The Beginning

Prologue: The Beginning

She stopped running to catch her breath. It seemed like she had been running in circles. Looking up at the tree in front of her, she tore a strip of her cloth and tied it around a hidden branch. Hearing growls behind her, she gathered her skirts and ran.

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Aubrey Williams paced back and forth in her bedroom anxiously awaiting her sister's return. She had promised she'd be back before sunset and now it was almost midnight. Her mind plagued her as she thought of every possible occurrence. As the clock struck midnight, she grabbed her cloak and went in search of Audrey Williams.

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Audrey ran like her life depended on it, because it did. Behind her were five rabid wolves chasing after her. She had no idea where she was running to, all she knew was she had to get away. After this, she would find her way back to her family. She would happily take her mother's scoldings and never disobey her again.

If she survived.

A sharp pain on her heel brought her back to reality. She stumbled and went crashing to the ground. Tears pooled in her eyes as blood gushed out of her new wound. Looking up and seeing the wolves circle her, she closed her eyes in preparation for her death. However, instead of pain, she felt a feeling of weightlessness and opened her eyes to find herself dangling from a wolf.

"Where are you taking me to?", she yelled and in reply, she received a warning growl. She kept quiet and looked around. If they weren't killing her now, she'd have more time to escape. As they moved into the dense part of the forest, she felt a familiar aura. A second later, a loud shout rippled through the forest.

"AUDREY"

She stilled. What was Aubrey doing there? Her heart stopped as one wolf went in her direction. She panicked, she couldn't let them take her. She shook violently, causing her dress to tear. She fell to the ground with a thud and ran in her sister's direction.

"AUBREY, RUN"

Aubrey looked around trying to discern the location of the voice when she saw a wolf charging toward her. Audrey grabbed her hand and pulled her away.

"Come on Aubrey, run"

"Audrey, what's going on?"

"We need to get home as fast as possible"

"Then we're going the wrong way, we need to go in the direction of the moon". Taking a swift turn to the right, they meandered through the woods as fast as they could. Seeing their parents, they ran faster.

"Mom, dad", Aubrey yelled.

Turning their heads, they ran toward their daughters and welcomed them with open hands.

"Are you okay, are you hurt anywhere?"

"There were some wolves after us", Audrey said. Their mom looked at them in panic before saying

"We have to get to the house", their mom said.

Suddenly their dad stopped.

"Shit", he muttered. They followed his gaze and all stood still in shock. There were wolves in their home. Acting quickly, they led them behind a tree.

"Make sure not to move and stay quiet, okay? We've got to go do something. When I say run, you run."

Leaving them behind, they hurried to their house.

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"Mom said we shouldn't move", Audrey coughed out as the smoke from her burning house wafted into her nostrils.

"But I need to get something", Aubrey replied, struggling against her sister's hold. Getting free, she ran towards the house. Audrey wanted to follow, but she lost her in the smoke and chaos.

"RUN, RUN", she heard her father yell. She was confused, she didn't know what to do. She couldn't go without Aubrey. Relief coursed through her as Aubrey appeared clenching a book in her arms.

She went back for a book??

A few feet away from her, Aubrey suddenly crumbled, slumping to the ground with blood gushing out of her chest with a bloody wolf standing over her. Indescribable pain rushed through her as Aubrey's eyes closed. Her twin was gone. The wolf who killed her sister began to stalk toward her. She couldn't find it in her to move, she felt drained. It raised a claw over her head and sent her a wolf grin but before it could strike, a burst of energy hit it knocking it unconscious.

"Come on Audrey, we have to go", her mom urged.

"But Aubrey ..."

Pain crossed her mother's face for a second before determination overtook it. She dragged her to her feet.

"We need to go, NOW"

She picked up Aubrey's book before letting her mom drag her off. They stopped after a few seconds as her mom hunched over in pain, clenching her chest. Tears rolling down her eyes, she held her daughter in place and began muttering words.

"Mom, what's going on?"

Not answering, she brought out two objects. A crystal and a bottle. Placing the crystal in her daughter's hand, her body absorbed it. Then she gave her the bottle.

"Two teaspoons of witch hazel, one tablespoon of honey, and a drop of masking oil, every day"

"What are you saying mom, where's dad, and what exactly is going on," Audrey asked in tears.

"Forget all that for now, you must survive and no one must know who you are, and stay away from wolves they are just going to hurt you. Can you promise me that?". Tearfully, she nodded.

"Don't worry, I'll be with you very soon". With increased vigor, she began to chant words. A glowing circle appeared under Audrey's feet.

"Goodbye my precious"

And the last thing she saw was a wolf with claws extended, aiming for her mother.

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This is my first published story and I hope you enjoy it.
Please don't be a silent reader. Do vote and comment.
Thanks.

Word count: 976 words.
Published: 5th January 2023.