Chapter five: Change is gonna come

Jack’s P.O.V.

I can’t believe it, for the past five years, the young woman that served me my breakfast with a kind smile, is the one we’ve been searching for.

In all honesty, most of us gave up hope about a year after she disappeared, Christian never did though, he kept searching, convinced she was out there somewhere. He put us all at risk by leaving, especially for so long, but I understand, I would’ve torn the world apart had this happened to me, unfortunately not everyone is so forgiving.

After we took up residence in the abandoned human town, we all did our best to create a life for ourselves. I think deep down we all still long for the home we lost and that’s why nothing ever really got updated, still believing this is just temporary. Years came and went and eventually, a lot of our people just packed up and left, a few humans moved in, mostly drifters and outcasts, though they usually leave relatively quick, a year, maybe two before they realize that this place will never be anything more than it is now, old, rundown and forgotten by time and civilization.

I came back here after Sam got caught up with a gang that originated somewhere in Europe, he still wont tell me exactly what happened but when I got a call that he was severely injured, I knew it would only be a matter of time before he lost his cool and would show the people exactly who they were dealing with, there is no way he wouldn’t retaliate so we had to go and get as far ways from L.A. as possible. The Nurses at hospital had never seen anything like it, his face was cut up in a way that would give even the most hardened “mo-fo” nightmares. It had probably been a dirty fish knife, the ragged wound already getting inflamed by the time he was brought in. The doctor that sewed up his face said people called it a Glasgow smile, a horrendous practice that originated in Scotland centuries ago. He was in bad shape when i took him out of the hospital in the middle of the night, Human doctors wouldn't be able to do much, of that i was certain, his superior healing hadn’t kicked in, the infection getting worse by the hour, our only hope was Linda Mason-Deveraux, so I crossed my fingers and prayed to the goddess that she had convinced her husband to stay put.

She had been the one to utter the eerie prophecy in her early teens, showing she not only inherited the healing gift of her mother, but also the gift of sight from her father.

All I could do was pray that she believed the words she spoke back then were enough to keep her close to where it would all have to unfold, even if everyone else no longer held that faith. A lot of people didn’t even believe a child born of mixed blood was the one who was foretold, but Linda was adamant, tiny, little and prematurely born Tara was the one who would save us all.

“In the shadows of destiny, whispers of a girl born under a moon cloaked in darkness swell. Her arrival heralds a cataclysmic change, foretelling the fall of the malevolent ruling class that has gripped the land with its iron fist for eons. The child, bearing an ethereal aura and eyes that dance with ancient wisdom, possesses a flame within her soul that yearns to set ablaze the stifling chains of the status quo. She is the torchbearer of revolution, destined to ignite a rebellion that will consume the foundation of oppression. As she strides upon the war-torn lands, the girl will unite the shattered fragments of races long divided, weaving a tapestry of harmony and unity. Her mere presence will breath life into the forgotten flames of hope and resistance. Her path unfolds not without sacrifice. With unwavering resolve, she has been tasked to vanquish those who dare oppose her righteous cause. Through fire and fury, she will confront their wickedness, casting aside all mercy in her pursuit of justice. The winds of change speak of a girl destined to dismantle the oppressive regime, to burn down the structures of inequality and to reclaim all that was lost. Her destiny intertwined with the very fabric of the world, shall forever etch her name in the annals of history as a symbol of liberation and transformation.”

I still remember the time Linda's face contorted and the hauting voice that came out of her throat, we had been told of the prophecy when she first uttered it years before of course but this time she was repeating the words over and over again and as she did, the moon eclipsed and Tara's mother suddenly went into labor.

As it turned out, she had been able to convince David to start the old Diner that sat in the middle of town back up and in doing so gave our people some small reprieve. She was able to save my boy, though he would forever have an ugly scar reminding him of what happened, She gave him a job at that diner, giving him something keep busy, sometimes I wonder if one day he’ll run off to get his revenge, but so far he has been content with leading a simple life and now Tara has returned. I doubt she knows what rests upon her shoulders and only time will tell if the prophesy will come to fulfillment, but no matter what happens we need to make sure she’s safe.

I quickly mind linked Sam, if I personally keep hanging around the diner people would start to wonder what’s going on and might start asking questions and since I can’t be entirely sure who’s a friend and who’s a foe, I’m not taking any chances.

After a couple of hours Sam lets me know Tara is heading out to Jacksons garage, now I know that’s the only place she could go to get her car fixed, but now knowing who she is, that just doesn’t sit right with me. Especially because I’ve seen Christian lurking., although he did go back into the territory like I suggested, he didn’t move far. I’m pretty sure he kept an eye out all morning, so I mindlink Sam. "tail her and make sure she doesn’t see you, she's more observant than you'd think" I tell him. "you need to keep Christian an bay, there is no telling what he will do if he sees her with any of the 8 Jackson brothers." 

Their mother had 2 sets of maternal quadruplets so they all look pretty much the same. I know they’ve been running that garage together and if you don’t know what to look for, you would probably think you’re dealing with just one person as they make sure there’s never more than one brother in the shop at any given time.

It’s not long before Sam links me, I was right, Christian is going nuts and Sam is having trouble keeping him away from the garage, now I know Sam can hold is own against the best of them, but Christian has always been something else, faster than anyone I ever met and if he sets his mind on something, there’s no stopping him.

I rush to the other end of town, hoping that maybe I can talk some sense into the dumbass I call my friend, but when I get to the back of the garage I’m absolutely shocked by the sight before me.

Christian has shifted into his silver grey wolf, but the once majestic animal looks more like a mangy dog. His fur is dirty and matted, there even seem to be patches missing, he’s a scrawny looking thing, he looks nothing like the wolf who took us past the barrier one by one and in doing so probably saved our lives, he’s barely a shadow of his former self.

Drool is dripping from his mouth as he snarls and snaps at Sam who is using the lid of a garbage can as a makeshift shield. “Christian NO!” I shout while carefully making my way next to my boy, much in the same way you would approach a scared dog. ”Think about what you’re about to do” I scold in a harsh tone. Christian Snarls at me, saliva flying around with the snapping of his still powerful looking jaws. I step forward just a little, “that’s my son, you can trust him, if you're not willing to do that, then trust me, you don’t want to do what you’re planning, you’ll be stirring up a shitstorm, one where there will be no coming back from!” I try and take another step forward, hoping Chistian still has some control over his wolf and I’m not just dealing with the animal side. He growls low in his throat, warning me not to get any closer but I see the flicker of blue grey of his human eyes flash in the golden yellow of his wolf, and I know I’m getting through to him. I take another step and whisper “she is still unknown to them, lets keep it that way” Keeping my voice as soft and quiet as possible, the last thing we need is one of the Jackson’s hearing this is about the girl that’s in their garage right now.

That seems to snap him out of it as he slowly retreats, each step he takes I copy, making sure he wont surge by and attack anyway. “Go to Linda’s ancestral home and wait there, you’ll see why soon enough, let us handle this side of the line” I speak softly when his hind legs are back in territory. He huffs and turns, sprinting away while whining softly, almost sounding like his wolf is crying.

“Man that was close” Sam says while walking up to me. “what the hell happened to his wolf? Never seen one in such bad shape.”  Still looking in the way Christian ran off in I sigh. “I don’t know son, Whatever is happening out there, it ain’t good. All we can do is hope that Tara is gonna bring the change that has been foretold”