Page 59 of Taming of a Wolf

From where he stands, gripping the pole over our heads, Anders leans down and asks quietly, “What is a movie?”

Oh, right. This will be his first time seeing a movie. He’s in for a treat. “It’s like a story, but you can see it.” I don’t know how to describe it. “None of it is real, but it’s acted out. Actors memorize their lines off a script, which is the story. Then they act it out as their characters. It’s like… playing pretend when you were a kid.”

“Ah.” He still looks confused.

“You’ll see for yourself. Trust me, you’ll love it.”

When we arrive at Bailey’s apartment, we’re buzzed in. Bailey answers the front door dressed up as an elf—pointed ears, medieval dress, and all. They look stunning. “Welcome, ring-bearers!”

Anders looks them up and down. “Bailey? Why are you dressed like that?”

Bailey clears their throat. “You are mistaken, Master Human. I am Legolas.”

Jace gawks. “Hey, no fair! I’m Legolas!”

Bailey stares intently off into the distance, clearly seeing something we can’t. “Inside, quickly! There are orcs coming!”

“What?” Anders squawks as Bailey tugs us inside.

Jess and Bailey have gone all out, even cooking LOTR-inspired food. Anders picks up a piece of lembas bread, the elven bread that can fill the stomach of a grown man with a single bite. He sniffs and takes a nibble.

Jess wears a red wig and a fake beard, clearly cosplaying as Gimli, the dwarven member of the Fellowship of the Ring. “Hey, guys.” She waves.

Bailey rolls their eyes. “Jess, come on, get in character!”

Jess coughs and deepens her voice. “Greetings, Master Elves, Master Hobbit. We have food and drink aplenty, even for elves, I suppose.” She glares at Jace.

Jace holds his head high. “I suppose I can tolerate your presence, dwarf. But only for the sake of the greater good!”

Jess touches the fake axe in her belt. “Keep your weapons stowed, elf, and so shall I.”

Jace huffs. “Agreed!” They bothhmph!and stalk dramatically away from each other.

Anders shoots me a confused look. “What is going on? Why is Jess armed? I thought she and Jace were friends!”

I snort, realizing how bewildering this must be for him. “We’re LARPing. Playing characters,” I explain.

“Why?”

“Because it’s fun!” Grabbing a couple of handfuls of the lembas bread for myself, I go and sit on the couch. “I haven’t eaten since second breakfast!” I declare in my god-awful accent, plopping down on the sofa.

Jess turns on the TV and opens a streaming channel. “Urgh! I hate these confounded magical objects! If only Gandalf were here. There we go.” She locates the film collection. “Shall we watch the extended edition?”

“Let’s just watch the regular editions,” I suggest in my normal voice.

Bailey dims the lights, then bounds over to sit next to Jess, who puts an arm around them. Anders squeezes in between Jess and me while Jace is squished to my left. Anders gasps as the prologue plays out across the screen. I bite back a laugh at his wide, astounded eyes as the forces of the Dark Lord Sauron clash with the heroes. Anders gets up and cautiously approaches the TV, only to jump as the fighting gets more intense.

“Anders, sit down. I can’t see!” Jess says.

I’m trying hard not to laugh as Anders reaches out and pokes the television screen before jerking his hand back. “Incredible!”

Jace covers his mouth, shoulders shaking with giggles.

“He’s just never seen such a high-quality TV before,” I say, laughing nervously, then wildly motion him over.

Anders drops back down beside me, his whole body tense as he watches the fighting. “They’re trapped in that box. What happens if they get out?”

“It’s a TV,” I whisper. “And it’s not real. I promise.”

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