Epilogue: You Can Never Go Home Again: Part 1

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Epilogue: You Can Never Go Home Again

The trip home was uneventful. Marianna both welcomed and dreaded returning there at the same time. She missed her son so much, but she knew that Carla would hate her for abandoning them, especially after all the pain she had put them through. She just wanted a chance to make it up to them, especially Reese. He was just a baby and wouldn't understand. Why did his mother abandon him? She wished she could take it all back. If she could do it all over again, she would have stayed and forgotten all about Marcus. That's what she told herself but in reality she knew that would not have been possible.

Marcus was now safety tucked away in a place where he couldn't touch Reese or anyone else, but her bubbling led to her friend being murdered. She would bear the guilt of that for the rest of her life. She rented a car once she got to town and would drive into the mountains. She had no idea what she would find when reached her cabin home that she once shared with Carla and Ty. They were the ones that took care of her and supported her when she couldn't do it for herself.

Now came the time for her to face them. She dreaded having to do it, but she couldn't wait to get it over with. Once it was done she wouldn't have to wonder what they thought of her. She drove passed the stretch of woods and stopped the car a distance away from and cabin house but still visible from its front windows.

She slowly exited the car and looked around. It looked exactly the same as when she left, but there was something different. Perhaps it was the aura of the place. She wasn't sure, but something was different. She breathed in the fresh mountain air and looked towards the lake. She saw an orange blur that was running towards her. It was a good bet he knew it was her. His vision was ten times as good as any normal human, and he could even smell a person from a mile away.

As he came closer she could see his orange and white striped fur blowing in the breeze. Some would have called Ty Whitney a freak because of his appearance as ahumanoid tiger, but to her he was her best friend.

"Marianna?" he questioned like he didn't believe me. "Is it really you?"

"Yes, it's me," she said as he embraced her. "I missed you, Ty."

"Why did you leave?" he asked me as we broke apart.

"I had to, or I thought I did," she said and thought back to last time she saw Marcus a few days ago. That pathetic bastard actually begged her to spare him. He knew she could have easily take out those men and even Dusk, but there was no way she was going to defend someone as coldhearted as him. "Marcus tricked me again."

"Don't tell me you got involved with him again," Ty said and looked more worried than critical.

"No, I was trying to stop him from killing any more people, but he..."

"Where is he now?" Ty asked in concern.

"In a place where he can't hurt anyone," Marianna said as a look of fright came over Ty.

"Please, don't tell me he's dead," Ty said with worry on his face.

"No! I didn't kill him, but I came close," she said and closed her eyes tight. "He's on his way to prison... a Sadian prison." Relief came to Ty, and Marianna had a question she needed to ask. "How's Reese?"

"He's fine," Ty said with a smile. "He's much bigger than the last time you saw him. He's healthy and keeps Carla and me on our toes."

"I regret leaving him, but I couldn't take the chance of Marcus getting his hands on him."

"I understand, Marianna," Ty said and took her hand. "I know you wouldn't have left unless you had a good reason. Now, would you come inside? The little guy will be waking up any time now, and Carla will be thrilled to see you."

Marianna wasn't sure about the thrilled part, but she followed Ty to the front door of the cabin not sure of what awaited her inside.


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