Clarity #2
I looked around the dark room, brushing my hair off my face.
How had I woken up? Something didn’t feel right…
I slowly got off the bed, not wanting to disturb Taylor.
I walked across the floor, careful not to step on the chocolate wrappers and rubbish that we had littered all over the floor before I tip-toed to the window.
Taylor had left the top one open to air the room that had smelt of take-out, but it was fairly silent outside.
The distant sound of an animal and the rustle of the leaves in the trees were all that I could hear.
I peered out past the tree that stood in the corner of Taylor’s garden, and my eyes fell on my old bedroom window that was just across from Taylor’s.
I was about to turn away when my wolf’s uneasiness made me look back at my old house…
almost as if urging me to pay attention to it.
She wanted me to go there. Why? I could feel her restlessness, and I frowned, glancing back at Taylor, before I slowly unlocked the window and slid it up silently, flinching when it made a slight squeak.
I paused as Taylor groaned and turned over, falling back to sleep.
I blew out a breath and slowly climbed onto the ledge, lowering the window as much as possible behind me before I jumped to the ground below, landing lithely.
I stood up straight, ignoring the sharp poking of the stones beneath my feet, and padded towards my parents’ home, jumping over the low fence.
Mom lived alone now. Was she okay? My heart skipped a beat as a horrible thought came to my head. No… don’t think like that, Raven.
I walked around the house, my heart pounding despite trying to push that thought away. Should I just do the doorbell and see if she was okay? Wait... it’s night-time, she’ll be asleep…
I stared at the dark house, hesitating before I turned away, but once again, my wolf’s restlessness made me turn back. Since returning to the pack, she had been a little more active, and I didn’t want to shut her out if she was trying to tell me something. I needed to respect that.
Okay, calm down. I’ll mind-link her.
Mom?
No answer. She was probably asleep…
Mom? I tried pushing through that block, frowning at the fact that I was drawing a blank. What the heck? Had she shut me out? Could she do that so strongly whilst sleeping?
I turned, thinking to go ring the doorbell.
I was beginning to feel worried. Maybe I was just overreacting.
No, wait; a sudden thought came to me, and I padded around the house to the bathroom window, wondering if Dad ever got it fixed.
I smiled when I saw the gap in it, something that Mom always asked Dad to fix. Seems like he never bothered! Perfect!
I scanned the ground. Finding a decent-sized branch, I used it to slip into the gap and pry up the dodgy handle.
It was a small window, but I’d fit. Grabbing onto it, I pulled myself onto the ledge and squeezed in, frowning when my ass and thighs got a little stuck.
Just great. Seems like the only place I had grown over the years was there.
Stupid fat thighs… I pulled myself through, feeling the window scrape my ass and snag at my pants.
Finally, I managed to get in and blew out a breath. Yay!
The cool bathroom tiles were pleasant beneath my feet as I made my way to the door, opening it ever so silently.
I calmed my heartbeat to minimise the sound of it.
One look at Mom, and then it was back out of there.
She never needed to know I had been there!
I made my way down the dark hall. The scent of pumpkin spice lingered in the hall, and I smiled sadly.
It was Mom’s favourite smell, year in and year out.
She’d stock up on the festive scented candles in the winter and use them throughout the entire year.
I was careful, making sure to stay towards the wall.
The floorboards didn’t creak so much where they were hardly stepped on.
Years of sneaking out really did help. I went up the stairs as silently as I could.
Glancing down the hallway, I could see the door to Mom’s room was open, and I frowned.
Did she leave it open because Dad wasn’t there? Wait, I refused to call him Dad…
The entire house was dark, and it was a little cold too. I felt my stomach twist. Wasn’t she taking care of herself?
I silently made my way down the hall, frowning when I didn’t hear a heartbeat. Wait, had she left the pack or something? Was that why my wolf was worried? After all, it had a link to family.
I rushed to the door, pushing it open, expecting to see a half-empty room. I froze at the smell of blood that filled my nose. My eyes snapped to the silhouette of someone under the sheets of the bed. My heart pounded as fear and panic settled within me, alarm bells going off.
No heartbeat… blood… was that…
“Mom?” I asked, my voice shaky as I edged closer to the bed.
Please be a prank. Please tell me I’m wrong.
“M-Mom?” I whimpered, sounding terrified.
Stay strong, Raven.
My entire body was shaking involuntarily. I couldn’t breathe properly… I reached out with a trembling hand for the sheets. Mom’s scent and the stench of fresh blood overrode my senses. I couldn’t bring myself to lower the duvet…
My chest was heaving.
I’m scared…
Liam…. I whimpered through the link; he was probably asleep…
What is it, love? Are you okay? Worry and concern were clear in his voice, but the warmth of just hearing him made me feel an inch braver.
It was a struggle to reply as I yanked the bedding back. My mouth widened in a silent scream, and I stumbled back, my breathing ragged as I stared at the horrifying scene before me.
No, please, Goddess…no!
Fuck…
There lay Mom with blood-stained bedding under her, her empty mouth hanging wide open, slit from ear to ear. Her teeth were gone, and there were two gaping sockets where her eyes should have been.
Raven, where the fuck are you? Liam’s voice snapped me out of my horror-struck state.
Liam… Mom… I trailed off when the sudden feeling of being watched overcame me. The hair at the back of my neck stood up and my heart thundered.
I whipped around, but I was too late. Something struck my head. A searing pain erupted through it, and before I could even recover or react, I felt a stinging pain in my neck. Then everything went dark…