The Shadow Moon: Wolf Awakenings

by Caroline Frye

  “This is different. No one will find us where I’m going—so no problem.”

  “I…don’t know—”

  “C’mon, you’re going to love this,” he insists, dragging me to the car. He’s smiling now and jams the gas, heading away from town. I’m a bit curious about his motives, but I slump into the seat. It’s been a long day.

  Channing hasn’t driven far when I realize he’s headed toward Trundledown Bridge.

  I straighten in my seat and turn toward him. “Where are we going? This is the same area where they found a body.”

  He turns grinning over his right shoulder. “Will you just calm down…you’ll see in a minute. And you’ll love it—I promise.”

  All too soon, we make it to the bridge, and he stops the car. “Okay, c’mon,” he says, grabbing my hand. We climb out of the car and walk to one side of the bridge. Frogs are croaking on the riverbank. Crickets are chirping somewhere in the trees. We lean over the rail of the bridge and look down. The moon looks huge in the sky. It’s glowing white and winking up from the black water like the river’s eye. I swallow.

  My partner kicks off his boots and unbuttons his shirt. “Are you coming?”

  My bottom lip drops. “Huh?” What’s he thinking? “Aren’t you at all concerned that there’s a full shadow moon coming due? All hell’s going to break loose when it does!”

  He throws his head back and laughs for the first time. “I know, Tala. It’s the shadow moon. I’m going to take care of it—I always have. Let’s relax and forget our troubles for one night. Let’s go swimming…the water’s cool. You, coming?” With that, he climbs onto the concrete rail and jumps.

  Okay. It’s been awhile since I’ve gone swimming, especially here at the bridge. But he doesn’t have to ask me twice. “Move out of my way,” I chirp. I strip down to my undies and wait for him to clear me a spot. I climb onto the rail and sit for a minute to calm myself. Then gripping one of the braces securing the bridge I take a deep breath and leap into the air. I fall for a second before touching water. Down into the blackness I sink, kicking and stroking upward, pulling myself closer to the surface with each stroke.

  Channing’s strong hand grips my arm and pulls my face from the water. “You alright?” he says.

  I sling my hair back and spit water. “Never better!” We swim toward the riverbank to the huge rock where everyone usually gathered to dive from. He climbs on the rock and pulls me up beside him. It’s cool along the waters edge. Bull frogs are croaking and the swimming hole is bright in the moonlight.

  Channing whispers, “Are you glad you came now?” I nod, clutching my legs tightly, my knees touching my chin. He throws a stone across the water. “I just wanted you to see how good things can still be, if you just let them.”

  I sigh, tilting my head to face him. “Oh, I know. I just find it difficult to look the other way sometimes. But…now, I’m beginning to understand.”

  We hear something running through the woods above the river. Branches are swishing and dry twigs breaking. Channing rises slowly, straining to see into the trees behind us. I think he’s just looking around to make sure nothing leaps out to attack. But he stands on the rock like a freaking giant sporting his stuff. He struts around, beats his chest, and lets out a blood-curdling howl toward the moon—like a crazed creature from the darkness. What is that all about, I wonder? Suddenly, the river grows silent, except for water lapping at the sand bar.

  I grin up at him, feeling safe and wonderful.

  We settle down and have a good time, talking and sharing thoughts about the recent deaths as a fine grey mist hovers over the water like a shroud. We both sat there in deep thought. By the time, the crickets and frogs start singing again, we’re both yawning so we climb up to the road, gather our clothes from the bridge, and head home.

  That night at home, I tell Gracie what happened as soon as I walk through the door, but I leave out the part about me and Channing going swimming.

  Gracie’s pissed. “Men are so unpredictable. Why did he break out of jail? That just makes him look more and more like the killer. And it will make it look like you helped him escape.”

  I don’t like her saying it, but I have to admit I agree with her. “I know. That’s what I told him. But he said he was going nuts locked up and worrying about me.”

  My BFF folds her arms and grins, glaring with that self-righteous look of hers. “Worried? Why is it men think we can’t do anything without them?”

