Revenge of the lost werewolf

"Lucia, go do my laundry." "But Aunt Jessi, I washed it this morning, didn't I?" Lucia barely managed to get the words out before a stinging slap landed across her face. Before she could recover, another slap hit her other cheek, leaving her dazed. "How dare you argue with me? Who do you think you are? Why did you put those clothes in the washing machine? Go collect everything and wash it all by hand again!" Jessi's voice was filled with venom. Lucia clutched her burning cheeks, her mournful eyes reflecting sadness and humiliation. She turned to head upstairs to the laundry room when Jessi's voice stopped her again. "Don't go yet! Or do you want me to hit you with a broom before you leave?" "I'll go now," Lucia replied softly, her voice tinged with resignation. She hurried up the stairs, while Jessi stood below, hands on her hips, a sneer on her face. "What's the progress with the Hiltons?" Jessi asked her husband, Daniel Simons, who sat stroking his long beard. "I've already sent word to them. Travis seems quite satisfied with this girl. He plans to come pick her up soon," Daniel replied with a sinister smile. Hearing this, Jessi's face lit up with glee, and she couldn't help but laugh loudly. Daniel joined her, his eyes gleaming with malicious intent. No one knew the full extent of their plans. Upstairs, Lucia was struggling with a mountain of laundry. The clothes piled up daily, and for a petite girl like her, the task was overwhelming. But Lucia never blamed anyone for her situation. She simply accepted it as her fate, though she often thought about the homeless people who had even less than she did. Despite her suffering, she found solace in knowing she still had a roof over her head and food to eat, however meager. Lucia's thoughts drifted to her mother, Vivian Harthley. She missed her deeply, recalling the days when they were together. Life was tough back then too, but it was bearable because they had each other. Now, she felt like a slave in the Simons household, with no payment or recognition of her worth. She wasn't truly adopted; she was more like an unpaid servant, never treated as family. Lucia remembered her mother's teachings about kindness and generosity. Vivian often said, "Lucia, once you know how to give without calculating, God will give you something back that is equal to or even better than what you gave up. You are my great gift at Christmas, Lucia. You've dispelled my cold." Lucia always wondered what her mother had given up, but Vivian never provided a clear answer, always saying, "Wait until you can't accept your fate anymore. That gate will open, and you'll get to where you belong. You'll meet someone who will protect you and love you as I do." Lucia had always responded, "I don't need anyone else, mother. I just need you. I accept my fate." Vivian's words often felt like a prophecy, one that haunted Lucia. After her mother's death, she was left alone in a hostile environment, forced to work tirelessly every day. At night, she would gaze out of her small window, counting the stars and hoping her mother was watching over her from above. Despite her dire circumstances, Lucia maintained a spark of hope. She believed that one day, her fate would change. After hours of washing clothes, she carried them up to the rooftop to dry, a laborious task for someone of her size. The other maids offered to help, but she always declined with a smile, "No need. I can do it myself. You all have other work to do." The maids pitied her, often expressing their sorrow for her plight. "If she were my child, I'd never let her suffer like this," one of them said. "I wish we could do something for her," another added. Since her mother's death, Lucia had been treated as nothing more than a servant by the Simons family. She endured the beatings and insults because she knew the family was powerful and dangerous. She often thought about the secret documents she had discovered—evidence of the Simons family's tax evasion and smuggling activities. She kept this information hidden, knowing it could be her only leverage if things became unbearable. Daniel Simons, her uncle, was particularly cruel. He had made several inappropriate advances toward her, and when she rebuffed him, he accused her of trying to seduce him. This only fueled Jessi's hatred, leading to more beatings and punishments. Lucia found strength in her mother's teachings, believing that kindness would eventually be rewarded. Despite the cruelty she faced, she held onto the hope that her life would improve. She often dreamed of escaping the Simons household and finding a better life, but for now, she endured, clinging to the belief that fate would eventually smile upon her. Her heart was constantly heavy with the memories of her mother's words. Many times, she considered ending her life to reunite with her mother, but she always stopped herself, knowing there was so much she didn't understand about her past and her fate. There was something her mother had left unsaid, a secret that Lucia felt was vital to her future. Lucia's days were filled with hard work and silent suffering. Yet, she remained resolute, driven by an inner strength that surprised even herself. She kept her head down and did her chores, but her mind was always racing, filled with thoughts of escape and dreams of a better life. She knew that as long as she held onto her mother's teachings and kept her spirit unbroken, she could endure anything. One particularly harsh day, after enduring a brutal scolding from Jessi for a minor mistake, Lucia retreated to her small room under the attic. As she lay on her bed, tears streaming down her face, she clutched the one possession that brought her comfort—a worn photograph of her mother. "Mother, please guide me," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the sound of her sobs. "I need your strength now more than ever." That night, Lucia dreamt of a distant place, a world unlike the one she knew. It was a realm where humans and supernatural beings coexisted, a place filled with magic and mystery. In her dream, she saw two figures—twins, with eyes that seemed to pierce her soul. One was gentle and kind, while the other was intense and brooding. They spoke to her in voices that echoed with power and wisdom, telling her of her true heritage and the destiny that awaited her. When she woke, Lucia felt a strange sense of purpose. She didn't understand the full meaning of her dream, but it filled her with a determination she hadn't felt before. She knew she had to survive, to find out what her mother had meant about her fate and the place she truly belonged. Days turned into weeks, and Lucia continued to endure the cruelty of the Simons family. But now, she carried a secret hope within her. She began to pay more attention to the strange occurrences around her—the shadows that seemed to move on their own, the whispers that drifted through the halls at night. She sensed that the world was not as it seemed, and that her mother had been preparing her for something much greater. One evening, while carrying a particularly heavy load of laundry up to the rooftop, Lucia overheard a conversation between Daniel and Jessi. They were discussing her impending marriage to Travis Hiltons, a man known for his violent tendencies and unstable mind. The news filled her with dread, but it also sparked a fire within her. She knew she couldn't allow herself to be sold off like a piece of property. As the days passed, Lucia began to form a plan. She would escape the Simons household and find the truth about her past. She would seek out the world she had seen in her dreams, the place where she truly belonged. But first, she needed to gather the courage and resources to leave. One night, after everyone had gone to bed, Lucia snuck into Daniel's study. She knew he kept important documents there, including the evidence of their illegal activities. If she could get her hands on those documents, she could use them to ensure her safety and gain some leverage against the Simons family. The house was eerily silent, the only sound being the occasional creak of the old wooden floors. Lucia's heart pounded in her chest as she carefully turned the doorknob and slipped into the study. The room was dimly lit by the moonlight filtering through the curtains, casting long shadows across the floor. She moved quickly but quietly, knowing she had limited time. Lucia began rifling through the drawers of the massive mahogany desk. Her fingers trembled as she sifted through papers, searching for anything that could help her. Finally, she found a hidden compartment at the bottom of the desk. Inside were several files labeled with various dates and names—evidence of the Simons family's tax evasion, smuggling operations, and other illicit activities. Her breath caught as she realized the magnitude of what she had found. These documents were her ticket to freedom. She carefully stuffed them into a small satchel she had brought with her, making sure not to make any noise. Just as she was about to leave, Lucia heard footsteps approaching. Panic surged through her. She quickly extinguished the small desk lamp and hid behind a tall bookshelf, holding her breath. The door creaked open, and Daniel stepped inside. He looked around suspiciously, his eyes scanning the room. Lucia’s heart raced as she watched him from her hiding spot, praying he wouldn't notice anything amiss. After what felt like an eternity, Daniel grumbled something under his breath and left the room, closing the door behind him. Lucia waited a few more moments to ensure he was gone before emerging from her hiding place. She slipped out of the study and quietly made her way back to her small attic room. The next few days were a blur of preparation and anxiety. Lucia knew she had to leave soon, but she needed to gather supplies and finalize her plan. She began stealing small amounts of food and water, hiding them under a loose floorboard in her room. She also managed to find a map of the surrounding area, which she studied meticulously each night. On the evening of her escape, Lucia felt a mixture of fear and excitement. She had packed her meager belongings into a small bag, along with the stolen documents and supplies. As the household settled into their nightly routines, she waited patiently for everyone to fall asleep. When the house was finally quiet, Lucia made her move. She crept out of her room and down the stairs, avoiding the creaky spots she had memorized over the years. She slipped out through the back door, feeling the cool night air on her skin. The world outside felt vast and unfamiliar, but she was determined to face it. Lucia moved quickly, sticking to the shadows as she made her way towards the edge of town. She knew she needed to put as much distance between herself and the Simons household as possible before dawn. Her heart pounded with every step, but she felt a sense of liberation she hadn't experienced in years. As she reached the outskirts of town, Lucia took one last look back. The imposing silhouette of the Simons mansion loomed in the distance, but she felt no attachment to it. It was a prison, a place of suffering and despair. She turned her back on it and faced the unknown future ahead of her. With each step, Lucia felt a growing sense of hope. She was finally taking control of her destiny, seeking the truth about her past and the place she truly belonged. The night was dark and full of uncertainties, but for the first time in a long while, she felt a glimmer of light guiding her way.