The New Wolf in Town

It was weeks after my parents, and community’s deaths. A mysterious slaughter of an entire town. Of course the body’s hadn’t been found. But there was enough blood for people to guess what had happened. Only an idiot, or an optimist would think otherwise. I of course was nether. I had talked to the therapists, and psychiatrists kind people had donated money for me to see. Given all I had was what I had managed to find in their homes. It wasn’t a lot. Enough for me to rent a decent apparent for now, but I hated the city. Eventually any new money on the website stopped, an officer that had helped me set it up stopped coming around so took down the site. It had only been a few weeks. I would have been homeless if not for the Golds. I had been brought in for questioning for the third time. As if, if they kept asking they could make have information I didn’t have. That’s what I hated the most; all the questions. Being so carful to keep it close to the truth, but hiding the core of the thing. I told therapists as much as I dared. I was grieving obviously, but there was nothing else wrong. In a way I had always known this exact outcome was a possibility. I was carful to keep my face off the internet, and didn’t do any interviews. There was a few articles of course, but at my request most of them kept my name out of it. Still I knew there was a good chance of me being caught. I needed to move town fast. The Golds gave me that opportunity. They had a Duplex. Their house was the typical white picket home. Then a smaller home behind it. They were going to let their eldest stay there until she was able to move out, but they had agreed I could stay there if I liked. I would have my own key, (which couldn’t get into their house with, I was still a stranger to them) but they had heard my story, and wanted to help. FallenGreen was miles away from what was left of RedCreek. I had taken the offer up immediately. The officers did a last round of questioning. Trying to get me to tell them where their body’s where. I told them I didn’t know. Because I didn’t. Too busy trying to survive in the forest hiding, and on the run for days. Until it was safe. I had checked every place I could think of. Not so they could rule the case a serial murder, but so I had body’s to grieve over. I checked for scorched remains, at the bottom of cliffs and ravines, and in the back of caves. That’s where I would, and had hidden things I needed to bury. But there had been a lot of them. They had trucks with tarps. They could have taken them anywhere. To the middle of the ocean, or buried in their own backyards for all I know. It didn’t matter where they were I’d have no bodies to bury. When I had first gotten to FallenGreen I had felt out of place. As far as I knew there was only one other wolf-shifter who had no problem with me being in her territory, but was a lone wolf. I was well aware that I was taking up a space originally intended for Hollyne. If she was upset though she didn’t show it. I was basically homeless at this point. RedCreek was just shells now. Nothing with out the community, the pack that once lived there. It was to unsafe for me to go back. Even me quickly grabbing what I could was dangerous. It had been Hollyne decision in the end to decide if I should stay or not. In the end she figured it wouldn’t be too big a deal. She’d be spending most of her time at University after high school anyway. We were the same age eighteen. We’d be going to the same school, but had non of the same classes. She took a bunch of AP classes. I had never tried very hard in school. I did a little below average, or average. Of course this school wouldn’t understand if I needed to skip to shift. Two things could cause you to lose control and shift. One emotion any strong emotion, like super powers in movies, but that wasn’t so bad we were still in control of our ourselves then. What you really needed to worry about was if you shifted because you were hungry. We would attack anything with a heart beat, but would go after our main food source first. Humans. The Golds son Conner was a fifteen year old freshmen. Their daughter Alice was still in elementary school, she was seven. I had been a bit of an outsider at first. Jordan sat with Leo, and his then girlfriend Cheryl. Ross and Venessa were already best friends. Geeks as they were. V liked anime, and was apart of the gaming club. Ross was a nerd in a good way, book-smart, a planner, and organized. He was apart of three clubs, the physics club, environmental science club, and the chess club. V had invited me over. Them and Jordan and his group had been friends, but not close friends. They would talk in class or at parties, and that was it. By chance me and Jordan had a lot of classes together. We had gotten closer, and our groups had started hanging out together. I still remember when he first invited me over to his house. I had been a little tense. I had never been nervous meeting a friend’s family before, but I guess that would have been my first hint that my feelings toward him had changed.

“This is my father.”

“It’s nice to meet you Mr. Mannix.” I said. I hadn’t been expecting a farmer to walk around his house on a Saturday in a suit and tie, but I guess Mr. Mannix was the formal type. His facial expression definitely gave that vibe. He held out his hand. I shook it, and it took everything in my not to react to the pain. His ring was sliver. I hid the burn on my hand by shoving them in my pockets.

“And this is Amy.” Jordan waves his hand to a girl painting on the table, about Alice’s age.

“Come on. I’ll show you my room.” He says. He grabs a few bags of chips from the cupboard before heading upstairs. His room has dark wood floors. A rug. A brown plaid bedspread. A desk with pens and pencils, and paper scattered across it. A few book shelves. I read some of the titles, recognizing a few. Frankenstein by Mary Shelly, Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare, The Caste of Amontillado by Edgar Allen Poe. A few by HP Lovecraft, and some Sherlock Holmes stories. A lot of historical fiction and horror. A few consider as classics.

