Sanctuary

Chapter 1

10th March 1971

Remus rolled out of bed and stomped across the bare wood floor, averting his eyes from the deep gouges in his floorboards caused by the wolf's claws. Several years ago, his dad had decided it was a waste of time repairing the cosmetic damage every month. It would take him no more than a wave of his wand, but even that small act of kindness was too much for him, apparently.

In the bathroom, he stripped off and entered the shower, forcing him to face another constant reminder of his condition, the network of scars that covered his body. Most were old, faded silvery lines of varying thickness and length, winding around his arms and legs, and crisscrossing his torso. Some were fresher, still raised against his skin in an angry red. The original bite on his upper left arm was barely visible really. But to him, the circular puncture scars were the most prominent of all his disfigurements. Tinted a pale lilac from the silver used to keep him from bleeding out, they clearly marked him for what he was. A beast. He washed with his eyes closed so he wouldn't have to see the ugliness of his body; there was no point in making his already rotten mood any worse.

Stomping back to his room to dress, he caught the scent of frying bacon drifting from the kitchen and sighed. Every birthday, she made him bacon for breakfast, bought him a gift and made a fuss like he was just a normal boy. It all felt so hollow to him. The rituals, the pretence. Pointless.

The remote Devonshire cottage his parents had moved them to after his first transformation felt like a prison at times. Their closest neighbours were six miles away, and he never travelled that far out. He had contact with no-one but his parents, and he was lonely. He glanced out of his bedroom window as he pulled on his jeans and t-shirt. The view always brought him comfort when he was getting depressed. Beautiful woodlands bordered the back garden, and he enjoyed going for hikes through the trees when he felt well enough. The natural setting soothed his soul, but there would be no chance of that today. His mum would expect them to do something together.

He just wanted to be alone.

Sucking it up and plastering a smile on his face, he trudged into the kitchen to face his eleventh birthday.

'Happy birthday, sweetheart!' his mum said as he entered the room.

He took a seat at the table, and she carefully handed him a plate filled with bacon and eggs. The caution in her movements made him clench his fists. His parents laced every interaction with reminders of his abnormality.

'Thanks, Mum,' he said, forcing his mouth to form a weak smile.

She smiled widely and sat down opposite him to begin her own breakfast.

'What do you want to do today?' she asked.

He glanced up from his plate, stopping mid-chew, and blinked at her.

'Do?' he said. 'What is there to do?'

'Don't talk with your mouth full, Remus. You're not an animal,' she said.

His face heated, and his heart pounded in his chest. Memories of his transformations ran through his mind. Watching as his fingers and toes sprouted claws. Staring down at his arms and legs covered with coarse fur. The sound of his screams turning into monstrous howls. He swallowed his food, slammed his cutlery down and stood from the table, shoving his chair out behind him so violently that it toppled over.

'That's exactly what I am! A mindless animal!'

He screamed the words at her, not caring about her stricken face and fled to his room, slamming the door behind him.