1 Evelyn

I gasped awake when my alarm clock blared through the room.

I leaned over to hit the button to turn it off, then looked around at my new room that once belonged to my mother and her little sister Faith. There were posters of old 80s and 90s rock bands on the pepto pink walls, two full-size white wooden beds with matching dressers, hardwood floors, and an ugly pink rug that needed to be burned.

There was a knock on the door before it opened to reveal my Mamaw, Jennet Monroe. Mamaw was a short, plump woman in her late fifties with short curly graying red hair, pale skin, and green eyes. Mamaw also owned an exotic pet shop, Jennet's Exotic Pets, selling anything from exotic birds to ferrets.

She smiled when she saw me awake.

"Mornin' Lynnie, breakfast is about done, dear." She said in her broad country accent.

"Thanks, Mamaw. I will be there in a second."

"Okay, darling," With that, she turned and walked away.

With a sigh, I reluctantly slid out of bed, then trudged down the hall, taking in the pictures of my mom and aunt Faith growing up. Tears filled my eyes at the sight of my mother's bright, smiling face.

It had only been a week since my mother died, and today was the day we would finally lay her to rest. I wiped away the tears, then continued down the hall.

Mamaw lived in an old cottage thirty minutes outside town in a small three-bedroom house on a small property, surrounded by the Nantahala forest with a small duck pond within a short walking distance.

I remember coming out here as a kid when my mom and I lived in Ohio. We visited a year ago when my Papaw Thomas passed away. Papaw had built this house with his own two hands after he and Mamaw married in the 80s. The house had a small white wooden porch and a small back patio with an old patio set that had seen better days.

My favorite was the hammock.

The inside of the house was just as rundown as the outside, with peeling wallpaper, antique furniture in every room, and a big pot belly stove in the living room.

I stepped into the rundown kitchen covered in rooster decorations, jumping in fright from a loud screech as King George flew from his perch to land on the back of the chair in front of me. He puffed his feathered chest and opened his wings wide as he threatened to bite the shit out of me.

"I'm gonna fry ya like a chicken and feed ya to the wolves if ya don't knock it off, George!" Mamaw yelled, then smiled at me, "He'll get used to ya eventually, Lynnie darlin'"

I doubted that, but I nodded, then sat at the wooden table with four mismatched chairs with overstuffed cushions. I picked at the bacon and eggs, then nibbled on the buttered toast.

My face grew clammy as my heart rate sped up, making me nauseous. After a few more bites, I stood to clean off my plate, then went to get ready for the funeral.

Switching on the bathroom light, I scrunch my nose in disgust as I look at my reflection in the mirror. The girl looking back at me was nothing but an empty shell with waist-length wavy chestnut-brown hair, naturally tanned skin, and dark green eyes. I stood at five foot three and was nothing but skin and bones.

I traced the nasty cut on my face that marred me from the right side of my forehead, barely missing my right eye and stopping at my chin. It still wasn't fully healed, and the stitches must be removed in a few weeks.

After my shower, I pulled on an old black dress that had once been my mother's, paired with black laced flats. After a fair amount of makeup and putting a little moose in my hair, I was ready to go.

After the funeral, we had the wake at Mamaw's house. My aunt Faith glared at me as I slid from the car, "It's all your fault my sister's dead," She scoffed, slamming the door as she stepped into my space, "She would never have left if it wasn't for you, and now she comes home in a casket!"

"Faithful Grace! How dare ya talk to her like that!" yelled Mamaw.

I took this chance to run away, heading towards the path that led to the duck pond. The ducks scattered as I stepped onto the dock.

I sat down with my arms wrapped around my knees, letting out a painful wail as the ice-cold pain forced itself to the surface. Memories of waking up in the hospital haunted my thoughts as I cried.

'I opened my eyes, confused at the sight of the unfamiliar room. The room was dark but was illuminated by the lights outside the giant window. There was an annoying beep, beep, beep sound coming from the monitor to my left, and when I looked around, and then I realized I was in a hospital room.

There was something sticky on my face; feeling confused, I reached up and felt a bandage. I wiggled my fingers and toes, sighing in relief that they were all there.

I was startled when a nurse walked in, who smiled when she saw I was awake.

"Hello, love, my name is Gwen. I'm so glad to see you awake," she said softly. "I'll call Dr. Suzuki and let him know you're awake."

Thirty minutes later, a short Japanese man in his late forties walked in. "Hello, Evelyn; my name is Dr. Junpei Suzuki."

"What happened?" I asked

"You were in an accident and suffered a nasty blow to the head and have been in a coma for a few days now. What do you remember about the accident?" He asked.

"Umm…I remember the play…and, Umm...it was raining when we left…." I gasped when I remembered the bright yellow lights and the loud honk, "My mom?"

When his face dropped, ice-cold fear pooled in my stomach.

"I'm sorry dear, but she was found dead at the sight." He said.

I gasped as the ice-cold pain in my stomach spread until it touched my heart, then spread all over my body. Tears fell down my cheeks as my heart shattered into a million pieces. "No! You're lying!"

He reached out to take my hand in his. "Don't touch me!" I screamed, pulling my hand from his. "You're a liar! My mom can't be dead!"

I didn't even notice when he pulled a syringe from his pocket. I felt a pinch, and then the world went black.

When I opened my eyes, I found my Mamaw sitting in a chair beside the bed, holding my hand. Tears streamed down her plump cheeks as she looked down at me.

My lip trembled as tears filled my eyes, "Is mother really gone?" I asked in a low whisper.

When she nodded, ice-cold pain stabbed me as my Mamaw pulled me in for a hug. I wrapped my arms around her as ugly sobs tore from my chest.'

I was forced from my thoughts when I heard a rustling behind me. When I turned, I froze, gasping in shock to find a large majestic wolf stepping out of the trees. He had to be at least the size of a malamute, with primarily red fur but had some gray markings and white on his belly and the inside of his legs. It wasn't just his size that was shocking; it was the tremendous mismatched eyes.

The left was a golden amber brown, and the right was an ice blue like a husky.

When his eyes met mine, the world seemed to disappear around me, fading into the distance as the wolf stepped forward. An odd sensation ran over my body like I was just now waking up after growing numb.

The wolf sniffed the air, then cocked his head. With a curious look on his face, he took another step closer.

I tried not to move as he stepped onto the deck. His nails clicked and clacked against the wood as he approached. I tensed when he leaned in to sniff me, making me jump when I felt his cold, wet nose on my neck.

He sat before me, cocking his head from side to side looking mighty adorable for such an enormous creature who could easily rip me to shreds.

Feeling brave, I reached out to touch him.

When he didn't snap at me, I touched his fluffy head. I was surprised at how rough and coarse his fur felt as I ran my fingers through it. I smiled when he groaned as I scratched him behind his ear.

We were both startled when we heard someone yelling my name; with a quick look at me, he got up and took off into the trees. A minute later, a panting Mamaw appeared, sighing in relief when she saw me.

"There… ya …are!" She said panting, " I have been… looking everywhere… for ya, Lynnie."

"Sorry, Mamaw. I just had to get away from Aunt Faith for a minute."

"I truly understand, darlin'. Now come on, there are some family and friends I want you to meet." She said, motioning for me to follow.

With one last look around, I reluctantly followed Mamaw back to the gathering.