The Fall

Chapter 3

Zoe- 2016

After leaving the hospital that fateful night, my memory seems to blur into an indistinct haze. Kamden's parents graciously opened their home to me. Kari, his mother, went out of her way to provide me with a few new outfits and shoes, ensuring that I had the essentials to get by. In their home, the bathroom was stocked with brand-new toiletries—an unused toothbrush, fresh deodorant, and shampoo.

But life, as I had known it, seemed to come to a standstill. I didn't return to school, I couldn't bring myself to eat, and the idea of taking a shower felt as distant as the fading memories of the life I once had. It was on the sixth day that reality forced its way back into my consciousness—a memorial service was planned. I don't recall much about it; it felt like a surreal blur. People from our hometown, our original pack, came to pay their respects. They offered heartfelt condolences, emphasizing the tragic nature of the events that had unfolded, and how my parents had been taken from us far too soon.

Four days later, they released the cause of the fire. It was a cruel revelation, one that shattered the remnants of my shattered world. It was revealed that my own mother had ignited the inferno, drenching our house in kerosene and even spilling it upon herself. I can only imagine the horrors she faced, engulfed in flames and choking on smoke. My father, awakened by the blaze and my mother's agonized cries, made a valiant effort to reach her. Weak and already injured, he fought through the inferno to find her. By the time he managed to pull what remained of her lifeless body from the fiery wreckage, it was too late. His skin was marred with blistering burns, and he collapsed just outside our home. He breathed his last breath shortly after, his valiant attempt to save my mother ultimately sealing his own tragic fate.

I wonder what my mom’s intention was. Obviously, it couldn’t have been to kill herself and my father. The truck bed was packed with belongings. Did she intend to fake their death? Is that why she was insisting I needed to get my sister? We are getting out of the Falls tonight. I think back often on my last conversation with her and can’t help but blame myself. I should have been there, I should have taken her more seriously. I should have protected my dad.

The weeks following their deaths are a blur. I don’t attend graduation, I don’t sleep, I don’t work, I don’t talk to my sister, I don’t talk to anyone.

I don’t know how long it takes before I start to eat again, I don’t know when I take my first shower. I remember I went downstairs on a Wednesday. At, least the calendar in the kitchen said so. I hadn’t left the upstairs bedroom since the funeral.

It is Kamden’s father, Alpha Porter that I speak to first. “I’m sorry,” I say after he startles finding me staring into the fridge.

“You hungry?” He asks.

“Thirsty,” I respond.

“We keep the fridges in the garage stocked with fluids for after runs. I can show you.” I follow him as he exits a room off the kitchen, it's a big three-car garage but there are no cars inside, instead, there are 4 fridges lined against one wall, another 4 freezers then a stack of chairs, and a table on the far side. In the middle is a cluster of chairs and loveseats around an empty table.

He opens each fridge exposing hundreds of drinks, flavored water, protein shakes, Gatorade, Powerade, beer, and hard seltzers. I grab a Bud Light and then blop down on one of the chairs. He follows suit with a beer in his hand.

We don’t speak, he doesn’t ask me any questions. He just brings me a few more beers, each time he gets up for one himself.

“Oh, there you are.” I hear Kari say from the doorway. I don’t know if she was looking for me or her husband.

“Zoe, honey. There is an event next weekend. A lot of visiting packs will be here, including some from your old pack. No one is expecting you to do anything but I wanted to let you know in case you are wondering about the sound outside.”

“What event?”

“Summer Solstice.” She answers. Oh. I didn’t realize how much time had passed. My birthday is two days after the summer solstice, which means school starts soon. Which also means it's been five weeks since my parents died.

“Oh okay,” I say.

“Johnnie stopped by for you again today.” She says and that's when I look up to see Alpha Porter give a sideways glance to his wife.

“I will tell him to stop,” I say. Unsure of how to respond.

“Oh we don’t mind, no trouble to us. I just wanted you to know.”

“Thank you,” I mutter. Six beers in and I am capable of having a whole conversation. Look at me go. Kari leaves and Alpha Porter and I share a look.

“Thank you for letting me stay here. School starts the second week of July, I have a work-study with advanced housing, I will be out of your hair soon.” I offer. Not sure of what else to say.

“You are no bother to us being here. I didn’t realize you were enrolled, where are you going?”

“Boston.”

“If we can help you at all. If you need help to get you there, it would be our pleasure.”

“I planned on taking the train.”

“Well, we can take you to the station. Whatever you need Zoe, we are here for you.” Apha Porter is a good Alpha, I can tell. I am not sure if he feels obliged to help me because I am his son’s girlfriend's twin or just an orphaned wolf in his town. Either way, I appreciate him sitting here with me. Not asking me about my parents, not telling me it will get better, not trying to talk through my grief.

After another beer, Kari brings in a pizza and sets it out on the table. We eat the entire thing in silence and then I go back upstairs.