A Small Town

Prologue

The birds chirped softly through her window as the sun rose slowly above the horizon. The town was waking with the world, as people got out of bed and ready for their day. Her mother, however, came upstairs to wake Mary.

The girl was gently shaken awake as her mother peered down lovingly. "Mary, it is time to wake up." The woman smiled at her daughter as she stepped out of the room, leaving Mary to get ready.

The girl sighed before removing her covers then moving to the edge of her bed. Her feet hit the floor and she instantly retracted them and winced at the cold wood. Stepping onto the floor again, she stood up and reached for her toes, stretching out her stiff back. She then reached her hands up and let them drop back down.

Feeling satisfied, she moved to the bathroom connected to her room. As she stripped down and threw her pyjamas into the hamper, she reached into a closet containing the towels and pulled out the softest one. Turning on the shower, she waited for it to heat up before stepping under the water and cleaning herself off.

"Mary, breakfast is ready honey!" Mary heard her mother yell from below. She turned off the water and got dried and dressed, then headed downstairs for breakfast. Turning towards the kitchen and stepping inside, she smelt the bacon and eggs that had been prepared. Smiling at her parents, Mary went to the table and sat down in front of her food. "Honey, you remember you have summer classes starting this afternoon, right?" Her mother asked carefully, wincing at the harsh glare Mary gave to the table at the mention of summer classes. Mary nodded then picked up her knife and fork, stabbing into some bacon and shoving it harshly into her mouth.

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Packing a bag in her room, Mary grumbled softly to herself as she put a textbook for physics into her bag. She shut the zip and pulled the backpack onto her shoulder before she trudged downstairs slowly. Her mother, Clarissa, looked up at the sound of Mary's footsteps coming to a halt. Mary peered up at her mother then sighed and nodded, "I'm ready to go Mama. Let's just get this over with." Clarissa smiled warmly and opened the front door, heading to the car and unlocking it. Mary followed close behind and hopped into the passenger seat, buckling her seat belt then leaning her head back against the headrest.

"Mary, we need to have a talk later tonight so please don't stay out after your classes. It's very important, Okay?" Jocelyn said softly, keeping her attention on the road but sneaking a peek at her daughter. "Okay, mum. I'll come straight home tonight." Mary rolled her eyes secretly at her mother, before looking out the window at the trees passing by her.

Her attention focused on her face, noticing how dull her blue eyes were in the tinted glass. Her raven black hair was in waves down to her waist with part of her soft face covered. Her baby pink lips were full and glossed lightly, looking very soft. She gave a small frown at her reflection, not pleased with her appearance before she focused back onto the houses that had started showing up. The car turned right onto the main road before continuing for a little bit and finally stopping in front of the school entrance. Mary kissed her mum goodbye then opened the door and pulled her bag out behind her. Slamming the door shut, she stepped through the front gate and headed towards the main building.

"MARY!" A girl with blonde hair and bright green eyes shouted out, running after her. Mary sighed quietly at the sound of her voice before turning around and plastering on a fake smile. "Hey Josie! How have you been girl?" Josie smirked evilly and slapped Mary roughly, before lighting up as she noticed something behind Mary. Shoving past her, Josie ran towards a boy that Mary knew all too well. It was Maxwell and the two of them did not get along. "Max! Mary was just sooo rude, that's the only reason I slapped her, I would never have hurt her otherwise!" Josie said in a very fake guilty voice. Maxwell shrugged at her then wrapped his arm around her waist before heading into the main building. 

Mary's cheek still stung lightly as she headed towards the main building, following behind Josie and Maxwell. Mary turned a seperate way from the couple and headed towards her summer classes, dreading the time she would have to waste.

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As the clock hit 3:00, Mary leapt out of her seat and rushed out of the building. Moving through the school and out into the parking lot. It was starting to rain as she was waiting for her mother to arrive, but as she waited, her mother sent her a text. 'Hey honey, I can't pick you up today, you'll have to walk or catch a ride with one of your friends.'

Mary sighed heavily, shoving her phone into her bag and putting the bag over her head. She moved out of the front gates and started walking through the pouring rain, shivering as the cool water hit her clothes and seeped through to her skin. She began to run when she heard thunder but changed direction as she noticed the forest was still relatively dry. She stopped just at the edge of the forest, peering in and feeling crazy when she expected to see something. 

She stepped under the cover of a tree and shivered some more before putting her bag on her back and walking on the leafy path. She shuddered every now and then as the heavy breeze hit her wet clothes before she sped up and kept heading home. A branch beneath her foot snapped and she stopped, holding her breath for some unknown reason. Her voice caught in her throat as she turned to look behind her, noticing a huge wolf that was hidden slightly in a bush. She stepped back but tripped as her foot caught her planted leg, causing her to tumble down and land painfully on her hands and butt. 

The wolf growled at the sudden movement and she stilled, her eyes wide as the creature stepped out with a blood covered muzzle and gleaming white teeth. Mary began crawling backwards slowly as the wolf crept closer, baring its fangs at her when her hand crushed a leaf below. Her breathing hitched as she felt a tree hit her back, stopping her in her tracks. Tears flowed freely down her face and she lowered her head slowly, wishing her mother had just come to pick her up.