The Wolf & I

An under privileged teenage boy uncovers secrets within in his home, while his abusive father is away.
A locked room holds the key to all this young man desires. Escaping the harsh realities that surround him would free his soul and release his many fears.
Hunger stricken, a thin teenager in worn blue jeans and a dingy turtleneck staggers inside his home. Uneven breaths escape through his blue lips, as he searches for food. Weak from the freezing weather and lack of eating healthy he collapses on the hardwood floor, too ill to move.
Justin lets out a soft sob, as he moves his fingers along the smooth edges of floor, searching for a chair to get him back on his feet. His vision has been fuzzy, because of the amount of time he lacks food.
His fingers move up and down the chair leg, before he attempts to stand. His legs wobble, as he brings himself to a standing position, and makes his way toward the cabinet.

Disappointment fills him, finding nothing, and he heads toward the stairs. There is no railing, and so he must be extra careful, but the sensations beneath him give insight. He counts the steps remembering them.
Touching the wall to his left, Justin counts the bumps, until he gets to his dark room.
He hears a creak and a door open, and is able to make out which one. He thinks about venturing into the unfamiliar room that he knows has food.

There are many large objects in the room, as he begins touching them to get his bread.
“Beware,” says a voice and Justin turns his head confused.
“Who is in here?” Justin asks timidly.
“I dare not say.” The voice croaks. “You are not ready.”
“Ready for what?” Justin questions.
“You are not ready for the secrets to unravel. Get your bread, and leave at once.” the voice demands.
Sighing, Justin grasps onto the bread, taking a piece from the bag. “I wish I understood what was going on. Why did my father take me away from my mother?”
“You will understand some day.” The voice explains. “Go before he returns, or you will be sorry!”

The next morning, the bitter winter causes him to huddle in an old blanket in his dark and lonely room. Tears trickle from his cheeks, as he cries against the wall.
His vision is worsening, as Justin starves. His chilly fingers have lost feeling making it difficult to sense what object is in front of him.
Desperate for help, he slowly stands, keeping the blanket over his body, as his thumb gives him an idea of what is ahead.

Motionless as he reaches the stairs, he conducts a short prayer, lingering carefully down the steps, and out in the cold.

White is all Justin can see, as he reaches into his pocket grabbing his whistle. His father told him to use it, when somebody wanted to take him, and so Justin blows on the whistle. Unsure of what will happen, Justin sits on a bench listening to the sounds around him.
The cry of a wolf startles Justin, as the white creature draws near. Visioning only white and some color, Justin extends his hand to the animal. His hand shakes, noticing the wetness and pressure. “You are probably hungry.”
The wolf gently nudges his hand, getting Justin to touch what is around its neck, before taking off with Justin in toe.

Exhausted, Justin breathes heavily making note of the wood beneath his feet. Slight warmth fills his bare feet, and he hears the crackling of a fire. He visualizes the fire in his mind, as it grows louder, and hotter.

Knowing that this is a fire of rage, Justin quickly figures an escape route, as he slides onto the floor, and crawls out of the house into the falling snow.

His feet reach the icy ground, and he moans at the pain. Sharp and tingling sensations run through his feet and up his legs, as he searches for a dry area.
Relief fills him as his feet move over some damp boards untouched by the snow, and he sees the color red in the distance. Walking toward the red sight, his body quivers, and he falls into the snow.
Something touches his hands, and Justin tries to see the figure in front of him. A lighter shade of brown he sees, too small to be a human. It has a small round head, and a slender almost stick body. Its arms and legs mimic the creature’s frame.
“Come with me. The time has come for you to learn of your destiny.” the creature supplies.
“You were in that room earlier. Who set the fire was it you?” Justin cries.
“In deed it was not I, Sir, but your father. He does not want you to know the family secrets, and that is why he is starving you. You are heir to a thrown in a land you no nothing of.” the being explains.
“I do not understand, and what about the wolf?” he asks brushing away the tears.
“There is no time to explain! We must leave here immediately! There is much work to be done. You are in no shape to run a kingdom, and defeat a villain in his tracks.”

Confusion fills Justin’s mind, as the ground grows warmer, along with the air. The grassy hills tickle his toes, as he walks over them, still unable to see.
His fingers run through a peaceful stream, where Justin gathers drinking water in a container he finds in the grass.
Justin’s hands tremble, as the nymph touches his hands, and chants something in words Justin does not understand.
“You will see visions, though you are blind. These will guide you through your battles, and leave once you have fulfilled your destiny.” He watches as Justin gazes into only a light he can see. “Follow it. This is the beginning of an end to your misery.”

Intrigued, Justin goes toward the light unafraid. It leads him to a palace, and fades away. Another vision comes, and he smiles, “Momma.” He sees her some place within the castle’s confines. “I am coming for you.”
Before he can move, something grasps his hands tightly, and wisps him some place else.