Chapter Fourteen
Silence filled the room, stretching between them as they sat huddled together on the floor, slowly taking in all they’d just learned. Gabe was the first to speak, breaking the ice. “She wrote it like she knew we’d find it,” he said, voicing the same thing Gwen had been thinking.
“She knew we’d come looking for answers,” she said. “This was her way of explaining things after she was gone.” She looked over at Gabe, noticing that his eyes were fixed on the journal still. His eyes moved back and forth over the last page as he read it over and over again, as if trying to glean some hidden passage he’d missed the first time. She didn’t want to rush him, but she had to know what he was truly thinking about it all. She knew her mind was spinning from what she’d just heard, and she wondered if he was thinking the same thing she was.
“Come on,” he said, snapping the journal closed. He got to his feet and motioned for the door. “I can’t be in this room anymore. I don’t know how you can sleep in here. It’s gonna drive me crazy.” He didn’t wait for her, and she got to her feet, hurrying down the stairs after him. Sandra and their mother were still awake, sitting together at the kitchen table with more coffee. They looked up as she and Gabe hurried past, and before they could ask, he said, “We’re just gonna get some fresh air on the porch. We won’t go far, I promise.”
He held the door open for her, closing it firmly after she walked past. He took a seat on one of the steps and she joined him. It was getting dark out, and the air had finally begun to cool down, but it was still too warm out for her taste. She could feel her shirt clinging to her shoulders and chest, and she plucked helplessly at the thin fabric, wishing it was about ten degrees cooler. While she fanned herself, she used Gabe’s silence to think about everything she’d just heard, and her mind began to race.
“He’s not a werewolf,” Gabe scoffed before she could even voice the thought.
“Ginny seemed pretty convinced he was by the end,” she said quietly, her eyes focusing on dark woods that surrounded the house. “And I don’t blame her.”
“Gwen—”
“Is it possible werewolves really do exist?” she asked, her voice getting a little higher. “I mean, think about it. Not only was Ginny obviously convinced—”
“She was also terrified out of her mind and not thinking clearly,” Gabe interrupted.
Ignoring him, she continued, “—but it kind of solves a few mysteries, don’t you think? Seriously, I want you to think about it. When we found Ginny, she was practically rabid, and she had two severe bite marks on her body. That would explain why she behaved the way she did, and the wounds she sustained.” When Gabe didn’t say anything, she continued. “The night Ginny disappeared for the second time and we followed her, we were attacked by a wolf…and we were saved by one, too.” Gabe looked up, his eyes going wide as he began to piece it together like she already had. “It was the same one that found me the day we joined the search party and found Ginny’s shoe near the road. That’s not a coincidence, Gabe.”
He sighed.
“It was Ginny. She saved our lives, and she paid the ultimate price for it, just like she said in her diary. ‘No matter the cost to myself’. It was her, Gabe; I just know it! I know how crazy this all sounds, but if Ginny believed it, then I do, too. She wasn’t crazy, and neither are we. We know that something’s been going on and this could even explain that, too.”
He looked intrigued. “What do you mean?”
“If Ginny was turned into a werewolf, it was by the guy she met with, the guy who was an old friend of Dad and Uncle Geoffrey. Remember, we thought Dad and Uncle Geoffrey got mixed up in some shady stuff back in the day? Well maybe they really did! Maybe when we found Ginny, Geoffrey and Dad knew exactly what was going on with her. They could have been trying to help her, and she might have blamed them for what happened after keeping such a devastating secret for so long.”
“That’s a lot of ‘what ifs’,” Gabe said, his voice taking on that doubtful tone again.
“I know it is,” Gwen said, her shoulders slumping. “But it’s all we have to go on right now. Even though it all sounds insane, I can’t help but feel like this is the truth we’ve been searching for. Dad and Uncle Geoffrey knew this guy a long time ago, and they knew he was involved with Ginny’s disappearance. That’s why they didn’t go back to the cops when she vanished again. They knew it wouldn’t do them any good. They knew they had to handle it all by themselves.”
Gabe stared up at the sky above them, his face impossible to read. “If they knew how to help Ginny…”
She froze. Her mind hadn’t even considered it, but what if? “You think they’re werewolves, too?”
