Chapter 2: Counting And Taken

★ ★ ★

DIANA ✓

*

The morning came quick, and my head ache like hell. I stared around my room and I couldn't find Micky.

"Micky?!" I called but I didn't hear any sign of him. 

My brain flashed back to the previous night incident. I remember Micky leaving me all alone at the woods. But why isn't he back yet? He knows his way back, why isn't he in here with me?

SHIT. . .!! I cursed.

"Diana, your breakfast is ready." I heard Dad say from the outside.

"Okay, dad, give me a second." I said, stepping out of the bed. "Ouch!" I screamed at the pain in my wrist.

"Diana, are you alright?" He asked, sounding concerned.

I was staring at my bruised wrist, teeth marks on it. "Yes, I'm fine. I just twisted an ankle."

"Okay, but try to be watchful next time."

"I will."

It's face appeared to me, everything displaying in my head as if it were happening right now.

And how come no one heard me screaming? Was my voice too thin to travel a long distance?

Rule number one, I'm definitely not leaving the house at night anymore. You can say I'm an idiot, I understand. But at least it's better said than died.

Now I see why everyone locks their doors as soon as it turns seven. Now, I'm going to suffer this hell of pains alone.

I had a quick brush and a hot shower, rushing down for breakfast.

"What took you so long?" Mom asked and I shook my head. "What's this?" She shook her head like I did and I smiled.

"Nothing, mom."

"What happened to your wrist?" Dad asked as he saw the white cloth I had tied around the bitten spot.

"Nothing, just thought of doing something fashionable."

Mom laughed, "What do you know about being fashioned?"

"Everything, mom, I just know a lot that you don't. "

"Wow, I'm impressed."

"Thanks." I took my spoon, staring at my food but my mind was totally somewhere else for a moment.

What does it signify to be bitten by a wolf? Does it means that I'm gonna die very soon?

My tiny brain is too weak to think, and very soon. Just very soon, I'll be getting insane.

We finished eating and I went back to my room, if Micky is gone he's probably going to return any time from now.

I just hope he's safe out there.

I decided never to tell anyone, not even Micky about this. It's my little secret, and if I die, I know I'm gonna die for damn good.

I've been such a stubborn kid, I deserve anything that happens next.

The day slowly passed by and yet, I noticed no reactions in me. I was just as good as nothing happened.

Maybe I was overthinking the fact that I was going to die. And for two good times I thought about that, I'm still seeing myself alive and... Okay!

No high hopes yet, Diana. And likewise don't give up hope. You'll be fine, just believe it. I kept calming myself with those words.

But the real question is... Am I?

I mean, I'm freaking out here and my legs are dancing to no tune at all. 

Why am I suddenly feeling strange? Am I really going to die soon?

Oh, no... I'm doomed.

I felt like telling someone, I desperately wanted to but I can't. First, not my mom and it's definitely not my dad either or... I'm doomed for good.

I wished the years would come and go successfully whereby I would be like twenty two years old and no one will have to question whatever I do.

You're overthinking, Diana, and you're probably going insane. 

*

Minutes, hours, seconds and now two fucking days has passed and I'm still breathing air!

I'm not dead! I'm not dead! I jubilation.

At least not yet. My subconscious said.

From my room I could hear mom and dad jubilate. I'm actually not in the mood to listen to any of that.

Its me sitting my ass on my bed and thinking of a way to clear this shit out of my head.

I looked at my bruised wrist, it's still the same as two years ago. The mark, it's fucking permanent.

Mom knocked on my door, "Diana, you need to hear this." She said, I could still sense the joy in her voice.

I opened the door, and we both went downstairs. "You really won't believe this," she began, "Your uncle Kelvin has decided that you will live with him!"

I gasped, I was looking interested this time. "Really?!" I asked almost like a scream. "Uncle Kelvin really said that?"

"Yes he did, look..." She gave me the letter he had sent, "It's written here. Read it for yourself."

I read every writing on the paper, it was honestly true. Uncle Kelvin requested that I should come over to America? To live with him?!

Oh, my goodness!

"When did he want me to come?" I asked, anxiously.

"In two day's time, he wants you to stay with his kids. You know, he's really busy at work and so is his wife." Mom looked at Dad, "Don't you think she's too small for that? I mean, it's not like she's eighteen, she's fourteen."

"Maybe he just wants me to play along with his children instead of wasting my years here. Or even, he can decide on training me in school. What do you think?"

"Yeah, she's right." Dad agreed.

But the happiness seems to have ceased as soon as we heard a knock on the door. Our attention and eyes were all directed to the door.

"I'll go check out who it is." Dad said, making it to the door.

