Chapter 4

That awkward moment when you get caught eavesdropping. Like a deer caught in headlights, I stared at him with my eyes wide and my stance frozen.

Few seconds later, my mouth starts working. "Hi. Everyone is waiting on you."

Slowly he tilts his head,  crosses his arms and narrows his eyes on me as if surveying.

Alpha. He was obviously not talking about isometric compounds, or the first letter of the Greek alphabet. The only other explanation my theoretical brain came up with was that "alpha" was some sort of police talk.

Like code for Boss.

A while ago, Trent and I watched a action/thriller about a rogue SWAT member. The rogue's teammates addressed him as "Alpha" because he was the strong and assertive leader of the group.

That's probably what this was all about. Leo got a call from his boss.

Alpha Grey. I imagine an old man with a nasty scar across his face. Add a hook for a hand and he could be a pirate too.

But why was Leo telling him about my family? My sister and I in particular...He told the person on the phone that Gran had put the flag up too. Chills ran down my back as I thought of horrible scenarios. Why the hell was this town so creepy?

Get a hold of yourself; you're being over paranoid. I'm starting to sound as crazy as this cracked-up town.

"We shouldn't keep them waiting." I say avoiding eye contact, because I really didn't want him to question me about having heard his phone call.

He grabs my wrist before I walk away. "Did you hear anything?"

Shit, too late.

I pull my wrist back and glare at him mockingly. "Did I just get assaulted by an officer?"

He flinches. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to grab you like that. But, I'd appreciate it if you answer my question."

Trying my best to sidestep the topic, I say, "If you're telling me you hear dead people, I'm seriously going to slap you silly. Legends, beasts and now ghosts! I don't want to listen to you anymore."

It's like he doesn't know how to handle me. He clears his throat. "I mean...did you hear what I said on the phone?"

I tilt my head to the side, to act clueless. "What are you talking about?"

He studies me for a few seconds as if trying to find some sort of clue on my face.

At first I thought the pounding in my brain was the sound of my heart losing oxygen from holding my breath, but then I realized the noise was Gran doing, what sounded like, cartwheels upstairs. Gran's footsteps were always loud, even at night when she walked across the hallway to the restroom. I don't understand why she does that when she has a one in her bedroom.

"What was that?" Leo looked at the ceiling.

"Giant possum..." I lied.

Note to self: I owe Gran for that well timed distraction.

"What?"

"I'm kidding." I tug on his shoulder. "Come on, the food's possibly already cold."

This time he follows and soon as we get to the dining table, I see the chicken completely torn apart like a group of wild animals had attached it. Everyone one was engrossed with his or her meal and conversation to notice us sit down.

Vincent and Charlotte sat looking at each other happily enjoying one another's company. Trent and Robert were talking about medical herbs, much to my surprise. My little brother participating in intellectual conversation, using big and serious words—I was speechless. Mom and Debbie laughed every minute about something that didn't sound amusing.

When Leo and I sat in our seats, I politely asked mom why Gran wasn't at the table.

Debbie smirked. "She got excited after I gave her a collection of my companies new threads. Every season, my fashion designers are sent new material for their clothing lines. By the end of a season, I collect the extra material that they throw away and save it for Diana. Your grandmother loves sewing things up. When I handed her the box, she lost her appetite and ran upstairs. Maybe I should have given them to her after we ate."

There was a surprised look on mom's face. "I didn't know mom liked to sew."

Debbie placed her hand softly on mom's arm. "After you left she took on that hobby. She's surprisingly good at it. She gave me one of her handmade bags once. I'll show it to you some time. I use it at work sometimes and the girls at the office find it adorable."

There was a slight remorse on mom's face. "I should go up there and bring her food. It's not good for her to skip meals." She left the table with Gran's plate and left upstairs.

"Are you guys ready for tonight?" Debbie asked, silencing the table.

"What's tonight?" Charlotte took a sip of her water.

I groaned wishing people would keep a lid on that topic already. My sister was the one person I didn't want getting mixed up in all this. Debbie was obviously talking about the same thing Leonardo was informing of earlier today.

Vincent leaned back on his chair and blew a frustrated breath. I don't know what his problem was but we shared the same expression. Pure annoyance.

"Do you also believe in that stuff?" I questioned Debbie, because she would be the last person I thought believed in that crap.

