The Perfect World

Agel was not an ordinary child, even by the new standards of this world of magic. Surrounded by faeries and vampyres and hellhounds and demons, she was the only werewolf. No one knew how she became this way. She was scorned by everyone. The only person who didn’t scorn her was her best friend, Ana, and she didn’t know the truth. But eventually, Agel knew, she would learn the truth, she would leave, and Agel knew she’d be alone once more.

"This is the perfect world," her mother once told her. "There is no room for werewolves."

It was the night of the change, in which all the werewolves of the world would rise together to howl at the moon, but when Agel howled she knew that hers was the only howl, and it was low and sorrowful, carrying the tears of lonliness. Agel didn’t want to live anymore, the only think keeping her alive was the knowledge that at least one person would care if she died. The second Ana left, she’d be alone in a vortex of misery so complete that nothing on Earth could save her. The other piece was that when she died, the werewolf legacy would die with her. She was the last one. How could she doom an entire species like that.

“Agel! Agel, wake up, silly! It’s morning! You promised you’d come with me to school today!” Agel groans.

“I’m pretty sure I didn’t, Ana. I’m pretty sure I said I can’t today, because I’m too tired.”

“You’re always tired! Why do you have to be such a party pooper?” Because I’m a werewolf at night, genius. I don’t get luxuries like sleep, Agel thought, but she didn’t say it aloud. Most of the time, Ana’s bubbly enthusiasm thrilled her. But today, it was just plain annoying.

“I’m not going to school, Ana. Give it up.” Ana leans down and kisses Agel, and Agel moans and turns away.

“Don’t do that, it hurts.”

“Why does love hurt you?”

“Because. I don’t deserve it. You barely even know me.”

“Whaddya mean?” Oh no, thinks Agel. I’ve let too much slip out this time.

“Nothing. I’ll go to school,” Agel offers, trying to get the conversation away from herself. Sadly, Ana is a lot of things, but stupid isn’t one of them.

“Hey, sleepover tonight? Just you and me?”

“NO!” Agel snaps, and then fights to control her temper, but it’s too late. Her anger causes her werewolf side to come out. At first, she doesn’t realize what happened. “I can’t tonight, okay?”

“A-a-Agel? You----- uh. Agel...”

“What?” she asks, confused.

“You’re a werewolf. Is that why you can’t sleep over?”

“Yeah, how’d you-” She stops when she scratches her head and feels the ears there. Her anger has betrayed her. “I’m not dangerous,” she murmurs, but Ana is already gone. Agel sinks to the floor, truly alone now, kept alive by the respect for her species, nothing more, nothing less. Her hands glow with magic, trying to fix her wounds, but the healing can’t fix her broken heart. She grabs a razor and cuts into her wrist, attempting to die, but her magic heals it.

“GOD, WHY???” she screams at the sky. “WHY DO YOU DO THIS? DO YA THINK IT’S FUNNY? HUH? CAUSE IT’S NOT! IT’S HORRIBLE!” Agel sinks to the ground in tears. “Why am I alive, she whimpers, now more wolf than human. She’s letting her emotions get the best of her. “Damn it,” she whispers in the language of the wolf. She steps outside and is greeted by a loud burst of jeers. Without Ana to protect her, she is at the mercy of the people, who throw rocks at her and spit at her fur. Agel can barely feel it. It’s healed instantly, and even if it wasn’t, the external pain can’t compare to what she’s feeling inside.

I AM ALONE! she wants to scream, but her mouth can’t form the words. Why does it have to be me? she wonders. Why? She doesn’t get an answer, only continues her course. Only someone who’s been in the city as long as she has would know she’s going to the city pond. To do what, she doesn’t exactly know. But it involves dying. She reaches the edge of the glassy pond and looks at herself, the pathetic dog she’s been reduced to. She sees a girl with pointed brown ears, a shaggy tail, and tears streaming down her face. She doesn’t want to die, but it’s the only way to get rid of the people’s taunts. She dives in, and swims down to the bottom. Her lungs feel like they’re exploding, but she doesn’t care. She shuts her eyes against the bright blue glow of her healing powers, and opens her mouth to take a breath.

Somewhere, a million miles away, a wolf howls in agony.