The Werewolf Hunter

Stranger Driver

I take one step forward and start to jog pass the trees. Trying not to think about any creatures or spider webs, snakes, insects, venomous- stop. Focus. These trees are thick, I keep having to dip beneath branches, and stumble over roots sticking up from the ground. After about half a mile, I could no longer hear the yelling from the house. Every so often I could hear a howl, but it seems far enough away that I don't think I need to hide just yet. I did slow my pace once I hit another mile. The trees are not as thick so I need to be aware of my surroundings. At this point, I know I am being hunted so I have to act smart.

I don't straight shoot for the road, I start to make zigzag lines, hoping they think I turned around and get confused on which way I actually went. I kept moving, and didn't rest. The howling was coming from every which way at this point, so I just booked it until I was by the interstate. Even then I ran for what seemed like forever down the road. I am exhausted. I can't even catch my breath and I lost feeling in my legs about 20 minutes ago.

It's dark and quiet, not a car in sight of course. I keep walking at a fast pace. Putting my arms above my head trying to stretch my lungs. I am drenched in sweat. Using the moonlight, I started to check my body for any bruising or cuts, and I had a few scrapes and bruising but nothing serious. I was practically covered in a layer of dirt, and I am just now realizing my tank top has a giant hole in it. No wonder I felt a breeze.

It feels like I have been walking for ages, maybe I should've just stayed and locked myself in the bathroom. I don't even know where I am, no cars have come since I have been out here. It has to be around 2am. It's almost completely silent. I am exhausted and am fighting the urge to lay down with everything in me. I feel like I have been moving for literal hours. As I was fighting the urge to sleep while walking forward, a light shined, hitting my face. It was a very small light but it was there. Opening my eyelids, there was a car. I immediately used every ounce of energy I had left to flag down that car.

As it got closer, I could tell it was silver, and seemed like it had only one passenger in it, the driver. I would rather take on a possible lone serial killer than a pack of wolves right now. I didn't even give the driver a chance to speak, I immediately climbed into the passenger seat and begged them to turn around. As the car pulled over to turn the other way, I looked at the driver and started to memorize every detail of how he looked.

Male. Extremely tall. Medium built. Pretty defined jawline. White skin. High cheekbones. Black ball cap covering black curly hair. Gray eyes. I keep taking mental pictures while I stare at him. He clenched his jaw probably feeling threatened by my looks. I mean I did just hop in his car and yelled at him to turn around and drive. I was trying to catch my breath as I leaned back into my seat and watched the road, glancing at the trees every once in awhile, out of fear that I will spot a bushy wolf coming to kill me.

The man driving cleared his throat and finally started to speak. He had a low soothing voice that just made me feel safe and warm.

“Are you in some kind of danger?”

“Yeah, something like that. Just please keep driving.”

“No problem, is there anywhere specific you would like to go? We are quite a ways from any town.”

“Of course we are. I'm sorry I have just been running for so long, I'm exhausted. Just bring me to the nearest gas station.”

“Ok, but I will warn you there won't be any service at the next few gas stations. The closest place you could probably call someone is about two hours away.”

“TWO HOURS?! You've got to be kidding me. Fine, let's just get there.”

“Yes ma'am, can I ask what your name is? And would you like some snacks? I have some in the back seat.”

“Uh-Um, it's Stephanie. And yes, thank you.”

“Ok, Stephanie no problem.”

He reaches back behind me while keeping his eyes on the road, and pull out a soda and some chips. I felt bad for not giving him my real name, but if it ever got back to the wolves which way I was going, I am sure they would hunt me down and kill this guy along the way.

As time went on, I am starting to fall asleep, and before I knew it I was out. I jumped in a stranger's car and passed out about 20 minutes into the drive. I'm an i***t and my body is weak. I don't now this man. I woke up frantically after hitting what I presume was a pothole. The man calmly apologized and explained how the road isn't always easy to drive on. I just shook my head, which was a mistake because I realized how bad it hurts and my back and legs. Everything feels so sore. I decided to start conversation trying to ignore the pain.

“Where exactly are we?”

“Virginia, smack dab in the middle of no where. You really don't know where you are, do you? Can I ask what happened?”

“I'd rather not talk about it, the least you know, the safer you are.” Really, I knew if I told him I was kidnapped by werwolves because the Alpha chose me, I would sound utterly insane.

“You must really be in trouble. Why don't you tell me about yourself? It'll pass time and the conversation will keep me awake.”

“There's really not much to say.”

“Come one, dig deep. Where are you from, what are your hobbies, your dreams?”

“Ok, well I am from Tennessee. Going to college and I am a bartender. I sometimes like to read and write. I am a terrible cook but am good with seasonings which doesn't make any sense. I have family back home that I am ready to get to” (just my friends who are practically family, but he didn't need to know that).

“You're right, that doesn't make sense. How can one not know how to cook but knows their way around seasoning? That comes hand in hand haha!”

I broke a smile. He has a point, it doesn't make sense. The more we talked, the more I felt relaxed. I stayed awake the rest of the drive. I found out his name is Charlie and he likes to work and hang out with his friends. Apparently a lot of people look up to him for his job title and it's hard to keep up with the expectations, which I guess I can understand. People expected me to know how to raise myself after my parents died, yet here we are.