Chapter 178: A Horrible Dream
Nina
I woke up that night with a start. My back and forehead were both caked in sweat, and my entire body was shaking as I sat up in bed.
That night, I had had a dream about Enzo; a horrible dream, at that. I was searching for him, running through the forest as fast as I could and calling his name. I could hear his voice coming from far away, calling for me. Just a little further, and I would be there. So much joy filled my body as I knew that he would be safe with me. But when I found him, he wasn’t alone.
He was sitting on a cnair, and Denina him stood… Selena. His eyes were closed and his body was slumped, but she was holding his head up like a puppet. There was a sickening grin spread across her evil face, and then she opened her mouth….
And she called my name with Enzo’s voice.
After that dream, I knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep. It felt like an omen, and although it had been less than a day since Enzo left, I knew I needed to find him and Myra was the only one who I knew that could help me. Without wasting a second, I quickly climbed out of bed and threw my clothes on, then quietly slipped out of my dorm and headed toward the cabins where the Fullmoons were staying.
When I arrived, several of them were sitting around the fire and chatting. Lewis wasn’t there, but thankfully, Myra was. She looked up as I approached and gave me a strange look.
“Nina?” she asked. “It’s one o’clock in the morning. What’s wrong?” “I need to talk to you,” I said, shivering in the cold beneath my sweatshirt. “Please.”
One of the other Fullmoons moved to escort me away, but Myra shook her head and stopped him. She walked up to me with a confused look on her face, but followed nonetheless as I led her a little ways away.
“What is it?” she asked once we were out of earshot. “It’s Enzo,” I whispered, pulling down my hood. “I… Had a nightmare. It was too vivid, and I’m worried it might be some kind of omen. Please, I really need you to-”
“If you’re going to ask me to open a portal, then the answer is no,” Myra interrupted. She then sighed and placed her hand on my shoulder. “Nina He’s fine. You’re just anxious, but I promise that he’ll be okay. If he doesn’t come back in a week, then we’ll go searching for him, okay?”
I gulped, but I knew that Myra was right. It had only been less than a day. Surely nothing horrible could have happened to him by now. It was just a dream.
The next morning, I picked up my phone to a campus-wide announcement from the dean instructing everyone to gather in the auditorium for a meeting. I hadn’t slept at all since my nightmare and was still wearing my clothes from my walk through the woods, so I decided to go with Lori and Jessica.
By the time we arrived, many of the students had already flooded into the auditorium. They spoke in hushed voices, still frightened from
everything that happened – but I had hope, at the very least, that Cynthia had an announcement that would raise morale.
“Thank you all for coming,” Cynthia said into the microphone once everyone had settled. I was sitting in the back of the auditorium with Lori and Jessica, and felt comforted as Jessica’s hand slipped into mine.
“I have a very important announcement,” she continued with a tense smile, “As I’m sure you all know already, the atrocities that happened.
nere on this very campus have many or us feeling defenseless… But not anymore. I would like to introduce you all to a wonderful group of people who have volunteered to protect our campus and our town from any further attacks: please give your gratitude to the Fullmoons!”
I felt my stomach sink as the Fullmoons made their way onto stage. Seeing Lewis almost made me sick after what had happened at the meeting the other day. Even just thinking about how they were not going to protect any of our neighboring towns made my blood boil. Jessica, seeing this, shot me an empathetic look and squeezed my hand. I shook my head and stared down at my lap, seething.
“The Fullmoons are going to be
patrolling our campus and our town for the foreseeable future,” the dean continued. “I can assure you all that these fine ladies and gentlemen are skilled fighters, and will do their best to protect our school. Now, for a few words from Lewis, the temporary leader of the Fullmoons, who will be in charge while their leader is away.”
Away… More like kidnapped.
“Thank you all for being willing to listen to an old man such as myself,” Lewis said, a little too enthusiastically for my liking. “My name is Lewis, and I am the Beta of the Fullmoons. Now, before you ask… Yes, we are werewolves.”
A gasp rippled over the students, and they all began to look at each other, but Lewis continued nonetheless. “I know you’ve all had a rocky introduction to the world of werewolves,” he said. “And I fully understand your fears and concerns.
But rest assured in knowing that we wish no ill will toward humans, and only hope for a new era in which humans and werewolves can live in harmony. If you’re still not convinced, which is understandable, let’s take a moment to remember that it was werewolves your beloved hockey team who saved your campus from our opposing faction, the Crescents.”
Lewis paused, licking his lips. All of the students slowly turned to look at the hockey team, who were all standing along the back of the auditorium. I heard some hushed whispers, but the students seemed more awed than frightened, which was a relief.
“The Crescents,” Lewis continued, ” are not like us. They do not represent the sentiments of all werewolves; in fact, they represent a very small portion of our population, and we will work tirelessly to ensure that their hatred doesn’t have a chance to spread. Students of Mountainview: rest assured that the ruumoons are on your side, and we are here to help.”
I stifled a scoff. Were they really here to help, or were they only here for their own gain because of Mountainview’s prime location? My blood boiled even harder as I stared at Lewis, watching him step down from the stage with the rest of the Fullmoons; and for an
instant, he looked across the crowd and made me certain that he was looking right at me, as though he knew that I didn’t approve of his leadership.
As he looked at me, his eyes were cold and indifferent. I wanted to jump up and shout, to accuse the Fullmoons and the dean of being selfish and uncaring, but I couldn’t; I was frozen in time.
“…that’s why we’ll be hosting two fundraising events: a hockey game, and after that, a school dance. Not only will this be a chance to raise funds in order to repair our school, but it will also be a great chance for you to mingle with your fellow students and have a little carefree fun.”
I hadn’t realized it, but while I was locking eyes with Lewis, the dean had returned to her speech. What was this about a hockey game and a dance? As she mentioned it, the crowd began to murmur excitedly. Jessica looked over at me with a smile, as did Lori.
That could be nice.” Jessica whispered, nudging me with her elbow. “Something to look forward to.””
In all honesty, I felt as though hosting festivities was too soon after what had happened especially after losing not only Tiffany, but also several students but I supposed that maybe Jessica was right.
Maybe a little fun was necessary to keep me from worrying nonstop about Enzo.
