Wolves Pt. 3

I waited, hoping the smoke from the fire wasn't obvious. I wondered if something like that could dull my scent. Not being a wolf or having friends who were wolves themselves left me in the dark about the answers. 

I could hear Chase sniffing, his slight snorts as he inhaled giving away his location. First northeast, all the way over to northwest, east, southeast ... Then he stopped. I heard his heavy feet upon the short staircase. 

As I held my breath, hoping that would help to mask my presence I realized that if he did come in, I'd want to die. I didn't want this to be how things went for me. I cowered under the covers like a child.

At once, I heard the warning growl of several wolves. I didn't dare look out the window, but I hoped it was Luca. Something in me thought it may be.

Snarls and growls gave way to more fighting sounds where they were muffled against one another or the ground. Had Chase come with his pack or was he alone? I waited until the commotion stopped and then I sat up in bed glancing out the window to my left. Chase was on the ground cowering.

I saw Luca give an unspoken order to let him go. Chase's blood trail was staining the snow as he limped away. When Luca came into the cabin, he was human again, out of breath.

"Are you alright?" he asked me. I nodded. "I think we should get out of here as soon as we can."

"Did that count as groveling?" I asked. 

"I think risking death to find you counts," Luca said with a tilt to his head. 

"Any idea where the portal is?" I asked. 

"No. Maybe it's near where you were originally. Where did Chase grab you?"

"Wait a minute," I said, glancing at the fire. "I think that may be where we need to go."

"In the bloody fire? That's a heavy gamble if it don't work, yeah?"

"Yes, but look at it."

"I have been, and I haven't noticed anything." He turned around to stare at the flickering flames. "Although, I have been distracted …" he trailed off staring at it. A wavy set of lines were moving against the direction of the fire. "I think you're right. Good on you for noticing!"

Slowly, I sat up and then slid off the bed. I shuffled over to him.

"I'm glad to help you once in a while."

"It's alright. I don't mind being your hero," he said with a shy chuckle. "Are we ready?" 

"Yes." 

"Let's go ... mate." Luca glanced at me, giving me a sweet smile. I smiled back and took his hand and together we jumped in.

***

We landed on the hard, metal floor of Really World with a thump. We groaned in pain.

"What the?" I asked nobody.

"Yeah, I preferred windows to being tossed on a metal floor."

I glanced up at Luca and when our eyes met, I could still feel the echo of our pairing from the last scenario. I could tell he felt it too. Was it always going to be there?

Suddenly, there was a thump against the glass.

"Oh, dear god," Luca whimpered in fear. This time, I understood why he was afraid after the last attack. I stood in front of Luca to help guard him, but Lecki never emerged. It was just a bump of hello, it would seem.

Luca walked toward one of the tan seats in front of a flickering monitor. He lowered his body into it and sighed, rubbing his head.

I sat beside him and said, "Let's make sure to never do another fantasy-type scenario again. Chase becomes evil. They're hard to move beyond, if that's the appropriate way to put it."

"It is and agreed. We must never do another fantasy one." He glanced at me for a second and I could tell he wanted to ask me something. I waited peering down, kicking my feet. I didn't want him to feel like I was putting pressure on him to speak. "Was," he began. I watched him swallow. "Was any of that last one helpful?"

"Well yes," I said.

"What about it?"

"You. You saved my life twice and helped me escape from being assaulted."

"Good. That's what I'd hoped."

We relaxed under the rotating lights blinking on and off, some in sync, others not. I curled up in the chair, pulling my legs up, holding my knees. Luca rose and reached behind my chair. It reclined a little.

"Oh, thank you!" I said in appreciation. He smiled at me and nodded.

"I'll always be here to show you the way," he said. His voice sounded deep and comforting. I nodded and he stood up and sat beside me, reclining in the chair. Soon, we fell asleep.

***

Pounding hands on the glass woke us abruptly. Shocked and disoriented I sat up trying to remember where I was. Luca was on his feet immediately. We were relieved to see Sallan and not Lecki pop out of the vapor. She walked over to us.

"The simulations can tire you out."

"Yes, it they do," I said.