"Are we talking about that story Gran told us about?" Trent leaned forward to see me from a couple seats away.

"Yes"

Charlotte grimaced liked she didn't want to talk about it. After the first night, she finally slept in her own room and not mom's. Looks like she will be going back tonight.

Robert glanced at his wife and took a sip of his glass of water. As if sensing her husband disquiet, Debbie's arm moved under the table.

"Your mom and I would always laugh at that silly story." She giggled.

"So you believe..." I needed a close-ended answer.

It was either yes, or no and I hope she said the latter.

"Yes" She nodded.

I repeated the same word over and over again in my head until I thought I was losing my mind.

"You can't be serious." Trent took the words right out of my mouth.

"We're not exactly thrilled about it, because we've just heard about it. But I'm sure Gran prepared for it, because she put up that flag, so..." my sentence trialed off.

Debbie tucked her blond hair behind her ear. "I know it's silly, but in this town we kind of consider it as some sort of holiday."

"Mom...Are you kidding me." Vincent shook his head. "It more of a pack thing."

Leonardo elbowed him in the ribs. "He's going to have your ass if he heard you say that."

I don't think he meant for anyone to hear him, but I sat right next to him. The whisper was fairly audible to my ears.

"Leo," Debbie send her son a warning for cursing.

"Apologies mom," He replies and sends a side glance at Vincent to warn him too.

My thoughts are still caught around what Leo said to Vincent. "Who's he?" I ask Leo directly.

Leo let out an irritated sigh. "He who shall not be named."

"Lord Voldemort?" Charlotte giggled, not snorted because Vincent was near her.

Leo nearly rolled his eyes but instead smirked. "No. Not that guy." He looked at me again. " It's not important Celeste, please no more inquiring. It involved my job and if I tell you I'd have to kill everyone in this room."

Few seconds of silence.

Leo smiles. "I'm joking but seriously, I can't talk about work related things. It's private information that I'm not allowed to disclose. Sorry!"

Debbie choose that moment to drop her fork. "Dear me, I'm so clumsy."

Mom came hustling back slightly flustered and upset. I give her a curious look and she mouthed 'later'.

"So how's the meal? I hope the salad is okay, I sprinkled a little apple vinegar on it." she asked everyone.

"It's delicious Tracey, stop worrying and sit down." Debbie pulls back mom's chair.

After lunch, Debbie and her family stayed for a half hour until Leo got up and said he needed to leave for work.

Leo got up and clapped his hands together. "Sorry to ruin this party, but I have another late shift tonight because of the eclipse. My team and I work overtime on days like these to make sure no one gets hurt, or runs into trouble."

Ironically, the cops work late and a girl still gets kidnapped, I thought. I wanted to tell him he doesn't do his job properly but that would just insult him. Something about this guy makes me a little hot blooded and not in a good way. His attitude makes me want to bunch him in the guts.

"You have my number. Call me next time you want to hang out." Vincent says to Charlotte who blushes like mad. He neither tried to kiss her, or hug her, but he touched her shoulder lightly with his palm the same way he places it on the small of her back and it looked intimate enough.

"Gag me." Trent says under his breath and walks back into the house.

Gran left her room a couple minutes ago and now she's sitting across the coach waving Debbie's family good-bye from the open window. "Thanks for the materials Debs!"

"Anytime Diana." Debbie says while giving mom a big hug.

"Bye Tracey." Robert clasps his wife's shoulder. "I should tow her away from you before she decides to hang for another whole day."

Mom laughs. "I know she would."

"You guys are no fun." Debbie frowns.

I see Leo straddle his bike outside and he flips the screen on his helmet up. He looks at me and waves me to come over to him. I shake my head and he rolls his eyes.

"If you ever need me, call my direct line. 9-1-1, the operator will page me as soon as you call." He yells over the sound of the motor. He holds his hand up as he leaves our driveway and leaves before his family.

We just meet and he already likes pushing my buttons.

My mom and Gran look at me knowingly and I blush in mortification. Knowing her son, Debbie ignores him. He's probably had more relationships than the fingers attached to his hands. Robert shakes his head and nudges Vincent's back telling him to get in their car. Vincent hadn't kept his eyes off Charlotte since they got here and now he's having a hard time leaving her.

