The Wolf Of Penshaw Lake

ith the backpack swung over one shoulder, I made the decision to leave hastily. The sooner I could get away from this godforsaken town and from Mason, the better. I had spent a year running from an abusive, toxic male and I wasn’t about to enter into a relationship with a god damn werewolf. I choked back a laugh as my brain tried to comprehend all that I had learned in the past hour.

Werewolves.

Actually existed.

Now would be the perfect time for someone to jump out and scream ‘Gotcha!’ But of course, nobody did and I was still stood in my living room trying not to have a nervous breakdown. I planned out my trip, mentally, as I bucked up the courage to leave the house and head towards the train station.

Mason said he would give me time, I just hoped it was enough time to possibly make my way to Timbuktu. I darted my eyes left and right as I stood on the front porch, but the street was deserted. A stray piece of paper floated past me down the road and the only sound I could hear were the birds tweeting their merry song; mocking me almost.

Satisfied that I wasn’t about to be eaten, I hastily stepped off the front porch and turned left down the street towards the old hotel where we had stayed in our first week. The young girl’s words echoed in my ears, ′I wouldn’t have come here if I were you.′Had she known? Or was she one of them? I certainly hadn’t seen her around the Stone house before. A shiver ran up my spine at the thought of being the only one, besides mum, who had absolutely no idea of the lion’s den we had willingly wandered into.

′Like a daft, blind, lamb’I scoffed to myself, ′Leaping into the jaws of the predator with a grin on it’s face’. How had Mason managed to break my wall down so effortlessly? A few words and that melting grin and I was putty in his arms. Ripe for the taking. A stray tear rolled its way down my cheek, but I left it there, too focused on making my journey with all of my limbs remaining.

Was I being dramatic? I wasn’t sure. I couldn’t be sure of anything any more. How was I to know that a vampire wasn’t suddenly going to leap at my neck and drain my blood? Or a goblin? A fairy? Nothing seemed far-fetched anymore, nothing seemed like fantasy and it all just blurred into one big tornado that was spinning me round and making me feel sick.

I threw up into a patch of mud at the side of the woods. Noticing the woods I looked up as I wiped my mouth. On the other side was the old hotel with it’s windows boarded up. I cocked my head to the side as I realized we must have been their last customers. Penshaw Lake really did not get visitors.

Only we were stupid enough.

No, not stupid. Scared. A prey animal will run for its life, faster than it has ever run before, but running that fast has consequences. It will trip, or it will run straight into the jaws of the beast waiting on the other side. Like a wildebeest who dives in the water to escape the lion only to feel the teeth of the crocodile that had been lying in wait for it.

I carried on walking, hoisting my bag back up onto my shoulder that had made its way down to the crook of my elbow as I was sick. The taste of vomit lingered on my tongue and I wished for nothing more than a tube of toothpaste. I chuckled to myself as I imagined a genie popping in front of me to grant my wish. Three wishes right? I thought of what I would wish for as I spotted the train station in the distance, a pit of hope suddenly blooming in my chest. I could only hope that I could catch a train without waiting too long.

“You won’t get very far,” came a female voice from behind me.

I shrieked, having not heard another soul since I left the house. I spun around with my hand clutched to my chest and my heart threatening to beat out of my chest. I looked into the eyes of Kate and my brain wanted to immediately sigh with relief but I knew better. She had to be one of them. I stared at her, waiting for her to speak again. Her stance was cocky, although that could have been her boots. Her eyes, however, were soft and pleading.

“Did you really think he would let you go and not have someone watching you?”

Her words sunk in. A predator would never give up his prey so willingly, in fact he would fight to the death for it.

“How long have you been following me?” I asked, my voice full of betrayal.

Kate sighed, “Since you left the house. Josie was posted at the house, Isaac in town and me here.”

I grit my teeth in anger, what was with the games? “If he didn’t want me to leave then why not come for me himself?”

“He didn’t want to scare you, he thought it better that we look out for you instead,” She explained.

I just rolled my eyes, “What a crock of shit. You’re telling me he didn’t want to scare me? He turned into a wolf Kate. I’m lucky I’m not ripped into pieces,” I snapped.

Kate laughed loudly and I could feel myself squirm awkwardly as I tried to keep my face stony and my posture defensive.

“I-” I tried to speak, but Kate would not stop laughing. I frowned, was she trying to confuse me or had I said something hilarious? I couldn’t figure it out.

“Do you not think,” Kate sputtered finally, “that if he wanted to kill you he would have done it the moment he had you alone? Every time you kissed and you let your guard down?”

I lowered my head, unable to think of a retort. It was true, Mason had never once tried to hurt me until today.

“If he doesn’t want to kill me, then what does he want?”

Kate smiled, “You’re going to have to ask him that yourself.”

I shook my head instantly, “Absolutely not. I am leaving and that is final.”

“You step one foot on that train platform and I will not be responsible for his actions.”

“What?” I spat, “What exactly is he going to do Kate? If his plan isn’t to kill me, then why am I so important to him? Is he really that desperate? Tell me,” I taunted as I began to walk backwards towards the station. I had well and truly snapped.

Well, it was about time.

“Stop it,” Kate warned. “You’ve only seen the lycan side when he was apologetic, you do not want to see him angry. He won’t hesitate to drag you home with his teeth.”

I bent down and grabbed the knife I kept strapped against my leg. “Let him try.”

