Chapter 1: The Nosey Journalist

Emma.

I slammed the stack of pictures down on the editor's desk, my voice trembling as I spoke. "Another attack, Mr. Karl. Another one just last night. You can't keep ignoring this."

Karl barely glanced up from his computer, adjusting his glasses in that slow, deliberate way that always made me irritated. “Emma,” he sighed, leaning back in his chair like he had all the time in the world, “what people want to read isn’t wild animals running through the woods. They want celebrity gossip, local scandals, you know, stuff that sells.”

I crossed my arms, trying to keep my voice steady. “People are dying, Mr. Karl. I’m talking about lives here, not some silly drama about who cheated on who."

"You'll watch your tone, miss Emma.” his voice rose a notch and I stepped back.

Mr. Karl sighed, tapped his pen against his notepad, his eyes locking onto mine with what looked like sympathy. “Emma, you’re good at what you do, but I’m running a business. People eat up the gossip like candy, but they’re not gonna want to hear about something that scares them before bed. It’s not what this town’s looking for.”

I clenched my fists, pissed. “Fine. But when something bigger happens, I hope you’ll remember this conversation.”

Without waiting for his response, I grabbed my bag and stormed out of his office, the door slamming shut behind me.

By the time I reached my car, I was already muttering to myself in frustration. “Karl is so blind! Who even made him editor?" I rolled my eyes. Gossips, that's all he ever cared about and journalism was much more than that.

The drive home was quiet and as soon as I stepped through the door of our small house, the familiar scent of Mom’s lasagna filled the air, I tossed my bag onto the couch and headed straight for the kitchen where Alec and Mom were seated at the table.

“Honey, you look upset, is anything the matter?" Mum asked, no doubt seeing my face.

Alec looked up from his phone, frowning. "Tell me you didn’t go back to the paper with that story again.”

I threw my hands up in the air. "I’m a journalist, Alec. This is my job. And people are getting hurt. You don’t expect me to just sit around, do you?"

He leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. "Emma, you’ve always been too stubborn for your own good. These attacks, whatever they are, they’re dangerous. You’re not a detective. You’re not even animal control. You’re going to get yourself hurt chasing after wild animals on the mountains."

Mom chimed in softly, her voice filled with concern. "Your brother’s right, sweetheart. We’ve talked about this. It’s not safe. These are very dangerous animal attacks and you can't even protect yourself."

I shook my head. "Then what do we do? Everyone's acting like there's nothing wrong, but people are ending up in hospitals, Alec. People are missing. First it's Mrs Parker and Joe boy was hurt too. All on that mountain."

Alec stood up abruptly, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. His anger was always quick to surface when it came to me. “And you want to be next? Is that it? You’re going to keep pushing until you’re the one getting dragged into a clinic because something out there decided to make you its next meal?”

“I’m careful!” I shot back, my voice cracking. “I’m not stupid, Alec. I know how to handle myself.”

He shook his head, pacing the kitchen now. “You think you're invincible, Emma. But you're not. You don't know what you're dealing with.”

“Don't talk up your sister like that, Alec," mum warned him sharply. Then she turned to me. "I'm sure you'll get your articles published. But just let this madness be over. We all want you safe, please.”

I could feel Mom’s worried eyes on me, could sense Alec’s frustration from where he stood by the kitchen counter.

But what they didn't understand was that I wasn't looking for some big break. I was trying to help those poor victims and end these attacks. Whatever wild animals it was hurting the town had to be found and taken away.

Before I could say anything, my phone buzzed on the kitchen counter. I grabbed it, glancing at the screen. An unknown ID.

“Hello?”

“Emma, it’s Nurse Reed from the clinic,” her voice was rushed, panicked almost.

“The clinic?" I asked, my voice heavy. Alec came closer to me as I cast him a glance.

“It’s Benny. You're on speed dial on her phone. Figured you're important. She's been hospitalized.”

My heart sank. “Benny? What happened?”

“You need to come down to the clinic right away.”

I could barely hear her over the ringing in my ears. Benny? Attacked? My best friend? No, this couldn’t be real. “Is she okay?” My voice barely came out as a whisper.

“She’s stable, but you need to come now.”

I hung up without saying another word, the room spinning around me. Alec’s eyes were locked on mine, concern overtaking his anger in an instant. “What is it?”

“It’s Benny,” I said, barely able to breathe. “She’s been attacked.”

The drive to the clinic felt like forever, though I was sure I’d broken every speed limit on the way. Alec had insisted on coming with me, but he hadn’t said a word. He didn’t need to, worry was written all over his face.

When we burst through the doors of the small clinic, Nurse Reed was already waiting for us. “She’s in Room 4,” she said quietly, leading us down the hallway.

I pushed open the door, my breath catching in my throat as I saw Benny lying there, pale and bandaged. Her arm was wrapped up tight, and there were scratches, deep, angry lines, across her neck and bruises on her cheeks.

“What happened?” I asked, my voice shaking.

Nurse Reed hesitated, glancing at Alec and then back at me. “We’re not sure. The wounds, they look like she was attacked by an animal.”

“What?" I could feel my heart thumping. Another animal attack. Just like I'd thought.

The nurse sighed. “We don’t know for certain, but based on the wounds, it could be a bear. Or maybe a wolf.”