“He not here yet.” Ellie moans as she pulled out her cell phone for the eight-time in the past thirty minutes. A cold autumn wind ripped through her red hoodie and sent chills to her bones, Getting off the hood of her parents' silver car she walked from the parking lot into the old park. The old city park used to be a beautiful place to escape to, now overgrown with weeds and the local hangout for druggies to come and shoot up and for teenagers to hook up. She checked her phone again, the light from the phone lit up her face as she scrolled through the text messages.

Sorry I won’t be able to make it tonight.

That’s ok maybe next time. :)

Tell Ferran happy B-day for me.

I WILL. :D

HeY GEUS what?

What??

I WiLL Be able tO MaKe it TNight.

Yay! He will be so surprised. I can come to pick you up if you like.

METE me At the PArk.

Ok.

Ellie looked up towards the sky and could bearly see the moon and the stars tonight. The park Graffiti covered old buildings and playground equipment. She looked over at the old concession stand that was falling apart. The scene looked like something out of a B movie horror film.

Why do you want here of all places?

She crossed her arms to keep herself warm. She looked around the park and looked over at the thick pine woods. In the dark, you couldn’t see past the first few trees. She looked up to the sky and watched the clouds moon past the full moon. A few moments later a long howl lets out through the night. Ellie turns her head toward the woods and sees a black shape among the brush. Ellie took a step back as the form comes closer to her, she can now see its glowing green eyes. Fixated on her she picks up the pace as she walks back to her car. Ellie can make out the black shape as it made it ways out of the woods.

A dog? No, I have never seen a dog like that. A wolf?

Wolves are not uncommon, but rare in the East Texas woods. People can go their whole life without seeing one. Ellie looks back at her car that was only 100 meters away. She turns back to the creature that was getting closer to her with each step she took.

I need to get away from here fast.

She turned and took off in a dead sprint towards her car. As she ran, she could hear the creature running after her. She ran harder, her lungs hurting from the cold air, she slammed into her car and reached in her pocket for her keys. She could hear it getting closer, growling at her as she fumbles her keys. Her keys fall to the ground she reaches down to pick them up, as she looked over her shoulder she saw the beast lunging at her.

No. This can’t be the end. I can’t die!

Ellie braced for impact as the beast digs its teeth into her shoulder. It pulled her to the ground and tore into her flesh. She looked up to the sky to see the full moon glowing down on to her. A tear slipped down her cheek as the world faded into black.

***

“Son, would you like some more coffee.” The waitress asked causing Ferran to look up from his phone. He looked down at his untouched cup of black coffee and shook his head.

“No I’m good, but thank you.” Ferran shifted in the old dinner both and pulled out his wallet. He looked back down at his phone to see the last text from Ellie.

“So Averett not coming. :(“

“I'm on my way. Can't wait to see you.”

“HEYY Guess What. NVM, I'm going to surprise you!!!”

Ferran locks his phone and shoves it in his pocket as he stands up from the diner booth. He tosses a few bills on the table and starts walking towards the door. In the distance, a howl can be heard.

“It sounds like the werewolves are out tonight.”

The waitress chuckles as she picks up the tab from a table. Ferran gives the waitress a quick smile as he pushes the dinner door open, under his breath he says.

“There are no such things as werewolves.”

Darkness. There a strange humming noise that is slowly becoming louder, a rattling noise starts to become more evident.

I recognize this noise.

Ellie starts to open her eyes, and the darkness fades away. A ceiling fan comes into view. The ceiling fan rocks as it makes its rotations. Details of the room begin to be more evident to Ellie, like the bookshelf with trophies, awards, and books. Ellie turns onto her side and realizes she is in the room of her childhood friend.

Averett?

“Averett”? She calls as she pushes herself up in the bed to sit upright and looks around the room for him.

“Hey, you're finally awake.” Averett walks into the room and smiles at Ellie. “How are you feelin’”?

“What Happen”?

“Umm-- What do you mean”?

