Touched

Ep.1

I hate the taste of this medicine more than anything else in the world. As I watched it dissolve in the water, Lisa's voice echoed in my ears.

"Come on! We have to go to this together, please!"

I took a deep breath and drank it all in one go. As it went down my throat, it made my face wrinkle. But I was not sure if I was because of Lisa's unstopping pleading scratching my ears or the bitter taste in my mouth.

"Please! Please! Pretty please!" she said, widening her eyes as she always did, giving her puppy dog eyes that always worked on her father and got her a few wads of cash in her palm.

"You know that look doesn't work on me, Lisa," I said, pushing her face away.

"You're so heartless." She stuck out her tongue and started reading the information on the invitation on her phone for the hundredth time, as I slowly accepted my fate that I would go to this party one way or another.

"Okay, okay, I'll talk to my dad."

She jumped from the bed on me to hug, not aware of suffocating me, while she was talking about how good of a friend I was, and even a saint or an angel. I wondered if she would still think that if she knew what I had been through last night.

Yesterday, there was a meeting of the hunters' council, and when they told me that we were entering a new era and would be working with the bloodthirsty hunters, I had trouble believing my ears. We couldn't work with this murderous community that had killed all the women and children in their path even though they were innocent.

Especially since I was so sure the packs who helped us would never look at us again when they heard of this decision. The hunters' council would meet with representatives of the packs at certain times. To learn the locations and numbers of groups that posed a danger to humans and wolves, which were rogues or simply bloodthirsty. In this way, the peace that had lasted for centuries between the two species was well preserved. Atleast until the decisions taken at the meeting last night.

This has created a chaotic effect in the community. We all knew what was causing the deaths that had occurred in the town in recent times. While the police guessed that it was a wild animal based on the wounds left by the killer who specifically targeted young girls, we were aware that it was a rogue who did not belong to any pack.

These events have happened in this town before, at least that's what our ancestors told us. Hundreds of young lives had ended, both from hunters and wolves. Our ancestors, who saw that this m******e had to end, decided to make peace by meeting with noble blood a century ago and putting an end to this bloodshed.

The peace that had lasted for centuries had signaled that it was over with the discovery of the body of the council leader's daughter in the forest last week.

The guards, who found the body in an unrecognizable state, immediately called the sheriff of the town and stated the situation.As a result of this investigation it i recorded that this was an attack by a wild animal, considering the place where the girl's body was found. This was the fifth attack within the last few months. I didn't know the girl very well, but I knew what it meant to miss someone you love.

Lisa looked very excited as she repeatedly read the rules we had to follow when we came to the party. However, I was not sure if my father would let me go to this party after the recent events. Moreover, he would definitely not like me to be in someone else's house all evening on the same day after he said that he had prepared surprises indicating how special my eighteenth birthday would be.

Lisa, as if she had read my mind, said:

"Maybe I should be with you when you talk to get permission. I know how strict your father is about spending your birthdays together," she said, touching my arm.

"But let's look at the bright side."

When her eyes lit up, I knew she was going to talk about the party again.

"You were born wild! Who is born on Halloween!" while walking around the room.

"How many people turn eighteen on the day of the biggest Halloween party in town!"

She was right. It was quite ironic that I was born on Halloween, and the white tuft of hair in front of my hair made me the subject of rumors at school about being cursed instead of resembling Rogue from the X-men.

"Maybe we should turn you into a sexy Rogue for that night," she said, and she had already gone to my computer and started browsing costume sites.

"You must know that I will never let my pops sweat all night in that disgusting leather suit."

“But if that sexy a*s gets George’s attention, you can tolerate it."

I threw the pillow that stood beside on her head while she was sticking out her tongue.

George is one of the most popular kids in our high school since he came to town. Not to mention he is from one of the town's wealthiest families.

He and his friends were hosting the party at their home on the lakeside, and the whole school was invited. As I thought about George’s blue eyes, I could feel my blood rushing to my face. With a tall and muscular boy with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. His chest was well-defined, so as his sculpted body that completes the beauty of his face. He easily attracts the attention of all girls in school, not only the coach of the sports teams.

