Luna Raine

I. One Year

My avatar is the biggest, weird-looking character I could make. It got muscles that I could never obtain and skills I could only hope to magically appear one day. In this world, it's a possibility. The eyes of my avatar would narrow with each zoom, bright yellow complemented by the palest red.

I smile when it turns its head, and its hair drifts across its terrible complexion.

The looks don't match mine, though.

I can look much more wrenching than that.

In that world, I am almost a God with power, influence, and the ability to change nearly anything I want. If others cross my path, they would drift into darkness and despair.

A chip enters my lips.

My devious smile only widens as I c***k the skulls and behead the enemy with my sharp sword.

I scratch my flabby belly and scrunches my nose.

"Shoot him!" I scream, "Shot that, motherfucker!" When I cursed, no one would bat a lash, or perhaps I believe no one would since I can't see my teammates from behind the screen.

He misses.

Idiot.

My eyes flicker as it scans the surroundings. I turn towards the corner, "How can you miss him?!"

"How the f**k should I know he was behind that tree?!"

I got more agitated, a lot more than him. Then again, why should I? I wasn't the one who missed it. "Because I told you - Watch out! He is behind that tree! - Why don't you ever listen to me?" I screamed. Another enemy beheaded, but it only came with more bickers.

"I take orders from no one!"

"Hi!" I said a bit too loudly. Mom says it's not healthy for me to feel so emotional over a game, but I always do.

"What?"

"Hi! I'm f*****g no one, now shoot our damn enemy behind the wall to your left!"

I smiled when he did according to what I said.

I threw my arms in the air when we won the game and screamed: "Yeah! We won!" I've always been a sore winner, never a sore loser. If I lose, it's my partner's fault. People have always said I'm a lousy partner, but who cares. If they want to leave the group, there will always be others.

"You got served!" My partner hollers over the headset. It feels good to meet someone who enjoys bragging as much as me. I don't feel judged when we win, and I'm not the only one bragging.

I grab more chips to enhance my flabby belly. I got to celebrate the win somehow. "I'm so sorry for cursing you guys," I apologize after some time. I usually do that when the other side doesn't curse back. I want to brag, not potentially push whoever it is towards suicide.

What if they're having a bad day and was trying to wash it away through video games?

I don't want to be labeled as someone who indirectly murdered someone online.

"We are from America," Chicken grumbles.

"We will see your asses next time! Count on it!" Nugget shouts. I can hear an item thrown across the room.

"Yeah! We will own your asses!" Chicken screams.

On the screen, their names disappeared. My partner and I met Chicken and Nugget roughly three months ago. They told us they met a few months back on this other gaming site. When they were creating their usernames for this game, they were both eating Chicken Nuggets, so it kind of just stuck.

Username:

HotChicken and BakedNugget

Chicken said that his wife was the one who suggested it and forced him to put that in, then she kept harassing Nugget until he agreed.

"You're a b***h, you know that?" my gaming partner said.

I smirk, "Oh, please, you are nothing without me."

"Little Piglet, you better watch your back," he growls.

Werewolf.

My gaming partner is a werewolf.

How do I know?

Well, he typically growls whenever he is upset.

I stare at my username: BaconhaveRice2.

I have no idea why I decided to choose that username.

"Oh, I'm so afraid, Mister Alpha wannabe," I said sarcastically, waving my hands in the air even though he can't see it.

I glanced at his username: IamtheAlphaBxtches.

I met him half a year ago in this random online gaming chat room, and we instantly hit it off. We argue all the time, but I feel comfortable with him.

"I told you I am an alpha," he stated in a stern voice.

"Oh yeah, sure you are, and I'm a flying dolphin who breathes out fire," I said.

"Why don't you believe me?" he whines.

"Which pack are you in charge of, alpha?"

There was a long pause on the other side. I couldn't hear anything except the music from the game with some echoes in the background. "I can't tell you," he mumbles.

I rolled my eyes and threw the remote on the couch. "And why not?"

He chuckles, "Because you would fall in love with me if you knew, and I can't have another person stalking me," he whispers seductively.

I can feel the chills running down my spines. "You have such a hu-" I was cut off by a voice on the other side. I couldn't hear much, except for some murmuring.

"Little Piglet, I got to go, see you at the same time next week?" He said quickly.

I bit my chip, "Okay, see you, Wolfie."

My partner logs off, and I place the headsets on the table. With a single belly flop, I was on the old couch. Before I could close my eyes, the doorbell rang. A single grunt left my throat before I dragged my legs towards the door. I peek through the hole, and with the deadlock still on, I c***k the door open. "What do you want?" I said in a deep voice.

"You know exactly what we want, the money, where is it?"

"I told you, I'll give you the money when I can!"

"Then, I guess you don't want to see your son again." The girl beside him threatened me as she held the neck of my baby.

I fell on my knees, "No, not my baby. Please, anything but my baby."

They stare at each other and nod, "I'm going to count to three. If you don't open the door, we are going to turn Mister Oink into bac-" she burst out laughing, "I'm sorry guys, I tried my best, but Raine you got to give your pig another name. Mister Oink, really?"

I stood up and unlocked the door. "I think Mister Oink is an awesome name," I responded, taking my pig from her hands. "Hello, Mister Oink," I cooed at him, and he gave me little licks.

"What? No thanks for watching Mister Oink?" Helen pushes herself past me and into my apartment. She flings the fridge door open to do her usual investigation. She said she checks every time just in case I decide to do drugs and hide it in my fridge.

