THE AWAKENING OF THE CHOSEN

Lone Wolf

19 years later

She cringed as she watched Mr. Dolan put his big beefy hand around Sara's waist. Something about him always rubbed her wrong. She visualized herself wrapping her fingers around his throat then ripping-

"Kaleigha?" A soft voice said her name, forcing her out of her head and back to the present. She looked down to see Amanda, a six-year-old blond-haired, blue-eyed angel looking at her with concern. She was tugging at her shirt.

"Yes, Amanda."

She said nothing, just looked toward Mr. Dolan and her sister Sara. She was concerned but she didn't want to say it. Ever since she could remember, she could just feel people's energy, practically see an aura around them. No, she didn't walk around telling people this. Why, because in her reservations she feared people would call her nuts. She did feel nuts, but that was her business, so she thought. Her one friend, Vanessa Carter, often referred to her as weird as f**k. For the most part, she owned it. See, she already took antipsychotic medication to keep the voices. Well, actually it was just one voice away in her head. The other voice, she felt it so strongly it was more like a presence encouraging her over the years and whispering terms of endearment. It was with her always and she felt engulfed with love and peace during its manifestation. Apparently, Amanda had the same ability to sense bullshit because she too did not care for Mr. Dolan. She probably couldn’t put it in words herself, but she knew something about that man was not right.

Kaleigha knew her situation sounded complex, but this is why she didn’t have many friends. Most never gave her a chance to explain before she felt they were judging.

Now she stood back taking the situation in before she decided how she had to handle Mr. Dolan.

"Mr. Dolan." She said, grabbing his intention, after deciding a direct approach would be most appropriate. He frowned immediately as she approached him. He gave her a smile, but behind it was disgust. She felt it. He didn’t care for her at all. She had interrupted his grooming process for young Sara. "Physical contact is not permitted with the children. This is your second warning. Sara go play and if Mr. Dolan approaches you or any other child, please inform me." Sara looked relieved as she nodded and scurried away to join her sister.

"What's your problem Lady?" He demanded to know as he yelled at her. She stepped closer to him to let him know he hadn't intimidated her in the least.

"My problem is you give me the creeps. I wonder why it is that you make it a point to stop and interact with not all the children, but the girls on your delivery? You intentionally come through the side entrance when you could come through the front. Why is that?" She asked, staring him directly in the eye.

"What are you implying?" He said, spraying spittle all over her face as he spoke. Now she clearly stated he gave her the creeps, but he still felt the need to ask. So, she obliged once again, but this time she stepped even closer.

Now, most people would think her actions were insane. She would blame her actions on her “crazy pills'' as she referred to them usually to Vanessa following up with “don't judge.” She was about 5'8 and borderline chubby. Mrs. Pinkney used to say it was baby fat, but she was three months shy of her twentieth birthday, so she was long past being a baby. She had very high, chubby cheekbones, a high forehead, she had thick brows and lashes to compliment her almond-shaped eyes and complexion. She always felt there was nothing stylish about her, but there was plenty of weird s**t to speak of when it came to her, and Vanessa reminded her of this quite often. Like the fact that she had long straight black hair that hung nearly to her waist, with a wavy, platinum patch in the center. She was born this way, at least she assumed, because she had it as long as she could remember. She would love to say she was gorgeous and would stand out in a crowd, but she really felt she was your average female. Her hair often drew unwanted attention, she endured a lot of teasing because of it during her school days. So many times, she wore it in a ponytail or bun, so the streak was less noticeable. She wouldn't say she was ugly, but she’d heard it used in reference to herself on more than one occasion.

Mr. Dolan was not only easily six feet, but he was a hog! The man did not miss any meals for sure. He probably hadn't seen his feet, among other things, in years! Kaleigha found herself thinking.

’Just claw his f*****g throat out! Make him bleed, I want to taste his blood.’ There it was again, the voice, tempting her to do the unthinkable.

She noticed Mr. Dolan took a step back. He looked repulsed "What are you? Your eyes!"

Her forehead wrinkled when he said this. She was confused, but she refused to let it show, instead saying, "stay away from the girls!" She practically hissed. He stumbled backward, but caught himself before falling, and quickly ran away. She planned to report him to the director asap.

She looked over at Amanda and Sara and winked. They both ran to her, hugging her legs and waist. These were her baby's. All of them here at the Regional Children's Home where she, herself, was raised.

"Go play, it's safe now." She said softly and the children ran off-hand and hand. She knew there wasn't much Mr. Dolan could really do to them here. However, a lot of these children had already been traumatized in some way or another, herself included.

