The Wolf in the Woods

The Basement

Walter marched her stuff through the small house to an almost hidden door just past the kitchen. It didn't seem like he was going to be giving her a grand tour of the place. She doubted there was much to see anyway. The inside of the house looked as old and worn as the outside had.

As they approached the door Charlotte noted the five locks that studded the outside of the door apprehensively. She was starting to think these people might not be as decent as they tried to appear.

Elaine had disappeared as soon as they entered the house leaving her with Walter.

Walter hadn't said a word to her. She was pretty sure he hadn't spoken at all since she arrived.

They came to a stop in front of the door. Charlotte was pulled out of her reverie when Walter jerked the door open. Before she even had time to react the man proceeded to carelessly toss her bag into the darkness. Charlotte heard something shatter as it landed. She stared up at the man, mouth open in shock.

"Listen here you little brat" he sneered "I don't want to see or hear you as long as you are here. You are to remain in the basement unless we say otherwise. Got it?"

Charlotte nodded, her brown eyes still wide with surprise. The man was built like a brick house. The last thing she wanted was to piss him off. He could easily pummel her into the ground.

Walter roughly put his hand on her shoulder and gave her a shove toward the door. Charlotte started down the steps, trying to feel her way but it became even harder when Walter slammed the door closed behind her. The only light now was coming from the small basement windows. Thankfully she didn't hear the door lock behind her. Her eyes slowly adjusted to the dim light.

There was no bed just a mattress laid out in the middle of the floor. It was covered in clean sheets, pillows, and a thin quilt at least Charlotte thought.

A single light bulb hung from the ceiling. Charlotte had to stand on her tiptoes to reach the string.

She began pulling her clothes out of the bag under the glow of the yellow light. A couple of jeans and a few shirts. At the bottom of the bag, she found a picture of her family and a tiny glass ballerina. The ballerina's legs were broken and one of its arms had been shattered in the fall.

Charlotte carefully picked up the pieces holding them in her hands. Closing her eyes she let her magic flow through her body, focusing it in her hands. Her hands began to tingle and the glass pieces started to feel warm in her palm. She pictured the ballerina whole. When she opened her eyes the figurine looked as good as new!

Smiling, Charlotte gently placed the glass ballerina on a nearby shelf.

Next, she picked up the picture of her family. She was so young when they died that she hardly remembered them. Sometimes she would study their faces trying to invoke some sort of feeling toward them. Her father smiled wide as he jokingly held her pregnant mother. Her mother was laughing and leaning into him.

They seemed like kind people. Were they? Should she feel sad or angry that they were gone? Charlotte wondered. She didn't feel anything, it might as well have been a stock photo.

Suddenly a loud bang echoed through the basement as the door swung open, crashing into the wall.

Charlotte gasped, quickly shoving the picture under her pillow.

"Girl, it is time for dinner," Walter growled. His hulking silhouette disappeared from the doorway almost as quickly as it appeared.

Charlotte shuffled up the steps after him. She had a feeling this was going to be awkward.

Walter was already sitting at the table when Charlotte made it to the kitchen. A teenage boy was seated next to him. He was wearing a letterman jacket so Charlotte guessed he was about the same age as she was.

The boy glared at her as she quickly took a seat. He looked too comfortable to be a foster child. He must be a biological child Charlotte thought.

"This is the orphan girl? She's hideous." The boy sneered.

Charlotte looked down abruptly taking interest in her empty plate. She didn't want them to see that his comment hurt her.

"Just ignore her Danny. She will be out of our hair soon enough." Elaine chided as she slopped a pile of cooked beans and rice on Charlotte's plate.

Everyone else was treated to a slice of ham, Charlotte noticed. Charlotte wasn't about to complain though. It was clear she wasn't welcome here.

"I'm going to stay over at Kyle's tonight. He wants to get some extra practice in. Jordan and Alex will be there too." Danny commented.

"Practice on a Friday night?" Elaine questioned.

"Yeah mom, just for a while. Next year is our senior year. We can't slack off. We'll play video games or something after." The boy stated as he shoveled food into his mouth.

So he was their biological son. Charlotte was surprised. Elaine and Walter looked rough but their son was pretty nice looking. He had even features, dark chestnut hair, and light blue eyes.

If it wasn't for his bad attitude Charlotte might have found him attractive.

Charlotte wasn't even halfway through with her dinner when a loud knock interrupted them.

Walter grunted at the loud banging. His chair groaned as he shoved himself away from the table to answer the door.

"I've got to get going anyway. I'll see ya later ma." Danny said tossing his empty plate into the sink.

"Oh hey Jacob, Greg" Charlotte heard Danny greet. She didn't hear a response. "No, I'm just headed out" Danny continued.

Walter suddenly reentered the kitchen.

"Send the girl to her room. We have visitors." He said. Charlotte was surprised to hear a touch of panic in his voice.

Elaine's long boney hands quickly wrapped around Charlotte's arm. She jerked her out of the chair, dragging her back to the basement.

"Stay down there, girl." The woman ordered harshly.

The door then slammed behind her and this time Charlotte could hear one of the deadlocks slide into place.

What in the world was going on? Charlotte wondered.

*** GIO ***

The meadow was a good place to hunt. Small animals liked to search for food under the snow in the winter.

Gio stood in the shadows so they couldn't see him. His fur blended in with the darkness.

His great furry ears twitched listening to the sound of rustling under the snow.

A hare. He could smell it getting closer.

The creature wasn't paying attention. Too concentrated on searching for food.

He waited patiently until it was just a few feet away.

He pounced, snapping the hare's neck.

Delicious.