Ginger And The Wolf

CHAPTER 1

Bailey Downs, Ontario, was a quiet suburb where nothing ever happened. The houses were identical, the lawns manicured, and the only excitement was the occasional block party. People didn’t lock their doors, kids rode their bikes without fear, and the world seemed small. Safe. Predictable.

Until the dogs started dying.

Golden and Ginger Fitzgerald had lived in Bailey Downs their entire lives, and while most kids were content to grow up in such a place, the sisters were different. As young children, they had forged a pact—by sixteen, they would either escape or die trying. They couldn’t bear the thought of living a life that didn’t hold any promise. Bailey Downs was their prison, and they wanted out.

Lately, there had been whispers of mutilated dogs found in the woods and backyards. No one knew what had caused the brutal killings, but everyone was afraid. Golden and Ginger were obsessed, but not in the way the rest of the town was. For them, it wasn’t just the fear of the unknown—it was the thrill of it. The mystery. The creature tearing apart their town felt like the beginning of something larger, something darker.

And then there was Triana Sinclair, the queen bee of Bailey Downs High, whose dog, Baron, had become their target.

“Tonight’s the night,” Golden said, her voice steady, her eyes fixed on the map she’d drawn of Triana’s street.

Her younger sister, Ginger, looked at her, uncertainty flickering in her expression. “Are we doing this? k********g her dog? What if we get caught?”

Golden smirked a glint of mischief in her eyes. “We won’t get caught. And besides, Triana deserves it. She’s been a nightmare to you for years. It’s time we do something about it.”

They weren’t doing it because they hated dogs—Golden had always loved them, and Ginger had had a soft spot for animals since she was little. But Triana’s bullying had gone on long enough. Baron, the golden retriever, had become a symbol of everything Triana represented: perfect, untouchable, and cruel. They would take him for a night, let him feel the fear of being lost, and then return him to Triana. By then, the bully would know she wasn’t as invincible as she thought.

The moon hung high in the sky as the sisters made their way through the darkened streets. They kept their heads down, avoiding the streetlights, their footsteps muffled by the night air. But as they approached Triana’s house, something shifted. Ginger stopped in her tracks, a grimace crossing her face.

“I don’t feel good,” she said, clutching her stomach.

Golden glanced back, noticing her sister’s pale complexion. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

Ginger didn’t answer at first. Instead, she looked down, her fingers trembling. “It’s... it’s starting. My period. I think.”

Golden froze for a moment. She hadn’t expected this. Not tonight. Not when they were about to do something so bold.

Before Golden could say anything, a strange sound cut through the air—a low growl, distant but distinct. Her heart leaped in her chest.

“What was that?” Ginger whispered.

Golden’s gaze shifted to the woods behind Triana’s house. The growl came again, closer this time, followed by a rustling in the bushes. Her mind raced, instantly putting the pieces together. The creature. The one that had been killing dogs. It was out there. And now, it was drawn to them.

“We need to go,” Golden said urgently, her pulse quickening. “Now.”

But it was too late.

The creature emerged from the shadows, its massive frame silhouetted against the trees. Golden’s breath hitched. It was like nothing she had ever seen. A hulking beast, its fur matted and slick, eyes glowing a feral yellow. Its mouth was wide, filled with jagged teeth, dripping saliva as it stalked toward them. And then—its growl turned into a snarl.

Ginger froze. The blood—her blood—had triggered something in the creature. It sniffed the air, its gaze locking onto her.

“Run!” Golden screamed.

They both bolted, running as fast as they could, the creature close behind them. Golden could hear its claws scraping the pavement, its breath hot on the back of their necks.

Ginger stumbled, her hand clutching her stomach as the pain from her first period surged through her. Golden reached out, grabbing her sister by the arm. “Don’t stop!”

But it was too late. The creature was on them. It lunged, sinking its teeth into Ginger’s arm. She screamed, the pain searing through her.

Golden’s heart skipped a beat. Without thinking, she picked up a rock from the ground and hurled it at the creature’s head. It didn’t do much, but it distracted it just long enough for Golden to drag her sister to her feet.

“Come on, Ginger!” she urged, pulling her toward the street.

They stumbled toward the road, and then—screeching tires.

A van swerved into view, its headlights blinding them for a moment. The door swung open, and a familiar voice shouted, “Get in!”

John Miller, a local drug dealer, leaned out the window, his face set in grim determination. “Hurry!”

Golden didn’t hesitate. She yanked Ginger into the van just as the creature lunged again, but this time, it was too late. John floored the gas pedal, and the van shot forward, narrowly missing the beast. The creature let out a final howl before the sound of something heavy being run over echoed through the night.

The van lurched as John drove away, his hands gripping the wheel tight. “What the hell was that?” he muttered under his breath.

Golden and Ginger sat in the back, trying to catch their breath. Ginger’s arm was still bleeding, but something was strange. The wound—where the creature had bitten her—was already beginning to heal. The bleeding had stopped, the skin knitting together at an unnaturally fast rate.

“I’m fine,” Ginger whispered, her voice shaky. “It’s not as bad as it looks.”

Golden stared at her sister, wide-eyed. “Ginger... you’re healing. Your wound...”

But Ginger only shrugged. “I don’t need to go to the hospital. It’s already better.”

Golden didn’t know what to make of it, but one thing was clear—the creature, whatever it was, had changed something in them. And the peaceful suburb of Bailey Downs? It was about to get a whole lot darker.