Whispers

Dahlia's POV

“I read a book once where a black glow was mentioned. When they traced it, the guy who howled black turned out to be cursed. So I'm convinced Dahlia is cursed,” a student said. They were so caught up in their gossip that they didn't notice me walk into the cafeteria.

“That might not be it. She could have been touched by the moon somehow. An anomaly,” a second one said.

“I called my mom after it happened and asked why a wolf would howl black,” a third girl added. “She said the girl might be carrying forbidden blood.”

And I thought, oh wow, all these titles just for me? I stood there with my tray, frozen halfway to a table. I'd managed to keep my fear off my face, but it was loud in my head, and the system had gone suspiciously quiet. If it hadn't spoken to me in the interrogation room a few days ago, I'd have thought it was afraid of me too. Thanks to the gossip, my appetite was gone. I put my food tray back untouched.

My life has changed since the Trial by Howl. I hadn't expected things to stay the same, of course, but I hadn't expected the horrible things people were saying either. To make it worse, the only friend I'd just made had left me after what happened, and I'd walked back to my dorm to find nothing in the room but my own things.

I was back to being alone, only now it was worse. I'd never realized that the bullies, the whispers, and the side talk had been keeping me company, and now that they'd stopped I felt lonelier than ever. Even the bullies ran when they saw me, especially the guys I'd met in the woods the day before the test. At first I thought about leaving school for a while, but that wasn't possible, because we were in the last quarter of the session, and going home now would be like announcing that I'd failed.

So I decided to stay and put my attention into my studies. Whatever whispers, talk, or rumors I heard would mean nothing. I'd wait until the session ended, leave like any other normal student, and go home, where I'd ask my parents every question that had piled up in my head.

Even in biology earlier today, I noticed how Ms. Hale kept glancing at me, carefully, all through the class. There was fear in the way she looked at me, and something else I couldn't place. All the teachers looked at me differently now, and some of them seemed to have been assigned to watch my every move.

Just when I thought my system had abandoned me too, it proved me wrong.

[DING! TRIAL BY HOWL TEST HAS UNLOCKED HOST'S DORMANT ABILITIES.]

“How about you stop calling me ‘host’ and start using my name?” I said. “We only have each other now, and I'd like you to be more personal, since you're my only friend. Just call me Lia.”

[CAN BE ARRANGED. SYSTEM RECOMMENDS THAT LIA GO THROUGH SELF-TRAINING IN HIGH SECRECY.]

“Well, look at that. I've got an understanding system, and not only understanding, it cares. Since we've gotten past the formal stage, how about I give you a name and call you by it too?”

[SOUNDS COOL.]

“Then I need to think of a good one. Hmm, how about Robby? Since you're a robot, I thought something robotic would suit you. Do you like it?”

[I DO, IF YOU DO.]

“What do you mean, if I do? I love it. Okay, Robby, I need more information about what I'm supposed to train. It's confusing. I don't know what abilities I unlocked, and wouldn't knowing help me train myself?”

[YOUR UNLOCKED ABILITIES WILL REVEAL THEMSELVES WITH TIME, LIA. FOCUS ON TRAINING YOUR SPEED, STRENGTH, AND ENDURANCE.]

“Now that you mention self-training, does this have anything to do with the changes in my body since the incident? I feel lighter, my legs move too fast, and there's a sensation I can't place.”

[WHAT YOU'RE EXPERIENCING IS YOUR ABILITIES BEING UNLOCKED. KEEP IT CONFIDENTIAL.]

A knock on my door interrupted my conversation with Robby. “Come in!” I called without thinking, without even looking up. I assumed I knew who it was, either the dorm supervisor coming to move me to a more secluded room, or Gary, bringing me a plate of food because I hadn't eaten earlier.

“I… I… how are you?” a familiar female voice said, and I lifted my head. “Soraya? What… I mean, what are you doing here?” I stammered, unable to hide my excitement. I'd never expected to see Soraya in my room again.

“I've been feeling guilty, Lia. I know we only met a few days before the test, and we'd only just become friends, but when what happened to you happened and I ran, I started questioning myself. What if it had been me? What if I'd howled black too? Would I have run from myself? How would I feel if the whole world turned against me because of something I couldn't control?” She was blinking back tears, but they were stubborn, and they rolled down anyway.

The last thing I wanted was pity, but there was nothing I could do to stop Soraya from being emotional. Only she could do that.

“And then I told myself, Soraya, you're a bad friend,” she went on. “You left Lia when she needed you most. You should have given her your shoulder, you should have talked to her, you should have comforted her, and you should have been there for her no matter what.”

“So why do you want to be my friend now, after what happened? Aren't you afraid I'll swallow you whole and nobody will ever find you?” I joked.

“I've kept an eye on you since that day, Lia, and you haven't been any different from the Dahlia I met when I transferred to Northmont High. I know you wouldn't do something like that, because you're not a beast. Whatever that was, we'll figure it out together.” She opened her arms wide.

“Do you, Dahlia Reed, take me, Soraya Brown, as your legal friend, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health?” she asked, grinning, and I couldn't help smiling. Soraya was never serious.

“I'll think about it.”

“What do you mean, you'll think about it? Don't you watch movies? The answer is ‘yes, I do,’ girl.” She smacked me on the head with the small backpack she was holding.

“Yes, I do,” I said, smiling, and she pulled me into a long, tight hug. I hadn't realized how badly I needed it until I got it.

But then something shifted in me.