Wolfsbane (a Jerrie Thirlwards Fanfiction)

Chapter 3...South Shields

"'Ole South Shields
land 'o the valiant
'We lift our swords to ye"

"Yer fields 'n mountains
Yer seas 'n waters
Forever we call home..."

24 year old Mr. Jed Elliot sang loudly as they reached the entrance of South Shields. His Father Wallace Elliot, knew Mr.Thirlwall. The Elliot family; a native of South Shields. Unlike the  Thirlwalls, the Elliots moved from their hometown and lived away from Shields when the number of deaths and missing people started rising. 

Jed was only a few years old then, now he's a grown man. Quite handsome amongst the other settlers in their town, but not different from the rest in terms of hunting skills.  Just like his father, he too has seen terrible times even at such early adulthood. 

That song, Jade thought, it's been ages since she last heard it. Her father used to sing that all the time. Memories flooded her mind.

The rain had came to a halt but still, the chilly wind blew harder and that didn't keep Jade warm considering her coat had been soaking wet before.
Mr. Elliot's carriage was running at a slow pace since roads are incredibly muddy.
She was worried that his son might not be back before it gets dark.

Jade could feel her stomach grumbling, she hasn't had a descent meal yet, but that wasn't something to worry about, she thought. Just as Jade was about to check the time, her phone instantly switched off.
"Should have charged it longer" she mumbled.
Suddenly, the carriage came to a stop.

Mr. Elliot's son eventually opened the door for her.
"Miss..?" he said with his face looking worried.
"Yes?, is everything ok Sir? " Jade asked as she shuffled on her seat.
"Er..unfortunately maam, the horse can no longer pass these roads." He replied with a frown.
Jade wondered why, but before she could open her mouth to speak the man instructed her to take a look at the road ahead of them.

Jade slowly got up from her seat and went out of the carriage.
To her surprise, there was no street in sight.
"H-how?" Jade was speechless as she eyed their sorroundings.
"'Ole South Shields full of mysteries, separated from the rest of the world." Jed spoke as he put on his hat and his breath turning into icy fog as he speak.

There were hundreds of trees cut down, all  lined up as if done purposely to keep everyone from entering the town. Old carriages and cars, rusty road signs, pieces of old roofings, trash and all kinds of debris you could imagine.
Jade was shocked. This wasn't the old South Shields that she knew.
"There is no way, we could pass here." Jed spoke as the wind blew a bit hard on his face.
"Are you sure this is Shields?" Jade asked.
"Yes maam, we are already in Shields but we're not even halfway." He replied as he went near the supposed street and tried to remove a piece of large branch that was hiding a signage.

As soon as Jed removed it, it revealed an old sign which originally said
"Welcome to South Shields" but was then covered with light red paint which says "Do not enter, leave at once!!!"
Jed took a step back in fear. His green eyes were locked on the strange warnings.

Jade's eyes widened as soon as she read those words..
"We must leave now!" Jed demanded and headed straight to prepare the carriage. There was silence, will she go back? Or will she continue? 

"I can't!" Jade spoke even though she felt fear surging through her.
"I can't go back.." she continued.
"Miss, this is dangerous, can't you read those signs? The people did this on purpose! To keep everyone out of this place!" He protested, fear too evident in his voice.

Jade froze, Jed could be right, there must be something dangerous on the other side. But what if this wasn't real? What if somebody just made this up to fool everyone and not let them in. Jade's mind was battling.
Then the lad opened the door for her, telling her that she will take her back to the station.
"I can't.." she said again.
"But miss..." he tried to speak but Jade cut her off.
"I'm here to find out everything." Jade said and there was a moment of silence.

"I'm going alone." Jade stated and headed into the carriage to get her luggage. There was nothing the lad could do to stop her, even these roads. She was determined to find everything out even if danger lies ahead.

Jade fixed her coat and before Jed and her separated, the young man handed out something to her.
"Miss take this." He said as he took something out of his pocket.
It was a dagger, one made of silver. Jade was hesitant to take it but he insisted.
"In places like this, carrying something as dangerous as a dagger is not something to be scared of, it's what lies everywhere you, it's for your protection." He stated.
Jade was scared to be honest.
"This is the least I could do, I respect your decision." Jed spoke and Jade nodded.

"Thank you Sir." She said and Jed nodded.
"Be careful miss, I will wait here for 15 minutes in case you change your mind." The brown haired stated before Jade made her way to the debris covered road.