“I mean how did I end up here? How am I alive”? Ellie wraps her arms around herself trying to comfort herself.

“Alive”? Averett laughs “You fell.”

Ellie studies Averett's face to see if there are any signs that he could be lying, but why would he lie. He has never lied to her before; they were friends since the sandbox days.

“Fell? How did I need up her-- Ow.”

Pain shot up Ellie's left shoulder and neck. Ellie looks down at her shoulder to see it wrapped in bandages. Fear creeps through her body, she feels the bed shift from Avette sitting down next to her. HE places his hand on her knee, she turns to look at him.

“It’s from the fall. Don't worry my Aunt Ava fixed you up”.

She gives a sheepish smile and thank him. Ellie runs the events from last night through her head; the park, the messages, her parents’ car, and then her date with her boyfriend.

“Oh God! My Date With Farren, My parents' car, My Parents!”

Ellie frantically get-ups and starts to gather her things; panic begins to set in as she grabs her things. What are her parents going to think when she gets home?

“Don't worry my Aunt Gretchen called your parents and got the car. It's out front.

That was so like Averett; he knew how to fix everything, he always been like that ever since there were kids. He was always looking out for her, making sure everything was perfect just like him.

“Your Aunt Gretchen called them”? Ellie gave Averett a …. look

“You know your Aunt G is scary right?”

Averett chuckled. “No, Why do you say that?”

“I get the feeling that she doesn’t like me or something.”

Ellie played with her jacket that was in her hands. They both looked at each other and light laughed. Ellie shrugged on her red jacket, she reached the front pocket and pulled out her phone.

“I’ve already messaged him for you. He's worried, but I think he will be ok”.

Averett looks away from Ellie as thought he looking from something in his. Ellie opens the text to see where Averent texted her boyfriend to let him know she was ok. She looks up from the messages and smiles over at Averett.

“Maybe we can all meet at the Diner for dinner for his Birthday.”

Averett smiles at her and nods.

Ellie makes her way down the hall towards the front door. She passes the kitchen entryway where she could smell the coffee brewing and the pancake mix. It was a tradition in Averent house that every Saturday morning Averent Aunt Ava made a big breakfast for the family. In the past, Eille had gone to many of these breakfasts given that she and Aveevert were close friends since the playground days. But today she didn't want to stay, Ellie picked up her pace so she could try to slip past them and get to the front door.

”Leaving so soon Ellie”?

Aunt Gretchen looks up over her coffee mug at Ellie. Ellie freezes her steps and walks back to the kitchen entryway. She hears a small warm laugh coming from the kitchen, Ava pours coffee into Gretchen’s mug.

”Leave the poor girl alone babe.”

Aunt Ava smiles sweetly over at Ellie. Averevtt’s aunts are both very intimidating women. His Aunt Gretchen looks like a model, with her long lean body, but she acts like a drill sergeant. While his Aunt Ava who is equally attractive, but curvier acts like a sweet old grandmother.

“Please take care of your wounds, Ok Elliana”. Ellie nods at Aunt Ava and turns to leave out of the kitchen.

“You should be more careful Elliana”. Gretchen called out to her.

There are things that go bump in the night you know”. Aunt Gretchen traces the rim of her coffee cup as she stares over at Ellie.

Ellie laughs and shrugged. “Those were just stories you use to tell us to keep us out of the woods”. Aunt Gretchen would tell them stories of monsters and ghost stories to scare them as kids to obey her, but that never kept them away from the woods. But then again Ellie was attacked by something last night.

Ellie tells them goodbye and turns from the Kitchen entryway and leaves.

“Yes, stories…” Gretchen whispered under her breath right before she took a sip of her coffee.

Ava joins Gretchen at the small table in the kitchen. She grabs her cup of coffee and takes a deep inhale, then a tiny sip of the hot coffee.

“How your coffee dear”? Gretchen asked as she pulled open the newspaper that has been sitting on the table for her.

Ava looks up from her coffee and gives a little sly smile.

“It's good.”