My dad told me it was useless to involve the police, not only that none of us could describe the hooded figures without sounding stupid; dad told me they controlled the police. I didn't believe him but with his number of years working on the police force, he knew what worked in the force and who controlled things. We were in his cruiser, on our way to my school. He wanted to drive me to school that day. It was quite understandable because we were both shaken by what had happened in our house last night.
"Did you know what mom was trying to say me?"
"Let us talk about it after school baby girl. I have to hurry back to work now."
We had just arrived at my school and after he had parked his car, he looked at me and said, "You will be fine and remember that you mom and I love you very much." He gave me a kiss on my forehead before letting me go.
It was a chilling morning. The weather forecast that day had predicted a wet day and one could see the rain clouds gathering in the distance. Angela clasped her hands around me without a warning. She was happy to see me back to school.
"I'm glad you are back."
"It has only been a couple of days."
"And in that couple of days a whole lot has happened."
"I missed you too Angela."
She stopped and looked at me, then gave me the warmest hug I've had since my mom was taken. Angela didn't know, of course, but if felt like what I needed now.
"You're coming to the rematch, right? Because we have to talk to Ethan about prom night."
I looked at her. "Who is going to talk to Ethan?"
"You, of course.*
"I'm not going to talk to him. I have told you how it is going to go down." I started to walk away but she was one step behind me, telling me how I would offend the whole of womankind if I didn't have Ethan ask me to prom.
Just then, Mr. Rose walked towards us, wearing a polo shirt, obviously bracing up for the basketball match, his long flowing hair tied in a ponytail. Then my eyes fell on the tattoos of his hands and pictures of last night flashed back to me: the figures coming out of the wall, the figure that grabbed my mom and the tattoos that wrapped around that hand. My mind began to draw parallels but I dismissed it.
However, as he passed, a knowing looked exchanged between us. That I couldn't shake off for the rest of the day.
"You know, that one is off your league. You have no idea how many girls have tried to have him and it never worked."
"No. You mean? Sorry. I wasn't thinking that." My mind was still trying to come back to the present. I had a strong feeling Mr. Rose was in my house the day before.
Angela continued speaking. "I even heard that mafia bimbo has been onto him since he came into this school, five years ago. So, if she couldn't get him, you have no chance, baby girl. Ethan is the one within our reach and you are going to make it your mission for today to make him ask you to prom."
Since it was the end of the school year, we didn't have any class work to do, except to get instruction from our teacher about the coming school year and go for the basketball match. Angela had wandered off to pick up some books and I was at my locker taking out old books and things I wouldn't need in the new class.
"Hi, Luna," It was Ethan. He was standing beside me and I didn't know because he locker door blocked him. My heart skipped a beat at the sound of his voice.
"Hello Ethan," was my weak response.
"I have somethings to tell you. First of all, I am sorry about your mom."
I didn't wait for him to continue. "How did you know about my mom? Scratch that, what do you know about my mom?"
"I don't know much but that you are in real danger."
"From whom?" I heard my voice rising.
"I cannot say."
"You can't just appear, tell me that I am in danger without giving me more." I tried to keep my voice down. Even thought there were a few students around the hallway, as many of them had gone to grab positions at the basketball court, I didn't want to draw attention from the few that were there.
"I wish I could say more."
"You have to tell me more or I will follow you everywhere today, I will not let you rest and I can be a pest. You don't want to be on my bad side."
He was silent, his eyes calculating.
"Alright. But you have to promise to follow me some place tonight."
"Where will that be?"
"I can't tell you."
I almost laughed. "You can't tell me but you want me to trust you."
He was silent. I didn't want to but a part of me trusted Ethan completely, as though he needed me as much as I needed him. I could see in his eyes that he wanted me to trust him without question.
"Ethan, what is it?"
"Luna, in time, you will understand. Just follow me and some of your question might be answered."
At the basketball match, I could concentrate on the game. Angela was having fun, cheering her favourite team. The seniors were winning this time; half of the court was not cheering.
"I saw you talking with Ethan in the hallway. You took my advice. You go girl."
I smiled and looked at her. She was clearly enjoying herself.
I didn't go home after school. Dad didn't come to pick me up either. I felt he was working late. It seemed the universe wanted me to go to this strange place with Ethan tonight. He waited for me after the match and after Angela left. I told Angela I was waiting for my dad and she said had to go into town to pick up a dress for prom.
Ethan's house was a studio apartment in the woods. My first reaction when we got to his place was to put on the location settings on my phone. He made supper and sat down beside me to eat.
"I brought you here because some people were supposed to pick you up at home."
"What do you mean?"
"I couldn't tell you in school but the revenant are after you Luna. Right now they have your dad and they were coming to pick you up."
"Why? How do you now all these?"
"You are an abomination to the werewolf race and I am a runaway alpha from the revenant pack. Tonight they are supposed to execute every member of your family, including you."