Wolfsbane (a Jerrie Thirlwards Fanfiction)

Chapter 2...Mr. Elliot

"Why can't I go?" The brunnete huffed out in frustration as she paced around the room back and forth while her brother Karl was sat on the sofa.
"Jade, you know we're not supposed to go!" His voice echoed loudly, both of their tones were higher than usual.
"Why not? Tell me Karl. All these years you and mom kept saying we should forget South Shields, move on and live elsewhere. But why? Why can't you just tell me!" Jade pleaded as she glanced at her brother.
Karl shook his head and sighed.
"You won't understand Jade!" Karl responded.
"That's why I wanna know." His sister said as she reached for the paper their uncle had given.
For many years Jade always wondered why Karl and his Mom disliked Shields so much.  Sure its the place where their father died but they had a lot of memories growing up even if life had been so difficult there. After all she was eleven when they left, so she never got the chance to really question her mom ,only when she got older and even if she did back then, she would only get the same answer like what Karl's been telling her.
 
"It's not as simple as you think Jade, and plus, I'm sure if Dad's here he won't even let you go back to that place." Karl responded while gazing away from Jade.
"Don't say that Karl, Dad loves Shields and he left this letter to uncle Blake before he died. It says here that he's leaving the property to us." Jade stated.
"And so?" Karl fired back.
"And so? Is that the best you can come up with? You know it's the only place that reminded me of him. That house is where we grew up." Jade responded looking completely annoyed at her brother.
"I know Jade." Karl said with a sigh.
"Look Karl, I wanna go to Shields, I'll just take care of all these papers and then I'll come back. I just don't want Dad's property to go to waste." She said before heading straight into her room.

The next day, Jade took the train to South Shields even though her mom and Karl scolded her for it, but being the stubborn girl she was, she refused to listen. Well she could've stayed if they both gave her reasonable answers. Growing up, Jade always thought that maybe just maybe, her mom and her brother is hiding something from her. Now that she's old enough to take care of herself, she's determined to find out whatever it is that her family has been keeping away from her for the last twelve years, if there is.

The rain poured down heavily when the train came to a stop at the first station. Jade fixed her coat now that the temperature is getting cooler. The brunette heaved a sigh as she reached for the windows and slowly wiped the foggy glass with her hands. Trees, hills and mountains came into her view. She leaned back on her seat and checked the time on her phone, it's around 5 in the afternoon and she still has a long way to go.

Jade was awoken when the train came to its final stop. Her eyes quickly opened to the sound of her fellow passengers grabbing their luggages. She's close to South Shields now, and as expected, the weather wasn't at its best. Jade grabbed her bags and stepped out into the train not caring if the rain was falling really hard. It's already  6 in the morning and she was feeling really hungry since she only had a couple of biscuits and some English tea last night at an old restaurant during the train's second stop.

Minutes passed by and the people started to disappear. Jade was feeling really nervous, after all it had been many years since she last set foot in this place.
Her coat was soaking wet, her luggages were heavy,  her stomach was grumbling, and she was struggling to find the ride to her dad's hometown.
Until, Jade approached an old man sitting at a nearby bench in a shed.

"Excuse me Mister." The brunette spoke and the man's head turned to her. He was wearing a black coat and an old hunting hat.  A typical attire in here, she thought to herself.
"Yes Miss?" The man spoke as he stood up.
"Do you know how I could get to the nearest bus station?" She asked as she dropped her luggages on the ground.
"And where exactly are you heading miss?"  The man asked as he eyed the young woman in front of her.
"South Shields." The brunette responded.

The man paused for a moment when he heard what Jade had said.
"Oh, you must be vey brave to go there by yourself." He responded.
Jade once again, was quite startled with what the old man had replied.
"But I'm afraid there aren't many buses heading to that place these days. The stories drove people away for many years now, and I do believe you're the first traveller I've met for the last five years." He said with a slight grin on his wrinkled face.
"Oh I used to live there." Jade said and the man narrowed his eyes.
"May I know your name miss?" He asked.
"It's Thirlwall, Jade Thirlwall." She responded.

The man looked at Jade in the eyes, quite surprised with the reply that came.
"You must be the daughter of the late Sheriff eh?" He asked.
Jade only nodded in response.
"He was a brave lad, I knew your father before you were born. I was a hunter back then." The man said.
Jade sort of remembered his father telling stories about him hunting before he met her mother. But sometimes, the things he told her were a bit scary to her. The mention of hideous creatures lurking in the woods frightened Jade but she always thought that his father had this brilliant stories that somehow managed to open her imagination. Turning deers into terrifying beasts maybe was a great transition. After all, hunting is part of the daily life in here.

"I'm sorry to say that there are no more buses to Shields since last year. Operators have closed their shops now that they've been getting less customers, not to mention how difficult and dangerous the roads are. Especially at night." The man spoke.
"What?! That can't be. There must be some way to get there." She exclaimed as she wiped the dripping water from her forehead. She was getting really frustrated. Maybe her mom and Karl was right, going back here is definitely a wrong decision.

"W-Well if you want, you could take the carriage." The man said.
"A carriage?" Jade questioned.
"Yes, I have mine back home but I'm too old to use it. My son could bring you there, but that will take about six hours." He responded. Jade was feeling really exhausted at the moment and the mention of a horse- drawn carriage wasn't the best idea, but if that's the only way to get there than be stuck here, she has no other options but to take it.

"Okay I'm taking it." Said Jade and the man nodded.
"Very well then miss Thirlwall. I believe we must hurry up, you should be there by noon so that my son could be back before it gets dark." The old man said.
"Thank you Mister..." She replied.
"It's Mister Elliot." He said.