With new exuberance, I conjured up a plan. I slunk into school at three in the morning using the abandoned annex which faced the back gate of the school. The perimeter of the school was enclosed two thirds by the forest. Students had gotten in trouble before, sneaking out into the woods, somehow getting over the tall, metal, pointed fence. In the enrollment papers for the high school, the parent or guardian had to sign and acknowledge that the school was not liable for a student’s reckless behavior to disobey the school rules clearly set before them to not go into the forest under any circumstance unless it was for a class and they were escorted by teachers. Most students adhered to this rule but it was too easy to get in and out over or even in between the fence, the school needed to up their security, maybe make it an electrical fence. Once I entered the building, I transformed into my human self and realized too late that it was freezing inside as I had neither fur nor clothes on.
However, the walk wasn’t as peaceful as I’d originally envisioned. My mind was suddenly full of my pack and my makeshift home. I was so excited about doing something worthwhile that I hadn’t contemplated where I would stay until I returned home. Food was not really an issue. I could simply remove my clothes and hunt as my wolf. I seemed to crave companionship though, or even just someone to talk to, werewolf or human or anything else that would bother to listen to me.My ears perked at the sound of a car zooming by ahead of me, then another. I jogged and found myself next to the highway. Cars were making their way into town, most likely to work. A semi passed with a honk and I crinkled my nose at the smell of it.I followed the road, hidden amongst the trees. It must have rained here the previous night for the ground was wet and the trees dripped with raindrops. I steered clear of any ridges or inclines lest I lose my footing and fall ungracefully, also damaging the only clothes I had
“its free for both of us if we don’t tell on each other.” Sly boy.“Done,” I felt elated. A job. I had a job! Sure, Michael seemed a bit creepy and the benefits were a bit too sketchy to be honest I had nothing better to do.“Michael Thunks,” he smiled holding out his hand.“Echo,” I shook his hand back.“Just Echo?” Michael didn’t release my hand.“Just Echo,” I nodded.“Neat name. Uniform shirt is in the back. Maybe you should grab some jeans too,” he looked down at my sport shorts. "There's some in stock in the back I haven't hung on the rack yet."I nodded and walked behind the counter to the back room. The space wasn't very big but that was to be expected. Looking around, it was hard to find the uniforms he was talking about. Below the counter of paperwork and locked drawers, there was a rubber maid full of black polo shirts of different with the store’s name in the upper left corner. There were some merchandise in boxes and on a table, one had a pair of skinny jeans that were my
“Our fries are now free to refill and we have a new burger called Fire Burger. Also, our shakes are on sale for our jumbo size. Would you like any water to start you off?”“Um,” I examined the menu. “No thanks. I’ll go ahead and order my drink which will be a large coke and small sweet tea.”“Alright,” the girl unnecessarily wrote my order down. “I’ll be right back with that.” As the girl walked away, I could tell something was off about her but decided not to think about it. She may have been ready to leave work.I scanned the menu and chose a steak burger with fries with a side of corn along with a dessert of a hot fudge sunday. I relayed my order and dug into my food minutes later. It was delicious. I finished everything. Not one scrap on my plate nor drop in my drink. I placed three dollars on the table as a tip and went to pay for my food. Afterwards, I only had thirty five dollars and thirty six cents left over.I pocketed the money and walked down the sidewalk until I was hidden
“Graphic design.” He answered after a long pause. I assessed him. He worked in a store like this, dressed like a punk and was interested in graphic design? Sounded like a gamer. I had two second cousins who were twins and they were somewhat like Michael now that I thought about it. “Do you want to create video games?” I watched him carefully hoping he wouldn’t get mad at me again.“Something like that,” was all he said before cursing at his laptop.“I’m gonna go change.” I pointed out the door and left without waiting for a response.As I got dressed, I went over the store inventory and what my job entailed as well as self-loathing the fact that I didn't do that on the way here. I hoped there wasn't a test. Today would hopefully be a good day and I could keep myself in high spirits as I worked knowing that each day I was closer to my freedom. The very thought got my blood pumping and I quickly forgot about the incident this morning as well as any thought of being completely exiled fro
“How do you dry off? Don’t you get cold at night? How do you get food?” Michael was very into this topic.“Customer,” I answered seeing two girls walking into the store on the camera, their arrival also announced by the ‘ding dong’ sound at the shop entrance.“Hey!” Michael frowned. He wasn’t done with the conversation, but I was. Who the heck wanted to learn how a girl dries off after emerging from a freezing stream? Shaking my head, I moved to greet the customers.Michael and I slowly grew closer day by day. He was less tense and smiled more. I hated that this budding friendship was going to end soon. I even bought a one-piece swimsuit and brought Michael to the wood’s for a swim on our day off-turns out there are two other employees, Drake and Hailey. We had a blast but we were shivering really bad afterwards. After he left, I let my fur warm me as a wolf while I sunbathed.Besides being with Michael, I watched the motel when I could to pass the time. The hairs on the back of my nec
“Uh , this is Riverdale, yes?” I nodded to confirm the girl’s question. “I’m looking for a city hall that looks like this. It says the photo was taken in Riverdale but I can't seem to find it.” She pushed a printed copy of a court house at me.I leaned over to examine the picture and froze. That was my hometown’s court house! I wasn’t about to let a pack enter my alpha’s territory. I snapped my attention back up to the girl and she shied away at the sudden movement.“That’s in Horsedale,” I lied as convincingly as I could. Horsedale was three hours away. To me that was still too close.“No it’s not,” the boy with purple eyes joined the girl at the counter. He had to be six feet tall. I didn’t let his stern glare intimidate me. My protectiveness of my pack overruled any fear I did or should feel.“Then I can’t help you,” I returned to working on the hangers angry that the boy and girl still stood there.“Oh, yes you can. I know what you are.” I glanced sideways at the boy seeing the sil
I jiggled the handle. It was unlocked. Removing my hand, I contemplated my next move. If I left, who knows what I may not learn. If I entered, maybe I could see if they’d truly left and search for anything suspicious. Another part of me was warning me that it was all a trap. I was playing into their hand but as a lower ranking pack member, I could take the blows. If I could fight a rabid wolf almost twice my size then I could handle this, right? Deciding, I cracked open the door. It wasn’t empty. Suitcases were piled against a wall and a cup of four toothbrushes sat on the sink.The two beds were messy and the lamp in between them was still on. Walmart plastic bags were strewn across a circular table with candy wrappers practically hiding the bags from sight.I wrinkled my nose at the sight. I didn’t even want to look in the bathroom.Quickly, I searched the room. Under the bed, covers and mattresses, behind the tv, VCR and DVD slots and amongst the garbage around the table. I wasn’t