Birthright

Prologue

Julie stepped out the side door of her grandmother's house and quickly pulled up the collar on her jacket. The wind was blowing in large gusts that had picked up since earlier in the day. When Julie had first arrived at her grandmother's house several hours ago, it had still been daylight, and there had only been a slight breeze to help cool the sun's warm rays. Now that darkness had fallen, the wind seemed to usher in the cold and, not for the first time, Julie wished she was one year older than her fifteen years. If she was already sixteen, she would be in her very own car at this moment, protected from Mother Nature's fickle winds. She wouldn't be starting her half mile journey home from her Grandmother's on foot, freezing. 

For six months, Julie had been going to her grandmother's house every day after school. She was needed there to help with daily chores now that her grandmother was in the beginning stages of Alzheimer's. So, every weekday, Julie would leave her high school at precisely 3:30pm and make the quarter mile trip to her grandmother's small, tidy home. It didn't really bother her too much to help out. Her grandmother's house was on the way home from school and Julie really cherished the time she spent with her grandmother. But, on evenings like this, it was easy to feel taken for granted and unappreciated by her parents. Why was she freezing her butt off walking home when her parents could drive over after work and help? Wasn't it ultimately their responsibility anyway? Who were they to put it all off on her? Knowing that the weather probably had a lot to do with her sour mood, Julie tried to push the negative thoughts from her mind. Grandma Edna was one of her favorite people. Best to spend time with her while she could, before her precious grandmother didn't recognize her anymore. 

Julie was so caught up in her thoughts that she barely noticed the sound of footsteps behind her. At first, she wasn't sure she heard them at all. But, with each step she took, there was definitely another set of footsteps, mirroring her own. She stole a glance over her shoulder and was surprised to find that there was no one behind her. I must be losing my mind, she thought to herself, and continued down the sidewalk. Even though she hadn't seen anyone following her, her footsteps became a little faster. 

As she continued on towards her house, the wind was still gusting every few seconds and Julie could swear that she saw small patches of fog covering the sidewalk ahead of her. She would walk into a patch of fog and a few steps later, she would walk back out. That's weird, she thought, earlier today it was so sunny, and now it' looks like I'm walking through a horror movie set. She was definitely getting the creeps. And, to make matter worse, she heard the footsteps again. Her head flung around, sure she'd catch the source of the footsteps, but there was no one there, again. Her pace quickened even more until she was almost jogging.

She could see her street just ahead. It couldn't have been more than a block away. The urge to break out in a run was so strong that Julie had to clench her fists and make a real conscious effort to not start sprinting. How stupid will I look if someone drives by and I'm running full speed, from nothing? Especially if it's someone I know! Only a little more, and then I'll be home. I can rush through the front door and laugh at how silly I'm acting.

The footsteps were back again. And now, as Julie passed the huge oak tree in the Holloway's front yard, a large bird chose that very second to take flight from one of the low branches. She couldn't stop the frightened squeak that came out of her mouth when the bird flew in front of her face, on it's way to the sky. As she approached her street, she entered another patch of fog. Several steps in, she was still encased in the fog, unable to see six inches in front of her face. Although she felt foolish, she stuck both her arms out in front of her as she walked. Goosebumps broke out all over her body and the hairs on the back of her neck were suddenly at attention. I don't care how stupid I look. Screw this! I'm running home and I don't care who sees me. Her legs were beginning their sprint when something clamped down on her shoulder. A hand quickly covered her mouth and stifled the scream that was just starting to come out. Oh God! Oh God! Before Julie could form another thought, something large and heavy came down on the back of her head and she thought no more.