Spirit Of The Wolf Collection

Chapter 3-1

David unlocked and opened the large gate. It creaked noisily as the hinges protested many years of disuse. He’d hoped he wouldn’t have to come back here, and for years, that wish had been granted. Ever since those first couple of months after the plane crash, he’d stayed away.

He walked up to the front doors of the house and paused, remembering the first time he saw them. They’d seemed even larger to the young boy he’d been back then and this place had intimidated him. He was a lot older now, but he was surprised to realize it still intimidated him. So much was expected of him here. He couldn’t hide from his potential. He couldn’t hide from other people. After a while, he hadn’t minded so much, but all that changed when Richard died. David had fallen into the same old patterns, leaving everything he knew, again. He’d stayed away from everyone and everything. It was a lonely but safe existence.

Now, he was out of hiding and had to face the world again. Damn Richard. Even from beyond the grave, he was forcing David to face his demons. What if he didn’t want to face them? What if he liked them just fine where they were – hidden? Unfortunately, it looked as if it didn’t matter what he wanted, he wasn’t going to get it. He might as well get things over with.

David pushed open the large door with a sigh. The creaking sound it made echoed through the empty rooms. Dim, early morning light shone through the curtains and the open door, illuminating the otherwise darkened room. There was dust everywhere, even though he’d hired people to come in and clean the place a couple of times each year. It was nothing like it had been, Richard and Caroline had kept the place spotless most of the time. What would Richard think if he could see it now?

David quickly pushed that thought back and focused on more practical matters. He needed to call someone to take care of the place if he was going to be staying here. It was much too big for one person to manage alone. He braced himself and walked through the many rooms, stubbornly refusing to let the long-forgotten memories overwhelm him. He had a job to do and after that, he could leave again. But for now, first things first – he needed to get this place suitable to live in. Pulling out his cell phone, David started making calls.

* * *

Nicole pushed back the covers and swung her legs around, giving up on the prospect of going back to sleep. She was too anxious to be rid of the film. She started when her bare feet touched the cold floor, and quickly pulled on some socks before she traversed the floor. Careful to avoid her bruises and sore muscles, she threw on the first shirt and pair of jeans she found, from her ‘only worn once so still mostly clean’ pile of dirty laundry and decided on a walk before class.

It was still quiet on the streets. Most sane people were still asleep, but she liked the quiet. It was the easiest time to think at this hour of day. The sun was just rising, causing all kinds of colors to play across the sky. There was no sign of the wolf, not even by the tunnel, mostly hidden unless you knew precisely where to look.

She walked the few blocks to school, not really knowing where else to go. The campus was even quieter than the rest of the city. A few office lights were on here and there, and she found herself wondering what had other people up at this early hour. Were they working on some important research which just had to be completed right away? Maybe they loved their jobs so much, they couldn’t wait to get started, or they hated being at home so much, the office was a better alternative. Maybe they were just grading a few last papers before classes started.

Nicole smiled at an early morning jogger, and he smiled back when he passed her on the sidewalk. Whatever brought those other people out, she felt oddly comforted by them being there, even knowing most weren’t even aware she was here.

Nicole tested the chapel door, and it opened with a creak. Surprisingly enough, there was one other person already inside. A young girl sitting in the front row turned her tear-stained face to Nicole when she entered.

Nicole smiled comfortingly, and the girl offered a weak half-smile back before retreating into her thoughts once again. Nicole sighed. It seemed she wasn’t the only one with problems.

Nicole settled down in a nearby pew and stared at the cross in the front of the church. She tried to remember the last time she’d attended church, acknowledging that it had been a long time. The last time she’d come close had been her parents’ funeral. She didn’t really know why she was here now. She didn’t have any questions or favors to ask, she just felt unsettled. No matter what she did lately, she was restless, as if there was something else she needed to be doing. She wasn’t accomplishing anything. She wasn’t going anywhere. Nothing ever changed. Where was the excitement which was supposed to follow just being alive? She was only in college, and she was already locked into a pattern. These were supposed to be the exciting years in her life, but there was never any real excitement. There was never any spontaneity. Everything was planned. She went to class. She went to SES meetings. She ate lunch with Meg at the diner. She went home, watched TV, did homework, and went to bed.

Occasionally, if she was lucky, she would have a new errand to run or some shopping to do. She’d known it was bad when she thought back on almost getting shot last night as a refreshing change of pace.

Nicole tilted her head from side to side, stretching out a crick in her neck and looked at her watch. It was still early, but she might as well go wait in the classroom. There was no point in walking all the way back to her apartment, and she could read until class started. She glanced once more at the girl in the front pew before slipping silently out of the chapel.

