Shadow of the Beast

Responsible adults

As had become my ritual over the past few weeks, I woke up just before my alarm went off, pulled on my running gear, tightened my ponytail and headed towards the kitchen, to walk out the front door. Today was different though, I wanted answers, and my plan was to run back to the cabin and get them. 

That was the plan, but my ever intuitive aunt was waiting at the kitchen table for me, cup of coffee in hand. 

'I suggest you go and hop in the shower, Livvie. You're going to have to forego your run today.' 

I stared back at her, angry that she seemed to be able to read my mind and was foiling my plans, and denying me the closure I so desperately wanted. Before I could say another word, Aunt Kate smiled at me and said:

'Celia has sent me a few legal documents, and it looks like we're going to have to enroll you in school before it opens back up next week. Apparently it would be neglectful of me to allow you to loaf around at home and deny you an education, so.. Whatever, I'm going to take you down to the office so we can get everything sorted.'

I breathed a sigh of relief. It was just adult responsibility type stuff, Aunt Kate wasn't trying to sabotage me after all. 

'Sure, I'll go and get ready. I.. I kinda forgot that I have to go back to school.' I giggled. Wow, I'd wanted a fresh start, but hadn't really thought that I'd be getting it with a new school. At least I wasn't starting this school as the frumpy girl... Maybe I had a chance at being popular? All thoughts of unraveling family mysteries were immediately replaced with fantasies about being the cool new girl, ending up with the sexiest boy in school... Typical, teenage thoughts. It was a welcome escape. 

I got showered and dressed, and my aunt and I headed off to the school. We were greeted at the door by an attractive woman in jeans and a button up blouse 

'Kate!' she said enthusiastically, wrapping her arms around my aunt. 

'Barbara! How are you?' Kate greeted in return. 

The two of them chatted away for a while, until they finally remembered that I was also there. 

'Ah, this must be your lovely niece, Olivia. I'm Mrs Moore, the secretary here. Kate messaged me to say that she needs to get you enrolled, and luckily for you we have a couple of spaces.' 

I smiled and thanked her, as she walked ahead of us to lead the way to her office. 

' Yoga partners' Kate mouthed at me, with a wink. 

We followed Mrs Moore down the hallway, until we got to her office. Kate filled in the paperwork, and Mrs Moore took me on a tour of the school. Everything seemed quite easy to find, and she handed me a few pamphlets about the extra credit classes and groups. It felt good to be prepared before starting, and I was glad that Aunt Kate had managed to set me up with my own little private tour so that I wouldn't look like a deer in the headlights in the coming week. 

'I'll have my daughter assigned to partner with you next week' Mrs Moore said. 'she takes the same classes as you, and she'll make sure that you are introduced to everyone. She's my little social butterfly.' she said proudly. 'I'm sure thr two of you will hit it off and become the best of friends.' 

As much as being set up with a friend felt utterly cringe worthy to me, I was glad that I would have someone to guide me in the first few days. And a 'social butterfly' who knows everyone can't be a bad thing, especially if she looks like her mother. Was I going to become friends with the most popular girl in school? The teenage excitement was coming back again. 

I didn't have long to dwell on it though, as I heard an all too familiar sound and feeling envelop me. The sound from the woods, that deep, low, rumbling growl. Mrs Moore and Aunt Kate had no reaction to it at all, as if they didn't hear it. It was deafening to me. Was I going crazy? 

'I don't feel too good' I choked out, and once again, I felt my body crumble to the ground.