Chapter-One: Countrysides and New Beginnings

With half-closed eyes, I gaze upon the vibrant green farm fields as I rest my head against the passenger seat window. 

I couldn't predict that my current situation would be the way it is. Yet, here I am. 

Burning to death in an old, beat up sedan driving thousands of miles away from my Florida home, yet I can't do a single thing to change the path that lies ahead.

I look to my left, and there she is. Mom clutching the steering wheel with her knuckles white and brows wrinkled as she focuses on the road ahead.

We're heading to my aunt's cabin resort in Dothan, Alabama, where I will be staying for the summer. 

A few weeks ago, Mom received a call saying that she was hired for a traveling nurse job this summer, and she just couldn't refuse. As I stay with my aunt, my own mother will travel all across the country, and possibly the world, saving lives. At least until August comes around.

Unfortunately, It's apparent that during my summer vacation, I will live in the very place that has impacted my life more than words could fathom alone.

The dream... the reality of what occurred one fateful night many years ago is bound to become a reality again, but there is nothing I can do besides cross my fingers and hope for the best. Hoping that night was really a dream, after all.

The night where it all began. The night when I was attacked by a monster...

The night I was attacked by a man shifting werewolf.

With my legs snuggled against my chest and arms wrapped around them securely, I yawn for a bit then tilt my body closer to the window, wincing at the slight pinch of pain that pulls at my aching muscles.

My body aches all around, and I'm pretty sure that by tomorrow morning I will wake up with a bruise or two. 

It's been almost a couple hours since I last saw a city, a town or a forest glade. So of course, the visual scenery hasn't changed much, however, I haven't grown tired of the countryside's unsound familiarity, not yet at least.

On the other hand, the surrounding fields around me arouse a hidden memory buried within the deepest crevices of my mind. 

Though the memory of it all seems like a distant blur, I can recall the familiar beauty of it all from those many years ago when I first visited my aunt, uncle, and cousin at the resort they used to own together. 

From the wide emerald grass landscape and deserted wooden barn sheds, to the vast sycamore trees lingering at the edge of its borders. I remember everything. And that could only mean one thing.

We're almost there.

I interlock my fingers and push them outwards, stretching my arms and hands then slump back into my seat.

“Lilith?" Mom clears her throat. I tediously turn my head in her direction.

"I know this has been a long trip, but we'll be there soon, I promise. Just give it about 35 minutes." She looks at me, and a bittersweet smile stretches upon her lips. 

Her eyes wrinkle, as if they're smiling at me, too. But then again, It's hard to miss the dark circles underneath them, swallowing all the remaining light whole. My lips form a thin line. 

“Are you excited to stay with your aunt? She's been telling me over the phone that misses seeing you in person after all these years. She can't wait to see you, let alone have you over for the entire summer." Her eyes dart to and from the road and toward me again.

I breathe out a lengthy sigh, resting my eyes shortly after.

“I guess so,” I reply, sounding much more monotonic than I originally intended.  

“I guess so?” She sighs.

“This is your aunt we’re talking about, remember?" Her voice drags with a hint of disappointment.

Looking at the window once more, my voice remains unheard, prompting the car to become silent again. I can feel my mom's eyes on me as I look ahead. And I feel this heavy weight on my chest. 

Mom clears her throat once again.

"The weather's nice up here, isn't it? Not too hot, not too cold. The sun looks like it never goes away." 

I just listen to her. All the while, the anxiety inside me continues to fester.

"I'm really going to miss this. Being together as a family. Just you and me. It'll feel so cold without you, you know? The first stop is Nebraska. I hope I don't get stranded and freeze to death." Chuckling, she looks at me and to the road again. 

I understand that her attempts to lighten the mood come from a good place, but every word that leaves her lips somehow makes me feel worse than before, and I know for sure the look is apparent on my face.

The silence speaks for itself. 

"Look, Lilith. I-"

"Mom? Is it too late to head back home?" I said it. I finally said it.

The car fell to a deafening silence the very second I uttered those silly words. I can't see her expression, and I don't think I want to either.

I can feel the air become thick and frigid with suspense. And mom is just so…quiet. 

The silence remains. But as soon as it begun, it ends as mom speaks with utter exhaustion, as if her words are grasping for strength that it no longer bares. 

"Lilith. Sweetie, we talked about this."

"I know but-"

"You said that you would at least try!"

"I am!" My voice shakes against my trembling lips. Turning to her, I plead, "J-Just please, mom! Please take me with you. I promise I won't get in your way. I just-" 

"Lilith, you know why I can't," mom declares, saying my name like a threat. My eyes wince at her dangerous tone.

"Mom-"

"It's too expensive, Lilith. I'll just throw away money that we don't have! You should know that well enough by now."

"I know, mom. It's just-" 

"You know? So why are we having this discussion?" She cuts me off once again.

"Because I don't want to go back to that place again!" I cry out. 

“Lilith?” she calmly utters my name once more. Her tone sounded a lot more somber and distant than usual. And like a frigid little girl, I look down at my lap in utter shame. For a few moments, mom’s completely silent.

I want her to just give in and hear me out, just this once, and who knows. Maybe she will this time. 