Despite being the most popular guy in school, he had dirty secrets that no one knew other than me and also knew mine.

I was a pretty boring type compared to him except for my achievements in classes and sports activities. But my success was shadowed by the damned rumors about me. Everyone thought that my white pinch in my hair and my mother’s death right after I was born proved that I was cursed to begin with.

I held the pillow right before it hit my face, the exact one that I threw to Lisa minutes ago.

“From the world to Valeri,” she smirked. "Eh,, at least your reflexes are fine.”

I thought once more about how this girl who was looking at me with her tongue sticking out was my best friend. Apart from our status difference with Lisa, our personalities were quite different, but I have still been able to be myself with her since I was a kid. I was not sure if it was because of her attitude, cheerfulness and beauty, which was quite different from that of other wealthy children.

She was the most beloved person within the school, participating in every activity and, not to mention, she owes quite a bit of her fame to her looks with silverish blonde hair and big blue eyes with her elongated body.

Most people in school were suspicious about how we could be best friends for years, just like me. And there was even a rumor one year ago that I was holding her with magic.

Just as we heard the sound of the door lock we both knew what this sound meant and after looking at each other, Lisa ran quickly toward the door.

“No, just wait!”

Unfortunately, she was closer to the door than I was, and she even started to go down the stairs before I could reach her.

"Welcome to Mr. Moore!"

My father had just returned from work, and he certainly did not expect us to be at home at this hour, as he had closed the door trying not to act suspicious while holding something, which I bet was a dagger, inside his jacket.

Luckily, he hadn't removed the dagger yet and did not give Lisa a minor heart attack. He took his hand out of his jacket and assumed a normal demeanor as his expression of surprise on his face turned into a small smile.

“Hello girls, I didn’t expect to find you so early here.”

Except for certain communities in the town, no one knew about the wolves and hunters, and Lisa's family was also one of the wealthy families who did not know our true identity.

The fewer people knew, the easier it would be for us to do our work. Even though I wanted to tell this secret to my closest friend, it was better for her to not be in this mess.

"Welcome," I said, giving my dad a small kiss on the cheek.

"We had to leave school a little early today."

When I said that, my dad knew what I was trying to say. And I knew that he was checking my temperature by putting his hand on my forehead without asking any more questions.

I have had a rare disease that I have needed to take medication for since I was a little kid, and I had many different symptoms such as burning skin, dizziness, and nausea when I didn't take the pills. But the worst of all was anemia, which caused me to feel dizzy out of nowhere, as it did today. Therefore, we have been trying to reduce the effects of this disease by using various medications for a long time.

As my dad started looking for my medication by rummaging through the drawers, I was trying to let him know I was okay:

"I took my medication and I feel better," Just as he found the bottle he was looking for.

I hated that one. My dad was a doctor, so he was good with needles, but I was definitely not.

"Maybe we should increase the dose." when he said that, Lisa, who had opened her eyes when she saw the large needle, intervened:

"Don't worry Mr. Moore, I took good care of him until you came. In fact, she is good enough to go to a party if there was one."

My dad was trying to understand what Lisa was talking about while trying to adjust the exact dose. When he turned his gaze to me, he raised his eyebrows and I realized that he was waiting for an answer from me.

"The truth is," I said, lifting my sleeve and looking away. Trying to talk comfortably without seeing the needle and I could escape from my dad's deadly gaze.

"There is a party that the whole school will attend."

Lisa came to my side to hold my hand. I knew she was trying to somehow show that she was with me, and I was grateful that she was trying to share my pain. I knew that I felt dizzy and could not get out of its effect for a few hours whenever I took this dose. She had seen it many times before.

"When?"

I was fully aware even if I told him all the details now he would interrogate me after Lisa left, but we still had to try.

"On October 31st, at the mansion by the lake."

"Not a chance, young lady!"

"Dad!"

"You know our rules for your birthday parties, sweetheart," he said, realizing his reaction was a bit overboard and giving me a small kiss on the forehead.

