I quickly ripped off my duvet, crossing over the room towards Avery’s bed, leaning down and looking underneath it, finding nothing but an empty space where he should have still been sleeping. Shit. I sniffed in the air, letting my nose naturally seek him out, the little space underneath his bed reeking of the boy’s natural blueberry and rain scent for me to get a good whiff and trace it towards the open window. Had he escaped, but if so why? Leaving his things here in the room seemed entirely far fetched. I couldn’t help but feel my initial worry grow much more intensely. Perhaps the boy had been seeking refuge in our school, away from something. Or someone.
- Avery?
Nothing in response, the sound of the wind much more persistent, almost howling in glee at my distress, the sound of leaves shaking and rattling inside my skull. I looked up towards the moon, the only source of light in the dark, alongside the many many faint stars splattered across the sky, like drops of white paint on a black canvas.
- Avery!
I felt my own breath quicken, eyes roaming the large expanse beneath the window and towards the wall, which then led to the wild dark forest with miles upon miles of untouched woodland. At first I could not recognise my own voice, something so inherently off with how it sounded belting into the quiet night. Realizing it was fear that I could hear, did nothing but further fill my body with dread. Just as I was readying myself to call out for the boy once more, the sudden movement to my left made me fall onto my back, hitting the floor with a grunt. Quickly my eyes were wild and ready to lock onto any possible threat as I bared my teeth in defense, a guttural growl ripping its way past my throat, teeth quickly extending, the tips poking my bottom lip as it was drawn into a snarl. Then I saw the face of the small boy poking in through the window, his hand holding onto the wooden frame in a tight grip, knuckles almost white from the tension.
- Are you mad?
I quickly pulled back, my wolf recognising his scent and voice making my teeth retract back and eyes return to their normal intensity. I blinked a few times, regaining my composure as I leaned back onto my hands, letting out a drawn out sigh of relief.
- You can't disappear like that Avery. I was worried.
- Why?
I almost wanted to bite back with something harsh, blood still pumping loudly in my ears as I was still reeling myself in. I held my tongue, bit down on it until I could taste iron. He did not know why I had been so worried, how could he?
I looked away from him, eyes now trained on the small piece of exposed brick on the inner wall by the edge of the windowsill, the red color an obvious contrast from the old tacky tapestry of our sparse room.
- Does not matter. Just don’t do it again.
- I will be on the roof.
- It’s cold, can’t you come inside-
- Not now, later.
- I want to close the windows.
- Ok.
I frowned at the boy, now finally sitting up from where I’d landed on the floor of the room. My back was protesting from having taken the brunt of the fall, and was now somewhat sore. I knew it would pass within minutes, but the slight discomfort rubbed me the wrong way, much like the boy in the window.
- You won’t be able to get in if I close the window.
- I will. Don’t worry.
I couldn’t tell what was going on inside his head, the boy was either mad or just off his rockets. I didn’t bother asking which one, as I walked up to the boy, letting my hands take a hold of the open window, now facing him with a mere foot or so between us. From this close I could see he was standing on the ledge of the stone trim that had been carved around the house, thick enough for his small feet to stand rather safely, his hands now held against his chest almost defensively, eyes watching me carefully.
- Suit yourself then.
With that I closed the window, not latching it in case he could somehow wedge it open from the outside before looking away from his intense gaze and returning to my bed. As I let my head once again lay down on my pillow, I made a note for myself, to not worry about the odd boy again, knowing fully well that it would be impossible.
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