Werewolf Reborn: Book one Fresh Start

Chapter 5: Fading with the sun

Dad's driving style was the complete opposite of my cousins. My father took slow turns and drove just barely over the speed limit. Often waving people ahead when at a four-way stop. He kind of acted like he never had been in a car before, making me think of someone practicing for their learner's permit.

Well, it was a nice change of pace for today. Some days it felt as irritating as riding with Stacy.

He leaned on the steering wheel as the car rolled to a stop at a red light. He rubbed the back of his head. I could tell his mind was still at the morgue staring down that beast. I was still amazed by the fact that it wasn't a werewolf.

I mean it looked so much like one and that deep connection. I shuddered at the thought of it. It wasn't common for me to have these deep connections with corpses I smelt. I've only done it a couple of times. But in each one, I would get the broad emotions of someone before they died but what happened today was more intense. It wasn't like before when I just felt the emotions, it was like they were trying to drag me down. As if the spirit of the victim was reaching out to me.

The light turned green. Dad robotically went back to an upright sitting position. If he still smoked I would imagine he would have a lit cigarette between his fingers. He quit four months after...

After I had to change schools.

Stating that they just made him feel numb. I was always happy that he quit smoking but it felt like I caused him a great deal of pain. I didn't want that; my Dad had suffered enough in his life.

"Matt," He said.

My head tilted to one side. Like an inquisitive dog listening to their master.

"Yeah Dad," I spoke with a sheepish tone. I knew I wasn't in trouble but seeing Dad like this made me uneasy. My father wasn't a loose cannon like Stacy but he was hard to read.

"Do you need to go back to school this year?" He asked.

I was completely taken aback. If this had been two years ago I would have said 'Heck no! You can't make me!' but I was losing my mind at home.

I loved Stacy and Dad but they weren't my age. I wanted to see people who watch the same YouTube videos as me. I wanted to go to class and I was actually elated to have homework. Even though I was worried I might look stupid and fail, it was better than being trapped at home day and night.

"Ummm," I struggled to come up with a sentence. I wanted to convey exactly how I felt but I could not upset him. "I don't know if 'need' is the right word but I really, really, very much want to," I said, staring at the perfectly kept floor mat beneath my feet. Not even a ghost of a crumb on the floor.

Nothing was said till we came to the next stop sign. Dad gripped the wheel till his knuckles were white. His face didn't look angry but that made it even scarier. The old me I would have called him out for his B.S. right there and then. This was my life and I wanted to live it but I was scared. Scared that he was right. That if when back it would all go to hell and I would only have myself to blame.

"Why do you ask? Does this have something to do with the investigation?" I asked despite already knowing the answer.

"Matthew, it has everything to do with that investigation," He ran his long fingers through his hair. "Someone's killing well... scaring monsters to literal death and you want to go back to public life,"

Anger and shame mixed together in my throat. I wasn't sure if I wanted to yell at him or hide my face. My body wouldn't let me do either. So I gritted my teeth and said: "If we hold off on it any longer I'll be an 18—year—old freshman," God just thinking that that made my skin itch with embarrassment. The sheer shame of being an adult and just starting high school was unnerving to the point that my skeleton wanted to leave my body.