“I don’t know, Gwen. I think this all sounds way too crazy to be true, but I’ll admit there’s a lot going on around here that we don’t know, and I’m getting a little tired of people keeping things from us. We need to figure this out on our own, since we’re obviously not gonna get answers from anyone in this family.” He looked over his shoulder at the house behind them, shaking his head sadly. “Their behavior earlier was despicable.”
“It was mostly Dad,” she said.
“It doesn’t matter who started it. They’re both adults and they need to start acting like it. I know that things are confusing and everyone is hurting, but hurting one another won’t take away that pain. Dad needs to get over himself for now and be there for his family. The way he left us to deal with this all on our own was really disappointing. The look on your face when he just walked away from you…I wanted to hit him. You even pleaded with him.”
“He’s trying to comfort himself, and I can’t blame him for that,” she said. “I understand he needs time to be alone and work through this. All of them have been so quiet and despondent. Everyone has their own way of mourning, and his is taking some time for himself.”
“It’s no excuse. That was the hardest day of our lives, and he didn’t even check in on us. Not once. He’s the worst father ever, I swear.”
“Don’t say that,” she chastised. “He’s done a lot more than some fathers. He may not be perfect, but he does love us, Gabe. You have to know that.”
“It sure doesn’t feel like it sometimes.”
They lapsed into silence. Honestly, some small part of Gwen agreed with him. She loved their father, but he was definitely lacking in the nurturing department. There were several areas he could have improved on, but she still loved him. And that was what family was all about—loving one another despite their flaws, no matter what they did. She wondered if her dad and uncle still loved each other after all these years of fighting. Even if it was buried deep down where nobody else could see, surely there had to be some part of them that still cared, right?
Her mind flashed back to the brutal fight earlier, and the look on her father’s face as he mercilessly beat his own brother’s face in. She shuddered just thinking about such ferocity. If there was any love left between the two of them, it was so lost that Indiana Jones wouldn’t have been able to find it. She highly doubted that was the case though. If the death of your brother’s only child couldn’t bring out any love for one another, there was nothing that could. Her father’s selfishness at such a time was probably devastating not only to her, but to Geoffrey as well.
Didn’t he realize the harm he was causing? Some of it was permanent for sure, and would create a lasting crack in his relationship with his brother and his own children. He was putting an age-old grudge before his kids when they needed him most. What kind of father did that?
Her eyes flicked over to the journal still in Gabe’s lap. I wonder if Ginny ever felt like she meant less than their stupid feud. I’ll bet she wrote about it if she did. Do I have a right to read more of her diary? We’ve figured out all we’re going to about her disappearance. Anything else is just unnecessary prying, isn’t it?
“Gabe? Can I see Ginny’s diary?”
He handed it over to her without hesitation, his eyes softeni
ng from their guarded curiosity. “I don’t think she’d mind if you wanted to read more of it. Just so you know.”
“I’m not gonna read anymore of it,” Gwen said, her mind made up already. “I just…wanna hold it. It’s all I have left of her and it makes me feel close,” she said, holding the journal to her chest and closing her eyes tight as she was flooded with emotions. “Do you think that’s weird?”
“No,” he said immediately. “I think you and Ginny were closer than you guys were to anyone else in our family, and now that she’s gone, you have a giant void. The journal helps fill it, because it’s her. Her thoughts, her dreams, her feelings—all neatly kept in one place.”
She opened her eyes and looked down at the journal still clutched to her chest. “I won’t read it, because I already know who Ginny was and what she meant to me without having to read her secret thoughts. But it is the only thing I have of hers to hold onto right now.” She closed her eyes again as tears dripped down her cheeks, sniffling as her grip on the journal tightened. “I think I need some alone time.”
“I figured,” he said, leaning over to kiss her on the forehead. He lightly ruffled her hair, and for the first time that she could remember, she didn’t mind the brotherly gesture. “Take as much time as you need. But if you do need to talk, come and see me. I’m not getting any sleep tonight, so don’t worry about disturbing me.”
