The Hidden

No Help

Dyann got through her morning chores in record time. She asked about Meagan once and earned a hard back hand across the face. Thank you Grandfather or whoever you are. She claimed she needed to be at work early and tried to get out of the house quickly. Her grandmother stopped her cold in her tracks. “Medicine Dyann” 

Dyann took the pills from her grandmothers outstretched hand and dutifully put them in her mouth. Grandmother eyed her suspiciously. “swallow girl.” Her order was stern and carried a lot of warning. Dyann did as she was told even though the thought of those pills almost made her wretch. With her family satisfied she was allowed to leave. She had a considerable walk and she found time to stick her fingers down her throat and vomit up those repulsive pills. She was so paranoid that she actually took the time to bury them. How did they know?  The way they all looked at her this morning, she could feel it. 

When she finally made it to work she had to bide her time to talk to Jenna. Finally she got her chance. “Are you still seeing that cop and can he run a plate for me?” 

Jenna sighed, “Yes and Yes and look at who is taking a stand. I love it.” 

Dyann sighed, “There’s more. I have 8 spoons I need tested for dna. Just basics. Species and chances of relation between them all. I want them compared to my dna that we resubmitted.”

Jenna looked at her curiously. “Ok you need to fill me in on the dinner last night.”

Dyann felt like she talked forever. When she finally took a breathe Jenna sat with her eyes wide open and took a deep breathe. “Ok let’s go with what we know. Your family probably isn’t your family. We need to check for missing girls your age. Those pills are making you sick. Meagan is not some lost girl, she was born and raised in your lifetime. You know how old she is. We need to test this dna and do a deep background search on your name and social.”

Dyann nodded. “That’s pretty much it. I have no idea what is happening.”  She had left out the talk of werewolves, her heightened senses, and the smell from last night. She already sounded crazy but adding in obvious fiction would be a bit much even for a friend like Jenna. 

The rest of the work day went quickly. She and Jenna worked well together. It was seamless but as usual 4:30 came too soon and it was time to go home. She did not want to. She hated it there and she was so close to the day she would escape forever. She was getting impatient with herself. 

As she was leaving Jenna told her to check her phone. It was the information on the license plate she had given to Jenna. It was registered to Triple C Enterprises based in Maine. What would they be doing all the way out here looking for someone in Rexburg, Idaho. Talk about a bit of a stretch. Still they were here. They took Meagan to Maine being told  Meagan was a missing 26 year old possibly Dyann herself. 

When Dyann walked out front she was horrified to see her uncles car. Waiting. Watching. What had he seen?  Did he see her with that cell phone?  They weren’t supposed to know about the phone because she was not supposed to have a phone. Just like they did not know what she really got paid.  As she climbed in the car her uncles scent was overpowering. It almost made her sick. They drove in silence as usual until he said, “I can smell you.”

Dyann was startled, “Excuse me what does that mean?”

“It means exactly what it sounds like Dyann. I smell you. Your sickness causes you to have a peculiar odor. Have you stopped taking you medicines?”

She almost panicked. s**t! What was she going to do? Think fast Girl. 

“I’ve been a bit sick this week. I have thrown up the last few mornings. Maybe my meds didn’t fully digest. Should I ask for another dose before bed?”

He slapped her fast and hard. “Yes, i***t. What have we told you? Those medicines are necessary. I will inform Mother as soon as we get home.”

Dyann cupped her face in one hand rubbing the sore cheek “Yes Uncle Daniel.”

To her surprise he continued speaking, “when you complete your chores this evening you will begin packing  We are moving. The truck will arrive tomorrow  you will pack up your room, the kitchen, the common the rooms, bathrooms and pantry.”

“I don’t understand. Why are we moving again?” Dyann was shocked this was the shortest notice she had ever been given.  This time her question earned her a busted lip.

“It isn’t your place to question.  You will do as you are told.”

Dyann almost snapped.  Would it be better to snap one on one or once she got home? 

“I’m not leaving. I have a job and can support myself.”

She felt nauseous as Daniel pulled the car over to the shoulder of the road and instructed her to get out.  She knew he was going to beat her.  In that moment she heard a voice that seemed to come from inside her “Do not worry  I am with you and this wolf is nothing to fear for us.”

What the hell was that?  Wolf?  She really needed to stop reading those fantasy fiction novels. Still she felt calm as she stepped out of the car and braced herself. Daniel closed the distance between them quickly and grabbed her by the throat.  She felt like she was having an out of body experience when she grabbed his hand and pried it off her neck. Then she struck  him. She had never retaliated against her family. She had taken everything they had thrown at her. She was shocked that she hit him. She was more shocked that he stumbled backwards and lost his footing.  It made her braver.  Then she saw it.  Her uncles fingernails looked like claws, his teeth looked like fangs, and his body seemed to be contorting and ripping against his clothes. Then suddenly it stopped.  He looked like Daniel again only angrier with black eyes.  His voice aggressive and gravelly like at dinner ordered her back into the car.