Chapter Nine
I've been wallowing in this forest for hours.
The sun has gone down and the sky is dark, the tall trees blocking out any moonlight there is.
If it weren't for my wolf, I wouldn't be able to see where I'm going.
I don't know where I'm supposed to go. This pack hates me.
The only friend I've got has family problems so I can't even think about going there.
I guess I'll go back for my car, load it with my shit, then figure out where to park until I can sort things out.
Unless I go rogue. No. I can't. Can I? Maybe I should.
Everyone already thinks of me like that.
“Look who it is,” Ember's voice cuts through the silence.
I look up and see her, Hannah and Mitchell standing in the darkness.
They look daunting. I know I'm screwed right now.
I bit back at school and they aren't going to let me get away with it.
I'm about to get beaten up. Even if I scream, no one will help.
“Not now, Ember,” I growl at her, all of them looking surprised. I'm pissed. Maybe I can win this time.
“Wow, looks like someone thinks they have a choice in the matter.” Ember smirks.
They step closer and I watch them. I've never trained before, no explanation needed.
How do I do this? They are skilled. They might be formulated in the way they fight but I'm going to take the savage approach.
Swing my fists and see what happens. They think of me as uncivilised; I'm going to show them just how uncivilised I can be.
When they get close enough I punch Mitchell in the face figuring knocking him out first while I've got the most energy and anger is the smart way to go.
Once he drops, not from unconsciousness but from the surprise and impact, I turn to the girls.
They look shocked but then their pupils blow out in anger.
They attack me before I can react. As I feel my arm being yanked and a fist connect to my face, my hands instinctively go to cover my face from being pummelled.
They still land blows so instead of going into a defensive position, I throw my arms around to get some lead way on them.
I manage to get a few hits on them but once Mitchell gets back up, I know I'm done for. He goes behind me and grabs my arms behind my back so I can't defend myself. Ember and Hannah stand in front of me grinning.
“You shouldn't have put up a fight because now you're getting it worse,” Mitchell's voice rumbles in my ear.
“We could have done this like usual but now...” Ember smiles maliciously.
Ember and Hannah look like the ultimate cold-blooded predators.
I try to turn and twist to shake off Mitchell's hold but it's no use.
I don't know how much time passes but they beat me horrendously.
After landing blow after blow to my face, I feel so dizzy I collapse so Mitchell lets me fall to the ground.
These people don't believe in 'don't kick a man when he's down', because they go right for my ribs, kicking over and over.
I even hear a loud crack. I feel the wind get knocked out of me so much so that I can't talk, let alone gasp.
My body goes limp in defeat. They see I can't get back up so they back off.
“If you were smart, you'd lie there until you die,” Ember says.
As hazy as I am, I sense them leave. I don't feel like I can move an inch.
My body is half on my side and half on my stomach.
The pain is insufferable. All I smell and taste is blood, as well as dirt since my face is buried in it.
My head feels too heavy to lift. My body is in too much pain to move.
It hurts to try and breathe. I don't know how I'm supposed to help myself.
Should I just stay here and die? What do I have left?
I have no will to get up. The pain will intensify by the slightest movement.
Anything I can do to stop myself from feeling any more pain, I will.
So I succumb to my injuries. Whatever happens will happen.