Meg opened her eyes with a start, unsure where she was. She wasn’t at home or at Billy’s house. She wasn’t in that cold, bare room where she was taken and strapped down to a table like some kind of mental patient. Moving her arms and legs experimentally she found them free. Wherever she was, she wasn’t trapped like before. It appeared to be some kind of bedroom. There was a dresser and mirror on one wall. The dresser held a few small knickknacks, old looking figurines mostly, and an antique hairbrush. On the other side of the room was a chair and small table with several books on it. She sat on a simple bed, covered in dark green cotton sheets. Everything was simple but comfortable. She stood and walked around the room, taking in everything. Closing her eyes, she felt as though she could hear the sound of people breathing in the next room, but she reasoned that was probably just her imagination running wild. If there were people in the other room, she would never be able to hear their breathing from here. Walking over to the dresser, she picked up several of the items there and studied them. They were old and well worn, as though through years of use, but they were obviously well taken care of. Picking up a comb, she flinched, images coming unbidden to her mind.
The battle grew fierce, blood and the dying strewn about. She felt the tears falling down her cheeks but didn’t try to wipe them away. All of her senses heightened, she saw both through her own eyes and as an outside observer, taking in the entire battle scene, including herself standing off to the side, at once. Across the room, the man they called a monster fought, for survival, for vengeance, for anger. She yelled out for him to stop, but it did little good except to rouse suspicious glances from those nearby. He paid her no mind. He was lost to the bloodlust, now. She watched in horror as he realized her betrayal, his eyes meeting hers for one heart wrenching moment before the cold metal met his flesh. Unable to look away, she could only watch as he barely managed to escape with his life, a trail of blood and a severed limb all he left behind. The men cheered. She cried.
Meghan dropped the comb and braced herself against the dresser, shaking her head. The comb landed on the soft carpet with an almost inaudible thud, but Meg didn’t bend to pick it up. The comb was already forgotten. The images she saw were so clear, as though she was actually there herself. It was the same as what happened to her at the Bursar’s Office, when she was lost in Maras reflection
Feeling a sudden chill, she rubbed her arms briskly. When did it get so dark in here? The shadows seemed to grow ever darker as she looked at them. Feeling lightheaded, she moved to sit on the edge of the bed until the feeling passed. Through her head ran images of her, running through the forest, as free as a wolf. No, not just as free as a wolf, but as a wolf. She opened and closed her hand, staring at the movement of her fingers and feeling oddly at peace. She could be free, free of fear, free of consequences. She never needed to worry again about the things that crippled her in the past. She felt the strength coursing through her veins and knew no one would ever hurt her. No one could ever hurt her again. She wouldn’t let them. A feral grin on her lips, she walked over to the open window, not concerned that it was closed a moment before, and jumped out into the night. The red wolf was born.
* * *
Susan tried once again to crank the car and grunted in frustration. It was late, it was dark and all she wanted was to go home and relax in a hot bath, but her car wouldn’t cooperate. She pulled out her phone and started to dial John, but stopped as headlights came into view. She felt a momentary relief once she realized it was a police car. The relief was short lived. Offcer Bryant walked over to her car and tapped on her window. Taking a deep breath, Susan rolled it down just enough to talk.
“Car trouble?” He asked, looking pointedly at how little she opened the window.
She ignored the look and left the window where it was, only an inch down. “Yeah, but it’s fine. I have someone on the way,” she lied. She didn’t feel like dealing with this right now.
“Really?” His smile sent a shiver down her spine. “Well, I’m here, now. I could take a look at it for you.”
“That’s alright. I’ll be fine.” Just then, a flash of lightning lit up the sky, the rumble of thunder following close behind. It wouldn’t be much longer and she would be stranded, with car trouble, in a storm, alone with Officer Bryant
His smile broadened at her worried glance to the not so distant storm clouds. “Come on. Why don’t you pop the hood, and I’ll see what I can do?”
