The Twisted Path

Chapter 3- The Journey Begins

He said slowly. “You have to agree to do what the letter asks, no matter how it may change your life.” Ryla chewed her lip nervously while she breathed, fighting back her anxiety. She nodded slowly. He solemnly unfolded the letter and handed it to her. Ryla’s heart rate quickened and her vision blurred, she looked up at the sky and tried to steady her breathing.Her mother never cared to get her a therapist but she heard kids in school before who have had one saying that deep breathing helped. Once her chest hurt a little less she looked down at the paper in her hand that could change her life. My dear daughter, I hope this letter finds you well, I have thought of you everyday. It saddens me greatly I had to leave and I hope your mother has taken good care of you’ she stopped for a second to laugh humorlessly before continuing. ‘I believe that someone out there is trying to incite a war, I have not figured out if it’s another pack trying to get humans to wipe out rival packs, or if it’s an entirely different magical race who hates werewolves, or even if the creation of these plants was meant for something else and went wrong before spreading. But I have found these plants that turn wolves into violent humans. This is more of a problem when the humans turn back into wolves before running from the scene because it makes humans think that it is werewolves. As of yet there are small instances and the bigger public does not know if they should believe the victims, but it may only be a matter of time before this becomes very serious. The instances are slowly getting more frequent over time, with sometimes months in between. I need you to come with Kendall to his pack and continue the research, and also find me. The Alpha there will catch you up to speed on the research we have done, and what needs to be done next. It’s best you leave immediately, and don’t let anyone know of this. It would cause panic otherwise.

Urgently, your Father. Richard Anderson.

Ryla’s Hazel eyes slowly rose to meet Kendall’s green eyes over the letter. She nodded a yes, weak at first but firm at the end. He let out a relieved sigh. “Go home and pack what you can, it may be a long time until you come back here, especially with the rules in place that pack members are not to leave without permission.” She barked out a laugh. “Oh, let them kick me out. It’s not like I love it here or anything.” She died laughing. She straightened up. “First I will go get my things from work and leave a letter. I hate Chloe but I take my job seriously, than I will pack my bags so that I can leave my home” he replied “I will be here waiting for you to get back. Oh and Ryla?” She had turned to go but looked back curiously. “You may shift for the first time at midnight.. since it’s your birthday soon. I am sorry you could not celebrate with your family.” Ryla chuckled again. “You are full of jokes tonight. Them? Celebrate with me?” In spite of herself she cackled for a bit more before continuing her walk to her workplace.

When Ryla reached her workplace she snapped off a piece of paper out of the printing machine and hastened to scribble out a note. Chloe. I am leaving, you will need to look for another shop assistant.’ She was about to write another sentence when she heard a noise behind her.

“Chloe?” She asked astonished. What was she doing here so late? “Not that it’s your business but my mate and I were fighting so I was sleeping here.” Chloe growled. Her eyes flicked to the letter that Ryla was writing, and she ripped it from her hands. “Oh no” she said, before grabbing Ryla’s shoulders and digging in with her nails. “You don’t get to leave here when I am stuck with this place.” Ryla screamed, blood drops showing on her shoulders as she pushed Chloe. She used the time to run to the door of the office and close it, her breath racing as Chloe got closer to the door. Upon closing the door the doorknob came off in Ryla’s hands. She stared at it astonished than through the window of the office door at Chloe’s ashen face, both of them realizing Chloe was trapped in the office without a doorknob. Ryla’s terror was softly replaced by reprieve. “Well then Chloe, it was nice working with you, enjoy your night. Hope to never see you again.” She laughed as she walked out of the shop. She would leave a letter at home that Chloe was here so someone could get her out, not that Chloe had to know that. Ryla let out gales of laughter as she heard Chloe screams behind her.

Ryla gets home and takes the paper and pen she took from the shop, then thinks better of it. Why even bother telling her family that she was leaving? She went to her room to pack her belongings, terrified of every creak she made waking someone. She heard noises coming from her mothers room and someone’s footsteps, but no one came out of their room or intervened as she left the house. She made it back to the tree without instance, sad that she couldn’t tell Kermit that she was leaving. “Ready?” Kendall asked. “Never been more so” she breathed.