Parahuman (Parahuman Series) (19 page)

     She
grinned and drawled. “Very good.”

     Devan
couldn’t stop the twitch of his lip. She saw it because her grin widen to a
smile. Devan had allowed myself to be drawn in. Stupid, stupid. 

     “I
have to go.” Devan turned to get in the truck. 

    
“Maybe I’ll see you tomorrow.” She called after him. There were too many
inflections in her tone for Devan to establish her mood as he drove away. 

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

    
Devan
followed the tracks north for about five miles and noticed that they circled
around toward the house again. This was the second day in a row that Devan had
come across the wolves tracks and from their behavior it appeared they were
scouting the area looking for something. Their prints would circle around as
though searching for a scent and then continue on in whatever direction they
detected that scent went.

     Inhaling
the packs musk, Devan estimated they had last been in the area about five hours
ago and by their course it appeared they were shadowing his steps from a few
days prior, but as it was only the second day since he’d first noticed them he
couldn’t be definite.

     What
was really catching his attention was the exaggerated level of markings the
pack was leaving behind. Were they trying to warn him away or were they just
marking their territory…extensively    

      He
spent about thirty minutes examining their tracks and markings before time
necessitated he head back...Devan had another day of school to get ready for.
Spinning on his heels he ran the six miles back to the house.

            Emerging
from the woods at a sprint Devan halted in the clearing at the back of the house.
His breathing was labored testifying to the twenty some miles he’d run, but he
took note that his muscles seemed barely strained from the workout, and that
wasn’t counting the training exercises in the trees he had done half way
through. 

    
Toweling off from his shower fifteen minutes later Devan took some quick
measurements. Every week he recorded data of how his body was developing…just
to make sure he was evolving normally. 

     Since
taking them last week they seem to have altered. This wasn’t too alarming
because he was in a growing stage, but the degree was a significant. His height
had increased another quarter of an inch since last week and his arms had also
lengthened and filled out more around the biceps and forearms. Devan’s legs had
also gained more girth. Waking up the last two mornings Devan had noticed some
discomfort in his joints and he realized now it was from growing pains.

     Devan
didn’t let himself get too panicked about this because all teenagers went
through this, but any change in his body always had him worried, and he
definitely didn’t need to be getting taller. 

     It
was useless to worry as he could do nothing about it. Getting dressed in long
shorts and another plain dark t-shirt Devan ate his breakfast, made his lunch,
and set out for school. 

     Driving
past Laney’s house Devan unconsciously slowed and then consciously accelerated
without permitting himself a look in that direction. He may have felt compelled
to repair her bridge yesterday, spending thousands of dollars and nine hours on
the restoration, but he also felt it was imperative to keep distance between
them. 

      He
lined up with all the other vehicles arriving for the school day. With one road
leading to all three stages of school; elementary, middle, and high school,
there was a congestion of cars, trucks, and buses lined up waiting.

    
Parking in the exact spot as yesterday Devan took a deep breath before stepping
out for another day of peer pressure, hormone overload, and teen angst.

     With
time came familiarity and one day wasn’t sufficient time for the kids of
Silverton to stop their ogling. Keeping his eyes straight forward Devan walked
to the front doors with tunnel vision, but then halted half way there abruptly.

     The
wolves!

     He
could smell them in the air; the same pack that had been around his house the
last two days. Devan gazed into the north woods piercing its denseness for any
sign of them. The scent was faint; he hoped it was because they were long gone
rather than just far off. Another scent drifted to him preparing him before she
spoke.

    
“Looking off into the distance again?” Laney had walked up beside him; her
green eyes filled with intense curiosity.

    
“Uh..yeah…I do do that sometimes.” Devan fumbled, trying to get his bearings.
He began walking forward again realizing he had been standing there drawing
more attention to himself. Laney fell into step beside him.

     “What
were you looking for this time?”

     Her
tone was jaunty, but he thought there might have been a hint of seriousness
mixed in with it. She was probably just humoring him.

     “I
wasn’t looking for anything.” However, his gaze returned to the forest which
didn’t yield much credence to his words. The smell of the wolves seemed to be
getting stronger and he wasn’t sure if it was because of the wind or if the
pack was moving closer. It seemed highly improbable that a pack of wolves was
this close to such a highly populated area.

     “Are
you sure about that, you seem awfully interested in something out there?” She
asked. 

    
Before Devan was able to reply screams erupted from the north end of the
building. Laney, him, and everyone else swiveled in that direction to see what
was happening. 

    
Except for the screams everything seemed frozen for a minute as people stopped
in their tracks and looked around for the commotion, but then people near the
north entrance began running and screaming. That’s when Devan saw the wolf
pack.

     Most
of the people around him were not able to see the wolves over the heads of
everyone else in the parking lot, but because he was a head taller than all of
them it wasn’t a problem. Those who couldn’t see were either unnerved or interested
by the screaming and weren’t sure if they should head for cover or find out
what the commotion was about. 

     Laney
looked up at him in alarm. She had no idea what going on.

     Devan
knew it was imperative that people find a place of safety.

     He
yelled as loud as he could. “Wolves! Everyone get inside a car or to the
building, fast!”

    
Devan’s words sent people running and screaming in all directions in a panic.
Grabbing Laney’s hand he pulled her toward the building while continuing to
watch the wolves. 

     The
pack’s behavior was extremely peculiar. They came from around the building and
began roaming the parking lot seemingly uninterested in all the pandemonium
around them; their noses to the ground trying to pick up some scent. 

     “It
can’t be wolves; wolves haven’t been seen in Silverton in sixty years.” Laney
was looking around trying to locate the source of the panic. 

