Chapter 4 On my own

Mom left me staring after her as she sped off-alone on paving spotted with old gum. I held a duffel in each hand, containing clothes, toiletries, and my most prized items. A photo album, a dolphin necklace my grandmother gave me before she died, and a stupid CD filled with love songs Mark gave me.

We'd been together ever since I was nine. Even though I hated him right now, I was having a hard time shedding him from my life completely.

Fighting back the tears, I turned and began walking.

The train station was dark and empty, except for an elderly man sitting by the ticket booth reading a newspaper below a flashlight.

The coffee and souvenir shop was still open, to my surprise. Since I hadn't had dinner yet, I headed for the coffee shop for some food.

I ordered a hot dog and bought a soda before sitting down on the closest bench outside of the shop. I felt safer there, beneath the lights and the employees' wandering gazes.

Believe it or not, Mom gave me some money to buy food and enough to catch a train, but that was it.

I'd have to figure out how I was going to take care of myself. I pushed my luck and asked Mom if I could call the werewolf place-Academia of the Moon it's called apparently-to find out what I was supposed to do next. She yelled at me and told me I could contact them from a payphone.

I wondered if their number was even listed.

I sighed, unwrapping my hotdog, and took a bite out of it.

A shadow fell over the pavement, and when I turned to glance over my shoulder, it was one of the employees at the souvenir shop shutting the doors.

This stirred anxiety inside my stomach. Soon, I'll be alone out here, swallowed in complete darkness. I wondered if the man by the ticket booth will be there all night?

Was it safe to assume he wasn't capable of anything devious?

I downed my hotdog and drink, grabbed my things, and searched for the nearest payphone. With a bit of luck in my favor, right beside the phone on a stand, was a phonebook.

My hands shook as I picked it up and flipped it open. "You can do this, Hails," I mumbled under my breath.

I considered not reaching out. I contemplated taking the money Mom gave me, staying at a cheap motel for a day or two, and trying to find a stay-in job or something.

I was close to asking my mom to drop me off at a shelter. But, what then? What am I going to do if I turn?

What if I end up killing someone and end up in jail. Or worse, executed? I've heard of that happening before.

The Academia of the Moon wasn't listed. I cursed under my breath, wondering if the old man could help me until an idea hit me.

I picked up the phonebook again and looked up Luca's parent's number. His mom answered with an unusually chirpy voice.

"Hi, uhm, can I speak to Luca, please?" I asked, my voice shaky. Except for the pounding of my heart inside my ears, the silence stretched.

"Just a moment, please."

I could hear a TV playing a toothpaste commercial in the background and two people arguing before, "Hello, Hailstorm."

"What am I supposed to do?" I asked, not bothering to find out how he knew it was me.

"Now, you wait."

"What do you mean, wait? What if I turn into some horrid creature-which technically, I'm going to-and eat someone?" I rattled on in a raised voice.

There was a sigh. "We don't eat people, Hailstorm. If anything, of all the cultures and beings out there, we are the most peaceful. Our magic is in tune with nature. We can't syphon it if we are dark."

"Magic?" I queried. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"Exactly what I said. Magic. Did you really think you're just going to turn into some ungodly creature, eat people, and call it a day?" He snorted a laugh. "Doesn't work like that, sunshine. If it helps, this is a gift. So, don't screw it up."

"Gift? Are you insane?" I was hysterical. "Why me, Luca? Just why? My life was perfect before you screwed it up. Before your stupid curse took everything away from me!"

"Because Hailstorm, our gracious moon huntress told me to."