Red Riding Hood

Chapter Eight

This whole time I had known werewolves exist. It had never frightened me before; I never thought it would be something to be scared of. I had dreamt about the wolves, I had seen into Williams's history, I'd met his wolf. Hell, I'd even dreamt as myself being a wolf but seeing Parker as his wolf finally caused my rational human mind to snap.

There are werewolves.

Before I could allow myself to fall into a panic attack James came back into the kitchen.

"Eli, I just saw a wolf! A real one running into the forest!!" he exclaimed excited, running to the window he looked out searching for it. I decided to ignore this; in fact I planned on doing that with everything that was going on.

"Go watch TV. I'm going to go shower and then maybe we can head to town and see a movie" The wolf forgotten he nodded and practically ran the lounge as I headed upstairs. Once dressed I went back downstairs to find Mum in the kitchen making coffee.

"Good night?" I teased winking at her. Her face flushed red as the darkness around her eyes and paler complexion gave away her hang over.

"Morning to you too" she snapped, adding sugar to the black liquid. I laughed at her, which caused her to scowl in my direction before slumping down on a dining chair.

"Mum, have you thought about going back to London?" I didn't want to ask this of her now but getting away from here seemed like the right thing to do, the realization came to me while showering. It took her by surprise.

"No darling, I thought you were liking it here" her voice was still croaky with sleep.

"I have a feeling we need to leave" I fiddled with one of my gloves wondering what her response would be. When ever we moved she put it down to a 'feeling' so why couldn't I? She drank the coffee for a few moments before looking at me, makeup smeared all over face making her look old.

"Its about the dreams isn't it" she finally spoke. I nodded, if only she knew the rest of it.

"Give it a week Beth, then if you're set on going, we'll go back home" I quickly hugged her as James came in, curiously looking at the both of us. Shrugging he joined in.

"Mum, I saw a big wolf this morning and then he ran back into the forest" the excitement obviously not gone. I felt Mum tense and I pulled away, not willing to look at her.

"I didn't think they had wolves around here?" it was more of a question directed at me yet I ignored it.

"Did you still wanna see that movie Jay?" I quickly changed the subject.

"Can Derrick come? If we see Iron Man he will like it more than you!" I couldn't argue with that logic so after a few phone calls we were all going to meet in town at one. Now with Mum suspicious, I wasn't willing to sit around at home until it was closer to the start time so gave her a quick kiss and practically ran out the door, dragging James with me.

Heading into the theatre I allowed James to play in the arcade beside it and sat thinking on the bench beside the car racing game he was on his fourth round of. My phone buzzing with Andrea's name finally got my attention back to the present and once James finished the race we went to the cinema. Derrick was already buying us all tickets as I got to Andrea who stood tense, looking around near the entrance worried.

"What's going on And?" I asked as we reached her, James running to Derrick who mock tackled him into a headlock.

"That guy from last night, Eric. He and another man were following Derrick and I on our way here. I went to the farmers market with my mère, sorry my mother this morning and he was there and the farmers were all talking about seeing wolves they saw this morning when they were making there way there before dawn. We haven't had wolves in the area for some time. Some times they venture down from the national park near the border but never in winter and never to here" She was clearly distressed and with everything else happening it didn't help my own fears that were growing. I gave her a quick hug.