    
“Sixty-nine,” Devan corrected. “Yes, its wolves, I can see them.”

     His
gaze was focused on the animals coming steadily their way, but at the same time
he could see that the entrance to the school was jammed with people trying to
get inside. However, once inside people were not moving away from the door,
rather, they were crowding the vestibule in an attempt to see what was going on
outside. There was no way they were going to get through that melee in time if
the wolves came this way.   

    
Feeling a frantic desire to get Laney to safety Devan was about to jeopardize
his secret by grabbing her and jumping for the roof of the building when he
noticed the smaller structure adjacent to the main school building.

    
Changing his plans he hugged Laney to his side and ran with her—mostly he ran
as she hung on to him. Gripping the door handle to the building Devan pushed
sharply feeling the lock break from the frame. Pushing Laney in, he slammed the
door behind them. 

    
Scrutinizing the inside Devan realized it was a supply building; storing a
variety of equipment from sports to maintenance. At the moment he was more
interested in the industrial size lawn mower. There was no key so he put it in
forward gear, got behind it, and pushed it in front of the door since he’d
broken the lock.

     Going
to the window Devan saw Laney gaping at him incredulously. He evaded her gaze
looking outside instead. There were still a few stragglers outside running for
a vehicle or the school building. In their panic some people seemed to think
the back of an open truck bed was a safe place, not seeming to comprehend that
the wolves could easily get to them there. Buses still full of students were
waving and calling to people. Several cars were screeching out of the parking
lot not wanting to stay or else going to get help.     

    
Strangely enough the wolves still appeared to be searching for something rather
than wanting to attack anyone. Devan took note that there were only six wolves
present; he had established at least nine different tracks in the woods. 

     
Laney came over to stand beside him and her arm brushed up against his causing
a shot of heat to pulse through his body. Devan shifted away reflexively at her
touch, but she seemed to think he was only making room for her at the window.

    
“They’re huge,” she exclaimed, peering out the window.

     Devan
had already taken notice of that fact, and it was something that caused him not
a small amount of concern. These things were almost twice the size of a normal
Gray wolf. Their facial structures were also slightly irregular; the jaws
heavier and wider, the snout shorter.  

     “They
don’t seem to be trying to hurt anyone, it’s like they’re looking for
something,” Laney observed.  

     The
wolves had their noses to the ground, sniffing. One wolf passed by a truck with
two guys crouching in the bed trying their best to go unnoticed. The animal had
to know they were in there, but took no notice of them. It just sniffed the
tires and continued on. 

     “I’ve
heard of lone sick wolves strolling into populated areas and attacking people,
but it’s a very rare occurrence, I mean really rare.” Laney continued in
wonder. “I’ve never heard of a whole pack just wandering in.” 

     The
wolves’ manners were too organized and controlled, and they weren’t attacking
anyone; this didn’t coincide with her viewpoint of them being sick. They began
to congregate around Devan’s jeep; jumping on the sides and one even leaped
onto the hood−there goes that new car look. Circling it, they appeared to
be getting worked up over something.

    
“Don’t worry about me, I love talking to myself.”

    
Laney’s words, laden heavily with sarcasm, had him jerking his head in her
direction. She wasn’t looking at him; rather, she was gazing out the window
with pursed lips looking annoyed.  Devan could only conclude she was upset with
his extended silence. He hadn’t been ignoring her; he had just been analyzing
the situation. 

     “I
have been listening to you; I was just caught up in their behavior.” Devan
offered in way of apology.

     Her
eyes remained locked on the scene outside, but her lips and shoulders relaxed
at his words.

     Devan
continued, “And you’re right, it is a very rare occurrence.”   

     “They
appear too really like your jeep.” Laney commented, watching as the wolves
paced around his jeep. “Did you run over something recently?” She jokingly
asked.

     “Not
that I know of.” He answered, although, that would give some credence to their
escalated interest. 

     The
pack began to stride away from his jeep, and this relieved some of his tension,
but their bearing brought it back double. The entire pack was beginning to make
their way to the storage building that he and Laney occupied.

     “They
are really huge.” Laney whispered.

     The
animals grouped around the door, snuffling, and were becoming more agitated by
the second; pacing relentlessly to and fro, whining, and throwing themselves
against the door. The door rattled but didn’t open, with the mower lodged against
it. 

     “That
is the darn’dest thing I have ever seen,” Laney said in fascination. 

     Devan
looked at her in surprised admiration. Instead of panicking at the thought of a
wolf pack coming in and having her for a snack, she was instead commenting on
their peculiar behavior. 

     She noted
his surprised expression.

    
“What?” 

     Devan
looked into her eyes that were void of fear. “Aren’t you frightened?”

     She
shrugged, stating confidently. “There’s no way they’re coming through that
door.”

     As if
hearing their conversation, one wolf moved to the window they were looking out.
The window was set high; Laney’s head barley reached it. They watched the wolf
pace back and forth before suddenly leaping up to set his front paws on the
window sill. It was as tall as Devan and it stared in through the glass at them.

     Laney
squealed softly jumping back in surprise. Devan held his ground. It was eerie
the way the animals brown eyes considered Laney and him. Growling menacingly it
fell back to the ground and backed up several paces. Devan’s heart skipped a
beat.

     “It’s
going to try coming through the window.” Grabbing Laney’s hand, he pulled her further
away from the window and looked around. A quick inspection of the area revealed
no place to conceal themselves. There
was
another window they could have
gone out, but with the other wolves out there that was out of the question. He
could
take her to the roof. A further inspection of the building unearthed a chain
saw which could get them to the roof without having to leave the structure.