Aurora's Alpha

CHAPTER 2

Rory POV

Two weeks had passed since I was chased down by the same animal that swallowed little red riding hood'a grandma whole. The adrenaline wore off the morning after and I was so shaken up by the events that I was stuck to my bed the entire day replaying it over and over. I outrun a wolf, how? Did I not look like I was worth the kill? Why are my feelings hurt over that damn it.

During these two weeks the rose tinted glasses I was wearing while absent mindedly gazing at this town had risen off my face. I seen things a lot clearer for what they were, for example why were there no signs around the wooded area warning hikers of the dangers that lurked before them? There is no way I am the only one to witness the creatures that inhabit the area when I didn't even go that deep in the forest. The trail I followed seemed used, I don't know how to explain it but the forest floor looked as though it's had it's fair share of travellers over the years.

Also since being here 3 people have went missing which is... concerning to say the least. The strangest part about that is I would have no idea if it weren't for my habit of listening to the local radio when I make myself food. The third time I heard it was when I realised the announcements were not for the same person - which sounds dumb on my behalf but I'm bad at multitasking so when I'm preparing a grilled cheese I zone in and out of the radio.

What I don't understand is that there's never usually coverage on the news on the odd occasions I sit in the living area (usually when Aaron is working). Or when I walk to college I expect to see flyers with the missing persons face, age and name followed by contact information but there truly is nothing.

It occurred to me that maybe these people went on a walk exactly like I did also unaware that death creeps around the trees, careful of snapping twigs with their heavy paws and perhaps they just weren't as fast as I was. Although that just seems to obvious right? Surely if others in town knew about the wolves then the forest would be the first place to look? So why aren't they?

Staring blankly at the screen on my laptop I can't get the names of the three missing people out of my head

Mark Wilson, 26
Robert Cameron, 34
Ally Sanchez, 23

Why does no one seem to care?

In a jump start I put my laptop to the side and before I can stop myself and think I open my bedroom door and make my way to the living area where I know Aaron will be. What I did not expect was his friends to be sat beside him. What was I going to ask again? Great now I'm just stood in the doorway expectantly with no words coming to mind.

"Rory hey" Aaron smirks

"Hey" is all that I can muster still unsure what my goal was.

"You remember the guys right?" I look around and nod noticing his friend Olivia is also there. She coughs lightly and Aaron glances at her, "oh and liv... sorry" he chuckles.

"Yeah I remember hey guys... and liv" I smile trying to be polite, they all smile back at me.

"Is there anything we can do for you or?" Aaron questions

My mind snaps back to the three names and I focus "yeah um I have a question about the town" I start.

Aarons friend Lucas perks up "shoot most of us have lived here our whole lives" I like Lucas he seems genuinely nicer than Aaron and it makes me question how they can be friends but I came to the conclusion they must have been childhood friends that never grew apart, they just learned to put up with each other.

"Um well it's about the missing people..." silence swallows the room "do any of you think it's to do with the wolves in the woods?" Blank faces.

"The wolves?" Aaron's other friend Everett questions

"Yeah I-it's just, does it not seem possible the wolves have something to do with the disappearances?" I stutter out awkwardly. I hate being wrong so suggesting something I'm not 100% sure of has me feeling slightly flustered. Worst case scenario is they laugh at my theory.

"You know about the wolves?" Aaron said in shock in unison with liv saying "What wolves?" Of course she said it as though she was acting. I've lived with my mother long enough to sniff out a lie when I hear one. Both of them look at each other simultaneously and I can tell they are having one of those silent conversations you have with friends when they crossed a line.

I just stare trying to figure out who will cave first and humour my theory. It becomes apparent that no one in this room will utter another word until I do so I try again.

"Of course I know of the wolves I seen them like two weeks ago" I state casually.

"You seen them?" Everett's eyes were wide

"Yeah they're bigger than what I imagined wolves to be" casting my mind back and seeing the gigantic beasts behind me "I always thought they were maybe a little bigger than dogs but those things were like the size of the wolves in twilight... I guess they done their research I just thought they exagger-"

"Wait which side of town did you see these wolves?" Liv questions.

"Um north side?" I reply making the room take a subtle deep breath which makes me frown. Why does it matter? Wolves are wolves I don't think they care for the neighbourhoods reputation.

"Just a piece of advice avoid the south side of town near the border... it's not safe" Lucas smiles at me in a comforting way.

"Yeah okay but you realise there's still the issue of the wolves on the north side right?" I breathe out a laugh not understanding why which side of town I'm on matters.

"Yeah but they're... not as dangerous?" Lucas questions the others in the group to which they nod and agree

"'Not as dangerous?' They chased me for god knows how long through the woods snapping their teeth at me" I chuckle

"I think it's best to advise you to stay out the woods then" Everett lightly laughed with me. Well I can't knock that advice...

"Or next time I'll go with you and give those dogs a piece of my mind" Aaron flirted while showing me his biceps, I roll my eyes trying to keep my smile small.

"Aaron dude shut up" Lucas says throwing a couch cushion at his friends head. The friends go back to talking amongst themselves and I exit the room before Aaron says something to turn the mood sour.

I grab an orange and peel the skin into the trash then head back to my room, picking a slice and popping it into my mouth as I walk.

Looking out my window I sigh thinking about how I won't be able to go back to the waterfall. I like going on walks, I find it very therapeutic so now that the surface area that I can walk has been limited feels very restricting. It's especially frustrating that it's the woods of all places like how much more peaceful could it be than the woods. Fair enough the south side of town is out of bounds I don't really mind I've not got any reason to go there so it doesn't make a difference to me.

Shaking my head to rid myself of the negative attitude I could feel coming on I turn to my bedside table looking at the purse I'm constructing for college. The assignment given was "create an accessory from scratch for a character with mysterious objectives" so I decided to create a ladies handbag because what could be more mysterious to any male than a woman's hidden contents kept directly under her arm at all times.

I pick the purse up and then my needle and thread and get myself into a comfy position for sewing. I carefully start threading the needle through the fabric all focus on getting this assignment finished for next week.

My thoughts kept floating back to the conversation I just had with the group of people currently in my living area who quite frankly I still deem as strangers.

I let out a puff of breath as I say "'not as dangerous' pft" I shake my head "I should have just said 'wolves are wolves' why didn't I" I roll my eyes for the second time that night but this time at myself. " I know they're dangerous Lucas, I was chased by them" I go back to sewing realising that none of this matters now that the conversation is finished.

I guess tomorrow I need to find a new walking route...