"Here," she said then tossed us something in a bottle. I glanced at what appeared to be watered down milk. Luca shook his and then opened it sniffing the contents. 

"Oh, what is it?" he asked as he smiled.

"It will help you get more energy. It's nectar from a plant."

Luca and I clinked bottles and then began to drink. It tasted so good with its light but sweet texture. It was a mixture of coconut water and something close to vanilla. As we drank more, our energy began to pick up. My tired half-shut eyes were now bright, and Luca was hopping with joy.

"Bloody hell, that's amazin'!" he shouted. I rose from the chair, full of vigor and renewed.

"That's more like it!" I exclaimed.

"Great! Now, do you have any questions or requests?"

"Yes, neither of us ever want to do another fantasy scenario."

"That works out well. Those were the only two," Sallan said with a smile. Luca and I exhaled in relief.

"Those were violent. Please make sure we're never in those kinds of situations again. They're damaging," I said with conviction.

"I will do my very best. The creator--" Sallan stopped herself. I watched as she wrestled with herself about what to say. My suspicions were correct, after all. She wanted to talk about the creator but, presumably, she wasn't supposed to. 

"Please make sure, because it may come down to murder, you see," Luca said. "It would be me doin' the murdering. 

"Murder?! How could you say that?"

"Chase has tried to assault Janessa. It absolutely cannot happen again." Luca motioned with both hands in an X formation shaking his head.

"I can try but I can't control how he behaves in those worlds. That's the whole point of this."

"What is?" Luca asked steepling his fingers.

"I was merely saying, I can't control him. He's his own person in there."

"But what does that mean?" Luca asked begging.

"Whoever he is will come out. If he's evil, then that is what he will be."

Luca crossed his arms and stared at the ceiling, rolling his eyes in frustration.

"Janessa, is he evil?" Luca asked. Janessa looked at Sallan then Luca and back to Sallan.

"I don't think so. It's just that when he's animalistic he gets out of control. I think we all have that side of us."

"The shadow, eh?" Luca asked with a smile. 

"Oh, do you know about Jungian philosophy, Luca?" I asked. 

"Perhaps," he said with a wink. "I have another question." He turned to Sallan. 

"How can I help you?" Sallan asked, putting her hands behind her back, swishing her tail.

"Why were we mated in the last scenario?"

I couldn't believe he was asking this. I wanted to hide my face. Instead, I just stared at the metal floor, touching my feet to the hexagons.

"I can't talk about the creator."

"Can you answer whether there is more than one creator?" I asked. "That could not have come from the real Chase. "Sallan raised her eyebrows and turned her head.

"Technically, there is only one. Now do not ask me about it again!" Sallan insisted. I wasn't sure about Luca, but it was surprising to see such a cute, adorable looking person become angry. We remained respectfully quiet for a few minutes. 

"Besides, some of this is random, anyway." Sallan added. 

"Oh," Luca said, holding his chin. Was that disappointment I saw on his face?

"Do we get to choose the next one again?" I asked.

"Yes. You'll be able to choose every time. Ever since meeting Yǔxuān he has made sure of it."

"I have another question. Where's my suit?" Luca asked throwing his hands out in question. 

"You still have it." Sallan studied Luca, her brow furrowed, eyes narrowed in confusion. 

"Not in the last one," I said.

"Oh, well in the fantasy ones, you can't," Sallan said with a knowing smile. "You know Janessa, you should try to find a ticket. You'll get something too."

"Really?" I asked. I was excited about that. "Is it a suit?" 

"There is no way for me to know what you'll get. It's about what you want." 

Luca and I had small smiles on our faces. At least there was some good news and a reason for adventure. We'd have fun searching for a Really World ticket. 

"Alright. What are our choices for the next one?" I asked. 

"Check for yourself." Sallan said, pointing to the TV screens over the glass vapor enclosure. Luca and I leaned against the metal railing to look. The same commercials from the first time we were in Really World were flashing over the screens. 

"What about that one?" I pointed. Luca smiled. 

"Yeah, that's what I was thinkin' too. I'll see you there, Janessa."

"Yes we will," I paused. "Thank you, Luca."

"What for?"

"Everything."