Chapter Two: The first man I have met

"Come on, Girl!" Phyllis shouted at me.

I took one step, then another, moving slowly.

Phyllis grabbed my hand and pulled me into the kitchen.

There was a knock on the door.

"Stay here!" she told me, and went to the door.

I stood still, obeying her. I looked around the kitchen, noticing everything around me. My eyes stopped on the window. I was disappointed. I was unable to see outside. The thick dark curtain blocked out everything.

I heard Phyllis open the front door.

"Good evening, Ms. Phyllis," I heard a man, with a rough voice speak to her.

Phyllis returned his greeting.

"The Alpha sent us for you because of the terrible storm heading toward us tonight. Since you are an elder, we have to protect you," he told her.

"Let me get my things," Phyllis said.

I heard her footsteps as she returned to the kitchen.

"Let me help you," I heard another voice say. It was the voice of the same young man who had visited Phyllis earlier.

"No!" she said.

Eager to finally see someone’s face other than my grandmother’s, I ran into the living room, smiling. And there I met him!

Phyllis was so frightened. It was as if she almost had a heart attack. She quickly grabbed my hand and dragged me back into the kitchen. She held me by my throat and started to squeeze.

"What did I tell you?" she asked angrily.

I tried to speak, but I couldn't, because of her tight grasp. She pulled me back into the laundry room.

"No, no," I said softly, not wanting to return to the dark.

"Is everything okay?" a voice asked.

Phyllis stopped choking me. We turned around, and there I saw him again.

"Everything is fine, Josh," Phyllis said.

"Josh," I said softly, but it wasn't soft enough for him not to hear.

Hearing me call his name, he smiled at me, showing his beautiful white teeth.

"Shut up!" Phyllis shouted at me and turned to face Josh. "I'm trying to control my handicapped granddaughter. Is it a problem?"

Granddaughter? It was the first time I'd heard her refer to me as her granddaughter. But she had lied. I was not handicapped.

"No, it isn't a problem," Josh said, and returned to the living room.

Forgetting that I wasn't alone, I eyed him as he left. He was quite handsome. He had short, dark brown hair and dark brown eyes. He was very tall, slender, and looked strong. I turned my head to the side and jumped when I heard a snort.

"You're just like your stinking father," Phyllis said angrily. He eyed my daughter until he decided to rape her; now look at you with the Alpha's nephew."

I lowered my eyes in shame when I heard her harsh words. She should have understood why I had stared at Josh. It was the first time that I had seen a man up close.

"Look at you!" she continued to scold me. "You have his red hair and green eyes. You look just like your rapist father."

My eyes filled with tears, and I allowed them to streak down my cheeks.

Phyllis pushed me against the wall and left the room.

I pulled myself down to the floor and cried. I quickly got up as soon as I saw the silver knob turn. The door opened slowly, and there I saw him again. My eyes widened in surprise. He was dressed in a light blue shirt and long, dark pants.

"Are you alright?" he asked me, his voice smooth and sweet, but worried.

I was so scared of being approached by someone else other than Phyllis that I ran and hid behind the washing machine. I lowered my head onto my knees, hiding my face from him.

I heard the door close. I was so happy he was no longer there and was about to raise my head from my knees when I felt fingers running through my hair. I slowly turned my face, and met Josh's dark brown eyes, not too far from mine. I smelled his breath against my face. His breath had a strange, but sweet scent, giving me an urge to taste whatever he had eaten.