* * *

Nicole watched over the top of her book as one person after another entered the classroom. John only came in just as class was about to start and Nicole scowled at him for being so late, but she experienced a wave of relief. She would be glad to rid herself of the burden of the incriminating film.

“What happened to you?” A crease formed on John’s forehead as he scanned her, his eyes settling on her face.

“Huh?” she asked in confusion. She hadn’t slept well, but she didn’t think she looked that bad.

“You’ve got a nasty scrape on your chin.”

“Oh.” She’d forgotten all about most of the scrapes she received last night, and hadn’t even noticed the one on her chin. It was the bruises on her knees and arms which really hurt and her palms didn’t feel too good either. “I fell in the woods last night.”

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.” She shrugged it off. “It’s just a few scrapes and scratches… a couple of bruises… maybe a splinter or two... oh, and I don’t recommend running so far or fast when you haven’t had time to properly stretch first. But otherwise, I’m no worse for wear. Don’t worry about it. Here’s the roll of film.” She purposely left out any reference to the wolf. He would think she was crazy if she started talking about a wild animal knowing exactly where she lives. Or worse, he’d call animal control to check out the wolf sighting and possibly get the animal killed in the process.

John didn’t look convinced that she was okay, but he took the film without further comment about her physical state. “This will definitely do some good. I’ll give it to Susan today.” He pocketed the film and leaned on a nearby desk.

“Susan? You don’t mean Susan Anderson, do you?” Susan Anderson was the Junior Attorney working on the case against Steagel & Co. Nicole had heard the name mentioned at SES meetings many times before, but never by first name alone.

“Yeah,” he said nonchalantly. “I went to school with her younger sister. We were all pretty close.”

Nicole laughed. “Have you got any other influential people stashed away I should know about?”

John just smiled. The teacher walked in, and the other students started settling into their seats. “I’ll talk to you later, let you know how everything goes.”

“You’d better. Oh, hey, walk with me to my apartment after class. I have something else Susan may want, but I couldn’t bring it here.”

“Sure thing.”

An hour later, Nicole handed over the gun to John. She explained a few more details of her forest escape, still leaving out the wolf, and they both headed out – Nicole to class and John to see Susan. Several of the wrinkles on her forehead smooth out now that she had one less thing to worry about. Now, all she had to worry about was school.

Her classes crawled by, as usual and Nicole fought to stay awake during her lectures. A couple of times, she actually jerked awake when her chin dipped towards her chest. When the last class finished, she headed to the diner to have a late lunch with Meg.

Nicole reached for the door handle of the diner and paused when a reflection in the glass door caught her eye. There was a man standing across the street, and he appeared to be staring right at her, through the reflection. The man wore sunglasses and a dark trench coat which moved hypnotically in the wind. She couldn’t seem to look away, not even to search the street behind her where he must surely be standing. The reflection of a large truck driving by temporarily blocked her view, breaking the spell. She turned to look for him, but when the truck had passed, he was gone. She surveyed up and down the street, but there were no obvious places he could have disappeared so quickly.

Nicole shook her head to clear the confusion filling her mind. She’d probably imagined the whole thing. That’s what happened when you didn’t get enough sleep, especially after the night she’d had. Obviously, her imagination was working overtime. That was the only explanation. Pushing the strange incident out of her mind, she opened the door and entered the diner.

Nicole sat down at her usual table and ordered a cup of coffee to drink while she waited for Meg. She didn’t have to wait long. Meg came in with her usual enormous load of books and tossed them all on the seat along with herself. Typical Meghan over-dramatics. She pulled her long, curly, red-brown hair back into a clip, making her heart-shaped face and perfect tan even more noticeable.

“Hey, Meg. Hard day?”

“Oh, no more than usual,” Meg said with a sigh. “Oh, course, my usual would stress out the President.”

“Yeah, he only has to deal with nuclear take-overs and global annihilation. You have Physics with Ms. Fortenberry. No contest.”

“Fun-ny.” Meg kicked out at Nicole, making them both laugh. “So, what happened?” Meg asked, after she’d managed to stop laughing.

“What do you mean?”

“Nicole, this is me you’re talking to. I know you too well. You’re drinking coffee, and you only do that when you’ve got something on your mind. Besides, I count a least three scrapes, and you’re not that clumsy.” Nicole stared down at her coffee cup. She’d known the scrapes would probably give her away, but she hadn’t even thought about the coffee. Meg was right, though, drinking coffee when she was preoccupied was a habit she’d picked up in Middle School. She’d started drinking it initially to stay awake after she’d had… the nightmare. The habit seemed to reemerge nowadays whenever something worried or intrigued her. Today, it was a little of both. “Yeah, you’re right. Something happened yesterday when I went to take the photos down by the river.”