Full Moon 2 by Elaina H (top ebook reader TXT) 📕

Before I know it, I pitch black and I can’t find the switch for the headlights. I pull over to find it. Once I find it, I try to turn the bike back on. It won’t start.

I keep trying and trying to start the motorcycle, but it sputters every time I try. “God dang it!” I yell.

This time by full choice, I let myself turn. It’s painful, the anger doesn’t help mask the pain this time, but I make it through while biting my cheek.

Running of the road, I romp through the nearby field, feeling the joy of being utterly free.

By the time the realization hits me on the situation, I’m too far gone.

Maybe I could just be a wolf all the time, I wouldn’t have to be human, they’d never find me, ever.

I still can see the motorcycle by the side of the road, someone will eventually take it, masking the fact that I was even here.

Still the stars look pretty, my thoughts aren’t ever going to be completely wolf, I’ll always be Brim, I guess.

So, to this thought I fall asleep in the field of wheat, it’s soft and cozy. I’m glad I’ve made my decision.

During the middle of the night, a noise wakes me up. It’s a different noise than all the other vehicles because it’s a motorcycle. Except the person on this motorcycle is pulled up next to mine yelling my old name, “Brim! Brim! Please answer, Brim!”

That must be Cal, what is he doing here? He didn’t even defend me at all! I hate Cal! Are my thoughts getting simpler? I guess it’s in my head! Or not?

Cal continues to call from the side of the road until he actually walks into the wheat field. And then he does something I’ve never seen him do. He switches.

I see the wheat moving as he runs, and I know he’ll find me eventually. He can smell, right?

So, gradually, I speed up; pulling away from Cal. My paws hit the ground, once twice three times. The adrenalin rush I’m experiencing is extreme; the chase.

Behind me, I know he’s catching up, Cal runs. Should I let him catch me? No! I’m free, I’m free, I’m …….!
Now, on top of me, Cal stares into my wolf eyes. He’s holding me down with his body weight, which is a lot. We can’t talk, but his yellowish eyes bore into mine.

I wriggle, trying to get away from him. Snarling at him doesn’t do the trick either. Instead, he keeps sitting until I give in.

I follow him back to the motorcycles. When we get there, two men are staring at the nice bikes. “You think anybody will know it was us who took them?” the one asks the other as they load my bike into the back of their truck.

“Naw, we live in South Carolina. A million days away from here. Just help me load the last one in!” Cal lowers and stalks forward.

My bike! I follow behind him. When the two truckers see us they freeze. “Woah there!”

I almost snigger, but I keep it real with a growl. They run back to the truck, quickly, and hit the gas.

Cal sniffs the back pocket of his motorcycle, I see clothing peeking out of the bag, well, I if I have to go back. I snarl at the leaving truck, my bike in the back.

Taking the clothing in my teeth, I walk further into the wheat field. I drop the clothes and change back. I take the clothes and quickly dress again.

Walking back up to the motorcycles, Cal is leaning against his. “Ready?”

“I can’t show my face there again, Cal. Thanks to you! They all think I’m a wild beast not knowing what I’m doing! Why didn’t you defend me?
I reprimand him.

Cal just stares at me, “Because, I was ready to be out of there and this was an easy way out. Dev drove the other way. In three hours we’re supposed to meet at the Holiday Inn Express. We don’t have any other way to get a hold of each other.”

“Well, you’re lucky you found me now. I would have been gone by morning,” I say stiffly as Cal gets on his bike. “Where am I going to go?”
“On the back,” he tells me. “Unless you plan on walking?”

I grumble, “Fine!” I slide onto the back of his motorcycle, and keep a good two inches between us. I look for anything to hold, but his waist.

“Hold on!” he shouts as he pulls out on to the highway. It’s late at night and no one is on the road, and, apparently, that means ‘go as fast as possible’!

Cal driving is jerking, and, to no avail, I end up closing the gap between us and flinging my hands around his waist.

He’s really warm, god! “How far away is the Holiday Inn?” I shout.

“Not to far, ten more minutes maybe?” so for ten more minutes I get to keep my hands around his waist.

And, boy, am I thankful that I didn’t stay a wolf forever!

When we do pull into the parking lot of the Holiday Inn, Cal waits for me to get off his bike, “Oh, Sorry!” I mutter as I slip off.

Together we walk in, “Can we have a room?” Cal asks the older man at the counter.

“I just want to let you kids know something! You don’t have to do this, girlie. There’s like a 5% chance you’ll marry him,” I blush.

Cal speaks first, “We’re married.”

Okay? That’s a little strange. “Oh,” he says, “you don’t looks a day over sixteen, girlie,” now he looks to Cal. “You look like you’re twenty-five!”
I laugh, “Can we please have a room?”

“Yea, here you go,” the old man hands us a key, and I look at Cal strangely.

“Married? Really?”

He avoids eye contact, “It was quicker that way, you know?”

I nod, “Okay.”

Opening the door to our room, the cold air hits us. “Boy, that’s a strong A/C!”

“Yup,” he says, but he’s not cold.

