Finding Autumn Cross

AUTUMN'S POV

It’s a new start.

If I had a dollar for every time someone had said this to me in the last two weeks, I’d be a very rich girl. Just playing the words over and over in my head sent a shudder down my spine.

I huffed a little, having managed to haul my suitcase onto the bed. The one clip had already broken from my lack of packing skills, and from the way it popped open, it wasn’t all that hard to tell that the other clip was relieved to be set free.

I turned to the dull cabinet, fighting with the drawer to pull it open without breaking it. With a distinct rattle, it pulled open, almost sending me flying onto my new bed. I giggled to myself, shaking my head, before getting up to complete my task.

An hour later, I was fully packed and settled into my new room. The birds of the late afternoon were chirping in the tree outside my room, and I walked over to the window intending to close it, when my eyes caught something in the distance.

Wolves.

A part of me was sure that my fatigue was getting to me because one, there were no wolves in this area, and two, I’m pretty sure wolves that size don’t exist. My eyes were glued to the fighting wolves, my heart rate increasing by the second.

I couldn’t tear my eyes away.

There were three wolves – two brown ones and one huge black one. My eyes were transfixed by the black one. Its movements were fluid, but also calculated. It was almost as though it knew what the other wolves would do before they did it.

Except it wasn’t aware of the man.

My attention broke away for a second, long enough for me to notice the man a few feet away from the fight. I gasped when he fired his gun, and I watched as the black wolf howled in pain.

I was numb, frozen on the spot as I watched the two brown wolves use the opportunity to attack the black wolf. He was significantly weaker, that much was obvious – as obvious as the fact that without any help, he would die soon.

Before I’d even realized what I was doing, I was walking across the tree branch, my bow and arrows on my back. I managed to jump down before starting my sprint towards the scene. It was insane, I knew that much, but my adrenaline had managed to convince me that I could still interfere in this situation and make it out alive.

When I was close enough, I stopped, drew two arrows, and shot them towards the first brown wolf. It howled in pain as the arrows landed in its stomach. Without giving the second wolf a chance to react, I’d shot it too, getting the same response.

I felt my nerve endings chill when both wolves turned to me, growling.

Before they could do anything though, two tan wolves jumped out of nowhere and snapped their necks. I thought they’d turn to me, but instead they were focused on the black wolf. By now he was whimpering, and I could’ve sworn I felt pain in my leg when they nudged its hind leg.

I screamed out when they turned the wolf over. My cries were covered by the howl released by the wolf as I clutched my back. I managed to look up to find the tan wolves looking at me with, confusion?

As if they were testing out a theory, the one tan wolf put pressure on the black wolf’s injured leg, and both the wolf and I screamed out, my hands rushing to hold onto my leg. I was beyond confused, on top of the blinding pain I was experiencing.

The black wolf whimpered, and it turned my way. I was instantly mesmerized when my eyes landed on its bright amber orbs. There was an instant pull there and for a moment, I didn’t even register the pain I was feeling.

That is until I was shot.

I could feel the heat in my abdomen as I looked down at the blood, and I wouldn’t be able to tell you about anything else that happened after that. I only remember the earth-shattering growl I heard before I blacked out from the pain in my stomach.

My alarm blared across the room and I groaned, managing to smack it off of the side table. I rolled over and looked up at the ceiling, my hand travelling on its own to my stomach. The action made me shoot up, panicked as I raised my t-shirt to check my stomach.

Nothing.

Weird.

I sat there for the longest time trying to piece together the past twenty-four hours, but I couldn’t remember anything after walking towards the window. I got up, repeating that process, and that’s when I saw it.

The black wolf in the distance.

My presence at the window must’ve not been anticipated by it because before I knew it, it was gone. I wasn’t sure what part of my life I was imagining anymore, but I knew that I had to forget about everything and get ready for my first day at my new school.

I was done with my bathroom business in thirty minutes before being faced with the dilemma of having to pick an outfit for my first day. I didn’t want to stand out, but I also didn’t want to look like someone irrelevant.

I settled on a pair of black jeggings, a white top, black and white sneakers and a leather jacket. I added a pair of silver hoops and a plain silver necklace with an arrow pendant on it. When I was dressed, my next dilemma was my hair.

My rich and unruly hair.

It’s both a blessing and a curse to have a head full of curly, thick hair. It’s manageable on most days, but when you don’t treat it as often as you should, much like I don’t, it can be your number one enemy.

Luckily, it was on the same page as me on this important day.

I managed to pull it up into a tight ponytail. I had an hour left to get to school, and since I hadn’t been there before, I figured it would be best to leave early, rather than arrive late and have everyone look at me weirdly.

With my stuff packed into a backpack, I grabbed an apple and my motorcycle keys on my way out. The sun was scorching out, so I had to put on my sunglasses. I wasn’t particularly keen on wearing a helmet, and neither was I intending on driving to school.

I had earbuds in with the phone GPS activated as I rode to school. I had a vague idea of where I was going since the signs around me were more helpful than the GPS that I couldn’t hear all too well.

I eventually made it in twenty minutes, and I had to look for a spot to park my motorcycle. I could already see a couple of people looking my way. They were probably wondering about the motorcycle since it’s the typical reaction I get when I ride it.

People don’t expect to see a high school girl riding a motorcycle, and I guess I love surprising them.

With my ride in place, I grabbed the apple out of my bag and took a bite of it before heading inside. Once again, the signs inside the school building were of great help and I found my way to the office just fine.

I managed to tune out majority of what was happening around me. The receptionist was pleasant enough to hand me my package, which included my locker number, my schedule, my textbooks and a map of the school.

I found my locker without any trouble and managed to stay out of anyone’s way. There was a weird vibe in the air, and I could’ve sworn that someone was staring at me, but I ignored it as I made my way to my class.

The morning flew by quickly. I’d already picked up that there was some kind of division at this school. There seemed to be two sides, but I hadn’t yet established what the divider was. It was just clear that both sides didn’t like each other.

I sat alone outside during lunch. I was sitting by a willow tree, and it afforded me a vast viewing of my surroundings. I could see the different cliques, as well as the loners and not so popular kids.

It had me wondering which group I’d best fit in with if I was ever into that kind of thing. I chose this school because of its impressive academic record, but I was also aware that it was a school for rich kids.

Something I was but couldn’t quite relate to.

I’d only recently stumbled upon my riches, and they allowed me to get away and start afresh. I have to keep a low profile and make sure no one from my past knows where I am. It’s safer not only for me, but for anyone around me.

Which is why I had no intentions of making any frie-

“Hi!”