Cue the "awes".

It will be hard to watch them say their good-byes when we leave this town in a couple days. We initially planned to stay here for three weeks, just to visit Gran and then we'll live our routine lives in the west again. I can already imagine having to brag Charlotte in the car and lock the door just to make her leave this place.

"Bye Celeste, I hope we see each other again soon." Debbie hugs me tightly. "Stay safe." She whispers over my ear so soft, perhaps I imagined it. "A beautiful young woman like you a man can't resist." She kisses the side of my cheek, before getting in their car.

"Like mother like daughters." Mom said smiling. She wrapped her hand around my waist the way she did Charlotte in her other arm.

"Bye." We say one last time.

They drive away in Roberts black sedan.

That night, I grew nervous by the hour. After dinner, while helping mom wash the dishes I asked her, "Mom, you lived here for a while. How come I don't hear you talking about that silly story everyone talks about?"

She places another plate into the dishwasher. "Everyone?"

I nod. "Debbie and Leonardo talked about it."

"Not Debbie too." She groans. "It's not true. Don't worry about it."

"How do you know?" I feel stupid for even saying it, but I wanted to hear mom's rational explanation.

"That is another reason why I left this town. The people here are very superstitious. I can't explain why girls go missing, but it's hypocritical that an animal would be the reason for it."

"Right" I smirk.

When I got to bed that night, I closed the window. I didn't feel like leaving it open tonight. Charlotte asked to sleep in mom's room like I had expected. The digital clock by my bedside reads 10:45. My brother and I usually don't sleep at this time, so I feel somewhat relieved that I wasn't the only one awake.

A knock startles me. My heart thumps like a jackhammer against my ribs.

"Are you sleeping?"

"No" If I were sleeping I wouldn't be answering.

My door opens a crack and I see Gran's head peep inside. She sees my eyes bright and wide-awake.

"I just wanted to make sure you're okay. You're sleeping alone tonight."

"Like I've done in the past two days and almost all my life. I'll be okay Gran. I'm not afraid like Charlotte."

She crawls up to me and sits on the side of my bed. "That's what I'm worried about."

"What are you talking about?"

She's wearing one of her sleeveless nightgowns, the typical outfit a grandmother would wear.

"You are just like your mother; stubborn, smart, brave, honest and independent. Don't tell her what I just told you."

A smile stretches my face. "My lips are sealed."

"But I see some parts of me in there too." She points at the area above my heart. "I see the fire in your eyes just waiting to be set free. You're like a young bud, yet to bloom."

"Very poetic." I point out.

"Don't be sassy with me young lady." She winks.

"You're hilarious Gran, I'm glad I got the chance to finally met you." I hug her and she happily hugs me back.

"Nineteen years too late, but right back at'cha darling. I'm glad I have amazing grandchildren who are all little pieces of my Tracey." She lovingly tangles her fingers in my hair. "Are you planning to stay up for the eclipse tonight? I hear it's starting exactly at midnight."

"I'm not sure."

She nods absentmindedly. "If I were young again I would, but at this age I'll probably sleep with my eyes open if I tried." I should better get going now. I don't want your mom stealing my jam for keeping you up all night. Sleep tight love."

"Night Gran."

"Night Celeste."

It took a while, but my eyes started to feel heavy.

He stood inches away from me, taut muscles gleaming against the light of the full moon. This man, I have never met before. We were in the middle of the woods. His face veiled by the shadow of the tree above him. I watched him, feeling cautious as to what I was doing here. My arms tightened around me as my body quivered, but I couldn't feel the cold. His arm flexed, I saw him lift his palm offering it to me. I shook my head, no.

"My precious. Mine"

I awoke grasping for air. Pulling down the blankets, I got up and sat at the edge of my bed facing the window. My whole body was drenched in hold sweat. My heart was working on overload.

Maybe I should go downstairs and get a glass of water.

I got up and went to the kitchen. When I came back I set the glass on my bedside and tried making myself comfortable in bed again. From the corner of my eye, I see the green illumination from my digital clock. I turn to my side and grabbed it. When I looked at the numbers, it read 12:00 midnight.

Gasping, I looked out the window and realized it was completely black outside. The only light coming from my room was my clock.

The eclipse has started.