Cory shrugs and heads inside, comfortably lying on my couch. I closed the door before pushing the food on the coffee table away to make it look clean. I failed. "Were you doing another gaming marathon?" He grabs a chip.

I nod and take a seat on the ground—Mister Oink wiggles on my lap before he finds a comfortable zone.

"Was it worth it? Skipping school and work for three days for a game?" Helen asked. She sets the plate of spaghetti down and twirls the noodle around.

Cory and I look at each other. "f**k yeah, it's worth it!" We gave each other a high five.

"Anyways, are you two ready for Selection Day next week?" Helen asks.

Selection Day is when five humans and hunters are chosen to attend a school for werewolves. Not just any school, Were High School, one of the biggest high schools for werewolves. I doubt I will get chosen, and if I do - I would run as far away as possible. I mean, who in their right minds would want to go to school filled with short-tempered animals.

Yes, there are werewolves in this world.

Some batshit crazy stuff, I know.

Cory scoffs, "We all know I'm going to be chosen. I mean, look at me." He kisses his muscles.

I would be lying if I said I wasn't envious of his wade of beef. I want what he has, minus the ego.

Who am I kidding?

If I look attractive like him, then I would show off too.

I hate my warm bed for holding me back.

We looked at him and shook our heads, "Why are we friends with you?" Helen asks.

"Because I'm eye candy," he winks.

Helen and I exchanged looks and gagged simultaneously.

Mister Oink squeals, then flop onto his back.

"See, even the pig agrees with us," Helen said.

I cover Mister Oink's ears, "The pig has a name...and feelings."

"Anyways, you guys want to skip school and go to Alpine's High School Selection Day tomorrow?" Helen asks.

Cory rolls his eyes, laying his arms behind his neck. "I don't want to step foot into that snotty rich ass school," he scoffs.

"You are just angry your soccer team lost to theirs." I tickled Mister Oink's belly. He likes it when I do that. It makes him squeal with happiness.

He shot right up, "I'm telling you! Those Rossi's twins aren't human!"

Rossi's twins are a pair of brothers - obviously - whose parents are one of the most respected individuals in the human community. They're like one of those guys you would see in a typical high school movie - tall, handsome, wealthy, and athletic. Total sexy walking cliches.

Helen shook her head, "You are only jealous because they are fine as wine."

I nod in agreement. The Rossi's twins are so delicious; I could eat them up, both of them. I remember going to one of Cory's games against Alpine's High School, and they had their own cheer group. I wanted to go down the stands and cheer for them too, but I was on the other side of the bench. Plus, I was wearing our school color, so I had no choice but to stay and root for the losing team.

It was a sad day for our school.

Helen tugs on his pants, "Come with us!"

"Us? What us?! There is no us!" Cory screams.

Helen threw herself on the floor and began her tantrum. Something she does when she wants things to go her way. She thrust her arms and legs everywhere as a high-pitched scream left her mouth.

Cory and I sat there.

We shake our heads.

After I cleaned the living room, I took a nice refreshing shower. Helen was still on the ground, screaming: "I want everyone to go!"

"Shut up! We will go!" Cory shouts.

Helen jumped up and gave herself a high-five. "Another win for Helen," she sang, bouncing around in celebration.

"Your phone," Cory told Helen.

She grabs the phone from the table and places it on her ear. "Yes, mom. I know I'll be home before sunset," she hisses into the phone and ends the call.

"I got to go, the sun, you know. Hey! That rhymes!" she giggles.

Helen comes from a family of witches. Her family doesn't approve of some belief in the witches' community law, so they moved into the human district. Something about not wanting to perform blood sacrifices. For creatures who want to stay outside of their own communities they must follow strict policies. One of the witches' protocols would be never to stay out after sunset. It's when they are the least humane. That means their dark counterpart can take over.

Cory twirls his keys, "Need a ride home?"

Helen nods, "Yes, please." She kisses my cheek before leaving with Cory.

When the door closes, I can hear the locks twisting into place. Even though I met Cory and Helen for only a year, I trusted them enough to give them the key to my place. After all, they saved my life.

I release a deep breath and stare at the ceiling.

Wow.

It's been one whole year since I've been here.

After some comforting silence, I stood up and walked towards the kitchen. I open the fridge to feel the fresh air. I pulled out a pink box, placed it on the counter, and sat on the old wooden stool. Gently, I peel off the tape, revealing a small Tiramisu cake.

Mister Oink squeals at my legs, and I pick him up. "Guess what, Mister Oink, it's my birthday today," I said before positioning him on my lap. As usual, he shifted around momentarily before finding a comfortable position.

Slowly, I placed seventeen candles on the cake and lit them up. I pet Mister Oink, who laid silently on my lap. Releasing a shaky breath, I part my mouth:

"Happy Birthday to Me

Happy Birthday to Me

Happy Birthday Dear Raine

Happy Birthday to Me."

How is it possible for a birthday song to feel so painful?

"From good friends and true,

From old friends and new,

May good luck go with me,

And hap-"

I couldn't do it. I couldn't finish the song.

The low cry quickly escalated. I held Mister Oink closer. "M-M-Mom."

My head slumped towards the candles, the only source of light in the dark room. "M-M-Mom. I m-m-miss you."

One year.

It has been officially one year since I've been trapped in this unfamiliar world.