Susan reluctantly pulled the hood release and pulled her jacket closed, giving him a tight lipped smile as he disappeared behind the hood. She fiddled with her cell phone, wondering if she should text John. She didn’t trust Officer Bryant, but he was still a police office. Would he actually hurt her? Deciding it was better to be safe than sorry, she began typing a message to let John know where she was, all the while keeping an eye on Bryant out of the corner of her eye, just to be on the safe side. Hitting “send,” she sat back and waited. There wasn’t much else she could do.
“Try starting it, now,” he called from under the hood.
Turning the keys, Susan gave a grateful smile at the hum of the engine. Bryant slammed the hood closed and came back around to the window, dusting off his hands. “You’re good to go.” He smiled at her again, and she tried her best to smile back, but despite his help, she still didn’t trust him. She doubted if there was anything he could do to change her opinion of him. There was something false about his smile.
“Okay, thanks. I’ve got to get going now.” She cringed at how fast the words came out, but the sooner she could leave, the better she would feel.
“Of course,” he nodded. She watched his gaze follow her car as she pulled out of her parking spot and left the lot, more sure than ever he was hiding something. After days of avoiding her, he happened to show up when her car broke down? Coincidences like that only served to make her more convinced of her suspicions. She needed to figure out what was going on for Katie and the other women who could end up like her or worse if this killer was allowed to continue roaming free.
Thinking of Katie, she felt slightly guilty for not visiting her, yet. She called to check on her a couple of times but so far, she couldn’t face her. Katie was so sweet, such a good person, and someone almost killed her. Taking a quick right, she headed in the direction of the hospital. No time like the present to deal with her guilty conscience.
The hospital was quiet. Most of the visitors left hours earlier. Susan checked her watch. There was still a little time before they would kick her out. Taking the elevator up to the third floor, she made her way to Katie’s room and opened the door, freezing in her spot. Standing over Katie’s bed was a man dressed in scrubs, holding a pillow over her face. “Security!” Susan yelled on instinct, otherwise frozen in spot by surprise. The man looked up at Susan and let go of the pillow, knocking over a tray and chair as he ran past her and down the hall. Susan ran into the room and pulled the pillow off Katie’s face. Taking several gasping breaths, Katie grabbed Susan’s arms, eyes wide with panic. Several nurses and doctors ran in, pushing Susan out of the way and checking Katie over, leaving Susan to explain to the security guard what happened. Once everyone was satisfied that Katie did not sustain any additional damage, they left Susan alone with her. Her pulse finally returning to normal, Susan took Katie’s hand gently in hers and sat in the chair beside the bed. “Are you okay?”
Katie nodded. “It’s good to see you,” she said softly.
Susan looked at the bandages and bruises on Katie and took a deep breath. She did not want to upset Katie again, especially after tonight’s excitement, but there were some questions only Katie could answer. “Do you remember what happened to you . . . the other day, that is?”
“Yes. I,” Katie closed her eyes and swallowed hard past the lump in her throat. “This guy attacked me when I was leaving the SES meeting hall.”
“Was he trying to mug you?” Susan held her breath, half hoping the police report was right, that there wasn’t a serial killer still on the loose. It was all just her imagination leading her to see red herrings everywhere.
Katie’s eyes met Susan’s eyes without flinching. “No. He didn’t want my purse. I think he wanted to take me somewhere, and I know he wanted to hurt me.” There was no uncertainty in her voice.
Susan nodded sadly. That confirmed her theory. She didn’t know whether to be happy or not. Sure, it meant she wasn’t crazy, but it also meant there was a murderer out there somewhere, and she was being used to put away an innocent man. “Do you know who he was?”
“No, I’d never seen him before, but I gave a description to Officer Bryant.”
“Officer Bryant?” Susan looked over her shoulder, half expecting either Bryant or the scrubs clad man who tried to kill Katie moments before, in the room with them. This situation was getting worse by the minute. If Bryant knew Katie saw her attacker, and it wasn’t a mugging, why keep it a secret? Could he be responsible for the attack tonight? “Did you see the man who attacked you tonight?”
She nodded. “It wasn’t the same guy. It was weird, though. The guy from tonight actually apologized before he tried to kill me. I don’t think he wanted to do it.”
