Hungry Like The Wolf: A Paul and Rachel Novella

Chapter 1: Homecoming

Pleasure is saving up for three years to get the camera you want — the camera of your dreams.

I've dreamed since the tail end of grade school about this day.  My trip to the camera shop in Vancouver with my Dad just moments ago has been the most exciting drive I've ever taken.

I sit in the kitchen, my eager hands practically tearing at the seams of the box. As I pull out the heavy weight of the Nikon D1, my heart reels with anticipation. My fingers tremble anxiously as I attach the 18-55mm lens to the camera.

My camera.

I'm shaking with excitement. I have to do some new test shots right away.

"We're going to get some groceries," my mother tells me, kissing me on my forehead. "Your father and I will be back soon."

"Okay," I respond absentmindedly as I fiddle with my Nikon's settings, not even looking up as they walk out of the door.

But I let my eyes scan my surroundings to look for something to photograph, and I begin to recall the way the cloud-filtered sun hits the kitchen table through the windows. Suddenly hit by a strong sense of déjà vu, I turn, my eyes scanning the house. The television is on a rerun of The Fresh Prince of Bell Air, and Becky is on the phone with a boy. Jacob is playing with his X-men action figures on the couch in the living room.

Wait a minute...

Suddenly, I feel sick. This moment is oddly familiar.

Something in my gut is screaming that this is wrong.

I look at my siblings going about their business as usual. Could it be?

No... I recognize it.

I recognize this moment.

I know what I am doing when this moment passes, when this happens the first time. What the room looks like. What episode of Fresh Prince they are running. What everyone is doing. I know what day this is.

Oh, God.

I know this day. I know what is going to happen.

Without another thought, my mouth opens. "Don't get into the car!" I try to scream, but no sound comes out.

I drop my camera, and it shatters into millions of pieces, but at this moment, it doesn't matter.

I have to stop them.

I run to the door, trying to turn the knob, but it won't open. "Stop!" I scream at the top of my lungs. "Wait! Don't go!"

I turn to my siblings, but no one hears me. Rebecca is twirling her hair around her finger and laughing flirtatiously at the voice on the other line. Jacob has Wolverine in his hand, facing off with Magneto in the other.

"Help me!" I exclaim towards them. "Help me open the door! We have to stop them!"

But they can't hear me, continuing on playing, talking, and laughing.

My fists pound helplessly at the door and the windows, my mouth stretching out, but my voice box is out of whack. I try the door again, using my whole body this time, pulling with my hands and with my weight, using my feet for leverage.

But when I finally break the door free and run out of the house into the rain, the car is a distant dot down the road. I know—I know within my gut—what news will return to us... and who will not be.