Becoming the Wolf, pt. 2

"...have you get up and move around for me, okay?"

"Wh...what?"

Ms. Donell, one of the nurses, rests her fingertips on my shoulder. Always balancing perfectly between personal and professional. "We have to make sure you can walk."

I get up, still groggy, and shuffle a bit around the recovery area.

"Good! Good. How do you feel, honey?"

"Drugged," I mumble.

She flashes a bright smile and giggles a little before directing me to the door. One of the EMTs stands there.

"Blake here is going to make sure you get home okay. You have everything?"

I reach into my pockets, not remembering getting dressed, and find my wallet and my keys. I bob my head for her.

"Alright then, Mr. Welks, we will get the results back to you as soon as possible. He's all yours, Blake."

He nods once and like that I'm at home. We talked about something, but I don't remember what. I had dropped my keys what felt like a hundred times, but I can't recall if he picked them up or not. I only briefly ponder the location of my pants before I fall into a deep, dreamless sleep.

Excruciating pain jolts me awake and I instinctively reach for the pills beside my bed. I lay back, waiting for their effect, but I can't help but think about it. The sensation arcs across my whole body. Touches every inch, pounds in my ears, wraps around my lungs. While I don't want to feel it, I still close my eyes and trace its path.

It didn't take long for my thoughts to center around the wolf. Was that a dream? Did I die for a moment? If it was a dream, where did it come from? As the medication seeps into my veins, however, I loose the ability to hold the vision of those eyes in my mind. Until, finally, the waves of narcotics wash over me.


The air is freezing.

Why am I naked?

Only a minute passes before I see it again, but it is only a shadow in the mist.

In posture alone, I feel it. Come, it begs me. It is only a suggestion. It is more than enough. Shivering, I stumble through the dew-blued grass closer to this beast; I don't know his motives, but still I obey.

The wolf twists away from me, disappearing for a moment before backtracking. It turns back around. Watches me over its shoulder. When I get within ten feet of him, it starts walking again.

Where is it taking me?

For awhile I ponder how amazingly stupid I must be for following this giant predator. How easy I'm making this for it. Soon, however, the cold sinks into my skin and I can no longer think. Three steps and I collapse.

The wolf stops and looks down at me. I look up at it, but its silver-blue eyes see all of my soul, and I tuck my head to my chest.

When the pain starts again it is far away, but creeps closer and closer until it swallows me whole.

My hand shoots again to the pills beside my bed.