"Hey mom, I'm almost there, the bus got stuck in traffic on the interstate, so we're going to be a bit late. I should make it to Gran's house by dinner. I know you're busy, but please call me back." Rosalind ended the voicemail. Who was she kidding? Her mother was never going to call back. She let out a long sigh as she fiddled with her locket, the only gift her mom had ever given to her. She must have thought it would somehow make up for the fact that she was always running off, without notice leaving her daughter to fend for herself. She tightly clenched the locket in her fists. She wasn't sure why she still wore it, her mother would never change, she knew that now. Rosalind didn't want to think about her mother's negligence anymore, so she closed her eyes and slept for the rest of the drive.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1xbbtGlyJ
"Alright everybody, this is the last stop!" The bus driver called out.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HnqEbsqTR
Rosalind made sure she was the first person to step off the bus. She was immediately greeted by a crisp autumn breeze and the wind whistled a happy melody as if it was celebrating her return. It was good to be home.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEka5vfEmR
Since her mother had first run off when she was a child Rosalind had lived in the town Rosewood with her Gran. Last year her mom appeared on their doorstep without warning. She gave a long tearful confession about what a terrible mother she had been. She said she was sorry for leaving and things would be different. It was all a lie. Gran had tried to warn her, but Rosalind didn't listen. She wanted to believe things could change. Gran was right about everything. Now she was back at Rosewood and nothing could make her leave it again. She just hoped she could convince Gran to take her back.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmJzcdmqt9
She quickly grabbed her luggage and began her walk to Gran's house. She had walked down this trail more times than she could count. Usually, she'd be greeted by birds chirping and animals frolicking but today the forest was eerily silent.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRQi5U8sV0
A wooden sign with the words "BEWARE OF WOLF!" spray-painted across it was nailed to a tree. She took a step closer and noticed claw marks carved into the base of the tree. She didn't know of any creature big enough to make marks like those. She was starting to feel unsafe out here all alone.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdPd3H1HFz
A loud crash sounded from the woods.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjk9E1lYDtL
She quickened her pace. Why was she nervous? She's hiked this trail hundreds of times and never seen anything scarier than a woodchuck.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8BgfR9YlP
She let out a high-pitched shriek as she bumped into someone on the road.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0TJqDj4UZ
"Hey! Watch it!" Three boys in their early twenties wearing all black leather blocked her path. She had been so distracted she hadn't even noticed them standing there. She gazed up to get a better view of the man she had bumped into. He had dark brown spiky hair, cold hazel eyes, and a piercing on his bottom lip.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSE36IXlAGp
Rosalind tried to regain her composure. "I'm sorry for bumping into you, I should probably just get out of your way." She attempted to maneuver her way around them, but they continued to block her.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWHJKLecnF
"What's a pretty girl like you doing in the middle of the woods all alone?" a scrawny boy with greasy shoulder-length hair asked, looking her up and down.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHiFaxAZa0y
"Stop being creepy, Heath!" The boy with the lip piercing elbowed him in the stomach.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWD9Y3t0mG
"Come on, Chandler, I'm just asking a question. Am I not allowed to ask questions anymore?" The scrawny boy clutched his stomach as he recovered from the blow.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVt7TI0SrJ
"Shut up, Heath!"
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4t5Lcvqfdg
Rosalind forced a smile and tried her hardest to hide her discomfort. "I'm on my way to my grandmother's house."
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvWrn8bpyB
"It doesn't matter why you're here because either way, we can't let you through," Chandler stated with a scowl on his face. He stood up taller and crossed his arms in a defensive posture to illustrate his point.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKKup0u6yQ
"What? You need to let me through!" She protested.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGLEyf3M4P
Chandler inched closer. "Are we gonna have a problem?" he growled in her face. His breath stunk like tobacco.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwn6S1n3oJb
"Back off!" The third boy spoke up for the first time. He was a tall, slender boy with dark skin and curly hair. "If her grandmother lives in the forest maybe she has some information that would be valuable to our cause."
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCX1d0z7Ka
"Hey, boss said that I'd be the one calling the shots!"Chandler argued.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchGSCCUbe2
His eyes shot daggers at Chandler. "Our boss also said to retrieve any possible leads."
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8P3m7yLc8k
Chandler cursed under his breath. He glanced back and forth between the boy and Rosalind then eventually said, "Fine!"
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdpS3a5Zos
The third boy stepped forward to question her.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3nohxvS6QA
"Don't even think about lying," Heath called out. "Duke has a sixth sense about these things."
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoE6zTIEsow
Duke glared at Heath and began the interrogation. "Do you happen to know anything about a wolf that lives in these woods?"
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhiO8zrGb5
"It's a large forest. I'm sure plenty of wolves live here," she replied.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKngC8mO7df
Duke flipped through his notes, then pulled out a night vision photograph of a massive wolf with blood dripping down its mouth. "I'm referring to one supersized wolf. This beast has been terrorizing a local farm. It's already eaten three of their pigs. Have you heard about it?"
