Free Hidden Moon by K R Thompson Page A

listened to their quick footfalls. They were running, trying to save the missing girl. He walked along the edge of the forest as he fought the urge to join them. His skin felt as if a thousand tiny electric currents were running through it. The moon beckoned to him. He fought back the growl that tried to rise from deep inside his belly. Something furred slid against his bones, as if searching for a way out. He fought it, thinking it was simply a matter of will to keep himself whole. He felt the graze of teeth and the slash of claws. The creature snarled inside of him. It was frustrated, becoming angrier and more determined to get out as it charged against him, as if his very body were a cage to be escaped.
    The force of the blow threw him to the ground. A single howl split the night air, giving the creature more strength. It forced him to submit. He watched in horror as the fur flowed over his body and changed into the nightmare from which he hoped to wake. He heard the wolves’ cries as they sang their sorrowful song to the moon. Somehow, he knew they called to him. They were waiting for him.
    The animal wanted to join them, to answer their call. The boy trapped inside the creature cried as despair washed over him. He threw back his head and howled, cursing the moon. He didn’t want to be a monster. He only wanted her, and now he knew he would never have her. He ran, faster than his human legs had ever carried him, as he tried to outrun the anger that built inside him and the rage that pushed him farther and farther.

FIVE

     
    I TRIED TO look cheerful as I looked at Brian’s bloodshot eyes. “Good morning.”
    “Morning,” he mumbled as he buckled his seatbelt, then pulled the hood of his jacket up, covering part of his face.
    He must be cold, I thought as I reached over and flipped on the truck’s heater. “Did you hear the wolves last night?”
    I saw the edge of his eye narrow. “No.”
    “Oh. I figured you might have heard them. There must have been a pack of them out there howling last night. I lay in bed and listened to them most of the night.”
    “I didn’t hear anything,” he said in a hushed whisper.
    I shrugged and started up the truck. If he didn’t want to talk, I wasn’t going to make him. We traveled in silence all the way to the school and I pulled in our usual spot without any problems.
    “Good job. If you don’t mind, I’m going to let you take yourself to your classes today. I’m not feeling well. I may leave early and go back home. If I do, I’ll call Mom at the police station and tell her to let your mom know you need a ride home.”
    “Are you okay?”
    “Yeah. I just didn’t sleep well.”
    “Don’t worry about me. If you need to go home, I’ll be fine. I’m supposed to go over to the reservation to help Adam with his English after school. He’s already offered to drive me,” I reassured him as I reached over to squeeze his hand. “Just get better, okay?”
    “Sure.” He got out of the truck and walked into the school without waiting for me.
    Adam was in his usual spot against his Jeep. The rest of the guys were waiting with him today. I started to walk past them, but one look into his eyes froze me in my tracks. His eyes looked older somehow. I noticed the rest of the guys had the same look to them, too. Even Erik’s usual smile was gone today, but Ed looked the worst of them all.
    “You didn’t find her,” I whispered. “You didn’t find Meghan.”
    I saw the answer in his face before he shook his head. “No, only her gear.”
    We all walked into school together in silence. The day went by slowly. Adam didn’t speak as I slid in next to him for class, he only gave me a sad smile. He followed me afterwards to the cafeteria and stood behind me in line.
    I looked over and saw John and Ronnie sitting at their table. Beth and Brian were nowhere to be seen. I figured Brian had gone home to rest and that Beth was probably digging up a story somewhere. John and Ronnie