Chapter 2

The next week was a whirled wind of trying to pack, and set up everything for our new lives.  Before leaving the city my mother decided that taking me school shopping would be "so much fun." I knew that wasn't going to be the case, because every single time we tried doing the normal mother daughter bonding it usually ended up being her critiquing me. Shopping meant she would point out everything that was wrong with my body, and this trip wasn't any different. As we entered the first dressing room it started, "Gem remember you really need to try and dress for your short body type," I stayed silent hoping she wouldn't say anything else. "Gem did you gain some weight? That shirt is making you look thick sweety." Thick was her polite way of calling me fat in public even though I knew I wasn't over weight, but her words made me second guess how I felt about my body.

Being seventeen was hard enough without having the one person that's supposed to build you up constantly tare you down. I tried to find everything I needed as quickly as possible without using the dressing rooms to much.

The trip was semi enjoyable if I just blocked out everything my mother said. I tried to lie to myself, and say she just wanted me to be the best version of myself but it was hard to believe that lie after so many years. 

It was moving day and I no longer held onto the anger I had before. I replaced that feeling with hope which wasn't usually my style.

"Sweety we should be coming into town soon, and I don't want you to completely freak out so there are some things we need to talk about." My father calmly kept his eyes on the road while he was talking, and I just answered with an "okay." 

"So you remember how your mother and I always wanted to move back to a small town?"

Wait did he just say "back" they never said that they lived in a small town before. I was taken back so I just nodded at him as he looked in the rear view mirror at me.

"Well this is actually the town where your mother and I met. This is our home town Gem, and the promotion isn't a promotion at all." My father shared with me, and as he was talking I can hear the joy filling each word he says with more meaning. 

"What are you trying to say dad?" At this point I couldn't take the suspense, and I just needed him to get to the point. "Well your going to turn eighteen in two weeks, and that's when the Alpha said we could return with you." 

I was so confused, did he just say Alpha, and what the hell does he mean by he said we could come back.

My father just kept stairing at me waiting for me to completely work through what he just said. I broke the silence after a few minutes, "Dad how can someone tell you to leave town, and not only that but then tell you when to come back?" I was waiting for answers, but he didn't look like he was going to give me one.

My mother was silent the whole time while my father was sharing some of their secrets. As the tension started to build in the car she cleared her throat "Gemma we have a lot to share with you over the next couple of weeks, but for today that's all the information we are allowed to give you."

Excuse me what, her statement sounded almost robotic. They both sounded nuts, and I couldn't help but wonder what all this meant. I had so many questions running through my mind. I had never heard the word Alpha before, and my parents never talked about their home town. I was getting so overwhelmed, and exhausted from everything that had happened in the last week that I fell asleep. 

I didnt wake up until the car stopped, I figured we were at another toll stop. I was barely awake when I heard a man's voice. "So you're back for good finally, how long has it been Marvin?" I could feel him turn around to look at me, but I kept my eyes shut hoping to get some information. "Well I was here two years ago ... before Alpha Keen relocated us again after the last threat." My father sounded annoyed at the last part of the conversation. 

He was talking to this man like they were best friends, and my father has never had any friends. That's not what I was focusing on though, I wanted to know what he meant by relocated again because of a threat. 

"Hi Mary, Nancy is going to be so happy to see your back. And I'm thrilled too because now maybe she will give me a free minute." They all laugh, but not to loud. I'm getting the feeling that they really don't want me awake for their conversation.

"Alpha Keen says your house has been set up, and all the plans for the birthday games are coming a long smoothly. Of course he wants all of you to stop by in the morning before you take her to school."

The car fell silent for about five minutes until my mother sweetly spoke, "if that's what Alpha Keen wants we will be there at 7:30am on the dot."

With that the car started moving again, and I kept up the farce that I was asleep until we got to our new home. 

"Gemma we're here wake up," my mother demanded. I shot up from the back seat to quickly, and I got light headed and fell back down unto the seat. My mother turned around rolled her eyes at me shook her head and walked up to the large green Adams Family looking house we had stopped in front of.

It was hunter green with elaborate wood working detail, which gave it a charm that was more frightening then homie, and the two large stone gargoyles at the end of the drive way were ominous at best. I stared at the house for a while before heading in to what I thought was going to be my new home.

My mother seemed happy to be back at her childhood town, and thats when I finally understood the odd feeling I had been having as we drove here. It was the feeling of being at home something that I hadn't truly ever felt,  but being in this house with my parents seemed wrong for some reason. It was late and I really didn't want to try to understand anything else today. All I wanted was to goto sleep, and hope that tomorrow all of this would make more sense.

Unfortunately the moment I walked through the door I couldn't help but be in awe at the Victorian style mansion. The house looked like it could belong to a real witch, and she was going to cast a real spell on us for trespassing into her sacred space. I walked in slowly hoping the inside would be more inviting.

Thankfully it was a lot less ominous once I got inside, and it looked like any normal old farm house. It was strange from the moment I entered the house I could feel my mood shift, and something clicked that said this town was our true home. 

Now all I wanted to do was find my bedroom, and goto sleep. "Mom where can I sleep?" She looked before pointing up the stairs "third door on the left, I think the Al--- I mean the movers already unpacked everything." Okay my parents are being super awkward, maybe it's from driving all day. I'm to tired to care though so I make my way upstairs to my room, and as I open the door I see barbie pink bliss. Whoever set my room up knew my favorite color, and how I like my things. It was probably my father he was the only one that truly knew me, or at least thats what I thought.

Just then my father showed up to check on me before bed. "So my dear, thoughts?" He eagerly demanded. "Well dad I think that big goverment might be mind controlling us through the media," I teased. He looked mad, "Gemma Rose Luna thats not what I meant." He only called me by my full name when I was in trouble so was he seriously pissed or highly annoyed? I nervously told him "it feels like home, so it's better then everywhere we've lived before." He was satisfied with my answer so he wished me good night, and I threw on pajamas so I could goto sleep. Little did I know that tomorrow was going to be the day that changes my life forever.