I hop onto one of the beds, and climb under the blankets. “How are you going to get our documents?” I feel bad for getting kicked out now, not mad.

“Samantha’s still going to let me come and pick them up, it’ll be fine. Don’t worry about it.” He pauses before speaking again, “But I have a question for you?”

“Okay, spill it.”

He asks, “What did you mean I’d gotten there at the right time?”

“Oh, I had decided I was,” I look away embarrassed at my thoughts, “going to stay a wolf forever,” I whisper the last part.

He smiles, “Really? I tried to talk to Aaron about it, but he laughed. He said it was the stupidest thing he’s ever heard,” Cal stares up at the ceiling.

“That’s why I was embarrassed to tell you. It just makes so much sense to me, you know? To be free, no worries, and I think, eventually, you’d forget everything else and absorb the wolf.”

I hear him chuckle, I feel like an idiot, “It’s funny how you’re saying exactly what I’ve been thinking.” He waits a moment before talking again, “That’s the reason I stayed back.”

“What? You told me it was to wait for The Center or the government!” I stare at him questioningly.

“I know,” he turns on his side and looks me in the eyes, “but I lied. My family would just think I’d been taken by The Lab. My father wouldn’t let them come after me, at least that’s what I’ve been betting on.

“And then, I could just run. Absolutely free! The day you guys came, I was getting ready to leave. But you asked me for my help, and I said no.

“The plan was to still run, to still be a wolf, but I couldn’t get you out of my head. I started thinking about my family, especially, about my mother. She’s break, I couldn’t handle that,” Cal continues to look at me.

“I understand, sort of,” I whisper. “But my choice was easier than yours. I mean, what’s a girl named 23 got to with her life. I’m worthless, The Center wouldn’t be able to find me, and I could handle everything so much better when…when I wasn’t me! I’m a nothing, and that’s the truth. I just doesn’t make much sense to me anymore, to be, well, me.” Saying the truth, how I really feel, out loud makes a tear push its way out of my eye.

I close my eyes, and wipe it away. I hear Cal get off his bed, and I feel the weight of him on mine. “Hey, you’re not nothing! How could you even say that? Your name is Brim, not 23. Don’t think you’re not wanted anywhere. Because you are,” he swallows hard, “wanted by someone.”

Sitting up, my face moves closer to Cal’s, “Thank you,” I whisper.

He nods slowly, as I’m about to lean down it happens. Cal leans forward and kisses me, long and slow.

I’ve never been kissed! My brain goes into overdrive, and I pull away. Cal smiles sweetly, but this time he doesn’t replace it with the scowl.

So I to give him my smile, and just like him, I keep smiling.

After the kiss, Cal and I keep talking. Something, obviously, passed between us. It definitely changes our relationship, but we’re still open to talking.

When Dev runs into the room, Cal is sitting on my bed laughing out loud, and I’m huddled in the blankets like caterpillar in a cocoon.

“What? I’ve been searching?!” Cal stops smiling, and laughing, but I have a hard time doing the same.

Cal tells Dev, “We agreed to meet here in three hours, I found her and we came back here.”

“So you could flirt with her?!” Dev shouts obviously angry. When I really look at him I see why.

I stand up and waddle up to him, “What happened to you?!” I ask.

Dev’s face is cut up and scratched, he has a few teeth marks in his shoulder, and the shirt he’s wearing smells like he got it off a homeless person. “I saw a wolf, smaller, and I chased after it. Turns out, it’s not you, so it attacks me. But I’m a great friend so I keep looking while Cal here makes his move,” Dev glares at Cal.

“Come on,” I say. “I’m really sorry, Dev.”

He looks back at me, momentarily stopping his glaring contest with Cal, “It’s not completely your fault.”

I start the shower in the hotel bathroom, and bring in the soap from the little basket. “Here, take as long a shower you need. I’ll find you some clothes.”

I close the door, and walk back into the room, “I’ll be back. I’ve got to find some clothes,” Cal nods, angrily.

“Whatever,” he says.

Heading down the stairs, I walk up to a little gift shop. “Here you are,” I mutter.

Before I step in, two sets of hand grab me from behind, and stick a rag over my mouth. Before I can kick anyone, I’m unconscious and all I see is black.

Chapter Six

I wake up in the back of a truck, tied to the wall. I scream, but a rag covers my mouth. I try to break free, but they’re chain or silver.

I find myself slipping back under, and, once again, blackness swallows the world.

“Get her out of there!” someone yells.

I feel myself being tossed roughly, and pushed in some sort of cart. My eyelids flutter open, but I shut the again because the florescent lights burn.

“What’s going on?!” I shout with my eyes closed.

The next thing I hear irks me, and I feel bile rising in my throat, “Hello, 23. Did you have a nice trip?” Mr. Harvey says, laughter rises to his lips, and I cringe.

“Why am I back here? What happened?” I play stupid and confused.

Raven speaks, “Be quiet, 23! You didn’t think you could run from us forever, dear, did you?”

I ignore her, “Where’s Dev,” I don’t mention Cal.

“Cal Holloway and 5 are more of a game for us, you see, dear.” Raven explains, “See, when you have to boys