With furrowed brows, I watch as mom's fingers tighten around the steering wheel, and a prominent frown tightens its grip on her lips as she does so.

"Sweetie?" Mom says, calmly. I remain silent.

“Have you been taking your antipsychotics lately?” 

Of course, she still doesn’t believe what I told her about that night. Nobody does. 

It's hard to believe that my own mother still thinks I'm crazy after all these years. And It's silly that I expected something different this time.

Stillness lingers in the air, and now I'm all alone with my own spiraling thoughts. 

Crap, I regret bringing that up. To upset her is the last thing I want to do, and right now, being upset is the last thing she needs. 

A single glance out of the window is enough to make tears swell in my eyes. But I wipe them away.

"I took them this morning," is all I say.

Mom remains quiet, and it stays that way for minutes, giving me the idea that the conversation was finally over. 

····

I previously assumed I would grow tired of seeing the same old scenery of the countryside, but no. My soul feels a little at ease when I gape at it all.

It’s temporary, of course, but I’m okay with temporary feelings. They’re easier to control, you know?

Control is something that I need right now, especially at a time like this? A sense of ownership over my existence when it doesn’t feel like my own.

Six miles later, mom takes an exit leading into the rural town of Dothan, Alabama. 

She guides the minivan into the town square, and I watch as people live their everyday lives. 

There's a long strip of commercial buildings that stretches throughout the town's vicinity. 

A few businesses that caught my eye were a small bakery, a few drugstores, and a medical clinic, just to name a few.

We pass by a few churches that consist mostly of Baptists and Methodists denominations, and a town hall building stands proudly at the very edge of the town square. 

This place reminds me of one of those cheesy indie “small town” films where two teenagers fall in love and go on a bunch of wild adventures.

After a few minutes, we enter a bypass leading us through a forest green of sycamore trees. The blistering sunlight creates an illusion of leaves flickering from above, like stars in the evening sky. 

After passing by more trees and little town houses here and there — my mom makes a right turn — and there it is. 

On The Henderson’s Cabin, Lake House, and Camping Resort sign written in green calligraphy.

Standing before in its glory beholds a metal gate approximately 9 feet. In sheer hindsight, it seems like it wraps around the resort ground for hundreds of miles.

Mom steers the car to the security booth. After she's finished talking with the booth manager inside, the gate opens and the car propels further once more.

The further we drive, colonial maple stained cabins emerge from the beautiful pine trees reigning over them. 

On our right there are mountains of oak and pine trees, and to our left lies the vast Lake Omaha in all of its glory. 

It’s precisely how I remember it. 

I stare in awe as I look at the beautiful rustic lake houses and recreation facilities, small and large surrounding the mass body of water as we pass them by. 

The lake is so big that I have to squint in order to see the buildings that stretch across it from the other side. 

Further along the road, mom takes a left into a narrow roadway enclosed by pine trees until we pull up into a familiar grandiose lake house sitting before the tip of Lake Omaha itself.

This is when memories from the past emerge from the darkness, and the pit in my stomach drops entirely. 

So this is it? We're actually here, aren't we?

The house is exactly how I remember it, with a few minor changes. It's a borderline mansion two-story single family home with an exterior maple wood finish.

It’s absolutely astonishing. 

The car wheels rattle and shake against the gravel as we pull up into the driveway. From here, I can see my aunt standing at the top of the flights of steps leading to the burgundy front door, waving at us as the car drove a bit further before making a complete stop.  

Mom shuts off the engine before letting out a satisfied breath.

"We're finally here," mom says before unbuckling her seatbelt. Stepping out of the car and into the evening sun, she sticks her head back inside the vehicle and looks directly at me. 

“Lilith, honey? Can you grab some of the luggage in the trunk? I'll be back in a few to help after I say hello to your aunt. "

She doesn’t give me enough time to respond before shutting the door behind her. My eyes follow her from the window as she makes quick strides towards her older sister. 

I take a quick breather, mentally preparing myself for the rest of the day, before I sit up and yawn. 

Grabbing the car's door handle to my right, I pull the lever and push the door open. 

One foot after another, I step out of the car. My body feels stiff and sore from the eight-hour drive, so I stretch out my arms and legs for a bit before unloading the luggage.

I grab three duffle bags in total. One small and two large matching pink embroidery duffle bags along with my suitcase. 

With two duffle bags weighing on my left shoulder and a suitcase carrying another bag on top, I drag it against the gravel in my right hand as I stumble along the gravel driveway towards the lake house. 

Once I reach the steps, I place both bags on the gravel. At the top of the porch, my mom and aunt are passionately having a discussion, failing to realize I was there to begin with.

I wait a while as they continue their discussion. Jennie finally looks around and down the steps, and her eyes finally reach mine.

It took a few moments for her to process, but then her gray eyes widened. She then dashes down the steps and engulfs me into a big bear hug. 

"Lilith! My precious dear, look at you. You've grown up so much!" I wrap my arms around her warmth and allow myself to melt into her arms.

"Yeah." I snuggle my chin further into her shoulder.  

"I missed you too."

 She releases me from her arms, then looks at me with fond eyes. 

“Welcome home, dear.”