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Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

Mariam

I once more found myself lost in the woods; what must I do to stop sleepwalking? When I was 12 years old, I first began sleepwalking, and even today, at 16, it hasn't stopped. In addition, I'm certain my grandmother will be distraughtly searching for me.

Furthermore, I got my phone out and started the recording.

“I did it again; I fell asleep about ten o'clock since it was hard to fall asleep, and I ended up in the woods. This is my 100th sleepwalk recording, and I'm glad no wild animals attacked me. I'll let you know when I start to feel better or worse again.”

I stopped the recording and tried to stand up, but all of a sudden, my vagina hurt like hell.

Oh my goodness, it hurts—what the hell just happened? I lost my virginity in the woods, but how is this possible? My eyes lit up when I noticed the blood.

I fucking have to remember everything and anything that took place last night.

I struggled to recall, even though my eyes were filled with tears, and yet I failed to recall everything in detail.

The very next thing I spotted was a wolf transforming into a human, after I'd earlier seen three red wolves moving around me.

As I struggle to move, I realise something is strange because I have never been to these particular woods before. Where in the world is this? Something tells me I must be very far from home, for I keep getting lost even when I try to find my way out. I sat on the ground in my deteriorating clothing when Grandma's call came in.

“Silly girl, where are you? Are you trying to make me have a heart attack?” Grandmother's voice sounded more disturbed.

“Grandma, I have no idea where I am. I am really scared. I have never been here. I suppose this time I slept and walked to a very secluded place from home.”

“What? Just describe what you see, and the police will coordinate with the hunters in the woods to pinpoint your exact location.”

"Okay, grandma, if I had to compare this place to others, I'd say it's really deep and wild.”

I gave her every piece of information that might lead them to me. I couldn't risk her passing out from shock if I told her I got raped by a stranger.

Furthermore, I will go to the authorities to have the rapists brought to justice, but before grandma came, I quickly washed my body at the river, and luckily I was wearing a big shirt that covers my butt.

I was taken aback by the sound of dogs barking, and then I heard my grandmother's voice calling out, "Mariam, Mariam, are you there? say something."

“Grandma, I am over here.”Even though I was exhausted, I, too, yelled and made various hand gestures.

When I looked over, I saw Grandma holding hands with a police officer who was holding the police hunting dog.

“Never do that again, Mariam.” Grandma comforted me with a hug, and I reassured her, "I'm fine, Grandma; I'll just try not to sleepwalk this far next time."

“How about I borrow a pair of handcuffs from the policeman and use them on you every time you go to sleep, so you never sleepwalk out of the bedroom and end up somewhere like this again?”

“Oh my gosh, I'm starving.”

“Oh, my precious grandchild, come with me; I'll take you home to eat breakfast.” That was my attempt to silence the handcuff debate once and for all. Never in a million years would I consider putting on handcuffs before turning in for the night. What if my delicate wrist gets hurt?

After returning home in the police car, we thanked the officers, and they left. I showered and put on my tattered school uniform because that's what I always wear, even though I know it won't last forever regardless of the patches I've added over the years.

I went to the police station to file a report before going to class, but they didn't believe me and said I was crazy. I knew they would say this, and I can't even provide the name of the person who raped me.

“Yes, officer, I was raped, and here's the shocking news: I saw wolves transform into men.” His laughter was hearty and genuine.

“You need to be in school right now, Mariam; there is no such thing as wolves changing into men.”

“You have to take me seriously, officer; this is neither a dream nor insanity.”

“Officer Mike, I think Mariam is already late for school; please take her there, and tell her grandma to make sure she gets plenty of rest when Mariam gets home.”

“I don't fucking need your help finding my way to school,” I became angry and stormed off.

Even if I slept and walked, I know what I saw; this is insane.

I'm positive that the man who raped me was the human wolf because I saw a wolf transform into a man.

Maybe I was raped by werewolves; there were three of them surrounding me, but I only saw one of them transform into a human..

The bus ride to school was like entering limbo for me. This school is the worst place ever because all the kids pick on me and call me fat cheek. I have tolerated so many things.

The daughter of an officer who bullied me repeatedly stopped me and announced to the school, “Hey everyone, we don't only have fat cheeks in our school, we have an insane bitch.” They both share a chuckle.

“Be careful what you say; you have no right to call my friend a bitch, and she is not crazy.” I recognised that voice; it belonged to Elena, and she had come to my defence, as she always did.

“You have a lot of guts, Elena.” With a pause, she continued.

“Let me tell you a short story: This bitch went to the police station to report being raped, and she says a wolf that turned into a human raped her. Isn't that crazy?”

No one felt sorry for me when I told them I'd been raped; instead, they called me crazy and said no rational man could ever be attracted to me sexually.

My eyes welled up with tears as I sobbed, “You all need to believe me. I was raped, and truly, I saw a wolf turning into a human. Elena, you believe me, right?”

The fact that Elena ignored me suggests that she shares their assessment that I'm completely bonkers.

“I'm sorry, Mariam, but wolves don't turn into people. You should probably see a doctor.” Eventually, she ran away.

“Her best friend doesn't even believe her; she's lying for the limelight,” they all agree. The room erupted in laughter, but I felt like I was crumbling to pieces on the inside. Someone grabbed my phone while making jokes about it. I went to get it from them, but they threw the phone at the wall, breaking it beyond repair. I have no phone now. The only way I'm going to get one is to start applying for temporary jobs.

After dinner, I asked my grandmother, “Grandma, do you believe they are wolves that can shift into humans?”

I offered her water after she began coughing and inquired, “Are you okay, grandma?”

“Why would you even think that about that, Mariam? How does a wolf become a human? This sort of thing only occurs in fiction.”

“You are my family, so at the very least you should believe me. I thought so too, but I know what I saw—I saw a wolf turning into a human grandmother.” However, she still considers me crazy, despite what I said.

“However, Grandma, would you mind switching my school?”

“I was going to get to that, but first I have some good news for you that I think you'd like to hear.”

TBC,

Do you have any idea what sort of good news her grandma is planning on telling her?

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