Susan felt Katie’s tension and decided she needed to change the subject. Katie gave her all the information she could for the time being. Susan patted Katie’s hand and smiled. “Let’s talk about more pleasant things, shall we?”
“Sure,” Katie smiled, as eager as Susan to move on to a new topic. “Tell me how you and John are doing.”
Susan smiled back. She started to warm up to Katie tremendously during the past few months, and though she rarely spoke of her personal life, Katie joked with her enough about it that the two of them were becoming relatively close. “Well, if you must know, I’d say things are starting to get serious. Last week he forgot his jacket at my place. He said for me to keep it there and he’ll use it when he comes over.”
Katie nodded knowingly. “Nice. Any talk of the big “M?” Her eyes squinted in a playful smile.
“Nah, I don’t think either one of us is ready for that kind of commitment, yet.”
“So, you’d say ‘no’ if he asked?”
Susan smiled. “Well, I don’t know about that.” She may not be ready quite yet, but that didn’t stop her from thinking about it from time to time. She felt almost certain if he did ask, she would get ready fast.
Katie saw her opening and took it. Few things were as much fun as putting a friend on the spot. She was starting to feel more like her old self. “Really? Does that mean you’re in love?”
Susan felt her smile grow larger, her cheeks blushing slightly. It was true she wasn’t accustomed to talking about her feelings like this, but she was enjoying herself. “Maybe.”
“Maybe?” Katie laughed, but it ended in a coughing fit.
Susan grabbed the water pitcher and filled a glass for Katie. “Are you okay?” she asked, once the coughing stopped.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” Katie replied, but her weaker voice and slightly paler skin belied her assertion.
“I should let you rest.” Susan stood and picked up her purse. She probably should have waited until morning to come by. It was getting late, and Katie was looking tired. She dismissed the thought instantly. If she waited, Katie wouldn’t have made it until the morning. It was good she came when she did, but it was probably time for her to get going.
“Are you sure? I mean, could you stay a little longer? It’s been quiet here.”
Susan sat back down, unable to argue with such a simple request. “Sure.” “I’ll stay as long as you like.” The muffled sound of music suddenly filled the room. Susan gave a chagrined smile and rummaged through her purse for her phone, checking the caller ID. “Damn. Sorry, I’ll be right back.” Walking out into the hall, she answered her phone with a hushed tone. The hall was empty, and she did not want her conversation to echo. “Hey, John.”
“Hey, what happened with the car?” John’s voice was worried, but he didn’t sound panicked, yet. She couldn’t blame him if he did panic. She wasn’t exactly calm when she typed her message. Some of that probably translated into her choice of words.
“Yeah, I’m sorry I didn’t call you back. I got the car running. Then I came by the hospital to see Katie and I forgot.”
There was a noticeable sigh of relief, the tension leaving his voice. “How’s she doing?”
“She’s doing okay, all things considered. Look, I’m still here with Katie, and she really needs the company right now. Can I call you back?” She hated to get off the phone so quickly, especially after not calling him before, but Katie needed her right now. She could make it up to John later.
“Yeah, of course, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Okay, I love you.” Susan cut off the phone before he could reply, slightly shocked she actually said the words. They came out before she could second guess herself. Still she didn’t quite regret them. Instead, she felt exhilarated. Slipping back into the room, she felt like there was a neon sign over her head. “Sorry about that. John was calling me back from earlier.”
Katie smiled at the mention of John’s name. “Oh, well in that case, you’re forgiven.”
Laughing, they kept the talk light. Susan stayed until Katie was asleep before finally leaving quietly. As empty as the floor was earlier, it was more so now. There was barely a nurse in sight. Taking the elevator back down to the ground floor, she headed out to her car. She didn’t make it that far. When she was about five feet away, a man emerged from behind a nearby truck. It only took her a second to recognize him as the man from Katie’s room. “What do you want?” She looked around for anyone who may be within sight or earshot and saw only the empty parking lot. Cautiously, she began taking slow steps back. The man matched her steps but didn’t say a word. Seeing his leg twitch slightly, Susan turned and broke into a run.
