Legends

The Truth Behind The Legend

The Hounds POV

Two months had passed since Roman and me had got together. He was sweet kind and attentive. I felt it was time for him, Dean and Renee to meet the freak behind the legend. I had a feeling I knew what the reaction would be... Fear or repulsion... I just hoped they would understand.

I invited them to my inner sanctuary deep in the forests of the Appalachian Mountains.

We sat round the fire in my lounge. The peace and tranquility had been what brought me here in the first place. No finger pointing or whispers in dark corners, or the downright rude stares. I could escape.

I sighed

"You ok baby?" Roman looked concerned.

"Yes. Just remembering a legend from these parts."

"Tell us girl" Renee loved myths and legends.

I sighed again.

"Ok.. are you sitting comfortably?Then I will begin... long ago in a town near here a young girl lived with her parents. Her name, Cassidy Legends. She was a well behaved, sweet and kind child, almost some said perfect. She was the apple of her parents eye and could never have wanted for anything. But her father was a hunter, her mother a school teacher. So discipline was severe. Although they never had to use it on her. The threat alone was enough for her to tow the line.

She grew into a beautiful thirteen year old. Curvy and graceful, polite and gentle.

One day however she and a few of her high school buddies decided to go hiking through the woods. It was spring, the air was still crisp but beginning to warm. They all sat by the local river laughing and joking. They were unaware they had caught the attention of a bear. A huge grizzly that unfortunately was rabid.. and hungry.

Anyway the light began to fade into dusk and they knew they had better head back. That was the rule. Home by dusk.

As they headed back a low growling caught their attention, that old bear came out swinging his huge head. He wanted them.. No doubt about it. He roared and stood up on his haunches. The kids scattered but sadly for one of them he had decided she was not going to make it home.

He bellowed and set off after her. She didn't stand a chance.

The girls parents had got home and realized their perfect daughter was not home yet. It was late evening. A pounding came on the door... it was the girls friends, they had headed there to see if she had made it home.

After getting the garbled story from the kids they phoned the police and arranged a search party. They searched throughout the night. No trace was found. The girls parents went home just in case she had managed to get there.

At dawn the next day they came upon scuff marks on the ground and blood smears. They feared the worst. This was a battle scene. They knew she had put up a hell of a fight.

Soon enough they came across something that made them hope... there laying in a pool of blood was the bear, a sharp rock sticking out of its jugular. They started yelling the girls name but got no response. A young Deputy suddenly yelled out. There were drag marks and blood heading AWAY from the scene. They followed it... time was of the essence.

They suddenly came to a cluster of rocks and there laid the girl badly mauled, blood seeping out of her many wounds. But she was alive, barely, but alive.

After giving her some serious pain relief and doing the basics on her wounds they got her airlifted to the local hospital. It took hundreds of stitches to close the wounds on her body and face. For two weeks they kept her in a medically induced coma so her wounds could heal.

When they woke her up a doctor came to her and told her what had happened. But he warned her she was going to be scarred for life. She asked to see her scars and the doctor gave her a mirror. She was horrified by what she saw and began to weep. The doctor was a gentle soul. He sat with her comforting her.

The next day her parents came to visit..

"This monstrosity is not our daughter!" the father yelled

Tears pricked the girls eyes when even her mother was averting her eyes.

The doctor explained that she was indeed their child.

" Please.." the girl began.

"We have no daughter as of this moment. We don't our perfect lives tainted by a freak! Look at you! No guy will ever look at you with love, only pity. You will not be coming home with us."

Then without another word they turned and left.

The Girl was inconsolable. The doctor tried to explain it as shock.. She didn't buy it.

Her parents never came back to the hospital.

A few days later she overheard the doctors discussing her going into care as her parents had signed over all their rights to the child services. Her heart broke.

That night she escaped the hospital and ran into the night. She made it to her home and sneaked in her open bedroom window, grabbed what she could and left.

Years passed she became bigger, stronger faster and meaner. She traveled the world. She forgot who she had been. Her reputation grew. People used to ridicule her or be repulsed and afraid so she began hiding in the shadows. Eventually she wore fake skin so people would deem her "normal"

One night she was performing in a show.. a small child kept looking at her with wonder. Eventually the child approached her. For the first time in a long time she cried when the boy put his arms round her unafraid and hugged her. Her anger melted and her heart glowed. She learnt to accept herself that night.

As for her parents they moved on and had two perfect children. They wiped any memory of their eldest. They never saw the shadow in the trees watching them. Every now and again four white roses appeared on their doorstep. It confused them. The dad yelled into the night "Whoever you are you are not welcome. Who are you?"

The following morning they got a shock. Laying on the doorstep were four bloodstained bear claws. The father went white haired overnight and the mother developed anxiety issues. Never again did the shadow appear. But they knew, their daughter was still out there, somewhere, watching and waiting...."

Renee shivered

"What happened to the girl?" Dean asked.

"Still alive" I smiled

"How do you know?"

I sighed and for the first time in a long time.. i reached up and removed my mask... Showing the mauling  Scars marring my face

"Because I AM that girl"

I watched their faces turn from shock to curiosity. Then they smiled.

" Aww sweetie... your beautiful face" Roman smiled

"i know its hideous"

"No its not baby. Its made me want you even more. If I had known this i would have asked you out sooner."

i looked up shocked

All I saw was acceptance.... and love

"baby girl... you are such a sweet girl me and dean accept you. we love you for you." The three of them hugged me.

For that one moment... i was truly happy.