Tara :Wolf Chronicles

Chapter 17 : The Jigsaw

⚠️:SA discussed
October 2011
3 weeks till the disappearance
Nate :

After our very lively Friday ,something strange happened.Thalia was absent from school.Not a day but a whole week.Her desk remained empty and her presence was barely there.
I didn't see an awkward girl who dressed in baggy hoodies regardless of the schools rules or her scrawny frame.
Hayley eyed her desk with a frown and sigh.The duo was suddenly single again---but luckily, Hayley's boyfriend entertained her much to my displeasure by texts ,visits, and make out sessions.Gross.
I misses her laughter ,her haughty expression or when her eyes lit when she talked about her religion and her artworks.Or that mom glare and yet it remained unused but I couldn't help but look over my shoulder.Weridly , everytime I looked I wished she came.I couldn't help but glance at the hallway and with a thought her bolting into class and apologizing for her absence . I stood in front of her locker with a frown.
It was strange.
The straight A and very punctual student wasn't in school.A part of me wondered of. Something bad happened.
I gripped the straps of my backpack tight and scrunched my face.
Where the hell of are you ?
I bit my lip hard.
I snapped my head to Hayley's desk only to meet her eye as her eyes landed on Thalia's. Students swarmed past her desk but she shrugged at me in reply.
Her answer was evident.
Where's she ?
The concern seeped from deep within me, fogging my thoughts as I glided through the hallway like a ghost as the students streaked by and the world faded.
Where are you ? I prodded to myself as my gang eyed her desk. It was finally Friday.
Monday. Absent. She wasn't there when the teacher announced at homeroom.
Tuesday.Absent again. We had a math test.I bit the pen till it burst.I glanced over at her desk.Empty.
Wednesday.We had gym, but it was boring without her remarks on politics.
There was no sign of a girl in a baggy hoodie or long sleeves.Thursday.Then I lost it.
"Um ,guys.Have you seen Thalia ?"I blurted out.An odd tightness formed on my chest as goosebumps prickled on my skin.Day after day passed as assignments and homework stacked high on her desk.
Even the teacher found it quite strange and weirdly ups.
"Hey ,"Sasha greeted me ,"have you heard from her ?"
Hayley placed her hands on her hips and frowned.
"It's really strange, isn't it ?"She replied ,her oversized pastel sweater draped over her sweater.
I nodded in agreement while I fumbled with my pencil from my desk while deep in thought.
"Had she called in sick ?"I prodded Hayley's palm on my desk as she nodded.They stood in front of my desk.At snack break, my stomach was still in knots, so I forced some orange juice down my clogged throat.
The field was loud and rowdy with students who laughed and screamed and chatted, but they all passed through me like a movie.Fast forward slow, and blurry.The cold wind whipped through my jacket and carried my hair into the wind.The tree I leaned against their branches dropped with orange leaves and others crunched beneath my boots.
Earlier, I asked the nurse the same question.
"Had Thalia called in sick?"
The answer was evident.
The next day , I bit my nail so hard it bleed.With a wince
,I slid my mom's nokia and dialed her digits, then called.
Straight to Voice-mail.
I expected her to answer.She didn't.
"Sorry this Thalia, please don't call me.I'm at chruch.See you."
The screen glowed as I grasped the cell hard.I repeated again.
Voice-mail.
"Goddammit."I snapped ,leaned against the wall behind the school and under the shade of an oak tree.
Then I typed a quick message.I waited and waited.It had only one tick.I was ghosted.She didn't reply, and my concern grew.
All weekend ,I couldn't think .I stared out into the window of the apartment aside and attempted to do my History.But it went to her.
Get out of my head .
Then, before I knew it was Monday.I went extra early, just barely when students barely trickled in, and the janitors swept the hallways.
Her authoritative father probably confiscated her phone, but the urge to go into that culty and dreamy neighborhood with hundreds of bug eyed people, the sluggish time, and the suffocating darkness ofOhinwaa residence.
Nope ,I couldn't do it.
My footsteps faltered as I spotted a familiar face.The scrawny girl's eyes glued the floor and shuffled her feet.
The Thalia was I never shy.
I smiled wide when I saw her as many questions swarmed on my mind, but I stopped.
"Thalia ?"I brightened ,but I read the room. I spread my arms to hug her, but her eyes widened, and then she flinched.My shoulders draped with disappointment.She balled her hands to her fist at her sides.
"Are you okay ?" She shook her head, lips pursed, then she brushed me. I gaped at her lost,hurt and confused.
"Is it just me, or is she asking very strange?" Sasha told me after Thalia settled at her seat ,legs crossed and quiet.
She didn't acknowledge us ,she just sat with glossy and bloodshot eyes.
Glossy and bloodshot.
"Yeah ,"I agreed."it's really strange.She didn't talk to me or let me hug her.Sge flinched---
"She flinched!"they chroused.
I recoiled.
They exchanged a look.
"Something happened to her.That's what."Hayley concluded.
I discreetly turned my gaze to her to see her sniffle and wiped her eyes.It was wide and bloodshot.
Later that day ,I stared at her to see if she's stopped crying, and I hoped she'll gain confidence, or sometimes I caught her going to consular.
Then something strange happened after lunch ,Thalia stood frozen and stared at me.I almost fell off my skin as the other girls smiled and stared at her.
