ANGELA BARNES
November 2018
Angela Barnes would have loved nothing more for it to be just another evening in the Barnes household. Unfortunately, it wasn’t.
She was stuffing her things and her 7-year-old son Flynn’s things into bags, the dark stormy wind outside mocking her, her hands trembling.
But Angela looked up the minute she heard her husband Bruce’s boots behind her.
“Angela,” he said, making her turn around. “It’s time.”
She looked at Bruce, who was well into his grayish-white werewolf form, with tired, haunted eyes. “I know. I only have one more thing to put into the bags, and then we’ll go. Why don’t you just come with us?”
Bruce shook his head. “Babe, we talked about this. If we’re separated, It will be easier for you to not be detected. I need to draw them out so that you and Flynn will be safe.”
“I know the Hunters are after you, but why don’t we run and escape together? Or at the very worst, fight them together?” Angela asked, drawing closer to Bruce.
Bruce had a conflicted, almost confused look for a couple of seconds before he shook his head rapidly, beginning to growl, making Angela take a couple of steps back. “No, Angela, no! There’s so much that could go wrong if we do things that way. Think of Flynn. He needs at least one parent to survive.”
Angela closed her eyes and scowled. “Why does it always have to be you?”
Bruce had no answer.
“You do know what you’re asking me to do, right?” Angela added, shifting back to a pleading look.
“I’m asking you…to let me protect the two of you. No matter the cost. I’m not running from them. I’m running for you. Both of you.”
Angela closed her eyes, tears sprouting. She hated so much that he was right.
“Hey.” Bruce took Angela’s face in his hands. “I love you.”
Angela sniffled. “I love you too.”
“The two of you are going to have an amazing life after you leave here. You’re both gonna be so happy.”
“Not without you,” Angela croaked.
“I know,” Bruce said, his voice breaking. “It’s not fair. But I have faith. Faith in this idea that…” He sniffled a little bit too. “That no matter what happens to me today…your lives will be more normal than it is right now.”
“Well, what about you?” Angela whispered.
“Like I said…the only thing that matters is that you two are safe.”
“What if I can’t do this without you?” Angela asked.
“You’re the strongest people I’ve ever met,” Bruce said. “I know you’ll find a way. If I can’t get to you. But just know I’ll be trying my damnedest too.”
Angela scoffed tearfully. “You damn well better.”
The two of them embraced and gave one long last kiss between the two of them for a while.
Once Angela let go of him, she gave him a F-shaped pendant, which Bruce eyed with awe and love.
“Thank you so much,” he said. But then he stared at the window and widened his eyes. “We’re out of time. You need to wake up, Flynn, and we…you need to go.”
With no further ado, Angela grabbed the bags, dropped them by the stairs, ran upstairs, scooped up Flynn, carrying him while he was asleep, and went back downstairs.
The two parents went outside in the cold night, and Bruce loaded the bags in the car while Angela put on Flynn’s seatbelt.
And just before she pulled out the driveway, she saw the silhouette of a lone wolf running full speed into the forest.
Angela was sobbing as she drove out of their neighborhood.
FLYNN BARNES
AUGUST 2024
Flynn and his mom’s car finally arrived at the motel in Mayville, Florida.
Flynn blinked against the bright sunlight streaming through the car window, his gaze fixed on the window, looking at another motel.
“Well, here we are!” his mother announced tiredly. “Our new home…for now.”
Flynn got out of the car to help his mom get their stuff, his attention drifting to everywhere around him, including the flickering red VACANCY sign. It felt like far from a neighborhood. It felt forgotten.
As Flynn’s mother reached the back to grab the rest of what Flynn didn’t already grab, she looked at Flynn, making him stop.
“Just remember, Flynn. You know the drill. No new friends. No attention. No record of us,” she said flatly.
Flynn nodded. “Yes, Mom, I know.” He knew the rules by heart. But knowing them didn’t make the weight any lighter.
No new friends meant being alone in school.
No attention meant staying invisible.
No record of meant that any important record of Flynn and his mom needed to get erased if they were to stay under the radar.
[…]
Room 6 was a fairly large motel room. It smelled faintly of bleach. One bed. A couch on the other side of the room. A desk that might collapse if he set anything heavier than a notebook on it.
Flynn dropped his bag on the couch and sat. Words. His journal of the words he was practicing spelling was full of them, yet for six years Flynn was searching for the word of the feeling like he didn’t belong anywhere. He knew there had to be a word for it.
He watched his mom peer out the blinds like she was expecting someone to follow them. “We won’t be here forever,” she whispered, sounding more like a warning than a promise.
A soft knock interrupted the quiet. Flynn’s mom went to open the door, with Flynn slightly following. She opened the door a crack.
On the other side stood a woman, shadowed by the sunlight.
“Angela?” she asked, her Texas drawl softened but not gone. “It’s been too long.”
Flynn’s mom blinked as if she was seeing a mirage. “Rachel? Is that you?”
The woman, Rachel, chuckled. “It really has been too long. Yes, it’s me. I heard you just moved here. A couple of years back—“
“From who?” Flynn’s mom cut her off.
But Rachel just shrugged. “Just through the grapevine. Don’t worry. Nobody’s coming after you.”
“You have no idea how much I’d wish for that to be true. It just hasn’t been our experience that the grapevine is very helpful,” Flynn’s mom said.
You can say that again, Flynn thought.
“But at any rate, I just thought I’d welcome you to the neighborhood,” Rachel said, “And I figured you needed something more than motel food.” She handed Flynn’s mom the bag. It smelled like cornbread.
Flynn moved a little closer, unsure if it was the right move.
“This is my boy, Flynn,” Flynn’s mom said carefully. “Flynn. This is Miss Rachel. An old friend. We…knew each other. Back in Diamond Cliff.”
Rachel smiled warmly. “Nice to finally meet you. Your mama and I go way back.”
“Good afternoon, ma’am,” Flynn said. “It’s nice to meet you too.”
Rachel chuckled softly. “Polite kid. You’ve raised him well. If y’all need anything. My place is just 1 mile down the road. Just give me a holler.”
Flynn’s mom nodded. “Thank you, Rachel. We’ll be fine.”
Rachel looked at Flynn for a moment, kindly and curiously. Then she looked back at Flynn’s mom. “Well, welcome to Mayville anyway.” She walked away.
Flynn’s mom shut the door fast before breathing in and out. She then turned to look at Flynn. “Remember the rules, son.”
Flynn nodded. It was just the two of them now.
He then went to his backpack and pulled out his journal, engaging himself in this almost sacred moment.
No friends. No attention, no record, Just silence. Just pages.
Where words were the only safe place left.
I hope you enjoyed this first chapter! If you’re reading this before 10:00 am cst, the second chapter of this serialized novel premiere launch will come out on 10:00 am cst, while the third and final chapter until Friday will come out on 12:00 pm cst!
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