Chapter 5 Five

IVY

I could already hear the sirens.

The world felt unreal. Ambulances wailed around us, flashing lights painting everywhere in a sea of red and blue.

People were scattered across the field, some were crying, some were screaming, and some were just frozen, incapable of moving as health personnel attended to them. The air reeked of crushed grass and the ominous scent of rain.

I didn't even register where I was at first, my mind was a blur of snarls, teeth, and fur. The wolves were gone, vanished as suddenly as they had appeared, but my pulse refused to slow. I stumbled toward the center of the chaos, my legs shaking, every whimper from the students slicing through my brain.

I darted my eyes around the field, taking note of the sounds that seemed much louder than they usually were. The grass flattened beneath my feet and insects flew around as my steps destroyed their habitat. It felt like, for the first time, the world finally took notice of me-- I was no longer invisible.

Did the wolves have anything to do with that?

I wondered if anyone saw what happened. It seemed like they would have, but as I turned my head toward them, glancing at their shaking bodies and bewildered states, it didn't look like they would have.

I felt warm hands close over my shoulders. I don't think I've ever felt that from anyone aside from my family.

"Are you okay?"

Townsend stood in front of me, sober for once, pale and shaking slightly from adrenaline. His usual obnoxious smirk was gone, replaced by a soft look, a kind of smooth confidence, something no form of alcohol could have given him. I liked him better this way.

"I... I think so," I said, though I wasn't even sure what "okay" would feel like at this point.

He studied me for a moment, like he knew I wasn't telling the truth.

"Did you see anything strange before the wolves disappeared?" My voice was low. He tilted his head as if he were trying to remember what had just occurred before his eyes.

It was hard to focus on the scene, it was like I was watching it behind a dirty screen, and it only became clear when I came into contact with it. He shuddered , as if just the thought of it was messing with his brain.

I nodded. "You're okay, though? No bites from them?"

He shook his head with a slight smile.

"Nah, just a few scratches from the glass. Nothing I can't handle."

I wasn't sure if relief or fear coursed through me faster.

"Stay close," he said, and walked away, leaving me to my thoughts as I stood in the middle of the field.

"And, hey!" I heard his voice from far behind him.

I turned in his general direction, his face was now hard to find in the throng of students.

"I may not understand everything that just happened," His voice rang out. "But I do know you saved our asses. And I owe you one."

I stood still, at a loss for words. Before I could even begin to ponder his words, a familiar voice called out:

"Ivy! Ivy, are you okay?"

Talia ran toward me, eyes wide with worry. I barely noticed where she was coming from or bothered to ask her where she had vanished to, my mind was stuck on the fact that she was here now, and she was safe.. I didn't even remember searching for Talia in the chaos; the memory felt distant, almost unreal.

"I... yeah," I said, my voice flat.

Talia grabbed me by the shoulders. "You don't look okay. You're barely moving. Did something happen? Did you-did you do something?"

"I-" I faltered. She couldn't put words to what had happened. The wolves... the bowing. No one else had seen it. No one else would understand.

Then a commanding voice cut through the noise, and everyone snapped to attention.

Our heads turned in the direction of the voice.

A robust man with a star-shaped badge pinned to his shirt, marched to the bus with the authority of one who owned the state.

Chief Mike.

"This is chaos!" he shouted, striding toward the driver. "Do you have any idea what you've done? This was not the correct route! You endangered every single person on this bus!"

The driver stammered something incoherent, his eyes darting to the field. His hands were still glued to the wheel.

My gaze drifted to the road sign-a familiar marker pointing exactly where we had gone.

The correct route. The driver wasn't in the wrong.

I wanted to speak out, but I chose not. There was no time to explain that reality had shifted.

Talia tugged me forward. "Come on. We need to check on everyone."

We made our way to Collins, who had been bitten by one of the wolves. He was sitting against the bus, his sleeve soaked in blood, face pale but alive. A medic was already tending to him.

"You're going to need a rabies shot," one of the staff murmured. Collins groaned but gave a weak thumbs-up. I heard Talia exhale. At least he would be okay.

But my attention was drawn elsewhere. Across the field, crouched behind a cluster of overturned chairs and medical equipment, I saw him-the boy the wolves had targeted. He was trembling and...his gaze locked on me.

Instinctively, I moved toward him, drawn by something couldn't explain. Like I hadn't already had a jumpscare from acting before I thought.

Time seemed to slow and the air between us hummed with unspoken words. He looked so shaken, like he'd really expected his death. I opened my mouth to speak, but before anything could pass, an adult lifted him up and guided him gently away, keeping his movements smooth but firm.

The boy paused, just for a heartbeat, and mouthed something clearly to me:

Thank you.

His eyes glimmered with a mix of fear and relief. I nodded, heart clenching, finally at peace knowing that he was going to be alright.

By the time we were escorted to a safer area near the bus, my thoughts were swirling uncontrollably. News crews were already arriving, cameras capturing fragments of what had happened, twisting them into soundbites and exaggerations.

I could see the nurses convincing everyone else that it was just a group of wild animals, and that we'd been steered in the wrong direction. The students, completely gulping the lies they were being told. For the first time, I realized the fragility of the human mind; they were content with lies as long as it followed the patterns they were used to.

They didn't want anything that challenged their natural belief.

I wandered away from the group, wanting to survey the field. The sun was beginning to pierce through dark clouds, the aftermath of the battle stark and unreal.

Checking my phone I realised that my parents hadn't responded to me, and it was several after they left. They should be back by now.

A strange feeling ran down my spine. Something was wrong.

I tried calling them, but their lines went straight to voicemail. Each unanswered ring felt like hours.

"Talia! Talia!" I screamed.

She turned to face me in shock.

"What?! What's wrong? Why are you panicking?" She held me in placing, trying to get an answer out of me.

"My dad. My...mom. I don't-- I don't" I stuttered.

"Go, go! I'll meet you there!" She dug into her pockets and shoved her keys into my hand. "Follow the ambulance back to town, and take my car, okay?"

I nodded and ran toward the ambulance buses that were already beginning to move.

Sitting down on the cushioned seat, I tried to calm down my breathing. The nurses around me had confused faces and were probably wondering if I needed sedation.

My phone rang.

Mum.

I answered the call in a haste.

"Mum! What's wrong? What is it?" I cried.

She didn't speak. There was static all around her, noises and multiple sounds that were way too violent and loud for time of day. There was grunts and shouts, and I registered the sound of a gunshot.

Someone screamed.

"Don't take him! Leave him alone!"