The enemy within 06

6

 

Lena brought an older blanket and spread it in the hall under the window across the stairs. Danny laid Shaggy down on the blanket and looked at Lena.

 

„I don't know if it's good idea to leave you alone here with him.“

 

„He won't hurt me, Danny, believe me. Feel free to go home. Olivia's surely worried about you,“ Lena smiled and patted his upper arm. „Thank you for helping me. And him.“ Shaggy raised his head and looked at Danny as if he wanted to confirm her words. Danny nodded and reluctantly walked to the front door.

 

„Call me in the morning, OK?“

 

„I promise.“

 

Lena kneeled next to Shaggy with a bowl of water in her hand and scratched him behind his ear. She smiled gently.

 

„Here's some water if you were thirsty in the night. I should go to sleep because I have to go to work tomorrow,“ she watched him drink the water. He was lying prone. „You can stay here how long it will take,“ she stroked his head. He raised it and licked her hand. „Good night, Shaggy,“ she laughed lightly. As she walked upstairs she looked over her shoulder at him. Then she disappeared in her bedroom.

 

I have the wolf in my house and I consider it totally normal. The thought crossed her mind before she fell asleep, a smile on her lips.

 

*

 

At eight in the morning Lena went downstairs to check on Shaggy but she stopped in the middle of the stairs and took a hold of banisters. She stared at the place where Shaggy should have been. There was lying a man totally naked, his back to her. Feeling her heartbeat in her throat she came closer and nudged his shoulder. No, he wasn't dead. He slept. He raised his head to her as she touched him. It was Eric! She couldn't believe her eyes.

 

„What are you doing here?! What have you done with Shaggy?!“ she snapped at him. „Why are you... naked?! Are you crazy?“ He got up, his hands covering his crotch, stepping back, looking embarrassed and confused. „Get out of here, you pervert!“ She averted her eyes and he ran out of the back door and into the forest.

 

„Shaggy?!“ she started looking for the wolf in the house, on the back porch, calling him but he was nowhere to be seen. As she slowly got over the shock she realized that Shaggy was gone. Maybe he was hungry so he went to get some food into the forest. She was worried about him but she needed to go to work. She made sure there was enough of water in the bowl and that the back door was opened slightly if he wanted to come back. Then she left.

 

As she pulled to a parking lot in front of the salon she allowed herself to recall the whole scene. She couldn't understand why Eric was there. It was absolutely beyond her. He disappointed her so much by this behavior. She got out of the car and went to the salon.

 

*

 

Eva shook her head as she locked the salon and looked at Lena.

 

„It's really strange. You say he was naked? It makes no sense, you know. If he wanted to visit you he wouldn't do it like this. It would be a bad joke. What did he say? How did he explain it?“

 

„He said nothing. I didn't give him a chance to speak. I told him to get out,“ she responded, ashamed. „I didn't give him even any clothes. He ran away through the back door right into the forest. I was in shock.“

 

„It's understandable. I would have been too. Don't worry about Shaggy, he'll surely return.“

 

„I hope so. I hope he's OK.“ They got in the car. Lena took Eva home and then drove to her place.

 

Lena sent a text to Danny as she arrived home. She'd called him in the morning as she promised but she had no time to discuss with him what happened. Lena started preparing light dinner when he texted her that he could arrive at nine. She texted him „OK“.

 

She put a plate on the kitchen table and went upstairs to change into something more comfortable. As she passed the blanket on the floor it reminded her of Eric's eyes staring at her. She realized he was in shock, too. He didn't look that it was his intention to be here. He looked scared and she started yelling at him. Perhaps she should have offered him some clothes and let him explain everything. But how could he explain this?! She shook her head and ran upstairs to her bedroom.

 

*

 

The sun was setting and the breeze blew, waving her hair as she settled on the bench on the back porch, glancing from time to time to the forest, still expecting Shaggy's return. She pulled her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around them. Her mind was a mess as she had to think about Eric all the time. She became convinced he didn't do it on purpose. He didn't want to be where she found him. But why was he there? Could it have something to do with his secret?

 

The door bell rang so she got up and went to answer the door. She stepped aside to let Danny in. She led him on the back porch after offering him a chilled drink.

 

„If I got it right, you found your ex-boyfriend instead of the wolf in the morning,“ Danny recapped what she'd told him in the morning.

 

„Right,“ she nodded. „Naked ex-boyfriend,“ she added, shaking her head. „I can't understand it.“

 

„Do you realize it sounds really like a fairy tale more and more?“ he smirked. „I don't mean I don't believe you,“ he said quickly as she turned her eyes to him, frowning.

 

„Good,“ she answered forgivingly. „But we're not in a fairy tale and yet this happened,“ she stood up and leaned her back against the banisters. „What actually do you mean? To find a naked man sleeping in my house on the floor doesn't sound like a fairy tale at all. It was a shock.“

 

„No, it doesn't, I admit,“ he chuckled. „I'm sorry, it's funny a little bit but...,“ he lifted his index finger in the air. „Considering he materialized on the blanket instead of the wolf... it sounds very much like a fairy tale.“

 

„You're crazy,“ she laughed. „He didn't materialize. Shaggy left to get some food and he came and fell asleep here. What I don't understand is why he came and why he was naked.“

 

„If you think,“ Danny shrugged and took a sip of his drink. „But the whole thing's totally crazy. I have no other explanation. You should deal with that your ex-boyfriend is mentally disordered then.“ The tears started flowing down her cheeks.