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqEHdHfgw8
"I'm sorry, I don't know anything about this."
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nl0VlC2WI
He raised an eyebrow. "When was the last time you were in Rosewood?"
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZJJy71dIE
"Roughly, six months ago."
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3V9Qax76DJ
"Where have you been since then?"
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUHU9XZE4P
"I've been living in Manhattan with my mom." These questions were getting much too personal for her comfort. "Can I go now?"
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsa8vS5TbR
His amber eyes pierced through her dark brown ones. "Are you absolutely positive you don't know anything about the wolf?"
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75DcaptHvQ
"Yes."
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ThrvBSpcA
Duke handed her a business card with a phone number and the words, The Silver Huntsmen, written on it. "Call us if you find any information about the wolf, for the safety of everyone in Rosewood."
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01WXPi5tm9
"Yeah, sure." She promptly stuffed the card in her pocket and made a run for it, nearly bumping into Chandler a second time.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTh6UBbmXM
What a bunch of creeps! What even is a Silver Huntsman? Are they some sort of animal control? Her stomach tied itself into knots. Whoever they were she hoped she wouldn't run into them again for a long time. She didn't stop running until she reached her grandmother's doorstep
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKZlFEhQDR
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUIiJepCLTh
Gran lived in a small log cabin on the outskirts of Rosewood. She spent most of her time conducting experiments on the local plant life. She refused to share any of the details of her research with anyone. Most of the town thought she was crazy, and they were probably right, Gran had a tendency to ramble about the most bizarre things. A few people claimed she was secretly brilliant.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOSiIummmQ
A steady stream of smoke flowed from the chimney and the sound of pots and pans clashing together came from inside the house. Gran was definitely home.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTZb8ZaYoJ
Rosalind let out a nervous sigh. She had no idea how she was going to convince Gran to let her stay with her again. She should probably start with an apology for leaving. She gently knocked on the door.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo18IrgGcSq
"Get lost wolf!" Gran shouted from the other side of the door.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQkEaPPSca
She rolled her eyes "It's me, Rosalind."
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6YWo10JG5
"You can't fool me, dumb mutt!"
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFiiPeRvt9
"Come on, Gran, let me in."
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡync3IGmO6K
The old woman opened the door just a crack and peered through the opening.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡszt2ePXdA0
She put on the friendliest smile she could muster. "See it's just me. No wolves here."
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkE5w5gdxnm
Gran hesitated for a few moments then slowly opened the door. Gran began repeatedly tapping her on the head with a wooden spoon. "So you think you can just show up on my doorstep after leaving me all alone for six months and magically make everything better? Well, you're wrong!" She slammed the door in her face.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpSaU1jaTq
She had thought this might happen, Luckily she had a secret weapon. "I brought you donuts."
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrILWwAWSFU
Gran opened the door once again. "Come in."
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELgbvdnlyv
The inside of the cabin smelled like it always did the scent of fresh herbs and spices along with something else she couldn't quite place drifted through the air. The small kitchen had always been cluttered, but it appeared to have gotten worse since Rosalind left.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuQMl4NZHa
Rosalind pulled the box of donuts out of her backpack.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeM4z1VtaCg
Gran pressed her nose up to the box, taking a deep whiff of the sweet aroma. "So, how's your mom?"
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUY9n30dWpf
"You were right, she hasn't changed a bit."
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEZU8Sq9Ay
"That's what I was afraid of," She said with her mouth full of donuts. Gran was a petite woman who stood at only 4'10, but for what she lacked in height she made up for in ferocity.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YUfR6kHaN
"Listen, I'm really sorry I left you. Let me know if there's anything I can do to help make up for it."
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfo5YWzBRE
"You can start by delivering this to the neighbors," Gran grabbed a bottle full of a ruby-colored liquid off of the table. "They'll know what it is."
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4cBfM1BnG
Rosalind accepted the bottle.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLzKvydkKA
She nearly pushed Rosalind out the door. "What are you waiting for? Go! I need to start making supper." Gran was very adamant about having space while she was working.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnben6WQb1q
"Alright, I'm going!" Rosalind chuckled as Gran pushed her out the door.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Zc9exOLN9
The leaves had turned to vibrant shades of orange and auburn. Rosewood in the autumn was truly a sight to behold. A small stone path winded through the forest. At the end of the path stood a secluded house, almost completely hidden from the rest of the world. The owner of the house stood on his porch wearing a camouflage jacket. He glared at a deer passing through the woods as he took a gulp of his drink.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoIdsYs9EX
She waved at him. "Hi, Mr. Fowler."
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2TSPFnDqy
He smiled. "Hey, Rosalind, long time no see. Your grandmother called and told me you'd be stopping by."
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJRodLmdeN
She was about to hand him the bottle when she was distracted by a new bow and a quiver filled arrows resting on the picnic table in front of them.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3zctzJ2Gx
He gave her an approving nod. "I bet you haven't shot one of those in a while."
