'm sorry to upset you, I really am, but I'm not ready. You know I care deeply for you and its not like I don't want to be with you like that, its just that ......" Cassie paused and Ben looked over at her, surprised at her attempt to at least talk to him about it. ".......I just can't. Not yet....." she finished weakly and dropped her emerald green gaze to her lap while subconsciously reaching up to grip the necklace she always wore. "Cass, you're almost 21 years old. What are you waiting for?" Ben asked, truly trying to understand her. "I mean we've been together for nearly a year......you're a college student, living in her own apartment.....you're incredibly headstrong and independent......You have even said that you don't ever want to get married." he continued on. "I mean, I'm not trying to push you into it, I just don't get it" Ben finished speaking while running his palm through his sandy blond hair in frustration. "I know you want answers, and you deserve answers..." Cassie eventually responded. She twisted a strand of her raven black hair around her dainty index finger, searching for the right words. "I don't know....I really don't know....I just cant...not yet..." Cassie turned towards Ben and wrapped her arms around his neck. She put her forehead up against his forehead and whispered, "But when I do know, I promise I'll tell you" She kissed his lips. At first Ben resisted but after she kissed him lightly a few more times he reluctantly gave into her, wrapped his long arms around her and pulled her into his lap. A gleam of light caught his eye as the glow from the television reflected off of the delicate jewelry that Cassie had around her neck. Ben gently ran his fingertips over the small gold lily pendent that hung from its dainty gold chain. "It was from my father." She explained. "He gave it to me when I was five" her eyes were filled with both sadness and fondness at the memory. Ben brought his finger to rest under her chin and lifted her face up to meet his gaze. He sweetly kissed her lips and ran his hand along her cheek, down her neck and into her shoulder... A low menacing growl erupted from the floor causing Ben to jump a little. "Why is your dog so mean? I thought Golden Retrievers were supposed to be friendly and sweet?" "Hey, my dog is friendly and sweet. He just doesn't care for you putting the moves on his Mom." Cassie defended. "Right, River?" she added to the blond pup in an overly exaggerated baby talk voice. River immediately responded by letting his tongue fall out of mouth, panting behind what looked like a literal smile. "If you say so..." Ben laughed. "Lets finish watching your terrible movie" "Awe you're the best!" Cassie dropped one last peck on Ben's cheek and grabbed her popcorn bowl as she snuggled comfortably into his lap. "Monster movies still s*ck tho." he added. ************************************************** Cassie's 21st birthday was only three weeks away and to the shagrin of all of her friends , she wasn't interested in hitting the bar scene to celebrate. "Come on! This is like the most celebrated right of passage on the planet!" Cassie best friend, Addison, pleaded with dramatic emphasis. "For real tho, how can you not go out drinking on your 21st birthday??" her roommate, Holly added in agreement. "Guys, I really don't want to go get plastered and become another cliché college girl just because I suddenly became legal" Cassie said trying to defend her position. Addison flipped her long blond hair over her shoulder. "Oh please! Nothing about you is cliché, Little Miss Prim and Proper Virg*n." "Why is my s*xual status such an interesting topic for everyone?" Cassie demanded, thinking back on her last date-night-in with Ben. "Because its just so......uncommon." Holly explained in her sweet little voice. Cassie had always appreciated her roommate's tactfulness- something Addison sorely lacked. "I'm down for going out to dinner." Cassie suggested. "I might even have a drink at the restaurant, I just don't want to go to any bars" "Is your Mom coming to town to see you for your birthday this year?" Holly asked into Cassie's dressing mirror while trying to pin her chin length red hair into a partial up-do. Cassie paused for a moment before answering. "No. She's being weird. She just keeps telling me to stay home and stay safe. I guess she's expecting me to just party all night." Cassie took a deep breath. "Its like she doesn't know me at all." She looked down and started stroking the top of River's head which was planted securely in her lap. He always made her feel better. The relationship between Cassie and her mother had been a strained one ever since Cassie's father went missing on a hunting trip nearly three years ago. Sierra, Cassie's mother, refused to believe her husband was de*d since his body was never recovered but Cassie had given up any hope of ever seeing him again a long time ago. River was the last birthday gift her father had ever given her which just made the dog all the more precious to her. "Its fine. I'm fine. I have you guys and Ben. That's all I need" Cassie smiled at her friends, grateful to have them in her life. They both fell on her, wrapping their friend in a big hug. "Ok, enough of this girly crap." Addison said, breaking the heavy silence that had fallen over the room. "You've got three weeks to decide where we're taking you....for dinner" she added rolling her eyes. "Steak" Cassie answered definitively. "I want a nice rare steak." "Of course you do, you little carnivore." Holly smiled jokingly.