The Emergence Of The Wolf - Completed

2. Lost weekend

I heard a howl. It was loud and going and going, and then it turned into something else, an alarm on my phone.

I was trying to open my eyes, and it felt as if my eyelids were hurting and held down by steel plates. I was still able to open them and looked around. I could see my familiar room, beige walls, tiny TV, and a bookshelf full of fantasy books from a half-priced store. I was lying in my bed. I kept trying to look around and shake off the sleepy fog from my eyes and brain.

“Thank God it was just an awful dream." I rubbed my cotton sheets with my feet. Safe and sound in my apartment! I stretched myself, and I could barely move my arms. I found my phone and turned off the alarm.

I was thinking about last night's dream. I could not get it out of my head. The colors, the smells? Should the dream feel so real? I looked at the palms of my hands. There were no scratches on them. Maybe one tiny scratch? I looked closely again. No, there are no scratches. I checked my leg; it was fine, with no bruises.

Alarm, hmm, why was the alarm so loud? Oh no, I had to run to school. I grabbed my jeans and pulled them on. I could barely do it because of the pain. My legs were so sore. It felt as if I had run a marathon yesterday. I had to rush. I grabbed the first shirt that I could get my hands on, put it on, grabbed my bus pass and backpack, and ran out of the apartment.

Down the stairs, I am flying. Is it Monday? I swear I was walking home on Friday night.

I opened the door of my building, the light hitting my face, the smell of the streets, the green of the few trees, and the bus. I saw the bus approaching the bus stop, just up the hill, one block away from me. I started to run again. My sore legs didn't feel any better, but I could not miss that bus.

I jumped in right before the driver closed the doors behind me. I showed him my pass hanging over my neck. He looked at me with questions in his eyes and a smirk. I pulled the bus pass, bringing it closer to his face. The expression of the driver didn't change. I looked at the bus pass and realized the plastic container was empty.

How could this possibly happen? Why did I leave my pass at home? It must have slipped out. Frustrated, I had to pay extra for the ride, as I didn't have change. I sat down on the first empty seat. Out of habit, I grabbed my phone and looked through the messages. I found a bunch of messages from Michelle. "Hey, what’s up? Did you not like my posts", "We missed you at the party, did you not see my stories?", "Are you ghosting me this weekend?". There were also a few missed calls from her.

I barely made it to my classroom. Of course, it was a midterm quiz. I have to wing it and do the best I can. I pushed myself really hard and did as well as I could, considering the situation.

I decided to rest and close my eyes for a minute, then I saw it. I saw the wolf's eyes again. They were looking right at me, commanding me, pushing me. The wolf’s mouth was moving like he was speaking to me, but no words came out. Then it was all gone.

I opened my eyes and felt some change, more power within myself. Then it hit me, the sounds, the smells; I felt as if I was drawing in the sensations that were coming from everywhere and nowhere at the same time.

I felt as if the world was spinning, and I felt nauseated again. I laid my head down on the table, trying to get a grasp of myself. Slowly my senses felt numb to all this insane stimulation, and I started to raise my head. Mr. Rogers was standing next to me, but I already knew that because I could smell him.

He had a very particular smell of moldy apartment, sweaty hands, old suits, and his and someone else's other body fluids and women's perfume. I could also hear Mr. Rogers' stomach growl. I guess he missed his lunch today.

“Struggling with the test?" he asked. "You should prepare more at home," he added, irritated, and walked away.

That perfume I smelled on him smelled familiar. I scanned the room and saw Clair almost done with her exam. She was bathed in that same perfume. Is she a teacher’s pet or more? I glanced at her screen, and even though she was so far away, I could see the answers I needed.

I was waiting for someone to scream at me that I was cheating, but no one said a word. I typed in all missing answers, submitted them, and left the classroom. Am I still dreaming? It was a different type of dream. I am not naked, and I passed the test for some mysterious reason.

“Here is the missing girl.” I heard a familiar voice.

"Jeez, Michelle, you scared the hell out of me," I snapped.

Michelle looked at me up and down, "Hi Sabrina! Something is different about you; you even look taller," she said.

"I could not track you down all weekend. I called your phone! Called!! And I was going to stop by your apartment tonight. I know you don't really like parties or even hanging out with people, but this was too much even for you," she sighed.

It was so good to see her. She was my closest friend. We met in kindergarten, managed to stay friends through elementary, middle, and high school, and used to be roommates until she moved with her boyfriend.

"I have a lot to tell you," I said, but first, I have to eat something. I was starving.

We went into the cafeteria, and Michelle was eyeing my tray. I could not blame her. I filled my tray to the brim with everything the cafeteria had to offer.

We found a table in the corner and sat down. I have told her most of what happened except that I cheated on my test and the weird smells and sounds that were bombarding me from every direction.

I also didn't tell her that I knew what she was doing this morning. I could smell sex all over her, even though I could also smell the shower she took. Maybe she was rushing.

"So you don't remember any part of the weekend?" she said.

"No, I don't, and I do not remember getting home," I replied.

"I think we should go to the police or get you checked out by the doctor," she said.

I was not ready to go anywhere, and even though I knew she was right, I was trying to figure out how to get out of this situation. I didn't want to be a person that didn't know where she was for two days and three nights.

"How about we go to my apartment first and look for any possible clues?" I proposed.

Michelle looked at me, calculating, trying to figure out how much resistance was left in me.

" OK, let's head to your place first," she agreed.

We were standing by the door of my apartment.

I smelled this disgusting smell again from my dream or not. Was it real? I carefully opened the door.

What we saw when we opened the door was everything turned upside down. My clothes and little things were all over the place. The bedsheets were torn off the bed. Kitchen appliances and pieces of my plates and cups were thrown around the kitchen floor.

"Did you wake up to this mess this morning?" asked my friend.

I shook my head. Maybe I lost my mind completely, but this is not how I left my house.

"What would be found in my place and even destroy my dishes?" I asked. "Most of my stuff is from discount stores and Ikea."

I had some pieces that reminded me of grandma. I started looking for them on the floor. I found the shard with familiar blue coloring.

I picked it up carefully to not cut myself, but it did cut me slightly. I wrapped it in a paper towel and put it in my pocket. I sucked on my finger without thinking about it.

For some reason, I knew at that moment that my life would never be the same. I didn't know what forces were at play here, but my gut told me that I needed to run fast—maybe take the train to my parents' house?

"Well, we have to go to the police now," said Michelle said, as she was listening to my thoughts somehow and didn't want to let me get out of it anymore.

There was a knock on the door.