* * *
The night stretched on forever. The dark blue of the sky, the green of the grass, everything was bright and full of color. Meg stood in the midst of the trees and held her arms out at her sides, palms up, head upturned. There was an abundance of energy surrounding her. The very air hummed with it. Stretching her senses as far as she could, she listened to the sounds of the night and felt truly at peace for the first time in her life.
A scream broke through the silence of the night, bringing an end to her peaceful moment. Turning in the direction of the scream, Meghan ran. Breaking through an outcropping of trees, she saw Susan wrestling off an attacker in the hospital parking lot, off to the side of the building. And then Meg was on him, pulling him loose, tossing him aside like a rag doll. Looking down on this poor excuse for a human being, Meghan felt her blood pump with adrenaline. This monster attacked her friend. He took pleasure in inflicting pain on others. Even now, she knew he was imagining ways to hurt both of them. Her control snapped. Eyes glazed with excitement, she reared back and kicked him hard in the stomach. He rolled over on the ground, grunting in pain. Enjoying the thought of what she could do to make him pay, she prepared for another kick.
Susan straightened her shirt absentmindedly as she watched Meghan rip into her attacker. Catching a glance at Meghan’s eyes, she felt the breath catch in her throat. Meg looked animalistic, almost feral. She exuded a powerful aura of righteous fury. Unless she was stopped, Susan felt almost certain Meg could kill the guy. “Meg!” Susan yelled, to no avail. Meghan paid her no mind
Looking down at the dark blood splattered over the man’s skin and clothes, Meg felt a morbid fascination. After some time, she became aware of her name being called. Looking over at Susan, she stopped. Susan stared at her strangely, obviously confused and a little afraid. Hearing the man scramble to leave, Meg turned back and followed him into the forest.
* * *
Nicole awoke to the sounds of light conversation and the smell of breakfast. Stretching, she recalled the events of the previous evening. At least her energy was returning. She felt completely drained after what happened, after what she did. She still couldn’t quite believe it. It was surreal to think she could wield that much power.
Sitting up, she looked over at the bedroom door, a sense of dread beginning to fll her. “Oh, no, she’s gone,” Nicole said with absolute certainty.
“What?” Panic in his eyes, Mark dashed quickly over to the room and opened the door, turning back with a sigh. “The window is open. She must have left sometime during the night.”
“Great.” Nicole pushed the blanket aside and grabbed her cell phone, calling several of their friends with no success.
Mark barely managed not to pace as Nicole made her phone calls. How could he let this happen? How could he not notice? He pulled back from Meg, not wanting to pressure her or intrude on her during this confusing time, but still, he should have known. He could feel his control beginning to slip. He needed to do something. Unable to wait any longer, he decided to leave. Maybe if he could find her, he could find some way to help her.
“Where are you going?” Nicole looked pointedly at Mark as he walked to the front door. Rubbing her temple, she tried to rub away the headache his tension was giving her.
“I’m going to go look for her.” His voice came out harsher than the intended, but he didn’t care.
“Can you hold on for just a sec . . . hey John, it’s Nicole. Yeah, I know, I’m home early. Listen, have you seen Meg? What? Is Susan okay? When was that? Okay, thanks. Yeah, I’ll call you back later. Let me know if Susan needs anything. Bye.” Nicole hung up the phone and looked at the others. They were watching her intently. The strain of everyone’s attention and worry focused on her made her headache worse.
“What happened?” Mark asked at last, when he couldn’t take the wait any longer.
“Susan was attacked outside the hospital. Apparently she was there visiting Katie?” She directed her question to Mark.
Mark nodded. “Katie was attacked and put in the hospital. The police report said it was a mugging, but Susan thought it was something else. She’s been investigating it in her spare time.”
“Well, apparently Susan was right. Someone tried again to kill Katie, this time in her hospital room, and the same guy came after Susan when she was walking to her car.”
Mark closed his eyes. He was so wrapped up with Meghan, he completely forgot about Susan’s problems. “Is she alright?”
