Ghost Wolf (Wattys2014)

Ghost Wolf

Chapter One: New Territory

 

Wipers rubbed and squeaked against the windshield while the rain continued pattering down. Taking a left, the road turned rough and bumpy. Potholes were hard to miss as it eventually went to dirt. 

Monstrous pine trees grew along the roadsides. Clumps of luxuriant grass grew below the green mossy-trunks, reaching up the pine tree and to their spread-out branches. Green moss formed webs and water fall affects below the branches.

The rain eased as I took a right, where I found myself braking before a swamp, metres from the Honda’s front wheels. From the driver’s side I leaned over and grabbed my handbag, scattering its contents over the passenger seat in search of my phone. Finding it, I punched in my Father’s number. I stared out the windshield as it dialled, taking in the foreign scenery: ferns and moss floated along the swamp banks, leaving little water movement. Moss ridden trees grew along the swamp edges. Vines swept between trunks and branches like spider webs in windows. Water plants grew below the water’s crystal edge. Beyond the swamp, scuds of mist floated over the distant mountains as dusk began to set in.

The atmosphere suddenly swept over as eerie, as thick fog rapidly appeared, blanketing the mountains and moss of the nearby trees. Moving like it had its life force the fog twisted through trees and vines before hovering over the swamp, heading towards the Honda.

Bruce finally answered on sixth ring. “Hello?” he yawned, voice muffled.

“Where the hell is the house?” 

“Where are you Harper?”

The wind picked up. Thick thunder clouds rolled in. The cell-phone’s line crackled—it never did that.

“On a dirt road by a swamp,” I replied, flicking on the fog lights. 

My heart clenched as it skipped a beat. Movement blurred through the headlights. My skin prickled. That was no deer...

“You went too far. Back up to the corner and turn around. Head back towards Maple Valley, there’s a turn off on the right. The house is there.” 

“’Kay.” After hanging up, my eyes were glued to the reversing camera. I could have sworn there was another blurred figure. 

Shutting my eyes tight, I shook my head from side to side. You’ve been driving way too long, Harper Kates… 

Mom had wanted me to take a plane, but I wanted my car. I needed some sort of freedom. I was just relieved I wasn’t going to be living with my Father. 

I had my own room in boarding-school for the next year or so and that was going to be bad enough, but at least she wasn’t making me suffer through the next year by making me stay with Bruce. 

Being grounded for a week prior to coming to this hell-hole had been enough. I hadn’t even been able to actually say goodbye to Ryan face-to-face. Mom said a goodbye over the phone was good enough—maybe it was in her mind. 

Sighing, I rested my head against my hand while leaning against the glass window, wondering what Ryan was doing within that moment. We had been together eight months and Mom had never liked him. I believed it was a spite thing. It was only thanks to Mr Money-Bags she could afford for me to go to boarding school. ‘Trouble-maker,’ she had nicknamed Ryan, when all he ever did was shower me with gifts and love me.

Once on the main road, passing traffic, instead of a turn off I found an open army-green gate. On either side, small willows draped over the fence and driveway, making the entrance difficult to see.