“Cool room.” I say.

“Thanks.” He says. We both seem to have the same habit of pretending we’re immune to social awkwardness, and are totally confident all the time. We say nothing for a beat. “Can I read.” I say, curious, and gesturing to the paper on the desk.

“Sure it’s not any good.” He says. His sits on his bed and I lean over his desk. I skim the beginning. It’s about a time traveler stuck in the past. As it turns out monsters they died out in the future are still very much alive back then.

I pray I return to my dear Lucy Anne. For I will not rest until I do. My living arrangements are luxurious thanks to the money donated from the Steam Cog Corporation. (SCC) They still believe steam power is the next big thing, but of course we know better don’t we? I will still wright you letters my love, and journal my many experiences here. For I know you will want every detail. My new friend Leonardo is working as my assistant, and my new friend Tessa has graciously taken up the job as my maid and cook. I have a large library the type we always dreamed of. Dark wood, high ceilings, a large clock built into the wall. I have plenty of office space, and they let me tinker with there toys. I will try not to accidentally make any grand discoveries. But you know my history. You remember when I accidentally invented the upside-down cake a decade too early. In my defense I just wanted some pineapple cake. That stuff is delicious. I informed them it was not my recipe, though I did not inform them the possible creator or creators were not born yet. I put credit where credit was due. Ms. Robert Davis is quite possibly the true creator though we may never know for certain. Unless I go back there. I’m no expert on the inventors of cake. I just eat it. I’m thankful it didn’t catch on until the century it was supposed too. Anywho my time here has gotten more leisurely, but the killings have not stopped. In fact they’ve only increased. I’ve created an alarm system around the building with gears and string, and bells and whistles. No one can enter without my knowing. Still I read the papers, and it send a chill up my spine. There is talk of human looking creatures who eat human flesh. If not for my encounter with one when I first got here I would be satisfied to brush that off as folklore, or superstition. I know better. I will be on guard my love, and return to you soon.

I realized that the book was made of letters and dairy entries.

“Interesting.” I say.

“You don’t like it?” He asks. It’s not really my thing. I read a lot, but I’m guessing the monster is the villain in this. I prefer to read story’s from the monster perspective. I find them much more relatable.

“No, no. I like it. In fact I want to be the first one to read it when it’s done.” He smiles. It is well written. He tosses me a bag of potato chips.

“Want to watch a movie?” I nod. He goes to a streaming service. I pull up his computer chair. We end up doing a marathon of a movie series about magicians we’ve both seen before. Which means we’re both talking, and giving commentary throughout. Laughing at the right parts, and throwing chips at the screen when the villain gets revealed. It’s late by the time it’s over. They’re’s a big predictable ex-machina style wave of rainbow light after a dramatic fight scene. The movie then flashes forward to the group of heroes older now, sitting around the main characters large table for dinner and a reunion. Still friends years later.

“Missy’s my favorite.” Jordan says after credits roll. She starts off as a villain, and then switches sides.

“I like Damon.” I say. He raises an eyebrow.

“He’s a villain.” Jordan says with playful judgement.

“He’s morally grey. He’s not a cookie-cutter hero like the well… heroes. He’s more complex, and interesting. He’s good, and bad. Protective, and selfish. What he does is sympathetic, but never justifiable. Yet still the heroes never would have won with out his help.” We had talked like this though out the movies. I had never really done this with anyone before. Besides maybe Cypress, but he wasn’t the movie marathon type. He could never sit though that. We would hike, and camp. Swim in the lake. We were both outdoorsy types.

“Do you want to go mountain climbing with me and V and Ross, tomorrow?” Ross and V were not the outdoorsy types,but I was winning them over.

“Tomorrow well, I told Leo, and Cheryl I’d hang out with them tomorrow. Hey, why don’t I invite them?” I quickly ask the group chat if that’s okay.

“Sure.” I beam.

“Cool.” He says. “Well hey it’s getting late how about you stay for dinner?”

“Yeah, I’ll ask mom. She dropped me off so I could save gas money.” I give her a quick text. “I’m sure it’s probably fine.” I’m also not a very good driver, (why would I drive anywhere when I can run), but I don’t mention that.

“Cool. We’re having roasted chicken.” My mouth waters at the smell of meat cooking. I pace impatiently, as Jordan gives his dad a break by checking the meat every once in awhile. Their dad goes up stairs to see what Alice’s talent show she’s been bugging him to see.