  I nod. “I have no idea. I’ve taken care of myself all my life. And I moved back to Witherfell to settle down by myself, not for someone to think they must take care of me. I’m not a child. I may not have fangs and fur so I do get frightened sometimes, but I’m not helpless.”

  Gracie climbs in bed beside me and smiles. I know that’s not good. She’s up to something. “You know you could start doing what’s best for you right away, before school ends.”

  I give her my sideways ‘what’s going on in that head of yours’ stare.

  Gracie lowers her head and smiles. “Since I’m helping you find the killers you could do something for yourself that would make me so happy. Come down to school tomorrow and register. You can complete the quarter you missed in time for college.”

  I drop my head on my pillow. “Or not.”

  Gracie sits up. “Oh, why not? If you sign-up now you can complete it in summer school.”

  I sigh and pull the pillow over my head. “I told you—I have my GED. I can start college with it.”

  We stay up late, getting everything ready for our new and improved plan of action, staking out the cliff. I have a nagging feeling that someone is watching us. We can’t afford to mess up again. We need to get it right this time.

  While it’s dark, we drive back to the cliff, but ease to the far side for a better viewpoint and just in case anyone hides in the same spot we used before. Gracie positions herself perfectly, hiding in the car. She has a video camera in one hand and a cell phone ready to call 911 in another. I chuckle under my breath, watching her. She sometimes acts a little questionable, but she’s a true friend.

  As the darkness and croaking crickets close in around me, I reach inside my pocket, gripping the 380 pistol, just in case.

  After surveying the area for what seems like hours, I get out to stretch my legs. I walk by the trail alone, still in sight of her car. It’s darker than the night before, so dark I’m glad I brought my cell for light or I’d probably tumble off the cliff. I stop and listen to owls hooting in the woods. The owls sound lonely out in the middle of nowhere. Chuckle. They still have the crickets to keep them company.

  I feel a little freaked out, but at the same time I also think about the car in plain sight. Maybe this plan isn’t going to work either. I turn to go back to the car, disgusted at myself for being so naive. We should have parked the car below, walked up, and hid near the woods. Just then, someone grabs me from behind, covering my mouth with large calloused hands before I can scream. I smell the stench of them, feel their hot breath pulsating against my neck, sending chills like hot lava down my spine. I struggle against them, straining to pry myself free, but they hold me tight, dragging me toward the dark woods. And if I get away, I have nothing but their scent to describe them.

  Chapter 16

  TALA

  I see Gracie look my way as the stranger grabs me from the cliff. She gets fidgety and runs, dropping her cell phone. I flay my arms and try to scream for her. She kneels, rubbing her hand over the ground until she finds the cell. As I kick at the stranger’s legs, I see her running toward me. I know she’s recording the kidnapping on her phone. She stumbles jumps up and follows me. I hear her yelling into the phone, trying to reach 911. “Hello! Hello!” she keeps repeating in desperation. But I guess the signal is poor because of our location.

  “Dang!” I hear her yell, throwing the cell down and running toward me.

  The guys grip tightens as he drags me toward the woods kicking and screaming for help. I gasp for
air as his beefy arms tighten around my waist squeezing me into. He breathes in strong forced puffs struggling to keep me under control. His breath is hot and beating against the nap of my neck. I feel the strength of it; bold and raspy and the odor foul and wild. Just like the stranger’s breath at the police station. It’s the same guy…I’m sure of it.

  Gracie comes near us. She lunges at the man, screaming, trying to get him off me. I am lashing out just like I did with the wolves, kicking and clawing like a wild animal. But he’s taken me by surprise and my wrist is sprained and hurting. I keep fighting him, but because of my wrist, I can’t free myself from his grip. Gracie keeps propelling herself at the man. She uses a tree limb and heaves blow after blow on his back and arms.

  The man lashes out at Gracie as she hammers him trying to get him off me. Finally, she slams the limb into the side of his head. He lets go of one arm to swat her, and she goes tumbling across the ground. She hits her head and is knocked out cold.