"I'm sorry."she apologized,her voice soft and hoarse.
A smile formed on my lips with a shrug."It's okay.I noticed there's something wrong."I asked.
She nodded and shuffled her feet again.She gazed into my eyes and nodded.
"Let's go to the library.I need to ...to tell you something."She replied,looking over her shoulder.
I nodded confused.She gripped my wrist and slowly pulled me in, but unknown to me, the other girls followed us.
We entered the library side by side to the familiar place dotted with colored bean bags ,aisles of bookshelves pieces high and a lane with computers.It wasn't as busy as usual with a few students here and there.A lump bobbed on my throat as we slipped further into the library usually when people do this is to make out.Don't ask why .I learned it the hard way.Redness creeped onto my neck and eyes.She leaned against the bookshelf as I darted my eyes back and forth frantically.
She took a deep breath and then replied ,"I'm sorry for not coming, and I'm sorry for ignoring you.I wasn't in the right mood, but I'm better now." She paused and took another hefty breathe.
I nodded and smiled sheepishly."No, not at all.im glad you are better."
Her eyes lit up, then diminished."I'm not sick . It's about my ...my dad."she bit out.
My shoulders tensed at the sound of his name.
She gulped as footsteps faltered passed.We froze as we waited for them to go.
"My father did something to me.He wanted to check if I'm still as Holy as Mary."she replied.
My blood ran cold in my views as my I blinked multiple times.I gripped the shelf hard to prevent me from fainting or screaming hysterically.
"H-He did what?"I choked out.
She nodded ,sniffed as I stared at her glossy eyes.
"My dad doesn't trust me with anyone.He hates you, so he wanted to check to be sure."she counitined using two fingers to animate.
Bile rose into my throat as I thought hard on it.
"He did what?"I blurted.
From behind me, someone shouted."Oh my God."We snapped our heads to that direction when she pressed herself onto the shelf.She sniffed as I resisted the urge to wrap my arms around and reassure or would have dragged her to the nurse ,doctor or the police.
"That's not okay."I blurted.My shoulders sagged as we were to close for comfort.But we had a problem at hand."That's not okay.So not okay."I repeated,the horror settling on like fog.
I lowered my voice as the Liberian shuffled by to escort the student who shouted then she eyed us as we pretended to read a book opposite from our initial postion.If anyone passes by ,they'll think we kissed or something.
"A-Are you okay ?What can I do ?"I replied so fast.
She shook her head ,her voice cracked."No,I'm not.It hurts.I feel so violated, but I needed time to think and things."her voice cracked, and tears streaked down her face.
I stretched my hands."H-He did it himself.No doctor.I feel so sick and violated."she bit out.I tapped her head and grasped her hands.
This is so wrong.No one needs to go through that.I thought as I shook my head.
●●●●
I couldn't function after that. My mind was muddled and broken like a broken recorder which replayed over and over again.
"We must tell someone Anyone.The authorizes."I blurted frantically.
"No,"She snapped."you can't do that."
"You father literally assaulted you."
"He's my father."
I was taken aback by that remark.We were quiet as I shook my head.I stretched my hands but she flinched.My heart sank.
She turned her back."No one will believe me anyway."
Thalia needed help.
When we had school next there ,the class was still loud and explosive but Hayley and Sasha stared at us as if they never knew us.I cooked my head.Hayley rose and walked passed us ---towards us and Sasha followed suit.
■■■
"Why are you telling me this ?"I asked,my breathe hitched.
"I trust you."
"B-But why me?There are others."I pressed.
"You'd believe me."
Then it hit me like a a waterfall of bricks.
I was in Thalia's house.He weirded power over me.Us.The werid black magic would destroy this to any other or it play right into his clawed hands and shining coals for eyes.
●●●
"Here's some ibuprofen."Hayley said with a smile as she dropped a pill onto Thalia's palm.Thalia's eyes widened with concern as Hayely flashed her pearly whites.I cooked my head.
Sasha placed her hands on her shoulders and asked.
"Are you okay?"She wasn't."you've been absent."
They shared a look as Thalia forced a smile.It looked pained as it stretched.Sasha gave her bottled water.

▪︎▪︎▪︎

We were in the library as I was kept out of sight for some odd reason but I knew.
"We overheard your conversation.What he did was disgusting and shameful."Sasha's replied.

"If you need anyone to talk to.We are right here."Hayely replied,her frown deepening.Her eyes were glossy."Poor baby."
"Scratch the bullshit."Sasha hissed.Then stared at her with sympathy and reprresed rage."No we must call the police,child protection services and a lawyer.No man has the right to do that to their daughter.To check if Holy or is not okay is immoral."
Hayley nodded in agreement."Yeah ,I agree with her."She gulped then turned to look my direction with a glare."Why, Nate? Why him.We 're your girlfriends."
Thalia looked away.
"Whatever.We have an issue."she concluded.
Thalia clasped her hands on abdomen."He's been close to me.He knows my dad."she replied.The girls stared at each other dumbstruck.
Sasha pursed her lips into a thin lime and placed her fist at her sides.
"What other things has this bastatd did to you ?"Sasha scolded.I gulped and reeled away.