Novel Palace
72: Refuge in the Night
Hayley’s POV
I took short, labored breaths, which my lungs barely could contain as I made clutzy hasty steps along the corridor. Every single sound reverberated through me in terror from each shadow alert, expecting to hear a werewolf at my heels. It was too hard to keep the two worlds separate, and when paired with the fear of being caught by this animal that had taken him out at school, Manny found himself unable to bear down. Desperately looking for somewhere to take refuge, I marched on, resolving in my heart and mind that whatever was next had to be planned.
I rounded the corner, a neon sign casting light upon my path, consequently lighting up the momentarily illuminated sidewalk strobing under some foreboding corner bar. In the midst of all this turmoil, I saw it as a shining light to relax and rest. I couldn’t continue another moment; wanting shelter from the threats about me, I crawled slowly towards it.
The door to the bar loomed over me as I approached. I shoved open the doors with what little strength I had left and stumbled inside. The dark meant this dimly lit inside was practically the opposite of all that unforgiving darkness out there. The sweet tang of salt and the acrid scent of beer mixed pleasantly with residual smoke from cigarettes long gone, creating a warm, blankey haze that made quiet whispers about work and other problems innocuously woven into their conversations.
I walked into the place, and as the heat of the bar started to wrap itself around me, my body began growing weak. My vision went blurry, and my knees buckled underneath me, rendering everything confusing. The dismal faces of the previously too-boisterous draft imbibers-this is all I could recall before they kindly ink-dropped back into reality and my lifeless world turned black as I keeled over.NôvelDrama.Org content.
When I awoke, it was on an old leather couch at the back end of the bar. The extensive remainder area was stocked with old plumbing fixtures and stacks of bins. A soft yellow beam from somewhere above cast its glow on the cement floor as the ghostly roars and laughter of patrons on the other side washed in around me. ~
I was brought to my senses by the sound of a voice: Hey, she’s coming around.” I looked over at the sound to find a woman staring back at me, her face hinting at curiosity and maybe just concern. She looked old enough, possibly her late thirties, from what I could tell about how she appeared: auburn hair up in a messy bun; tattoos peeking out beneath the sleeves of her shirt.
She asked in a low voice. Did it hurt and handed me a glass of water?
Painstakingly, as each movement produced more pain in my body, I slowly rose to accept the glass she held out for me. Do you think so?” I croaked. “Grateful thanks.”
She first introduced herself: “My name is Cara. I’m the owner of this place. You scared the hell out of us when you dropped and went unresponsive.”
I weakly smiled and said, “Hayley, sorry for the trouble.”.
“Don’t apologize; it’s fine. Are you okay? You look like you have lived. Cara had shrugged off my apology, only to then remark on how tired I looked.
Not sure how much to reveal, I hesitated for a moment before replying. “It’s a bit complicated. Someone was following me, and I needed a place to hide.
Cara gasped as realization struck her. Chase you. Chase what? she asked.
I took a deep breath and decided to take the risk. ‘A werewolf attacked my friend, and I just barely got away.’
Cara paused and digested my words before there was a long silence. I was actually very surprised that she did not think it was the most ridiculous thing to ever say and laugh out loud or scoff. Instead, she thought for a moment and then inclined her head seriously: “They say this is not the first time I hear about these towers that hide.”
“Do you believe me?” I spoke, feeling like if my whole body just breathed out completely in it was some kind of statement asserted that made sense for once.
‘I saw it happen’ the edge of her mouth curled upwards ever so slightly before she responded, “Well, I can honestly say that weird enough things have happened to me personally for a bit more open-minded approach.’
Just then, the door to the backroom creaked open, and in walked a giant man with an unruly beard. He looked at me, concerned and intrigued. “Is she the one?” he inquired of Cara.
“Hi there, Hayley. Cara held out her hand and led the way. “The bouncer is my brother Jack.’
Jack nodded in greeting, “It’s nice to see you up. Cara added a few things. ‘Are there any needs?”
I said, growing panicked over Ryan once again, that I had to go back for him. ‘He has been attacked, and his security is unknown.’
Cara and Jack looked at each other. “During it, where was he?” questioned Jack.
‘The apartment building is just around the corner from here,’ I replied.
“Let me see if I can find him and come back with some information,” Jack replied after a brief period of profound thought.
It was the first time I allowed myself to feel that way, and as we sat in silence, my heart grew heavy with gratitude when I blurted out,. “I just can’t imagine what would happen if anything were ever done to him; what would you say…? “Thank you.”
Cara comforted my sleepless sobs with renewed confidence; ‘we would fix the problem. You need some rest, but you do look like you are going to pass out once more.’
I gave in and tried to nod anything that sounded exactly like my mom with the words because, you are right. His name is Ryan, and I cannot get this man out of my head even if I do want to.
Cara smiled at me, this time with a little more confidence. We will do everything we can to help. For now, simply focus on restoring your vibrational levels.”
I felt very comfortable with Cara when Jack left the room.
And then I was engulfed in this queer mashup of thankfulness and confusion that pulled at me; I couldn’t just let it be. I was sitting in a rather lonely corner of the bar with strangers who looked astonishingly understanding about my plight. It was so heavy that I became agitated, and a weighty feeling nestled in my heart.
Cara turned a worried expression at me. ‘What inspired you to go out by yourself into the night, Hayley?” She said it gently in her steady manner, and scanning my clothes for some of those dried red spots. ‘Why do you have to cover the blood with your clothes?’