  My only hope of rescue has just been destroyed. My breath catches in my throat and everything starts spinning. If I pass out, I’m a goner. I take short quick breaths, trying not to panic. I shouldn’t have come up here alone with Gracie, now both of us could die. I’ve got to take control and save Gracie. But how? She’s out cold, and a stranger is dragging me into the woods for God knows what.

  My friend moans, and I flinch with guilt.

  Channing made me promise not to go after the killer on my own. Why couldn’t I have listened? If she dies, it’s my fault. I struggle to break myself free. I have to escape—no matter what else happens.

  Things can’t possibly get any worse.

  The moon shines brightly in the sky above the cliff looming like a dark shadow on Gracie’s lifeless body. I’m scared and quivering from trauma because nothing has gone the way I planned. Things have escalated from bad to worse. My BFF is hurt, and my body is being brutally drug into the woods as someone’s dinner. Unless something changes soon…we’re both dead! I’ve got to save us. Suddenly…somewhere deep inside my being I hear a voice. ‘It’s time…let me out—set me free!’ There is no one else around.

  Panic grips me like invisible fingers reaching from the night. I can’t move—I’m frozen in the darkness! Is this how my life ends—being savagely murdered at the hands of some unknown stranger?

  I get my chance and bite down hard on the man’s hand, and to my relief--he drops me. I gasp, glad to be on the ground out of his clutches. I force my trembling body to rise up, and I struggle to my feet. Never looking back, I scramble as fast as I can to get away from him. I run from the wooded area to a clearing before stopping. Then I lean against a rock and glance back just in time to see the bad man fall to the ground and turn into a wolf. What the hell? He rises up on all fours and pads toward me. Doom grips my soul as tight as the claws of death.

  Oh, my God! How is that even possible? I swallow hard and inch backwards, too terrified to breath.

  Then, another wolf appears—a huge one. It has familiar markings with black and grey fur. Its eyes draw my attention—I recognize it instantly. It’s the wolf that saved me from the first attack in the park. A ray of hope lifts my spirits. I heave a breath of the cool night air and plop on the ground.

  The huge wolf lunges forward.

  I step backward, watching in amazement as the powerful wolf throws himself at his foe, growling fiercely. I see razor-sharp teeth reflect in the moonlight as he pounces on my attacker, snarling with fury.

  I call to Gracie and see her in the darkness, still unconscious where she fell. I try to reach her, but the fighting beasts tumble between us, a blur of shredding claws and snapping jaws.

  With trembling lips, I yell for Gracie again, but my words catch in my throat. I stagger to the car, pulling myself along by clutching at bushes and tall grass. I feel my strength returning and thrust myself forward to get away from the bloodshed. I wait in the shadows and watch as the two wolves battle it out.

  The wolves are out of control, biting and wrestling each other. Their sharp fangs rip into each other’s flesh as they roll back and forth in the dirt. They yelp and howl as great mouthfuls of fur are chewed off and slung away—blood splattering. The sounds of their battle fill the night as mouthfuls of fur and flesh are ripped away, blood painting the earth beneath them. The larger wolf begins to gain an advantage, shredding his foe's ears and sinking his teeth into his throat. I can smell the coppery bite of blood as the crimson drops are flung through the air while the beasts roll and tumble across the cliff's edge.

  Still seated on the ground, I feel strange...like I’m not actually experiencing the moment but watching it unfold like in a movie. I keep watching... Am I having a nervous breakdown because of the stress? Or am I in a coma, dreaming? Deep down I know that’s not the case—this is real sh!!!

  The battle goes on and on, and I’m wondering if either of the wolves will survive. What if the bad wolf wins and comes after us? Maybe, Gracie and I should just get ourselves out of here, now. But then, before I make a move, there’s a growl, a sickening yelp, and the huge wolf who has been protecting me up until now stops to look my way. I notice a great deal of blood on its neck. Then its eyes glow with a strange blue illumination. It’s fur ripples from its head to the end of its tail. And it leaps—sinking its teeth into the back of the bad wolf. It shakes the wolf until it falls limp, then drops it to the ground.

