• tab tab tab tab tab Chapter One

    tab I awoke the next morning, exhausted. I didn't get enough sleep the night before because of all the non-stop howling. I dressed, grabbed my backpack,and headed off for school. Michael sttod in front of the gates. When he saw me, his expression brightened.
    tab "I need to talk to you about something important," he said.
    tab I nodded. "We couldn't find you anywhere last night. Where were you?" I asked.
    tab He shrugged. "That's not important."
    tab "Then waht is it?"
    tab "I--"
    tab "Aimie!!" yelled a voice I recognized. Jason always had the perfect timing.
    tab I turned. "Hey, Jason."
    tab "Hi, back." He turned towards Michael. "Seems you got out okay. You almost let Aimie get killed with that dissapearing stunt you pulled on us."
    tab I frowned. "There was no way he knew that was going to happen."
    tab "You'd be surprised--"
    tab "Jason, enough!" Michael interupted. "I'll see you later. Aimie."
    tab I watched him leave before turning back to Jason. "What were you going to say?"
    tab He shook his head. "Can I ask you something?"
    tab I nodded.
    tab "Will you go out with me?"
    tab Surprise filled my face. I've known Jason for years. Hearing him wanting to go uot with me was a big surprise. Maybe if he had asked earlier, I would have returned his feelings. But now it was to late.
    tab "Sorry. I don't like you in that way," I said.
    tab "Is it because of Michael? If it is, he's dangerous."
    tab "It's not because of Michael and even if it was it's none of your business." I stomped away.
    tab "I'm sorry," Jason said, chasing after me. "I was just angry. I thought you liked me. That's all."
    tab I turned towards him. "It's okay." I sighed. "I have to get to class. See you later."

    tab The bell rang, ending school for all the eager students who wanted to go home after a long day of boredom. Michael waited for me in front of my classroom door.
    tab "Hey, about earlier," he began.
    tab "Guess what?" I interrupted. "We have to dissect a frog. But since I'm to squemish to kill a living creature, Mr. Smith said that if I caught a frog I'll get full credit for the dissection."
    tab "And where are you going to get this frog?"
    tab "Well, since I have no money, I was thinking of catching one in the woods."
    tab He gave me a look. "Alone?"
    tab "I was hoping that you would come along."
    tab "And if I don't?"
    tab "Then I'll go alone. Or maybe ask Jason."
    tab He laughed. "Good luck. I can't make it. I have some business to attend to but if you hold it off until tommorrow, I can help."
    tab I frowned. "I need the frog tommorrow."
    tab "Be careful. Promise me."
    tab The look that he gave me was intense. "Nothing bad is going to happen. I promise."
    tab "You really have got to learn to stop making promises that you can't keep."
    tab "What does that mean?"
    tab "In fact, I changed my mind," he said after staring at the sky for some time. "You're not going."
    tab My eyes widened in surprise. "Excuse me?"
    tab "I won't let you go. It's to dangerous. And Jason will be to busy trying to persaude you to go out with him to even make sure you are safe."
    tab "How'd you hear about that? And I am very capable in taking care of myself, thank you very much." I turned and walked away. He grabbed my arm.
    tab "There are wolves in the woods. I won't let you go, not if I can help it."
    tab "And you can't." I pulled my arm away. "See you later."
    tab "You can count on it."
    tab I didn't know what to think besides the fact that Michael was sometimes so irritating. I didn't even know why we got into an argument all of a sudden. I sighed.
    tab I walked towards the woods and brought out the container that Mr. Smith gave me. I entered the woods and sat my backpack near the ttree edge. I walked along the river bank and realized I never knew where the river leaded. I was hoping it would lead to an endless amount of frogs. Where there is water, there is frogs.
    tab The current was getting stronger. A water fall appeared ahead. I wonder if any one else knew about this. A twig snapped behind me. I turned. A wolf with red eyes stared at me. I took a step back and the wolf took a step forward. It lunged at me and I screamed. MIcheal stepped in front of me.
    tab "Didn't I tell you it was dangerous?"
    tab I vaguely wondered how he got there but I didn't care at moment. I might be saved. The wolf growled and lunged at MIchael. A surprised expression overcame his features as the huge wolf locked onto his side. Michael managed to pull the wilf off of him before he collaosed. And I was left with an unconcious man who was bleeding to death at my feet and a wolf who had found dinner.
    tab I slowly bent down and grabbed Michael. The wolf was watching. I looked over my shoulder and the water fall didn't seem that tall. I jumped and held on to Michael. I screamed. I judged wrong but at least we wern't going to be eaten by the wolf. I would die before I turned up like the grandmother in the fairy tale.
    tab Water plunged around us. I struggled to pull Michael and myself to surface but the current was strong. I didn't see the strong river down below. The bottom was covered in mist.
    tab A rock was coming towards me and i crashed into it, screaming. Michael was slipping through my grasp. The pain in my arm was unbearable. My vision was growing darker. I was soon lost to that darkness.

    tab The sun glittered down as I slowly opened my eyes.
    tab "I see that you are finally awake." Michael loomed over me.
    tab "Are you okay?" I asked, sitting up quick. "You got bit by the wolf."
    tab "It wasn't as bad as it looked." He looked at me with a long sad expression. "I'm just glad that you are okay."
    tab "Do you know the way home?"
    tab He nods. "Of course." He helped me up and we both walked through the forest, heading towards the exit in silence.