Before he got up from the steps, Gwen threw her arms around his shoulders, pulling him tight to her. She could feel his surprise, but it only lasted a second before he had her in his arms, holding her even tighter. She was so grateful to have him that she couldn’t even find the words to properly describe it. Would he ever truly know how much he meant to her? She doubted it, but she hoped he had a guess. She was quickly learning that Gabe was the only person in her life she could consistently count on not to disappoint or hurt her.
Even mom isn’t helping us.
Gabe left her alone on the porch, and Gwen took a minute to stare out at the woods that surrounded the house. She had looked at them in the past, but now it was as if she were seeing them for the first time. With the revelation that werewolves might have possibly been more than just a hot shirtless guy in the teen books Gwen had on her bookshelf, the woods had taken on a darker, more sinister appearance than ever before. They hadn’t exactly been welcoming in the past, but now that she knew what might possibly be out there waiting…she shuddered at the thought of it.
The hair on the back of her neck began to prickle as it raised, and her back stiffened as the feeling that she was being watched overwhelmed her. Goose bumps broke out along her arms despite the heat, and she nearly got to her feet and bolted for the door behind her. It’s not just my imagination, she thought. Before she disappeared, Ginny knew she was being watched. Maybe we are, too…
Her heart was racing in her chest and she was sure any creatures lying in wait in the woods could not only hear it, but probably smell her fear, too. Even though she was terrified, she forced herself to tear her eyes away from the trees and slowly get to her feet, turning her back on whatever was out there. She made her way slowly to the door, making sure to shut and lock it behind her, sealing herself away from anything that might mean her harm. She made it to the stairs before she heard the howling, and her heart slammed up into her throat.
She couldn’t pretend to be brave any longer. Racing up the stairs, she shut herself in Ginny’s room, slamming the bedroom window shut and locking it. She pulled the curtains shut, blocking out the moonlight that suddenly felt dangerous and uncertain. Even with the window closed, she could still faintly hear the howling in the woods, but it was soft enough that her heartbeat began to slow and her breathing returned to normal. She took a seat at the desk and set the journal to the side, putting her head in her hands as she began to feel overwhelmed.
How did Ginny deal with all of this on her own? How didn’t it eat her alive? She sighed. It had, a small part of her whispered treacherously. It ate her alive and spat her back out, destroying her in more ways than one.
When Gwen looked up from her hands, she noticed a large brown parcel perched on the edge of the desk. She recognized it as the one Ginny purchased during their day long shopping trip at the Rockford mall. She must have walked past it a thousand times since they returned, but she had never given it much thought. She dragged it over now, looking for any kind of tag that might tell her what it was or who it was for.
On the underside of the parcel, she found words scrawled in black ink. The handwriting was beautiful and flowed across the paper, and she recognized it immediately as Ginny’s. She was startled to find that her name was on the paper, and she quickly read the short note that Ginny must have written sometime after they returned from their shopping trip.
Gwen, I hope you live a life full of adventure...in the safety of your own mind! I know you’ll take good care of these and cherish them for years to come. –Ginny
She stared at the parcel, tears forming in her eyes again. She had been crying so often lately it felt like second nature to her now. It was almost weird when she wasn’t crying over something. Tears in her eyes, she ripped open the brown paper, making sure to tear away the handwritten note that Ginny had left for her, tucking it away into the pages of the journal for safekeeping. When the paper had all been removed, she found herself staring in awe at a completed hard-cover set of her favorite books—a series about a brave warrior woman with purple eyes.
She stared at the books, not moving to even touch them. Her breath was caught in the back of her throat, like she was choking on nothing but the sight of those books. Not only were they her favorite books from her favorite author, but somehow Ginny had remembered that. She had to have known how much a gift like this would mean to her and that it would be priceless, something she’d cherish for the rest of her life, even if she did someday outgrow fantasy stories.
Gently, she picked up the books and placed them on the nearby bookshelf, front and center so they’d be one of the first things she’d see every morning. She moved to the bed and sat down, bringing the journal with her. As she slid into place, something fell out from between the pages of the journal. She stared at the folded up piece of paper that also had her name written across it, holding her breath as she reached out to grab it. She slowly unfolded the paper, her eyes scanning the words written across the paper.