When she was young, she wasn’t really sure exactly how old she was, but according to the pediatrician assigned to her, no more than three or four. She was found wandering around in the deep woods. She once went on a hike to the exact location. What was she doing there, she didn't know? How was she left there? No clue? She couldn’t remember much of anything before Mrs. Pinkney.

After being found in the woods alone, she was taken to a hospital and then placed in the foster care system and officially declared a ward of the state. She was then transferred to one group home or foster home after another. Most children at her age were eventually adopted, but nobody wanted a mute child. You see she was about five when she said her first word. Until then, the staff couldn't get a word out of her. Physically, there was nothing wrong with her, so doctors assumed it was trauma. After a few therapy sessions, they felt in time in the right environment she would eventually come around, possibly. She had been abandoned by her family, maybe left to die. So, the adults at the home attempted to be kind to her. These were the thoughts that constantly haunted her. ‘Was I abandoned or were my parents taken from me and murdered? Were there remains somewhere in those woods? I guess I will never truly know.' She spent hours pondering on this subject, her thoughts like clusters swarming through her brain. She stayed in several homes with a few couples. Some were nice, then there was your Mr. Dolan's, unfortunately, of the world. That preys on helpless children for their own perverted desires. She was not a victim, she was a survivor, but the experiences had molded her into the guarded woman she was today.

In the last couple's house, she was placed in. She was chosen to be adopted, but shortly after, the wife developed cancer, and children were no longer a priority, so the adoption fell through, but that was okay because it was then that Kaleigha met Mrs. Pinkney. Mrs. Pinkney was working in the kitchen. The moment she spotted Kaleigha, she took a liking to her and Kaleigha to her. She would take time out to read to Kaleigha on her breaks. She was in her late fifties then. Although she was pale, her cheeks always seemed to be flushed. She was round and bubbly and her salt and pepper hair to Kaleigha resembled her silver streak. Which Kaleigha had pointed out to her by letting her hair down one day. The first time she saw Kaleigha sitting alone she walked over and spoke. "Let me hear your best howl," Kaleigha remembered being intrigued by her. Something about her glowed. She was the light at the end of the tunnel. She howled loudly and people turned to look. The director walked over and said "That's Kaleigha but we call her Kali. She doesn't talk."

"Well, of course, she doesn't. She's a lone wolf." She howled again, gaining a smile from Kaleigha as she stroked the top of her hair “gorgeous it is, wise one is what it means.” Kaleigha was beaming because until that day she couldn’t recall anyone saying anything nice about it.

The next day, when Loreal's shift began, she arrived bearing gifts, but not for everyone. Just Kaleigha, a stuffed animal, a white wolf. "That's for you." She said, winking at her as she continued on her way. Kaleigha remembered that day very clearly because she typically was not social at all, but she was drawn to this woman that howled like a wolf. She found herself seeking her out one day, which quickly developed into a routine as time progressed. One day she found herself outside Ms. Jene's office, she was the topic of conversation. "She isn't the one to get attached to Loreal. She can't connect with people," the director had said. Although she was outside the room and quite a distance away from the door, she heard her, and it made her sad to think she was considered to be a lost cause. She remembered, hoping Mrs. Pinkney did not agree.

Loreal had let the warning go in one ear and out the other. Every day she made it a point to seek Kaleigha out for a quick hello. They continued this little exchange for months. Every day of the week she was there for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The one day she did not come by Kaleigha fell completely apart. In distress, she went in search of her. She started her search in the kitchen but someone else was there. So, she began to howl in despair. Ms. Jene was so surprised to find her in tears by the kitchen door. Sprawled out on the cold laminate floor, Kaleigha lay feeling like something had been stolen from her. She remembered that crippling fear at the possibility of never seeing her again.

"Kali, what's wrong?" Mrs. Jene asked. Still not speaking, Kaleigha did the only thing she could to communicate her despair.

She howled in response and suddenly it clicked to Mrs. Jene looked surprised when she said "Well, I'll be damned! You're missing Loreal, aren't you?"

Kaleigha gave her a confused look. At which Mrs. Jene smiled and said "Mrs. Pinkney"

Kaleigha’s face lit up and she smiled with understanding at just the mention of her name.

"Follow me, Dear." She said and they went into her office, and she called Mrs. Pinkney.

She showed up about forty minutes later and as soon as she hit the parking lot Kaleigha could smell her. Yes, she seemed to be born with an innate sense of smell, which was another reason Vanessa often called her weird as f**k. People were unique to her. They had scents and she could smell Loreal Pinkney. To Kaleigha, she smelled like fresh, baked bread sprinkled with love.

