Under the Moon

The moon rose from its slumber casting a silvery and ethereal glow on the forest, a lone wolf burst out into the clearing and howled, she ran again, her padded feet pounding softly on the leaves and grasses, her white fur rippled with corded muscles, making every single step gracefully but she was hungry and needed to hunt, under the full moon she could hardly control her primal instincts.

She stopped running as soon as she got a whiff of an antelope, she crept forward and as soon as she got within fifty yards the antelope stopped eating the small patch of grass on the forest floor, it turned to her direction but she was well hidden and as soon as the antelope turned back to it’s meal, she charged, before the poor beast could make a run for it’s life, she leapt and sank her fangs into the antelope neck and ripped a chunk out, the antelope twitched weakly and fell to the ground, the wolf holwed in victory and started to devour the near dead antelope.

Sona woke gasping for air, these dreams again, they keep coming even more frequently, she powered on her old modeled phone and stared at the screen to check the time, just past three, besides her, her little sister mumbled something, and Sona smiled weakly and tucked her up, she got up from bed and went to the bathroom to wash her face, after washing her blonde-white hair, she went to the bedroom and picked up her phone and texted a number given to her by a neighbor who claimed they were employing ladies at a restaurant, then Sona went to the bathroom to bath, when she had her bath she put on gray shirt on black hiker pants and woke Mia.

“Hey kiddo, time for school”

“Go away” Mia groaned and covered her head with a pillow, Sona gently pried it off and kissed her forehead, “ Cmon Mia prepare early so we could gist on the way to school” Sona tried again.

“Alright, am up” she sat up and stared at her older sister, “It’s way too early Sona, is something bothering you?” She asked, concerned

“No! Am okay” Sona said and stood “Am waiting sis”

* * *

After dropping Mia off at the local public school she boarded the train headed to her destination and looked around for Ethan, Ethan was her best friend for a long time, and the two had long history but finally became friends. Sona scanned the bus but couldn’t find Ethan, she was about to give up when a hand landed on her shoulder making her jump, she whirled to face her best friend, Ethan. “Jeez! Ethan, don’t scare me like that”

“Really? What of those times you nearly gave me heart attacks?” He reminded and Sona grinned and smacked him on the chest, he smiled that: I-still-have-something-sneaky-to-do smile. Ethan smile suddenly dropped, “You got a job yet?” he asked and Sona smile faded and she scowled at Ethan.

“Not yet idiot, must you remind me” Sona retorted and stared at the window, anguish written on her features, Ethan placed a massive hand on hers, “See Sona I understand, I really do, I wish I could help but I only work at the studio, it just an upcoming studio, honest” Ethan explained. Sona looked at him and gave him a small smile and ruffled his hair and he shot her a murderous look.

“Next stop” the driver called and Sona got down and waved, she thought she heard him say ‘ it is all gonna be alright’ but she couldn't be so sure, she walked the street leading to the restaurant where she was going to be working she got to the building and grinned, it looked very big and customers seemed to be streaming in and out, she mustered courage and walked in.

The restaurant was better inside than on the outside and Sona smile widened, she bumped into a smaller woman who frowned then her eyes lit up when she saw Sona, “You're the new person who gonna work here right” she beamed, “I am your supervisor, I will be the one in charge of monitoring, though you look like someone who do not need monitoring” she continued, Sona smiled and shook the lady hands

“You should probably check your email, your routine and shift has been sent” the lady continued and pouted, “Sorry where are my manners, I forgot my name is Jane”

“Nice to meet Jane, I should check my email now” Sona slipped out her phone and opened the email app and checked it, satisfied, she put the phone back in her pocket and looked at Jane, “I should be going now my email says that I should start tomorrow at five” Sona said, Jane nodded “Sure, see you tomorrow”

Sona nodded and walked outside and started her long trek home as she walked home she slipped out her phone and brought out her old earphones, and grinned when The kid Laroi’s “Stay” boomed in her ears but she started feeling uncomfortable and couldn't shake off the feeling of being watched as she turned, she thought she got a glimpse of her yellow eyes and she increased her footsteps, she removed her earphones and put them in her pocket she entered an alley and she got a glimpse of the yellow eyes accompanied by a low growl and she decided that was it and broke into a run, as she sprinted she heard feet following her she turned and there was nothing, Sona ran faster until she got to her home and pulled open the door and bolted it.

