How to be Wild

[WretchRoad]

The tears flowed freely now, thinking back to the moment she came face to face with his jagged maw, of what that must have been like for him as a child.

She wiped her eyes. "I haven't cried this much in a long time, and it's all because of you, so don't... don't say things like that, don't ever do anything like that again." She lowered her hands again, wanting to hold him but there was so much blood, she wasn't sure where. She settled on his wrist, taking his hand in hers. "Because I love you, too. I don't care what you are."

She paused.

"Is it a full moon thing? Like the stories? Nevermind, I don't care. You can change every damn night and I'll still be here."

 

[Knightofsloth707]

Daniel chuckled, his laugh turning quickly into a groan as he clutched his side.

"Don't make me laugh," he said, his mouth forming a crooked smile. "It's just the full moon, thankfully."

For the first time since he was a child, Daniel felt accepted. Not necessarily at peace with what he was, but at least no longer crippled with shame. His father had made him into this, that was true. But he didn't lose himself entirely when we was the beast. He was still capable of love and protecting those he cared about, and that was enough.

He looked down on his naked and blood stained body. "Think you help me get back to the house? I'm a bit of a mess."

 

[WretchRoad]

Ash found the keys to her cuffs on Wade’s belt, along with his phone, which she pocketed before hauling Daniel’s good arm over her shoulders. Together, they stumbled back home through the brush, over the creekbed and back between the trees.

It was only a matter of time before the rental cars were reported missing, before someone investigated the old truck on the side of the road, and before her father gave up trying to contact Wade and decided to involve the rest of the family. Staying was a life sentence, so once again, she chose whatever sliver of freedom the world offered her. Except this time she wasn’t doing it alone.

The sun was just peeking above the trees, casting a somber light through the windows as she gently cleaned the blood and debris from Daniel’s shoulder, then wrapped it in strips of clean white cotton. Her care was slow and attentive, despite the threat looming over them. She was still amazed when the worse of his swelling subsided by mid-day and he was able to walk on his own again.

Through brute strength and an old winch, they managed to get the SUV upright once more, as both of them marveled at the strength of the thing Daniel had become. She wished they had that strength once more as they pushed the truck up the road and through the archway of oaks, back to the garage, but it wasn’t long before they got the thing running again.

By the time the sun was high overhead, they stood on an abandoned dock deep in the bayou, watching both cars, and the bodies inside, sink into the slow current.

All four phones were smashed and tossed into the back of a passing dump truck, bound for somewhere no one would think to look.

When evening pressed in and the buzzing of cicadas drowned out the wind, Ash and Daniel stood beneath the spay of his shower, scrubbing the blood from under each other’s nails. By the time they were free of the day’s dust and sweat, he picked her up and pressed her against the wall with his hips. Her fingers wound into his hair.

Not long after, Roland lumbered in slow circles around the truck, following Ash as she checked over the tires and the brakes once more. There wasn’t much left to do except go.

She looked up to see Daniel leaving the house for the last time with a backpack stuffed full of whatever they thought they might need. Ash took in the sight of him with everything he owned on his back. It was remarkable how quickly a place could stop being a home. Then again, it might have stopped being a home long before he ever thought of leaving.

 

[Knightofsloth707]

He loaded his backpack into the bed of the truck, and then circled around to the driver's side where Ash was leaning with one foot against the door. Since that night it seemed they couldn't look at each other without smiling, and soon they were both grinning playfully. She leaned forward to meet his kiss, and he affectionately pushed a strand of hair behind her ear.

"There's one last thing I need to do before we go." He kissed her again. "I'll be right back."

The last of the gardenias, painstakingly cultivated, had been wrapped into a banquet that he now took to his mother's vault. He stood there, looking around the family plot for the last time. He had been coming here since he was a boy, when he wanted to get away and sit where the only sounds were the buzzing of the cicadas and the breeze blowing through the willow branches.

He leaned on her tomb, speaking to it softly. "I found someone, Mama. I think you'd like her. She's full of life, like you." He smiled.

"I'm leaving, but I figure you'd understand. It's about time I got out from under father's shadow." He kissed his hand and placed it on the cold stone. "Bye Mama."

He walked back to the truck, stopping to look at the peeling yellow paint of the house he'd spent his entire life in. He had expected to feel melancholy at leaving. Instead he felt relief. A long, lonely part of his life was ending. Wherever life took them now, they'd face it together.

He opened the door and climbed into the passenger seat. Roland was sitting in the center of the bench seat, panting excitedly at the novelty of being nestled between his two favorite humans. He licked Daniel's swollen cheek and got the fur on his head ruffled in return.

"Where are we heading?" Ash asked.

"Anywhere, as long as it's with you."

She rolled her eyes, but her cynical affectation was betrayed by her smile. She turned the key and the truck started with a throaty rumble. The radio came to life.

You're listening to KSTL. It's a beautiful day here in the bayou, so here's a favorite, from Louisiana's own Marc Broussard.

The twang of a guitar joined the deep rhythm of a bass drum. Daniel turned up the volume as the truck rumbled down the path, the live oaks standing on either side like an honor guard. The house shrank in the rear view mirror, fading into the distance, until it was swallowed by the greenery.

♫ I got a jones in my bones
Before they know
I was singing this melody
Stopped the car, pulled out the guitar
Halfway to New Orleans ♫

They turned into the main road, radio blaring, wind blowing through their hair, the miles ticking past behind them, each of them smiling quietly to themselves as they sped into the falling light.

♫ Said this greyhound is delta bound, mama
Baby boy done finally found his way
Home ♫