Chapter 9
Looking at the closed door, she didn’t know what to do. She lay on the front porch. She couldn’t get in and her parents would never let a stray cat home.
“Jenna! Jenna!” Claire was screaming at her. But why? She hadn’t been in her room. Had she? Claire’s foot hit her in the leg, causing her a quick shot of pain to run down her thigh. Jenna looked up. She could see the moon. It was almost full. She was outside. Jenna’s mind was foggy. Her body ached and she had pins and needles in her feet. Her eyes were glued to the moon. The last time it was full was the night her life had changed.
“Why are you sleeping on the porch?” Claire’s question startled her.
Jenna jumped up and looked around her. Claire’s eyes were wide. She was worried. The look of fear laced her eyes.
That’s when Jenna remembered. She was a cat.
“Did you speak to the girl?” Melanie asked. She looked hopeful. For the first time in days, she had a glint in her eyes.
“Not yet Mum,” Josh answered, and she sighed. He could see the hurt in her eyes. She turned away from him.
“You have been there for weeks! How can you fool around while your brother is…”? His Mum didn’t get the chance to finish.
“You think I am fooling around. Do you think I want to spend my day around snotty nose kids! Let me tell you, I don’t. I want to find him as much as you do. But I can’t just ask her. I have to gain her trust. We need to be patient,” Josh pleaded with his mum to understand.
He knew he had come across harsh. He had not intended too. It was the stress and worry. Each day was getting worse.
They all walked on eggshells. Waiting for answers and any sign. But every day finished with disappointment. Nothing, they could find nothing. They had picked up his scent, the place it led them too gave them the chills.
If they were to find his brother, if he was where they believed him to be. They had to play it smart. Take their time. They couldn’t afford mistakes.
“We are running out of time. The clock is ticking,” Melanie whispered. Josh knew what she meant. He could feel it too.
“Dad what happened?” Jenna rushed to her father and examined the large gash on his face.
“It is nothing. I had a run in with a stray,” he ruffled her hair, and she rolled her eyes. That was the problem, living in Dem’Say Woods, just a small town that was outlined by a rain forest. They were stories about the forest. Not many made it back alive. Sometimes the animals made their way into town when they did. They were always casualties. In most towns, cities, or villages the largest death count is by murder or an illness. In Dem’Say Woods it was the attacks from the wild. A simple act of nature as many would say.
They were rumors that always sent an icy chill down Jenna’s spine when she thinks of them. Many say that there are wolves in the forest. Not your average wolf.
These wolfs have ice blue eyes that glow in the dark. They can hypnotize you if you make eye contact. That is not the scarcest part.
It is said that they guard a cave. The cave to Cora’s tomb. Cora was a witch, the queen of witches. She used her powers to wipe out the human race.
She believed that she and every other supernatural were more superior and that humans were trash that needed cleaning up.
A wizard, lured Cora into the cave where she fell prisoner to his curse. She is trapped inside a glass casket. She can only be set free if an innocent soul wanders into the cave. That soul will then die and break the curse that holds her captive.
Many say that when she wakes, she will seek revenge.
She would come after the humans, and nothing would be able to stop her. If she ever got free man kind would be forgotten.
Jenna had a feeling. It was a feeling she had never had before when it came to her father. Doubt, it etched its way into her mind. The slight shift of her father’s head has he spoke and the way his tongue slightly touched his lower lip. It was signs. He was lying. But why? She didn’t know. It was a feeling she had deep within her, and her mind latched onto that. She had always been an over thinker. One thought turned into many. All with a different meaning.
Claire walked into the room and flung her bag on the floor. Of all the places she could have chosen to attended college she chooses to attend the local collage.
At the time she was seeing this guy.
Well, it ended over the summer and Claire had missed her chance to go to New York like she wanted too. Instead, she had to face him every day on campus, knowing she let her dream go for him. Plus she was stuck in Dem’Say Woods. Jenna vowed no matter what she was getting out of the town and entering the world the first chance she got.
“So, I heard the dead man that they found at your workplace was a robber. He was wanted for five counts of robbery and two counts of battery,” Claire said, and her dad paled a little. Jenna stared at him. Something was up with him. He was working longer and acting on edge.
“Isn’t it about time you grew up Claire and stopped listening to childish gossip,” He snapped and walked out the back door. The door slammed behind him, and Jenna could feel the vibration under her feet.
“Wow, what’s up with him?” Claire asked and Jenna shrugged. That is exactly what she wanted to know.
“So how is it going?” Jenna was taken back a little. At one point she and Claire were close. Then they gradually grew apart. Now they simply co-existed in the same house. They passed each other in the hallway or sat in silence. They were complete opposites. Claire had straight chestnut brown hair while Jenna had red fizzy hair. They looked different in every way. Claire was a girly girl. Loved to dress up and paint her nails while Jenna took little interest in her looks.
“Fine, I mean I feel much better,” Jenna answered.
“I am worried about you. You don’t seem yourself. More detached, plus I found you asleep on the porch,”
Claire stared at her with her big eyes. She really was beautiful. With her brown hair that always shone and looked like silk. Her skin was a light honey color. She caught the slightest bit of sun. Selena called her a sun snatcher. Claire had that slender figure where it curves in all the right places.
“I am fine,” Jenna looked away. Claire placed her hand on hers.
“You know if you want to talk. About anything. I am here for you,” Jenna gave her a weak smile. She contemplated telling her about what was going on, but the thought passed quickly.
“Gran called again. Jenna, I believe her,”
“What did she say now,” Jenna gulped.
“She said that dad is playing with the darkness and soon it will catch up to him,”
“What do you think she means?”
“I don’t think dad is looking for a cure for cancer,”
“Claire, I have to tell….”
Donna’s horn saved her from spilling her secrets. “Never mind, I got to go,”
“Jenna, you can talk to me, anytime about anything,”
“Thanks,” Jenna muttered.
Jenna made her way to Donna’s car. Donna had on her angry face. Her lips pressed tightly together, and her eyes scrunched up.
“Hay,” Jenna said weakly as she climbed into the car.
“Don’t you hay me,” Donna said in a calm voice.
“Where did you go? I was stood outside that changing room for ages….”
“I guess they should change the name to a waiting room,” Jenna said which resulted in a friendly punch from Donna.
“I am being serious. You didn’t reply to my texts or phone calls. I was worried,”
“I am sorry. I got a headache and…”
“You just left without a goodbye or anything,” Donna sighed.
“It’s a decent job I love ya. Here your jeans. I also took it upon myself to purchase you a sexy red top and black boots,” She winked at Jenna and Jenna couldn’t help but laugh. Donna was the best and she knew she was lucky to have a friend like her.
She thought back to the changing room. It couldn’t have happened right? She asked herself. It is not possible.