“Would you mind grabbing the Rosemary?” Jordan says finally taking my offered help. He goes on about how I’m the guest, and he’s the host, and blah blah blah. I go down the hallway he pointed too. There’s two doors. One to the left, and the other to the right. I decided it must be the one already half way open. I push it the rest of the way, and then freeze. The room isn’t very big. But the stuff inside is very telling. I’m frozen with fear at the sight of the objects. Sliver chains, and hand cuffs mounted to the wall. A book shelf on one end, and a gun safe on the other. I glance around the room. Memorizing. The shelf only has a handful books. There old. I realize the spines are all the same. They’re the books Jordan often brings to school. I glance at Jordan pulling a terminator from a chicken. My stomach grows at the sight of it. I pick up a book wanting to see the cover. I drop it immediately. The book burns my hand. I realize the silver detailing on the spine and cover isn’t just swirling cover art, but real silver. I hold my hand for a second. There’s now a burn on both of them. This one hurt a lot worse. I read the cover, James Mannix Journal 3.

“Charlotte?” Jordan calls. I rush from the room. Leaving the door cracked so I don’t make a sound. I try to sniff out the Rosemary, but there are too many strong herb and spice smells. They seem fresher than the store bought stuff. There in little labeled glass jars. I spot it quickly. Taking it off the shelf.

“I found it!” I call. I text mom to come pick me up on the way to the kitchen. It won’t look weird people text each other all the time. I tell her I’m not feeling good. Headache. Which is exactly what I’m going to tell Jordan I have, so I don’t have to stay for dinner. “Sorry took me a second to find it.”

“Yeah we haven’t organized the pantry since my mom passed. That was her thing. Growing her own herbs.” He takes the Rosemary. I wonder what I should say.

“I’m sorry.” He smirks. I realize people must say that a lot. I wish I could think of something better to say.

“It was a long time ago. I was twelve.”

“I know what that’s like.” I say. “My town grew there own food. Not like big farms, but vegetable gardens. My mom had one too.”

“You don’t talk about them much.” I know he means ether my parents, or my town. “But you can talk about them with me. Anytime.” A wave of new emotions courses though me. I think logically instead of emotionally. As far as I can tell there are no hunters in this town. There are none here Raina knows about. It’s the ones who come from out of town that we have to worry about. So James Mannix is a relative. So they’re at least related to a Hunter. That doesn’t mean they are Hunters though. I like Jordan, I trust he wouldn’t hurt me, but I was taught to be cautious in these situations. It’s really the only logical thing to do. I’ll skip dinner. I’ll use tomorrow as a chance to figure out how much he knows, and how much he believes. That way I’m certain one way or another if they find out I’m a killer, that nether him or his father will turn on me. If they do pose a threat I want to know, and if they don’t well then me and Jordan can continue on as we have been. Besides if they are a threat, Raina not knowing about them isn’t a good idea. I know she wouldn’t hunt them if she could help it. She used to babysit Amy, Jordan had mentioned. She my not be pack, but she is kin. I owe it to her to bring this information to her once I know more.

“So you like mountain climbing?” Jordan asks changing the subject, and pulling me from my thoughts.

“Yeah though this will more be hiking slightly upward. V and Ross were down with trying it, but I figured baby-steps would be best.” He chuckles.

“It’ll be nice having someone to do outdoorsy things with besides hunting, or farming.” He says. Then looks nervous. “I was wondering if you’d like to go trail walking, or fishing sometime. Like on a date.” That was not something I was expecting, but not unwelcome. First things first though. We’ll have to earn each others trust.

“Ask me again after the climb tomorrow, and I’ll give you my answer.” He nods.

“Okay.”

“Um, I got a headache so mom is actually picking me up.”

“Do you want some Advil or something. Advils for headaches right? I promise I was going to read the bottle before giving you anything.” I shake my head. The smell of meat makes my stomach hurt. He starts to plate it, and a second too late I see his hand brush the hot pan. He flinched away, grinding his teeth. In a moment I place his hand over the sink, and pour my mother’s herbal remedy over the wound. I always keep a vial on me. She taught me the recipe. Given that we get burned by silver so often, and it isn’t always safe for us to get creams from stores if were being hunted. Mom had many uses for that garden. I probably could have used it on my burns, but I was so lost in thought. I realize a second too late that should have asked. Though I know he’s not allergic to anything. We talked about it at some point. After I said my least favorite thing about the outdoors was mosquitoes, being that I was allergic to them. Not badly they just swelled up more than for most people. It wasn’t so bad now that I was older. I might not be allergic anymore it was hard to tell. Still hate those things though. The first time it happened my elbow swelled so much my mom had to take me to the ER. That’s how I found out. Still I should have asked, and apologize accordingly. He shakes his head.

“Whatever that is it helps. It doesn’t hurt much anymore.” I nod. I put the glass vial back in my pocket. He pulled a roll of bandages out of his pocket. A point to him knowing about wolf-shifters. He doesn’t explain the bandages. I don’t explain the remedy. We could come up with easy enough lies. I keep it on me because of my mom. Because I burn myself a lot when cooking. He could say keeps the bandages because he’s a klutz. Though I wouldn’t believe that, or because it’s an old habit to carry them during hunting trips just incase. We say nothing, and I wonder if he want to avoid lying to me as much as I want to avoid lying to him. I hear mom walking up the steps. The knock makes him jump.

“Hope your head feels better.” He says.

“Hope the hand feels better.” I say.