A few weeks into May, I was wandering the woods. I was done with most of my schoolwork - I just needed an idea for a short story for Creative Writing, so I’d run down to the woods. “Acwulf.” I turned around at the sound of Ren’s quiet voice. I hadn’t realized, but we were near the lake by Della Sanchez’s house. “Yes?” “We did it.” I tilted my head. “What do you mean?” “Gloria and I practiced the spell. When we both tried, it worked.” I laughed slightly. “I’m still confused. What worked?” A small smile appeared on Ren’s face. “Aunt Vicki’s sanity. We got it fixed.” I blinked, then grinned as I remembered. “Oh, that’s great! When did you do it?” “We started around your Spring Break, then spent the past few weeks catching her up on everything that’s happened.” He shuddered slightly, his good mood deflating some. “But it worked. She’s back.” I smiled again. “That’s amazing. You and Gloria both worked on it?” Ren nodded. “Yeah. Thank you, by the way.” “What do you mean?” “You taught me the spell. You helped me get a little closer to helping her and you didn’t even know who my aunt was. So thanks.” I blinked. “Of course I helped, Ren. You’re my friend.” Ren looked down. “Most people wouldn’t have bothered.” I frowned slightly. “Why wouldn’t they? Ren, I’ll do anything and everything in my power to help you or anyone else I care about no matter what.” I stared hard at him until he looked up. “Remember that.” He held my gaze for a few seconds, then looked away and started to step back into the shadows. “No one else would.” When he tried to walk away, I called out, “Hey, wait.” He turned around, already half covered by the shadows. “What?” “Who hurt you? Who made it so you won’t trust anyone?” “If you’re thinking that you’ll hurt them back, you couldn’t even if you wanted to.” “Why?” I persisted. “Who is it?” He stepped closer until he was entirely out of the shadows. “Myself. /I/ hurt myself. And I won’t - /can’t/ - trust anyone because I can’t even trust myself.” He turned away and submersed himself in the shadows again. I hesitated, then continued walking through the woods. As I walked away, I heard Ren call out quietly, “Thanks again, Acwulf. For everything.”
Notes/Credits: If you're reading this, you probably know I wrote The Wolf Boy. Well, here's the sequel: The Monster's Curse. This is Chapter 36. Previous Chapter(s): Chapter 1: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/652476202/ Chapter 2: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/652950608/ Chapter 3: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/655177024/ Chapter 4: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/655177565/ Chapter 5: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/655621072/ Chapter 6: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/656955201/ Chapter 7: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/657580423/ Chapter 8: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/657583863/ Chapter 9: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/657586191/ Chapter 10: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/657668860/ Chapter 11: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/658404211/ Chapter 12: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/659115920/ Chapter 13: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/659116659/ Chapter 14: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/659117186/ Chapter 15: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/659420154/ Chapter 16: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/661425573/ Chapter 17: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/661428771/ Chapter 18: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/661974554/ Chapter 19: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/662108449/ Chpt 20 Pt 1: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/663144219/ Chpt 20 Pt 2: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/663156194/ Chapter 21: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/663760516/ Chpt 22 Pt 1: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/674644356/ Chpt 22 Pt 2: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/674648505/ Chpt 22 Pt 3: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/674658226/ Chpt 23 Pt 1: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/683757147/ Chpt 23 Pt 2: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/683765009/ Chpt 24 Pt 1: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/685766546/ Chpt 24 Pt 2: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/686198230/ Chapter 25: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/700792854/ Chpt 26 Pt 1: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/700796432/ Chpt 26 Pt 2: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/700878172/ Chapter 27: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/708908365/ Chapter 28: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/708908899/ Chapter 28.5: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/708910102 Chapter 29: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/715701804 Chapter 30: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/722542292/ Chpt 31 Pt 1: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/728333697/ Chpt 31 Pt 2: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/728334516/ Chpt 32 Pt 1: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/730396954/ Chpt 32 Pt 2: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/730397968/ Chapter 33: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/730608161/ Chpt 34 Pt 1: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/733945483/ Chpt 34 Pt 2: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/734093397/ Chpt 34 Pt 3: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/734094744/ Chapter 35: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/749216331/ Credits: Me, for being the author Shannon Messenger, JK Rowling, Eoin Colfer, and many other authors for inspo @aqua_di_angelo, @AL600AWESOME, @Lanze_cupcake_face11, and @Yayabinks for inspo and supporting the story! QOTC: Least Favorite Character?
