The Outsider
1214 Words
As Emily tried to process what she had seen in the woods with Sara and her pack, she found herself feeling increasingly isolated and alone. She had always felt like an outsider, but now she felt like an outsider in her own skin. She couldn't shake the feeling that she was somehow different from everyone around her, that she didn't belong.
One day, as she was walking through the park, she saw a group of boys playing soccer. They looked like they were having fun, and Emily found herself drawn to the energy and camaraderie of their game. She approached them hesitantly, unsure of how to insert herself into their group.
But to her surprise, one of the boys - a tall, lanky teenager with shaggy brown hair - welcomed her with a grin. "Hey there," he said. "You wanna play?"
Emily hesitated, feeling self-conscious and awkward. "I don't really know how to play," she said.
The boy shrugged. "Neither do I, really. But it's fun to kick the ball around."
And with that, Emily found herself part of the group. The boy - whose name was Max - introduced her to the others, and they all welcomed her with open arms. Emily was surprised at how easy it was to connect with them, how quickly she felt like she belonged.
Over the next few weeks, Emily spent all her free time with Max and his friends. They played soccer, hung out at the mall, and went to movies together. Emily was grateful for the distraction - for a few hours each day, she could forget about the strange and terrifying world of werewolves that she had stumbled upon.
But as much as she enjoyed being with Max and his friends, Emily couldn't shake the feeling that she was keeping a secret from them. She knew that if they found out about the werewolves, they would be horrified and frightened. And yet, she couldn't keep the secret bottled up inside forever.
One night, as they were hanging out in Max's basement, Emily blurted out the truth. "I saw something really strange a few weeks ago," she said. "In the woods. I saw... I saw werewolves."
The room fell silent. Max and his friends looked at her like she was crazy. "What are you talking about?" Max said.
Emily took a deep breath and tried to explain everything that had happened - her chance encounter with Sara, the camping trip, the transformation of Tyler and his pack. Max and his friends listened in stunned silence.
When she finished, there was a long pause. Finally, Max spoke up. "You're telling me that there are werewolves in our town?" he said.
Emily nodded, feeling like she was on the verge of a panic attack. "I know it sounds crazy, but I swear it's true. I saw them with my own eyes."
Max and his friends exchanged a glance. Finally, Max spoke again. "Look, we believe you. But you have to promise us one thing. You have to promise that you won't go looking for them again."
Emily nodded, feeling grateful for their support. But even as she made the promise, she knew that it was a promise she couldn't keep. She couldn't shake the feeling that she was somehow connected to the werewolves, that she had stumbled upon a world that was meant to be hidden.
Over the next few days, Emily found herself growing increasingly obsessed with the werewolves. She spent hours online, researching everything she could find about the legends and lore of werewolves. She even started to track down information about Sara and her pack, desperate for any clues about their whereabouts.
And then, one night, something strange happened. Emily was walking home from Max's house, lost in thought about the werewolves, when she heard a rustling in the bushes. She froze, her heart pounding in her chest. But as she watched, a figure stepped out of the shadows - a tall, lean man with shaggy brown hair.
"Max?" she said, relieved. "What are you doing out here?"
Max smiled, but there was something off about his expression - something predatory. "Just taking a walk," he said. "I thought I'd walk you home."
Emily hesitated, suddenly feeling uneasy. But before she could say anything, Max reached out and grabbed her by the arm, pulling her into the woods.
Emily struggled, but Max was stronger than she was. He pulled her deeper into the woods, his grip tightening on her arm.
"What's going on?" she said, her voice shaking.
Max didn't answer. Instead, he pushed her up against a tree, his eyes glowing with an otherworldly light.
Emily screamed, struggling to break free. But as she fought, something strange began to happen to Max. His skin rippled and twisted, his bones cracking and shifting.
And then, with a sickening lurch, he transformed into a werewolf.
Emily was frozen with terror. She had read about werewolves, but seeing one up close was an entirely different matter. The creature towered over her, its eyes locked onto hers. She could feel its hot breath on her face.
And then, to her surprise, the werewolf spoke. "Emily," it said, its voice rough and guttural. "I know what you are. And I know what you're looking for."
Emily couldn't speak - she was too terrified to even think straight.
The werewolf leaned in closer, its teeth bared. "You need to be careful," it said. "The pack doesn't take kindly to outsiders."
And with that, it was gone - disappearing back into the woods as quickly as it had appeared.
Emily stumbled back to her house in a daze, her mind reeling. She had thought she was the only one who knew about the werewolves, but now she knew that wasn't true. And if there were others like her - others who knew about the werewolves - what did that mean for her future?
Over the next few days, Emily couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched. Everywhere she went, she felt like someone was following her.
She tried to put it out of her mind, but the fear was always there - a constant hum of anxiety in the back of her mind.
And then, one night, she got a call from Sara. "We need to talk," Sara said, her voice urgent. "Can you meet me?"
Emily hesitated. After what had happened with Max, she wasn't sure she could trust anyone - even someone like Sara, who had helped her before.
But the fear was too much to bear. She agreed to meet Sara at a nearby park, hoping that the werewolf pack leader could shed some light on what was happening.
When Emily arrived at the park, Sara was waiting for her. She looked worried, her brow furrowed with concern. "Emily," she said. "I'm sorry about what happened with Max. He's not usually like that."
Emily couldn't believe what she was hearing. "What do you mean?" she said. "He's a werewolf, Sara. He attacked me!"
Sara sighed. "I know. But... he's new to the pack. He doesn't always know how to control his instincts."
Emily didn't know what to say. The idea of a werewolf who couldn't control his instincts was terrifying.
Sara took a step closer.
- Writer