Gwen, I hope you find this letter soon, and I hope it helps you understand why things are happening. Believe me, I tried to think of a way to tell you all of this, but these words are easier written than spoken. Some of them may be too hard to express either way and would leave more questions than answers. But if you’ve found this, it means you’ve hopefully by now noticed that things aren’t as they seem in Brighton.
There are strange occurrences and stranger people, and our family is tied up in the middle of it. I know there is a part of you—a very large part—that will insist on doing everything you can to get to the bottom of things. But I have to ask you not to, no matter how hard it may be to walk away. You and Gabe can’t stay in Brighton; it isn’t safe for either of you, but you especially.
You’re in danger, Gwen. There’s a very dangerous man out to get you, and Roman will stop at nothing until he gets what he wants. What he wanted at first was me, and he got it. Now he’ll shift his focus to you, and he won’t stop until you’re under his control. You can’t let that happen, no matter what! You need to run, Gwen! Run away and never look back. I know it’ll hurt to leave things unsolved, but you can’t help me, not now. My fate is sealed, but yours is still undecided. Don’t make the same mistakes that I did.
They cost me more than you can imagine…
We’ve been like sisters for years, growing together even when we were forced apart. I wish you and I could have had more time, but even though it was cut short, you still have plenty of memories to remember fondly. Think of the happiness and love, even in the darkest of times. You’ve always been the most important person in my life, and
I’ll always be with you, no matter what happens in life.
Tell Gabe that I love him, and I’m sorry he didn’t get a letter, too. The two of you are going to have to rely on each other to get through life, because our family isn’t going to be much help. I’m sure you’ve found that out by now though. Lean on each other for support and never let anything come between you two.
I love you, Gwen. Stay strong. –Your sister, Ginny.
Gwen reread the letter two more times, struggling to make out the words as tears blurred her vision. They fell to the paper in her hands, distorting the ink in places. Not that it mattered, though. She already had every word committed to memory and was sure she’d never forget them. Ginny had always had a way with words—the heart of a true poet her mother had always said—and it was true. Gwen was touched to think that Ginny had taken the time to write out her feelings and emotions for her and only her. Nobody else had gotten a letter.
Of all the people Ginny could have chosen to leave her goodbye letter to, she’d chosen Gwen. In a morbid way, there was really no higher honor than knowing you were the person they were thinking of most in their last moments. It made sense, though. Like Ginny said in her letter, they had always been like sisters, so it was only fitting that she signed it as such. I’ll keep this letter as long as I live, as a way to always remember Ginny.
Surprisingly, the tears stopped before too long. Her eyes dried and she felt herself begin to tense. In her letter, she had mentioned a name, one that Gwen had never heard before. Roman. It was an odd name, definitely uncommon in this day and age. It shouldn’t have been too difficult to do some online research and find some sort of tie to Brighton that would give her a clue as to who had killed Ginny. Even though Ginny had said some of her words might leave more questions than answers, Gwen felt she was closer to getting her answers than she had been since arriving in Brighton.
Ginny wanted me to leave. Gabe, too.
She considered it for a moment, trying to look at the big picture rationally instead of emotionally. Only Ginny knew the “big picture” and how dangerous the situation was. Even with the letter in her hand, Gwen still didn’t have the slightest clue what was really going on. She didn’t know if werewolves were real or if they were a figment of Ginny’s imagination, nothing more than a way to cope with the terror she was going through.
But she was determined to find out. She wanted to honor Ginny’s request, but she knew she could never leave without getting some kind of closure. She couldn’t spend the rest of her life without knowing what was going on and why one of the most important people in her life had been taken from her far too soon. And she was sure that Gabe would feel the same way in the morning when she talked to him about it all. They would get to the bottom of things if it was the last thing she did.
She should have been curled up on her bed, nothing more than a ball of tears and sadness. Instead, she felt a hot anger burning through her veins at the thought of what was to come. She was determined to find out who had been the one to kill Ginny, and then, she would never rest until he paid for what he’d done to her. She was going to make sure of it. As she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep amidst the sounds of howling from the woods, she took it as a challenge—a sign of terrible things to come. And strangely, she almost welcomed it with open arms. Roman, you better come for me, before I come for you…
Revelations (Brighton Wolves #1) Page 26