“Mia” she yelled but there was no answer

“Mia” she screamed and her sister poked her head out of the bathroom door

“What is it big sis, everything alright?” she came out wearing a blue robe, “ You're acting weird lately”

“When did you come back home” Sona asked, Mia raised a brow and tilted her head to the side, her posture reminded Sona of their mother when she was not sure what Sona really wanted

“I came the usual time stop acting paranoid Sona” mia chided, “Maybe you go and eat, I made peanut butter, it's good.” Sona nodded wearily and went to the kitchen and wolfed down whatever she could find, but she wasn't full, she had this primal feeling like she wasn't just content with peanut butter but the feeling subsided as soon as it started, but what she she didn't notice was the white tuft of fur that appeared on her arms but quickly disappeared.

* * *

Sona picked up her phone and texted Ethan, who replied immediately and told her to meet him outside, she got outside and saw him standing, six feet tall and handsome, she once had a thing for him once but they called it quits and had remained best friends, “Hey Sona, watcha doin” he called and she smiled, that was Ethan always trying to make her smile, she jogged up to him and hugged him and he grinned, “Miss me?” he drawled and she punched him making him yell

“I wanted to talk to you about something, Ethan” Sona deadpanned and Ethan became serious

“Sure, shoot” he encouraged and I nodded and sat down, “I have been having this weird dreams” I said, “In my dreams, I am a wolf who hunts down animals, I have this heightened sense of smell, hearing and sight and this wolf feels more like…….me, I don't understand”

Ethan blue eyes regarded me for a moment and she knew he was trying to judge if she was joking,

“I really don't know what to say Sona, but you heard about werewolves? There is these myth about men who could transform into wolves and had the higher and supernatural abilities, but the thing is these are all myths” he said

“What if they aren't myth, this afternoon as I was coming home I could feel like I was being watched, I increased my pace and I heard someone following and when I turned there was no one, and I ran off and I heard footsteps behind me running too, what the hell was that”

Ethan was quiet for a while, then his eyes lit up, “Can we go visit that alley” he said. “We might get some clues, though I don't believe in werewolves, like how can a human turn to a wolf, it is basically impossible.” Sona laughed at his comment and they walked down to the alley. The alley was dark and reeked of a year's garbage, Ethan height was the only thing giving Sona comfort, Sona scooted close to him and he grinned, “Scared?” he taunted and Sona had to clench her fist to keep herself from punching his face, he just kept smiling like an idiot until they heard a low growl and a black thing scuttled past, Ethan smile vanished and he grabbed a stick, “Stay behind me Sona” he hefted the stick and stalked towards the sound of the growl and two yellow eyes came out of the dark,

“There I told you” Sona cried, Ethan only grunted and swung the stick it hit, something yelp and a mangy dog limped out and ran off, Ethan looked at Sona, barely holding back his laughter.

“Don’t you dare laugh Ethan” she said with gritted teeth, Ethan backed away with his hands raised, “Sorry Sona but are so funny, seriously werewolves, has it gotten to that? I almost fell for it, I…….” he stopped as his phone rang and he stared at the screen and he frowned, “Jeez! I am hungry and they are saying I should come for a late night record, well my answer is no, got anything at home Sona.” he asked, I scowled at him but he grinned and dragged her along, “Come along Sona and let's get something to eat, it's on me don't worry.”

They strolled along the streets of Seattle, the moon had risen and everywhere was bath in a silvery glow, shadows danced as people went along their activities, “ Were the hell are we going Ethan” Sona asked

“You will see” he replied and they turned a corner opening up to Seattle main city full of people going up and down, cars drove at relaxed speed, women pushed baby trolleys, old men sat on stone benches, boys rode their bikes and girls walked their pets, Sona do not usually come to the city so it was overwhelming to her and she smiled at Ethan,

“Thanks” she whispered, Ethan smiled back and stopped at her restaurant that was even four times bigger than the one she was going to be working.

“Ethan, can you afford……..” she stopped, not wanting to offend him but he smiled and poked her back, “It is okay Sona, I made lots this morning at the studio, let's go in” he said and they walked and the smell of good food everywhere it Sona, and she turned to Ethan,

“Southern fried chicken” Sona said

“Huh?” Ethan asked

“I want southern fried chicken” Sona said and Ethan laughed,

“You sound like a kid Sona, but no problem, I will get your chicken, wait here.” he walked up to a counter and did his stupid male charming stuff and he came back with three brown paper bags, Sona frowned.

“Got a girlfriend you wanna give” Sona said as he walked over, he pursed his lips and looked at Sona skeptically,

“No I bought this for Mia” he replied and Sona fell silent and tears appeared at the corner of her eyes before Ethan could react she hugged him right and he hugged her back, “I have to leave now Sona, got some recording to do, tell Mia I said hi” he escorted her outside and climbed a moving bus and waved, Sona smiled and started her walk home and as she passed the dark alleyway, she heard a low growl again and a huge dark figure ran past.