She ran through the building in her direction and as soon as she spotted her, she stopped and howled, giving it all she had. Loreal in response, halted and howled right back at her. "You two were made for each other. I take back everything I said." The director said.

This is how she ended up being raised from age five to fourteen by the lunch lady.

She had taken her home with her and, for the first time, she had her own room. Mrs. Pinkney was the mother of three boys all living in different states. None ever came to visit her, and she was lonely until she found Kaleigha. They did call but they would always say it was too dangerous to visit her, which always seemed strange to Kaleigha. She often wondered what could possibly be dangerous here on the ranch. Even at a young age, she felt they were excuses. It angered her that they could dismiss her the way that they did. As far as she was concerned, the woman saved her life. She loved her like she birthed her, and it was like she never saw the differences they had. Like Kaleigha’s pretty almond complexion compared to Loreal's porcelain white complexion. She was loving and nurturing, always keeping Kaleigha’s best interest at heart. They mostly kept to themselves, their closest neighbors being nearly a mile away. They shared a ranch house on a pretty remote property surrounded by woods. Loreal's only rule was "Stay away from the woods, Kali, day or night. They are dangerous. No matter what, you will stay away from the woods, right?"

"Okay, mama." Kaleigha would always say, and she was very obedient. She was so grateful to be wanted even to think of disappointing.

Kaleigha always felt that she had this pent-up energy and Loreal saw this, so she began to find things for her to do. So, she trained in martial arts beginning at age six along with kickboxing, and dance. She excelled in all the physical sports she tried out for and eventually settled on track once in middle school. The fact that she was good at everything definitely made her interesting to the male population, but they did not like her lack of interest and eventually, they started teasing her. She was nicknamed Kalidactyl, to her horror, because they said she resembled a pterodactyl with her long face and high forehead. Kids can be cruel, and she often would come home crying. "I hate myself. I hate being me!"

Loreal was not having it though. She stood her in the mirror. "Kali, you are such a beautiful girl, sweetheart, and unique. Those kids pick on you because they want to be you. They want you to feel bad because that's how they feel. Now, young lady, look at me. I see greatness in you. One of these days I'm going to tell you a secret and then you will know how very special you are."

"How come I can't know now?"

"You're not ready yet, but when you are my sweet, you will be one to be reckoned with."

She was Kaleigha’s entire world. She taught her so many things during the time she was with her. She could bake, cook, clean and Loreal loved arts and crafts, so they spent hours painting and creating anything beauty could be found in. She was a beautiful soul and taught Kaleigha to be loving and kind to everyone. Kaleigha thought of her often and she felt pain in her heart still at the mention of her name. Someone stole Loreal from her. The trauma of losing her Kaleigha didn't think she would recover from, ever. She was with her for eight years of her life, before she ended up back at the children's home. She was there until she aged out and now, she worked there. Trying to protect the little ones until they found their Mrs. Pinkney. She didn't have much of a life; the kids were her life. The only friend she had was Vanessa and she went off to college once she graduated. She would have gone as well, but around the time Vanessa started college she started hearing the voice. Not just any voice, Azira.

Yes, to Kaleigha’s despair, the b***h had a name!

Lurking in the shadows, Werzelya surrounded Mundora. Always with her she was like a black fog following her every movement as if they were one. “This is where she lives. The one that will try to destroy us. We must end her first.”

“Then let's go, shall we?”

“No, not yet. We must prepare first. She is powerful and protected.”

“She is but a mere human Werzelya. I can kill her with ease.”

“Do not underestimate her, Mundora, unless you wish to have a swift demise.”

Mundora huffed as she glared at the small ranch house. There was nothing special about this girl. She felt no power emanating from her, she had defeated many others that were greater than her. She felt Werzelya’s words were ridiculous, and she had no intention of waiting. She was insulted that she had actually asked her to wait like this weak being was some sort of threat.

“If you ruin our chances because you have grown arrogant, the Master will not be pleased. You will do as I say, Mundora. Have I not brought you this far and given you all that you desired?”

She gave a haughty laugh “You have not given me her or what she has taken from me. So, no Werzelya, you have not!”

“Do you not wish to be Queen Mundora when he rises?”

“I WISH TO HAVE HER! IT IS THE ONLY THING I EVER ASKED YOU FOR!” She turned and walked away with the fog following close behind.

“Patience Mundora, you will have your revenge.”