  The next second, the huge wolf collapses, and I feel a fleeting sense of relief. I run to the spot where they fell—and the moment turns blacker than ever. The bad wolf is gone—run off into the woods.

  The huge wolf that saved me quivers violently and begins to change into something else. I gasp as its hair disappears. Its claws reseed into a hand. Its head and body jerk back and forth. I shake in terror as the wolf changes into my partner…Will Channing—lying there naked in the moonlight. I have suspected for weeks that he’s hiding something. And now that I know for sure—I’m numb.

  Now, who’se freaking out, Channing—a wolf? How is that possible? I wipe splattered blood from my face and shove my hair back, trying to pull myself together. I stagger back and forth, reasoning with myself, trying to think. Then, sinking to the ground, I force myself to come to grips with the situation so I can help my two best friends.

  Gracie stumbles to the path where I’m sitting on the ground rocking back and forth. The wolves just fought here, tearing at one another’s throats and spilling blood like it was water. Gracie looks around. “What happened…are you Okay?” I don’t know what to say. How can I tell her what just happened? It still seems crazy to me.

  I turn toward the area where Channing lay, but he’s gone—just like the other wolf. I feel like a mess, but Gracie looks more confused than me. I explain what happened the simplest way I know how. “The wolf attacked me, and a man ran off.” I can’t explain it any better than that. It should satisfy her for the moment. She sits quietly rubbing her bruised head. I make myself a promise. I’ll never ever put myself in a situation like this again.

  Just then, something rustles, snapping twigs on the forest floor. I stop breathing. I strain to see what what’s coming from the dark. Wolves? But Channing appears fully dressed and out of breath. “I tried to catch the other wolf but it got away.”

  Gracie eyes him suspiciously. “Aren’t you supposed to be in prison?” He looks dumbfounded but doesn’t speak.

  I’m shaking like a rabbit from what I just witnessed, but I console Gracie. I fear what might happen next if she gets too inquisitive. After witnessing Channing turn from being a wolf, I worry about what Gracie might think if she knew. “There’s no time for that now, Gracie. Channing has a huge gash across his back from the wolf bite. Come on, we need to get him to the hospital. Gracie you need to get checked out too from your bang on the head.”

  We make our way stumbling through the darkness to Gracie’s car and take off out of the woods to the hospital. At the emergency room, I keep going between my two friends as they are being treat
ed. Gracie must get a CT scan, and while she’s gone, I pounce in to see my partner.

  As I enter Channing’s room, I hear the nurse tell him that he should have let them know he had Rhnull blood. If he had needed a transfusion and gotten the wrong blood type, he would have died. So, he has the same blood type as me. That’s strange, but I want answers—and I’m dead serious this time. If there’s one thing I won’t stand for—it’s lies. “Well,” I hiss, “are you going to explain any of what just happened out there? What’s going on? How are you a wolf?” I ask in a whispered demanding voice

  Channing winces with pain. He swallows and has me sit beside him on the bed. He takes my hand and closes his eyes. “I’ve wanted to tell you for days but with all that’s been happening, I couldn’t find the right time. Now’s not the right time either.”

  I pull my hand away. “When is the right time, Channing?” I turn and start to walk away. “I’m sick and tired of being in the dark! Either, you tell me or—”

  He reaches for me. “It’s complicated. But, I will...I promise—when we’re alone tonight.”

  Chapter 17

  TALA

  Channing and Gracie are patched up and ready to be released from Witherfell hospital. I’m still in my partner’s room when he takes my hand and leans in closer as if to tell me something. His eyes twinkle like the stones in the water beneath Trundledown Bridge. I can’t get those eyes out of my mind. My heart races breathlessly. My lips part. I think for a moment, he’s going to kiss me, but the nurse comes in, with two policemen behind her.

  This time the officers greet Channing with a smile. They tell him that in the time that he was in jail, another body was found, so they know that he can’t possibly be the murderer.

  The officers ask if we need anything and when they leave everyone is on better speaking terms. When my friends are released, we all walk out together and head home.