Chapter Text
Charlie’s POV
I’m in my room when I hear it. Tapping on my window. It’s Sunday night aka the night before I go back to school after winter break. Back to the hell they call school. Back to the bullies I am forced to be close to. Back to the days I will classify as the worst days of my life.
I spent my whole break hanging around family members I pretend to like and getting presents I pretend I’m going to use. I always hope they get me socks so at least I have something useful. Luckily I have my older sister Tori who I know I can talk to about family members we dislike.
We just got back from my uncle’s house when I decided I am going to spend the rest of my Sunday in my room playing my electric drum kit, scrolling through Instagram, and reading the books I’ve had on my “To Be Read” list since October. I’ve never been the social type. I mean I only have three people I choose to hang out with and that's all I need.
It’s almost midnight and I can’t sleep. Add that to the fact that I now hear a continuing tapping on my window that I’ve never heard until tonight. My anxiety takes over my thoughts. Kidnapper? Robber? Murderer?! I immediately look for the closest thing to a weapon in my room. A torch? Yeah I can probably do some damage with this.
I go downstairs to see if I can hear the noise from the front door. I definitely can hear footsteps on the front lawn. I open the door ready to protect myself, when I see no one there. I go outside to investigate. I see nothing. Then I feel tapping on my shoulder.
My immediate reaction was to turn around and scream at the top of my lungs and go to swing the torch at the intruder. Then I get a good look at the intruder, and now I’m annoyed.
“Tao! What are you doing here?!” I ask in the most annoyed tone I can this late at night.
“Sorry I didn't mean to scare you, but I had to get your attention somehow.” Tao says in a frantic way. Tao is one of the three people I hang out with. We’ve known each other since year 7 and we’ve been attached at the hip ever since. He’s the closest thing to a best friend that I got. He was with me when I was outed at school. When the bullying got really bad last year. He’s always been by my side.
“How did you even know I was awake?”
“Charlie, I know you like the back of my hand and I know that you have a horrible sleeping schedule.” I want to argue with him, but he’s not wrong.
“Anyway, what do you say about going on an adventure with me?” He says excitedly.
“I would say go home Tao and let me try to get some sleep tonight.” I go to leave but he stops me before I can.
“No, please just listen!” He starts and I begrudgingly stop to hear what he has to say. “You know how I like recreating movie moments in real life right?” I nod remembering the time he kept saying the phrase, “And if I don’t see ya, good afternoon, good evening, and good night!”, just because he was obsessed with the Truman show. “Well, I heard on the radio today that there is a body in the woods and there’s a reward for the person who finds it!”
I stare at him in awe. “A dead body?”
“No, a body of water.” He says sarcastically. “Yes, a dead body! And we’re gonna be the ones who find her.”
“Why me?! Why couldn’t you ask Elle or Issac?” I say. I’m even more annoyed now. Elle and Issac are our two other friends who also find Tao's obsession with recreating movie moments annoying.
“No one is awake at this time but us. Come on, you're my best friend and ‘Stand by Me’ is on the list of movie moments to recreate. Except this time if we do find the body, we’ll actually just split the reward. You can’t say no to a cash reward Charlie.”
He’s right, I can’t say no to Tao. Especially if he comes with a promise of money.
I let out a sigh, “Ok fine. But if I get in trouble on the first day back for sleeping in class, I’m never helping you do this stupid shit again.” I say in a way that shows him how done I am with him right now.
Tao makes the biggest grin I’ve ever seen. “Yes! Thank you thank you thank you! I knew I could count on you, Charlie old boy!”
I'm going to regret this, aren't I?
***
I regret this. Tao and I have been out in the woods for at least an hour and we haven’t come across any human remains. God that is the weirdest thing I’ve ever said.
“Can we go now? We’re never going to find it.”
“Can you please stop saying it and say her! God show some respect.”
“Ok. Can we go home now because we’re never going to find her!”
Tao looks at me annoyed. “We’re gonna find her and then you’ll eat your words Charlie Spring.”
“Does this so-called dead body have a name?” I ask.
“Yes.” Tao starts, “Her name is Evelyn Foley. She’s in the year above us and she went to Higgs. She’s been missing for a couple days, but people are starting to think she’s already dead because it’s been too long.”
I recognize that name. She was one of Tori’s friends. Tori always talked about how she may or may not have a secret boyfriend.
“Why are we even looking at night? Why couldn’t we have started doing this after school. I remember ‘Stand by Me’ taking place mostly in the daytime.” I ask curiously.
“Well…” Tao starts hesitantly. “The official search starts tomorrow and I didn’t think we would have a shot finding her if other people were around. Might as well get a head start.”
I want to kill him. “Tao, that's insane! I can’t believe you wou-” I feel the ground give out on me. Now I’m rolling down a hill.
“Charlie!” I hear Tao shout from above.
I continue rolling down the hill and I feel tons of small rocks hitting my sides and I just know I’m gonna have so many bruises in the morning. I feel myself come to a stop and I open my eyes to see where I am. I open them to see a pair of eyes already on me. A lifeless pair. Evelyn Foley.
I scream and back away. I get up, but I am in so much pain. I hear something coming from the bushes. “Tao?” I call out. Then I hear growling coming from where I called. I’m frozen with fear. I don’t know what to do, where I am, or even what is behind those bushes. Then I see them. Glowing red eyes staring back at me. It’s a wolf.
I make a run for it even though I know I’m not faster than a bloody wolf. I run as fast as I can, but the wolf tackles me to the ground. The wolf looks at me dead in the eyes before it starts to bite into my left side. I scream out in pain. I’m going to die. I’m going to die.
“Charlie I’m coming!” I recognize that voice. It’s Tao running down the hill.
The wolf hears Tao and immediately runs off farther into the woods just in time for Tao not to see them.
“Are you ok? That was a nasty fall.” Tao starts to say, but then he gets a closer look. “Oh my god what happened?!”
“A fucking wolf bit me that’s what happened!” I’m in so much pain and I’m also very irritated. “I need to go to A & E like now!”
Tao starts to help me up off the ground so we can start making our way out these god forsaken woods. “I’m so sorry this is all my fault.” Tao says apologetically.
I look up at him. “Oh don’t worry because you’re the one who’s going to tell my parents and then they’re gonna kill you. Then we can both go to A & E together.” Tao gives me a terrified look knowing the wrath of the Spring parents is a ruthless one.
For some reason the pain starts to go away rather quickly but it still really hurts. Tao and I make it back to my house to get my parents to take us to A & E. They were so pissed, but took us there immediately. Even though they were mad, they still reassured me that they were glad that I was ok. I can’t believe my night has ended like this.
End of Chapter 1
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