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1wFpqoEL8
She nodded. Mr. Fowler had been teaching her archery since she was eight. Gran wouldn't let her fire a hunting rifle, so this was a fair compromise. She had gotten pretty good at it over the years.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVq8lRoLZG
He glanced at the door. "I have plans tonight, but if you want to stop by tomorrow, I'll let you try it out."
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqX8M2Hspa
She beamed. "Thank you. I've gotten rusty and need the practice."
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3cYJKCJpQ
There was a rustling sound coming from the forest behind them. She nearly jumped out of her skin. Could it be the wolf? She spun around to face the sound. Two squirrels scurried out from behind a tree. She let out a deep sigh of relief.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Xi4MYb5wj
"Hey, Rosalind, are you alright? You look pretty spooked."
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1QtNxbf2M
"Did you here about the giant wolf?"
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfft1hRORnT
He frowned. "Come inside."
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZrbWQFWR1
The walls were fully adorned with the stuffed heads of the animals he's hunted over the years including deer, moose, coyotes, a bobcat, and even a black bear, but not a single wolf.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZGAYH5zYn
He showed off out several strings of barbed wire covered in fur and blood. " It looks like our little friend got caught in one of my traps last night, but somehow it got through."
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLshSFXfyoP
The sight of the bloody wires and the thoughts of a man-eating wolf made her stomach churn.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQh8JcECt2i
"You don't have anything to worry about, " Mr. Fowler sensed her discomfort and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "I'll kill that beast soon enough."
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOR66UWmsQ
"Don't let him scare you, there are no wolves in Rosewood, especially not gigantic man-eating ones." said a stranger sitting at the dining room table almost completely hidden behind several stacks of books. "Wolves aren't native to this part of the country, they travel in groups and most importantly they don't eat humans. It's probably just some rabid dog."
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49DjwdGusP
"It isn't a dog! Someone got a picture of it this time, It's definitely a wolf!" Mr. Fowler argued.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSTZGuchM2
The stranger stood up and sighed. He was a boy about her age. He had neatly combed, platinum blonde hair and wore a slim fitting navy blue jacket. The most notable thing about him were his pale blue eyes something about them was strange yet lovely at the same time."That doesn't prove anything! The photograph could have easily been photoshopped. I think they're just trying to scare us."
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSdDjXvmMK
Mr. Fowler rolled his eyes. "Rosalind, this is my stepson."
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLy7WUhD2v
"Theo Lovell," he introduced himself. "Believe me you don't have to be afraid of any wolf."
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2kstxNwPW
People kept telling her not to be afraid, but their reassurance didn't calm her nerves.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJLQH4clN6
A blonde woman in a jade cocktail dress strutted across the floor. She linked arms with Mr. Fowler and batted her eyelashes. "Are you ready for dinner? If we don't leave soon we'll miss our reservation."
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQPpanCCxOF
He wrapped an arm around her. "Yeah I'm ready."
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡss2e5DL4bU
Theo eyed his cargo pants and camouflage hoodie. "You're not even going to try to make yourself look nice?"
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYokWcSLkQc
The woman glared at Theo then tugged on the strings of her husband's sweatshirt. "I think he looks handsome."
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhaXyIF2IAS
Mr. Fowler cleared his throat. "I'd like you to meet my wife, Charlotte."
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7t7Re0qQEQ
"Since when are you married?" Rosalind asked?
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJC8ZFAhyC
He stared passionately at the woman wrapped in his arms. "We met not long after you left. It was love at first sight."
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJ9wILBOvs
Theo didn't even try to hide his disdain for the couple.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XPHIsPmUP
Charlotte aggressively snatched the bottle of liquid from Rosalind's hands. She had almost completely forgotten why she had come here in the first place. Charlotte placed the bottle in a cabinet filled top to bottom with bottles of different sizes and filled with brightly colored liquids then handed Rosalind a check. "Please say tell your grandmother I said thank you ."
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6yYne2BsoZ
Rosalind returned to Gran's cabin. Nothing particularly interesting happened for the rest of the evening. She ate her dinner, unpacked her things then went to bed. Surprisingly her room was exactly the way she left it, she would have expected Gran to turn it into a gym or something. It's like Gran somehow knew she'd come back. She rolled over to the other side of the bed. She didn't want to think about her mother right now. She wanted to go to sleep.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpk6shtkHk
A few minutes after midnight, she was started by a loud crash coming from the kitchen. She tiptoed out of bed and down the small hallway. As she inched towards the kitchen chills crawled up her spine. "Hey Gran, are you alright?" She called out.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyr4jQnUPM
No response.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHuEu8zJOt
She took a deep breath trying to calm herself. Gran was probably sleep walking again, or maybe a
raccoon got in the house. She crept into the kitchen.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSuEuGv7mtI
That was definitely not a raccoon. Standing on top of the table surrounded by shattered bottles was a man-sized wolf, and it was staring right at her.
ns 15.158.61.9da2
