My first day at Sophia's was spent unpacking, napping and getting familiar with my new surroundings. Granted, I didn't yet leave the guest room that she'd kindly offered me, but I still found enough in the room that piqued my curiosity.

It is amazing what you learn about people from their home. I could tell for example, that Sophia was sentimental like me. On the timber dresser, there was an old porcelain water pitcher. I imagined that in the spring it was used a vase, I could see the native flowers that would fill it and bring life to the room. The curtains too spoke of other worldly charm with the floral patterns embroidered within the lace.  The curtain rods were brass, the intricacy of each end were evident with hand crafted swirls and patterns. Perhaps they once belonged to her mother or grandmother?

I was filled with a sudden melancholy from the thought. I didn't have anything from my birth mother. In fact, I didn't even know who she was. Would she have lived in a cabin like this? Had she been madly in love with my father, or was their relationship something more sinister?

Pulled from my thoughts, I was startled by a knock at the door.

"Mind if I come in?"

I turned to see Sophia peeking by the door frame. "No, of course not. Please, come in."

Smiling at her, I turned before she sat on the edge of the bed and motioned for me to do the same.

"I bet you've got so many questions. Phelan explained how you got here, briefly."

I let out a huge breath I didn't even know I was holding. When I first decided to follow the notes, I was filled with a sense of adventure, a belief that everything would fall into place. But the truth was, now that I was here, I didn't know what to do about it.

"Yes, I don't know what compelled me to be so impulsive."

I couldn't explain why I trusted Sophia so. It may have been that I felt I owed her an explanation due to her hospitality, or the fact that I just sensed that she was someone I could trust. Perhaps it was a combination of the both.

She didn't say anything. Her silence an invitation for me to talk. Lacing my fingers together in my lap, I felt stupid, but figured I really didn't have anything to lose.

"My biological aunt- she told me I would find the answers I need here in Haven..."

My nervousness grabbed at my throat, making it hard to swallow. "I know it has something to do with my mother, did she live here? It's such a small community, surely someone here knows something..."

I felt myself rambling, my thoughts spewing out disjointed and erratic as I continued. "I mean, what, there's like a few hundred people here, odds are you know who she was... do you?"

I watched as Sophia tucked her hair behind her ear, rolling her lips together tightly as if preventing herself from divulging too much too soon.

"Edie. Your aunt was right. Your mother was born and raised here. We knew her daughter... you- would come looking for answers, and here you are. It's quite surreal, I'm still wrapping my head around it..."

I felt myself become hostile.

"Surreal?! How is that you, and apparently everyone else in this town knows more about my mother than I do?!"

I felt a rant coming on as my tongue lashed like spit fire. "And seriously! If you knew who I was, why didn't anyone come looking for me! I could have had my answers long ago!"

Standing up, Sophia put her hands in front of her in an effort to subdue my irritation. "Had it been in your best interests to do so, we would have Edie. Things are complicated, but now you're here, you are safe."

I was flabbergasted, "Safe!? I've never been more unsafe! How do I know you aren't all part of a crazy cult! How can I believe a word you're saying?!"

Her expression deadpanned. "You don't have to believe me, but you will see for yourself soon enough... but not today."

What the fuck...

"Sophia, I've been lied to my whole life. Notwithstanding my piece of shit ex-boyfriend before he vanished into thin air. I think I deserve the truth for once."

I couldn't take anymore. I knew I was being a bitch, but being overly dramatic was like the carrot to my cake.

In an effort to try and diffuse the tension in the air, I simply left things unresolved.

"It's not your fault Sophia. I shouldn't be lashing out at you. I need some air."

Standing up, I threw on my joggers, beanie and jacket. Sophia looked at me, her expression a mix of regret and guilt as her cheeks reddened from our interaction. I realized then, that I too felt the same but was choosing to tuck tail and run from it rather than act like a mature adult.

And as if pushing me to step out on my own two feet, the wind helped shut the front door as I launched out into the frosted landscape and let my turmoil set the pace.

~

The crispness of the air was a shock to the system as my thighs burned from over exertion. The first few hundred meters were always like this until I settled into a steady rhythm.

Ignoring my body groan in protest, I channeled my thoughts to take the focus off the fact my lungs were on fire and my legs were as stiff as tree trunks.

Why, when everything seemed to be going so well? Was I not even worthy of a goodbye?

I was mourning two losses. The relationship I thought I had, and frankly, the life I thought I had.

Stride by stride I let my anger out, pushing my body harder to sustain the speed I started with. Each footstep sunk lightly into the snow as I weaved through the spruce, the rich scent of pine accosting my senses and pulling me from my misery.

God this place was pure magic... 

I didn't know how long I'd been running for, three miles at least when I realized that perhaps I should've been paying more attention to the minor details around me.

"There are plenty more where he came from..."

Wolves. I doubted the neighborhood pet Shih-Tzu's were responsible for the howls that quaked through the trees warning me of their proximity.

Fuck. Why am I like this?! Did I really come this far just to be minced meat?

Turning behind me, I saw them in the distance. Three, perhaps four, moving a speed that far surpassed my own.

Grinding my teeth with determination, I ran for my life further into the middle of nowhere as all hints of civilization dissipated as if the forest had swallowed me whole.

I wasn't game enough to look behind my shoulder. The howls that came from the dark specks of ink against the white backdrop were very clearly gaining on me. I knew that if I turned, I would be face to face with them but meters away. 

I was no athlete. It was such an uneven match that had I wanted die, it would have been a black comedy.

I was not willing to have it all end this way. It was my desire to live that pushed my fruitless efforts to try and out run them, as I imagined them mocking my feeble but gallant attempt to do so.

Each crunching of the snow was a foreboding of what I knew would happen to me. Despite knowing I'd regret it, I turned back to lock eyes with them as they slowed, preparing to ensnare me.

It was over. I was done for.

Stopping to a still, I circled around repeatedly. I knew the moment I gave them my back, they would launch at me, so tried to maintain eye contact between them.

Before I knew it, I could see the heat radiate off their fur as their humongous forms edged closer.

Paint strokes of grey, brown and ash blurred at the seams of my vision as I struggled to hold onto consciousness.

I was beyond fucked.

I didn't have much time to wallow in self-pity, however when I turned to face the wolf on my right, I did what I do best and landed flat on my ass. I hit the ground with a solid thud, my arms out behind me as if I had any reason to try and break my fall. It was singlehandedly the most predictable thing I could possibly do in this situation.

I let out a wail as I rolled onto my side, my ears and eyes waiting in anticipation as the padding of their paws against the snow closed in around me.

My limbs protested against my mind as I lay cowering, frozen to the forest floor. Urging myself to get up and keep fighting for myself, my body knew better and admitted defeat. It was so appropriate that it would be my impulsiveness that got me in the end.

As my body trembled in shock, the vulnerability I'd tried to hide my entire life was ripped open like a festering wound on full display. My eyes glazed over as a bounding wolf lurched into my peripheral, its behemoth form airborne as flashes of fang signaled its intent for the kill. 

Time felt like slow motion as its inky orbs locked with mine, my screams echoing across the terrain in my final hymn out to the world as I travelled beyond the veil.