For some reason, the fact makes me feeling jittery.

I look at the window once more and blink three times when I see two pairs of bright yellow dots staring straight at me.

It's just fireflies, I tell myself. Glancing again they were gone.

Fireflies...

"Calm down, it's just a silly story." I tell myself.

An ear tingling scratch makes cringe all over. The window remains closed, but I feel my skin prickly as if a gush of wind just passed by. I gather my blankets tighter around my body and shut my eyes tight. My ears pick out the sound of shuffling and clicking against hardwood floor. At this point, I knew my head was making things up.

I peeped out of my blanket and saw...nothing.

It was too dark to see.

The lampshade shakes when my hand bumps into it as I search for the on switch. It's as if I feel something breathing along my arm. I recoil back like an elastic band.

Nearly swearing under my breath, I sit up. "Trent, is that you?"

A growl coming from front of my bed virtually has me leaping. I hit my head on the bedpost and now it's pulsating.

"Trent, this is not funny."

I hear clicking again.

"When I find you, you're going to be sorry!"

Hopping off the bed, I circle around my bed searching for my twerp of a brother.

"If you don't show yourself, I'm going to wake mom up." I threaten.

That will surely scare him.

Something soft, cold and wet traced patterns down my bare leg. I stood stunned as a statue trying to figure out what that something was.

My hand reached down and I felt something soft, furry and not belonging to my room. The thing whimpers-whimpers! My foot instantly kicks out and I hit whatever it was, making it yelp.

Gran doesn't have a dog!

I freak out and run towards my lamp, turning it on. Never in my life would I imagine seeing a half-naked guy standing in my bedroom.

"Oh. Shit."

The half-naked jerk smiled, showing off his delectable dimples. Body, lean and hard; short hair dark black and tousled like it hasn't been combed.

"You, "he says.

"What the hell are you doing in my bedroom, on private property?" I don't give him the chance to answer, before I gasp. "How did you get in here??" I panic, unconsciously covering my chest, then panic a little bit more when I realize I'm not wearing a bra and had on only a tank top and short-shorts.

He knows I'm about to scream and lunges. He covers my mouth with his palm and pulls out a cloth from the back of his pants. He uses it to gag me. Believe me, I struggled, but he was too strong.

I can't see what's going on anymore. He covered my eyes too.

Arms slide underneath me and hauls me out the window kicking and flailing. Everything happened so fast.

Oh my God. We are on the second floor!

I close my eyes on instinct as I feel gravity pulling us down. My screams are muffled over the cloth. Just when I thought we died, I feel the force of his feet hitting the floor. My body vibrates from shock. This man is not human. No one could survive jumping that high and walk away as if it was nothing.

He sets me on my feet and grasps both my wrists. I'm trembling as I sense his movements. the cloth around my eyes loosen and one eyes peaks out. It was freezing cold outside, but the cold was least of my worries. It was too dark for me to see him..whoever this crazy man was. I look up and notice a crest moon. The eclipse was barely over.

My common sense flicks back and my first instinct is to fight back -- kick, punch, knee, but nothing was working.

I couldn't quite register the sound, but I swear I heard him chuckling as I struggled to kick his ass.

Out of breathe and tired, my knees collapsed. His muscular arms haul me over his shoulder and I grunt when his shoulder bone digs deep against by hip.

This was not happening. I could not grasp the situation. I accept being insane as long as this was all a figment of my imagination.

My body started bouncing as he ran towards the woods. With a tilt to his head, he lets out an animalistic howl.

Every half century in a small little town hidden in the woods, a beast comes out from the forest to claim his bride on the night of an eclipse. The people of call this phenomenon "the taking". This beast is said to be very dangerous. It roams door to door searching for the woman whose being calls to his animal instincts. He will kill, mutilate and destroy everything in his path until he finds his bride. In the past, the townsmen have tried to hunt the creature and kill him before they can steal one of their marriageable daughters, but the beast does not hunt alone. He has followers among the shadows to make sure his goal is accomplished. Once he finds his bride, he carries her back to the forest where she is never seen or heard from again.

Gran's words plague my mind, before I faint into unconsciousness.

__________________________________________

NOTE: Dec 24, 2016

IF YOU COPY MY BOOK...I WILL FIND YOU.

BE WARNED. xo