"But Dad-"

"Plus, the medication doesn't seem to be as effective as it used to be." He cut me off, and I realized how serious he was.

Part of me really wanted to go to the party, while the other part was mad at myself for wanting to go so much.

"You always do the same thing. Everyone will be there and I-"

While he was listening to me without saying anything, our conversation was interrupted by a knock at the door.

My dad went to open the door while Lisa helped me walk as I started to get dizzy after the injection.

When we got to the door, I felt my heart sink as I saw the familiar blue eyes smiling at me. My legs gave out under me as my last bit of strength left me, but Lisa held me tighter than before and kept me upright.

"Did we come at a bad time?" Mr. Durham asked, smiling as if to show us where his son got his good looks.

Our dads were close friends. In fact, they spent a lot of time together in their youth before moving to this town. And they still like to spend time together, but I knew that this time they weren't just hanging out. I could tell from the group of people waiting behind them.

When George came up to me and touched my arm, I couldn't help but get excited.

"Are you okay?"

I nodded yes and when a familiar horn sounded in the street,

"I think they've come to get you, Lisa."

My dad's angry expression was nowhere to be found as Lisa looked at me worriedly, and I knew she had to go. But she still expected my approval. I knew she thought I was in trouble and that she thought I was the reason my dad and I were fighting.

"It's nothing, go. Talk to you soon." I smiled at her, and she reluctantly put on her coat.

She hugged me tightly before she left, and then turned to George and said her last words, which would turn me into a tomato, before she quickly ran out of the house.

"George, will you take her to her room? She needs to rest."

I didn't need to hear George's answer when she ran to the car waiting for her without looking back.

I knew he would help me out, but I was not sure how.

My legs started to tremble as Lisa's support left me and my heart rate doubled. I was praying that no one would notice the doors closed.

As I came eye to eye with my father, I knew I had to go. While George was allowed to attend these meetings, I was never, not even once allowed to attend.

This was also a stupid rule that I hated female hunters were seen weaker than men, and they were not allowed to attend secret meetings. Even though we fought side by side and gave them a hard time, we were in the lower class within society.

"I'm going back to my prison." when Durham laughed behind me,

"This girl will be a handful for you." was all I could hear him say.

At that moment, my foot slipped and I found myself in George's arms. My heart beat faster and faster, and for a moment I felt like I couldn't breathe. But he took me in his arms as if it was perfectly normal, as I had no weight at all, and started to climb up the stairs.

"What are you doing?" I said, my voice trembling, and I certainly didn't have the strength to look into his blue eyes.

"I'm following Commander Lisa's orders."

I could tell he was smiling from his tone of voice. I didn't say anything else, and a few seconds later I was in my room, praying that my cheeks would return to their normal color. However, judging by the pounding of my heart, this seemed impossible.

When he slowly put me down on my bed and covered me with a blanket, I realized how tired I was. I didn't want to admit it, but my illness and the medication I was taking made me weaker than the other hunters.

After George made sure the blanket was well-stuffed and that I was warm, he sat down next to me.

"You're not allowed to go to the party again, are you?"

When I looked away and frowned, he knew he had his answer.

"I'll talk him out."

When he said it, he was like the moon rising in my dark night. Even though I didn't want to admit it, George was always trying to save me in situations like that.

"But that certainly doesn't mean you can come. Moore will make the final decision."

Even though it was weird that he referred to my father as a friend when he said it, the possibility of going to the party made me ignore this awkwardness.

He winked at me as my face lit up and began to move towards the door.

Seconds later, he stopped and I could see he was looking right through my computer screen where Lisa was looking for sexy costumes minutes ago.

Please god, she must have shut it down. Please don't be a stupid site!

He chuckled as he reached out to close the door and looked at me one last time:

"The thought of a Rogue in a sexy leather suit was enough to get me excited. I will definitely have to persuade Moore now."

I could feel that my face was now definitely purple. I was aware of my heartbeat stuttering as my breath caught in my throat.

As he closed the door, I could see his smile which would turn into laughter in seconds.

I buried my face under the pillow, trying to suffocate myself with only one thought in my mind.

Lisa! I hate you!