Even before dad could ask who it was, whosoever it was kicked the door open, pushing dad to the ground. I rushed to him, helping him stand to his feet.

"Dad, are you alright?" I asked.

"Yeah. Yeah, I think I am." He adjusts himself.

Two men barged in, looking fierce and angry. "What do you want?" I snapped, but dad held my hand. "Dad, these men just pushed you to the ground. I think they need to be..."

"Diana, that's enough." He yelled.

I held my peace, but I couldn't hold the anger already burning in my inside. 

"Good day, gentlemen, how may I help you?" Dad asked. Oh please, he's not trying to act like the gentleman in here?

"We're here for the girl." One of them said, pointing at me.

What? Me? How? Why me? What have I done?

"Sorry, I don't understand. What do you mean the girl?" Dad asked, confused.

"I think they are actually referring to your daughter, Mr Alessandro." A voice sounded from the outside before the figure walked in.

An old man covered in a coat stained with dirts, which almost looked like an attire worn by the early ancients. He was staring at the ground but then his face rose up, and he was staring directly at me.

"Why do you want my daughter?" Dad frowned.

"Because. . ." he paused for a while. "Your daughter has something that belongs to them."

Dad and mom both turned to me, I was shivering, and I could hear the sound of my heart drumming against my chest.

No way are they here because of the mark. How is it possible they found out I live here? I wondered.

"Sweetheart, what is he talking about?" Mom asked for the first time in this conversation.

" I. . . I don't. . . know what they are talking about." I stammered. I know it wasn't convincing, it's obviously written on my face. I looked scared.

"What did you do, Diana?" Dad questioned.

I couldn't talk. I could feel my mouth sealed from speaking the truth. But my eyes had already started licking from the hot tears.

"Diana, talk to me. Say something. What did you do?" Now his voice was sounding loud in my ears.

"Don't you wanna tell them what's behind those bandages?" The old man said.

Now, they were all looking at my wrist. " I. . . I'm sorry, mother, I disobeyed you." I confessed.

Mother looked so confused, wondering why I was apologizing to her. "I don't understand, Diana, what is going on here? Why are you saying this?" She asked, worried.

"The bandages on my wrist weren't for fashion, I tied it because I wanted to hide the mark." I explained.

"What mark?" They asked in unison.

"The wolf mark. I got bitten." I finally said.

"What?!" Mom exclaimed.

"Oh no. No, no. This can't be happening. This can't be possible. When did you got bitten?" He asked, looking frustrated and worried.

"Two days ago. Micky and I went to play at the woods, he said he wanted us to play. I had to, I didn't know it would all end this way." 

"That is why I never wanted you to go outside for any reason. Now look what you've done to yourself." Mom scolded. I don't blame her. I won't. This time, I blamed myself.

If I had clearly seen it from the start, she wasn't just being too over protective as I thought, she was only trying to protect me from this.

But I refused to understand. I couldn't because of my stubbornness.

"You sneaked out of your room in the middle of the night, and walked in with a bruised wrist. You didn't bother to tell anyone? Seriously, Diana?" She yelled.

"I'm sorry, okay. I didn't want to bother you and dad. You two were sleeping so, I couldn't."

"Oh fine. That was a good excuse. Now, where the heck is Micky?" 

I knew this conversation was gonna cause me to spill my secret. "He was scared, so he left. He ran away and I couldn't find him."

She sighed, rubbing her hair backwards in frustration. I couldn't even look at dad, he looked sad and... I don't know. Depressed, I guess.

"Where are you taking her to?" Dad asked the old man.

"We have to submit her to the alpha or the entire town suffers for her consequences. She has to leave, immediately."

"I can't have you take my daughter, she's just twelve." He said.

"We don't care about her age, Mr Alessandro. All we are is for our safety. That girl has to be separated from us or we all die. Trust me, you are no exception."

I watched dad fall to his knees, he was fighting the tears back. "I am deeply sorry, Mr Alessandro, but we cannot risk the lives of hundreds just for one sin." He said sympathetically.

"I will go in her place." Dad insisted. "She doesn't deserve whatever punishment, I will accept it in her place."

"Mr Alessandro, I don't think you do understand what that mark implies. This isn't just any ordinary mark, it's a mark of possession." 

"What do you mean by ‘a mark of possession?’” Mom inquired.

I was so little to understand what that statement could mean. 

"It means she has been claimed ownership by the werewolf alpha. Automatically, she has become a mate to this very werewolf. So, no matter how much you try to protect her, you can't. He has her scent and can very much track her down within a few seconds. So, do me the favour of handing her over and saving your damn lives."

I know it's hard to say this but I will... My life is over now.

~~~~

To Be Continued...