 

„Do you think I was completely wrong about him?“ she covered her mouth with her hand, closing her eyes.

 

„To be honest I don't know,“ he stepped closer and hugged her. She wrapped her arms around his waist, bursting in tears. „I think there's still hope that there's some explanation we don't know about.“

 

„Maybe,“ she whispered through the tears. „It has to be. I can't believe he is... as you said.“

 

„Turn around, Lena,“ suddenly he whispered in her ear. She looked up at him, surprised, then she let go of him and did as he said. She saw the wolf, his forelimbs on the first step. She wiped the tears from her eyes and launched to him.

 

„Shaggy!“ she pressed a kiss on his muzzle. „You're back. And you seem to feel better,“ she smiled, glancing at his bandaged leg. „Come inside, you need to have some rest.“ She walked along with him as he hobbled in the hall. He laid down on the blanket. „Good boy,“ she caressed his fur. „I'm going to bring you fresh water,“ she took the bowl, retreated to the kitchen and soon she was back.

 

„Well, this issue is solved as it seems,“ Danny stood in the doorway, smiling. „I'd like to be here in the morning,“ he smirked.

 

„Danny! It can't happen a second time. Don't scare me,“ Lena rose up, looking at him.

 

„I hope so. Let me know, OK? I should go,“ he separated from the door. „Good night, Lena and try not to be worry too much. Your wolf is home and your guy... We'll see what's next. Relax, OK?“ She nodded. Shaggy tilted his head on one side, carefully listening to their talk.

 

„Thank you for your support, Danny. Good night,“ she hugged him shortly before he left. Glancing at the clock in the kitchen she came to realize the wolf never appeared before ten p.m. And Eric always had to go around eight p.m. She closed her eyes for a moment to shake off all her thoughts and went to the bedroom.

 

*

 

In the morning she walked out of the bedroom and before she stepped on the stairs she glanced at the blanket. Shaggy was gone but no one else was lying there. Relieved she went downstairs. She hoped Shaggy would return in the evening again. She texted to Danny that everything was OK except Shaggy was gone and went to work.

 

Days went by. Lena got used to Shaggy's presence and even though he left in the morning he returned every evening at ten. She petted him like a dog and he never hurt her. He licked her hands, listened to her when she talked to him, touching her hand with his paw. Later when his leg got better he started walking behind her around the house. She loved him and he listened to her every word.

 

Lena unlocked the door and once she opened it Shaggy ran to lay down on his blanket. Danny followed her to the kitchen.

 

„Would you like some coffee or something chilled?“ Lena asked, pouring coffee in a mug for herself.

 

„Thanks, but I have to go,“ Danny answered. „We'll have a photo session in our rehearsal room on Saturday. You could come, Lena. I'd like to introduce you to the photographer I told you about. What you think?“

 

„Sounds good. I'd like to come,“ she smiled. „What time should I arrive?“

 

„At three p.m.,“ he was about to leave but he turned around in the doorway. „By the way, Lena? I know you have him like a pet but I think you should consider... well, just let him go. His wound is healed, the stitches are gone now. He's a wild animal he can't live here like a dog.“

 

„I know you're right. I'll think about it,“ she glanced at Shaggy, a sad smile on her face. „He always comes back in the evening without me saying something to him. But I know what you mean.“

 

„OK. Good night. See you on Saturday,“ he waved at her and left.

 

She kneeled next to Shaggy and stroked his head. She looked in his eyes and smiled.

 

„You know Danny's right. You don't have to come back tomorrow. I understand that you need to live your life outside, not in the house. You were made to be wild and unrestrained. I want you to know that you're free,“ she scratched him behind his ear as she usually did, her eyes wet. „But sometimes you can come to see me. I will miss you, Shaggy.“ He rose in a sitting position and placed his paw on her knee, looking at her. She was overwhelmed, caressed his paw and in the end she gave him a short hug. „Good night, my friend,“ she rose and ran upstairs.

 

*

 

After work Lena came to visit her friend Eva and stayed there for several hours, talking to her and watching a movie with her. At ten fifteen p.m. she stopped her car in front of her house, got out and went inside. She put her purse on the kitchen table and pulled a bottle of water out of the fridge. As she closed it she glanced at the place where the wolf had his place and she stiffened. Two brown eyes stared at her, his head lying between his paws. He sat down as he saw her and for the first time she heard a sound similar to a short barking coming from his mouth as if he greeted her home.

 

„Shaggy,“ she breathed out and stepped closer. He stood up on his hind legs, leaning his paws against her chest so that she stumbled. „Glad to see you're back. I love you, my friend,“ she laughed shortly. „Get down, OK? You're nice,“ she caressed him as he sat down, looking up at her. She brought him the fresh water.

 

She crawled under the covers feeling safe.