“Yes.” Nicole took a breath, the headache lessening. “Apparently Meg rescued Susan. She pulled the guy off her and kicked the crap out of him.” Nicole found herself slightly proud as she related the events. Even at a time like this, Meg was looking out for other people.
“That’s a good thing, right?” David asked hopefully. “That means that Meg is with them.”
“Unfortunately, no.” Nicole sighed and rubbed her temple to relieve the headache reforming. “The man ran off into the forest, and Meg chased after him. According to Susan, Meg wasn’t acting like herself. She was afraid Meg was going to kill the guy.”
“Then we need to look for her, spread out, search the town.” Mark headed for the door again.
“Actually, I think I should go out alone.” Nicole stood and slipped on her shoes. “I think I can sense where she is, and I’m afraid if too many of us come at her at once, it could freak her out. I want to try to talk to her on my own and see how she’s doing.” Nicole looked off into the distance. “I don’t think she’s doing very well. I can sense . . . a dark cloud around her.” Nicole shook her head and walked over to Mark, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. “I can feel the strength of your feelings for Meghan,” she said to Mark, “but I need to go alone. Go home, take a shower, relax a little. You’re too strung out. If you don’t find a way to let go of some of this tension, you won’t be any good to anyone.”
Mark nodded reluctantly, stepping aside for Nicole to leave. He didn’t want to admit it, but she made her point. As much as he cared for Meghan, Nicole still knew her better than anyone else. He should trust her instincts on this, at least for now.
Nicole looked back briefly at David and Mara before turning to go. They both nodded their agreement of her plan. At least everyone thought she knew what she was doing. Now she would find out if they were right. She just hoped she could make it to Meg before anything else happened to her.
* * *
Mara walked around her home, straightening up now that everyone was gone. It was a relief to be alone again. Having so many people near her, in her home, for such an extended period of time left her tired and anxious. She cultivated solid mental barriers, a necessity when you lived as long as she had, but this particular group was wearing her down. There was something about them. She wanted to help them. She cared about them, and it was exhausting. She hadn’t been able to get any rest while they were around. Their thoughts and emotions kept coming unbidden to her whenever she began to fall asleep. With them, she could sense the echo they left behind. She would need to work hard to cleanse her home from the psychic ramifications
She walked into her bedroom and stopped. She could sense Meghan’s impressions here, as she expected, but there was another presence she did not expect to sense. It was dark and aloof, barely noticeable unless you knew what to look for. She knew it. It was the same presence she sensed around Artemis, the same presence who eluded her every psychic probe for months. He was here, in her home, and she wasn’t aware of it until now. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, taking in the sensations around her with every sense she possessed. This was the clearest impression she found of him, yet. She couldn’t tell who he was, but the sense of familiarity was as strong as ever. She sighed in frustration. She spent most of her life trying to distance herself from contact with strangers all over the world. Now, she came across someone who was better at it than she was. Well, whoever he was, he took an interest in manipulating members of Nicole’s family. If not for his recent actions, he could remain undetected by Mara indefinitely. Other people might see his interference as a mistake on his part, but she could sense it wasn’t the case. He was smarter than that. He wanted her to know he was there. He wanted her to sense him. He was practically daring her to do so.
What she sensed as darkness, an almost evil presence, she now knew as something else entirely. He was dark, and he did evil things, but there was something deeper to him than that. There was something almost desperate about him. In a lot of ways, she sensed someone like herself, old, jaded and alone. She sensed someone she could have become, given the right circumstances. Of course she couldn’t explain any of this to the others. All they knew was a powerful being was manipulating them for some personal gain. They were unlikely to find any sympathy for this person, not that he needed it. Whatever he may have been through, his decisions were ultimately his own, and he would have to live with the consequences of his actions. She couldn’t help him, not that he asked for it.
She felt a pang in her chest and sat on the edge of the bed. She didn’t know this man or his story, and yet she felt a deep sense of regret and responsibility for him, as though she caused his pain. If only she knew who he was, maybe she could make some sense out of what she felt. She pulled her legs up under her and began to meditate, but she doubted it would do any good. She wouldn’t be able to sense his identity unless he decided to reveal it to her.