I took a few more steps backwards, fully intending to turn and sprint towards my destination, but the hope inside my chest was slowly dwindling into nothingness. Even if I made it to the station, there was no guarantee of a train. Still, I could put off the inevitable as long as possible.

Another step.

Two more.

Kate’s eyes widened and she shook her head, willing me not to take another step, but I wasn’t in the mood to listen.

One more step.

A deep, guttural growl sounded out behind me and I could feel my blood run icy cold. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up and goosebumps appeared over my body. I stopped midstep, almost afraid to put my foot back down on the ground. I knew right then that Mason was right behind me, only it wasn’t the Mason that I had come to know. Slowly, I turned around to face the beast and felt my hand tighten around the knife, I knew it would do no good against the monster in front of me, I was shaking like a leaf for a start.

He lifted a paw and took a threatening step forward, I instantly responded by taking several steps backwards. I could feel soft, feminine hands clasp around my arms, but they weren’t intended to feel entrapping, they were supposed to be comforting, I could tell by the way they rubbed up and down my arms in an attempt to calm me down.

“He’s giving you the chance to come with me now,” Kate whispered. “Don’t fight him anymore, you won’t win.”

Another look at the snarling beast in front of me told me that Kate was absolutely right. One snap of those monstrous teeth and it would all be over. I nodded, my eyes filling with tears that I blinked back. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing me cry. Kate placed her arm around my shoulder and turned me around ready to walk me back.

As we walked I shrugged off her arm and let the tears fall freely down my cheeks. Kate allowed me to walk alone, she could see that I needed a moment to collect myself. I felt trapped once again, only this time I could truly see no hope of ever escaping. This wasn’t one alcoholic human man; Mason had an entire pack of wolves able to sniff me out a mile away.

I could soon see the town come into view and with it, another figure that I really did not want to see.

Josie reached her arms out for me, but I slapped her hands away and continued to walk towards the house. I could hear Kate say something to Josie but I was too wrapped up in my own emotion to feel guilty for pushing her away. I could hear her calling my name and it was true that I felt closest to Josie out of everybody in town, but it was one of the reasons I felt so hurt by her. She kept me in the dark, just like everybody else.

I grappled the door handle and tried to open the door, but of course I had locked it. Through tear-filled eyes I found my keys and tried to hurriedly open the door, but I couldn’t see what I was doing through my blurred vision. As the keys fell to the ground, I let out an audible sob, which I attempted to muffle with my sleeve.

“Sophie,” came a soft voice behind me as I bent down to pick up the keys.

“I’m sure he’s told you my real name,” I spoke, my voice cracking through each word.

Josie was silent for a moment, “He was reluctant, but when he found out you were trying to leave he told us,” She paused, “Heidi, I am still your friend. Dee and Kate too.”

After failing to get the key in the hole for the third time, I gave up and threw the keys on the front garden with a yell and sank down on the step, not caring if they saw me crying anymore. I needed to cry, it was the only way I was going to think clearly. I wasn’t expecting the force of the sobs that wracked my body as I hugged my knees to my chest, but I let them fall.

I felt Josie sit down next to me and slowly offer her arms out, and surprisingly I could feel myself lean into her. As I lay my head on her chest, she grabbed me tightly and rested her chin on my head, using one hand to rub my back. She didn’t say a word, just held me as I cried and truthfully it was all I needed.

Soon, the tears began to dry up and the sobs turned into heavy breathing as I tried to calm myself down. Josie lifted me off her chest and held me up so I could look into her eyes.

“We would never hurt you,” She declared. “You get that into your head.”

I could feel a small smile appear on my face as I nodded at her.

“But Mason-” I began.

“Would rather stab a fork into his eye than touch a hair on your pretty, little head.”

I choked a laugh at the idea and closed my eyes, feeling the exhaustion of crying so hard take over my body.

“You have never been safer and more loved than you are here you absolute ninny. I know it’s scary and honestly, if I was in your position I would run for the hills too. But instead of thinking of us as beasts that go bump in the night, think of us as your protectors and best friends. You have an entire pack of wolves who would do anything for you because we love you.”

I could feel my eyes welling up with tears again, everything Josie said was spoken with such truth and love it felt as though it was piercing through my heart.

“Why is Mason so determined to keep me here? He can’t love me, we hardly know each other,” I reasoned. I understood the love that friends’ had for each other, but the love between partners was far more intimate.

“Get some sleep,” Josie skipped around the question, “Mason will explain everything tomorrow. There is a reason he needs you here, but it is not for me to explain to you.”

I nodded and stood shakily to my feet as Josie retrieved the keys from the grass, shaking them to rid them of the strands that had clung to them. As she opened the door, she left me with a final warning.

“Your mum doesn’t know a thing and until you’re ready, it’s best you don’t tell her. Then we may have to repeat this entire thing again and I am not emotionally ready. She is still with Jane, so if she comes home just leave a note to say you have a headache and have headed to bed early okay?”

I nodded tiredly, my mum was easily spooked and telling her about werewolves could only go two ways. One, she would think I’ve lost it and panic, or two, she would believe me and...well...panic. I said a weary goodbye to Josie who kissed my cheek and told me she loved me before backing off down the path.

I scribbled a quick note to mum, telling her about my headache. It wasn’t even a lie anymore, all the crying and the fear of today had sent my head pounding. I took two paracetamol and headed upstairs, unsure if I would be able to sleep.

But as soon as my head hit the pillow, my weary eyes closed and I fell into a deep sleep.