1 A Real Nightmare (1)

Aitkin County, Minnesota

May 1947

A year had passed since the World War II ended. But it didn't mean that there was no more war. Dad said that war will always there with us. And yup, it was the fact that some riots were still happening, here and there at most of counties. And Dad who joined the US army was often being sent to quell the riots. Even now. And I wish I could join him.

It was such a pain to be born as a girl. There were just too much things that I couldn't—or more exactly 'was forbidden to'—do as a girl. Mom said we should be thankful that we were able to visit Minnesota this summer. Although I didn't understand at which part of it that we should be thankful for. I mean, we should just stay there for all I know.

My family lived here, in Aitkin, Minnesota, till two and a half years ago. Aitkin was not a big city and there wasn't to much we could do here. There're lots of forest in Aitkin, just say, like Lake O'Lakes, Hill River, Wealth wood, and the rest four forests that were far away from my village. And of course, we could find lots of lake since Minnesota was known as "Land of 10.000 Lakes".

Dad's family, Wilder, cultivated a wide wheat field and a farm. Just like how people in the county side in generally do. Kind of boring indeed, because all we could do was whether helping in the farm, reading books on the backyard, or going around by riding on Mathew's back. He was my horse and my best friend. I never knew that I would miss Minnesota this much.

When the summer holiday came, we visited the farm which was being taken care by uncle Peter's family. And so, summer had become my most favourite time of the year. Because it was only in this time, I could meet Mathew. Yes, we didn't bring him when we move. I left him under Hanna's care. She was uncle Peter's daughter, my cousin. She was a nice girl so I knew Mathew would be fine. Though, actually, it was hard for me to leave him. But bringing him along was not a wise choice at all.

I thought I've read it on some book before, that there were ancient humans who lived a moving life, from a place to another, time by time. I heard that their clan had extinct. But now I was sure that the book was wrong, or may be the author missed about the descendants of that clan. I thought my parents were members.

We had moved five times after leaving Minnesota. From Ohio to North Carolina, then to Michigan. After that we travelled across the continent to move to New Mexico. And according to the latest news, after this summer we would move to Colorado. And you know, if this pattern remained, we would have explored the whole land of US by the time I graduate from high school.

I couldn't wait for the graduation, and for looking a job and live independently. I would move a city with normal people, living a normal live. 'Normal is the best' was my motto.

Oh, it wasn't because I was not normal. I hate to say it, but my family was not normal. Lived a moving life was not the only insanity in Wilder family. Because, thanks to our moving habit across different counties, we never got enough time to socialized and getting along with people. Or at least so it felt for me. I was never a cheerful and friendly type of person who loved to help other and so easily getting along with everyone. It was just me. And I needed time to get to know others, or to let others to know me. And, well, that was why being apart from Mathew made me lonely—literally. He was my only friend for years.

And by the way, having a habit to move around was not the biggest insanity in our family. The root of this habit was something even more insane. It wasn't even because of Dad's job. The real reason was my sister, Karen Wilder.

Karen was a very special girl. She was friendly and kind hearted, very lovely. She was two years younger than me, but we almost have the same height. She was pale, with reddish cheeks and small lips that looked like cherry. Her irises had the colour of blue like lazuli. She inherited Mom's blonde and straight hair.

Karen had a look of a fairy tale princess. Sometimes I was wondering myself if we really are siblings. Maybe I was an adopted child. Nah, just kidding. Although I got a female hunter appearance instead of princess, I looked a lot like Dad. Black wavy hair and hazel brown irised eyes. Dad and I were similar in many aspects, so there was no questioning our genes.

But it seemed that Karen just couldn't stop to be special. Around three years ago, she awakened a supranatural power, an ability to see future events. She called it future vision. It allowed her to get some previews about future into some extend. Or so she claimed.

I could never believe it. I knew that Karen is my sister and that I never am special enough to say anything, but … seriously! How could Mom and Dad just trust it like it was the most normal thing to do?! Just because several events happened as how she had seen it before with that ability, then everyone concluded that it was a real thing. And the result? Well, as you've guessed, our home-moving-habit.

Last year, I suggested to them that I should stay in our home at Minnesota. I was sixteen, more than capable enough to take care of myself. But my parent against it, said that it was not safe for me. Even lately Mom had developed paranoia, huge fears with no reason. As if she everything was too scary for her now.

Mom denied it every time, but it was Karen's power that incite the fears. Karen said she sees future. And in that future, dangers were waiting us. She often said that somebody would die because a group of dark coated people attacking. When I asked her who was this group identity, her answer couldn't be more absurd; they were werewolves, demons, or other monsters—like hell they're even exist on earth?

There was no way I could trust it. What Karen said was more like myths and fiction stories. It couldn't be true. I was sure of that, until one day an event unfolding before my eyes, shattering all of my logic mind and believe.

***