Tara :Wolf Chronicles

Chapter 10:The Old Man

As I left the house, it was dark out but the neighborhood was quiet and nothing moved. Creepy shadows danced on the empty manicured porches and light glowed from the houses but there was no sign of life. No cars or people meeting their buds. I shuddered when my eyes landed on a familiar house with a wooden rocking chair on the porch and the red flower garden. Thalia left the door ajar to her house as I raised a brow. The door opposite us, two houses away come out.He placed his hands on his wrinkled forehead as he narrowed his eyes. I debated whether to look for the nearest bus stop and train station but my memories was muddled, I forgot my house address for a second and I felt like a zombie. With sagged cheeks, hollowed eyes and limp hands.

"Boy, you alright!" The old man screamed, "You look like you met a ghost or looked--- no punched at Death in the face, "I snapped my head to him as he waddled towards me across the empty street regardless of the quiet air but it was oddly cold. However, it was empty. He placed his thin and bony fingers on my shoulders. I only gaped. I wondered why the man who looked about seventy lived by himself.

"I-I'm fine." I lied. It was an understatement. The old man style looked weird with suspenders over a plaid shirt and long striped red and green socks. He had a mad but creative glint in his eyes and wild grey hair kept under a felt cap.

"You sure? "He asked again, concerned. I nodded grimly but inside the house, a loud agreement spread fourth.

My eyes darted to the door as I asked a question. "Does anyone hear the arguments? The neighbours, you?" As if on cue, they yelled even louder and screamed.

I cringed as the old man smiled all teeth. "Yeah," He replied calmly, and nodded, "but people don't pry or investigate. They just listen or ignore it because between you and me some guy was so curious and concerned but after found prying. He was warned and found dead on Highway 9."He replied as my blood ran cold.

My shoulders tensed and I echoed," Dead on Highway 9."

I was taken  aback.

He nodded. "Yeah, his head was found on the other side of the highway, he was dragged and his potbelly was mauled open as if a wild animal had clawed him to death. Huge gashes across his body. Woo we, it was gross and disturbing."

I staggered as my heart hammered in my chest. Dead, the hell? I pointed at the door at the door and saw Thalia stood hunched with a sad look on her face. Tears stung her eyes as her mother stood between them with a scowl on her face. The whole time I was there. Her mom glared at her husband and cast glances at me. She forced a smile, but her eyes were wild with thoughts. Her knuckles, clenched around a cold glass of apple juice.

"What did you do? "She demanded; her voice rose after I left the house.

"I did what I had to do." He replied calmly.

"Stop it, "she yelled her eyes blazing." just stop it.Stop it. The entire we ate that boy looked pale and sick. He sweated, he trembled and he looked like he wanted to shit himself or vomit."

"All these boys want one thing from my baby. I had to do it. I had too. You are my wife. You should support me." He argued loudly with a lopsided smirk.

The woman scoffed with widened eyes as he tapped her feet impatiently on the floor not noticing the ajar door. Thalia cast a few glances at me with a frown.

She wanted me to watch.

"Thalia is a smart girl, she records, she documents, and she draws. She left the door open and hoped you could hear." He sighed heavily, shook his head and pressed his fingers to his temple, "but it's not enough. It doesn't go the way it was supposed to go." My eyes landed on the old man who towered over me. Should I trust him? He seems to want to help me.