The Truth About Kadenburg

by T. E. Ridener

  Drinking is very, very bad, she nodded as she approached the large, vacant building. It was rumored that the old hospital was plagued by asbestos now, and no one had gone inside in the last ten years or so. She didn’t plan to go inside, but she knew no one would bother her if she came here.

  You’re so busted, she thought as she seated herself on the concrete bench nearby, which surprisingly, was still in decent shape.

  I am such an idiot, she sighed as she glanced up towards the early morning sky. She loved watching the sun rise. It was one of her happier memories from living in Kadenburg. She had only been gone for three years but it seemed like a life time. Everything here was the same, but it felt different, too. She couldn’t explain why.

  As the warmth of the sun kissed her freckled cheeks, Presley’s eyes closed. Despite the faint hangover she was experiencing, she’d never felt more alive-or free-then she did in that single moment. The cool morning air ran its fingers through her golden locks as she tilted her head back and exhaled in a calm manner.

  Perhaps it was only a dream within a dream, but she recalled seeing Lorcan’s face. She could remember the way his eyes bore into her own as his hot breath fanned against her lips. Did she dream of kissing him? She couldn’t remember if a kiss had been involved. She had always heard that dreaming about kissing someone meant that you were about to enter a relationship.

  I’m so done with relationships, she opened her eyes to gaze around the old hospital grounds again. Why would I dream of Lorcan anyway?

  It was a silly question to be asking herself. She’d known Lorcan since she was ‘knee-high to a grasshopper’, as Old Man Peters would say. She’d played with him and Liam in the creek at the end of Manor Lane during hot summers, and they would all stop in at Nana Hettie’s after school for hot chocolate when fall arrived. Heck, her and Lorcan played Doctor together one time when she was in the 3rd grade, but Uncle Arnold had put a quick stop to that.

  Lorcan really was a handsome guy; Liam, too. They were different from the other boys in town. They were kind, well-mannered, and possibly the most head-strong guys she’d ever had the privilege of knowing. Why wouldn’t she dream of Lorcan on occasion? If she were to be completely honest with herself, there was one point in time when she had a small crush on him. It was during the spring of 2001 and she was just settling into the changes puberty had brought. She felt awkward with her new body and she was way too embarrassed to ask Uncle Arnold for any sort of advice. He was a man, what would he know about girl things?

  She was a late bloomer and all of her girl classmates had gone through those changes in the 6th grade. Not wanting to be left out or made fun of, Presley had gone along with their bragging and pretended like she’d gotten her gift from Mother Nature, too. It was the stupidest thing she’d ever done, among that high list of stupid things, and when the time finally came for her, she didn’t want to admit she was a fraud.

  It happened right before school ended for the day and Presley was horrified to discover the bright red spot on her brand new white shorts. She waited until the rest of her classmates left the room before she grabbed for her backpack and wrapped the straps around her waist. She was paranoid of someone seeing the stain. She was afraid of being laughed at.

  She made a quick pit stop to the bathroom to get a closer look at what was happening to her, and she didn’t have the quarter required to get what she needed to prevent it from getting worse.

  She walked slowly down the hallway that led to the bus pick-up because she was fearful that her movements would do more damage than good. She didn’t know any better. This hadn’t happened to her before! By the time she got to the bus circle, her bus was gone.

  “Oh no. Oh no!” She squeaked as she put a hand over her mouth. She could feel the tears stinging her eyes as she looked to the left and then to the right. The last bus was pulling out onto the road and she was there by herself. She was alone. Everyone had already gone home! She covered her face with both hands as the tears began to fall and her shoulders shook with grief. She’d never missed the bus before. Uncle Arnold was going to kill her.

  “Presley?”

  She turned on her heels, temporarily forgetting her bigger-than-the-world problem as she met Lorcan’s concerned expression. He had gotten taller over the summer. His arm were bigger. She could see the muscles flexing as he tugged at the straps of his backpack that rested on his shoulders.

  “Are you okay?” He asked as he tilted his head to the side.

  “N-no,” she stammered as she wiped at her eyes. She was embarrassed that he was there to witness her tears. “I m-missed the bus.”

  “Yeah, I did, too,” he nodded as he moved closer to her.

  She instinctively turned to face him fully, not wanting him to see anything. She gripped the straps of her backpack that were tied around her waist. “Why did you miss the bus?” She asked timidly.

  “Cause you weren’t on it,” he replied with a small smile. “I came back to look for you.”

  “Y-you did?” She sniffled softly as she blinked, clearing her vision enough to peer at him. “Why?”

  Lorcan shrugged his shoulders before lifting a hand to push his long, shaggy hair away from his eyes. “I didn’t want you to walk home alone.”

  The walk home was quiet and a little awkward. Presley hoped he didn’t notice the way she was walking funny. She was too preoccupied with other things to even realize his gaze was on her nearly the entire time. Once they got to her house, Lorcan stopped and turned to face her.

  “Are you sure you’re okay, Presley?” He asked in that deep voice he’d gotten a few summers back.

  “No,” she admitted in a meek voice. “I mean..I will be, I’m sure. I just, today hasn’t been a good day for me.”

  “I kinda noticed that,” he nodded with a lopsided grin. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

  Presley’s eyes grew as wide as saucers as she shook her head. “N-no. I mean..thank you for offering but I..” What was she supposed to say? She couldn’t tell a boy about her problem! It was strictly a woman thing, but Presley didn’t have a woman to talk to.

  “Presley,” Lorcan interrupted gently. “Is it something that maybe my mom can help you with?”

  Oh God, did he know? Had the stain gotten worse? She didn’t dare try to confirm that as she stared at him like a deer caught in headlights. She was so terrified that she couldn’t even move.

  Lorcan smiled again as he shook his head. “Hey, it’s okay. You don’t have anything to be embarrassed about. Guys go through changes, too.”

  So he did know. How embarrassing! Presley’s face turned three shades of red as she lowered her head in shame.

  “Why don’t you come with me to my house?” Lorcan asked. “I’m sure my mom can help you with whatever you need. Would that be okay?”

  Presley’s eyes closed tightly for a moment as she swallowed down her pride and accepted the fact she needed a woman’s guidance. This was strike three against her mother for leaving her and putting her in a situation like this, but she finally nodded as she lifted her eyes to his again. “Thank you.”

  Lorcan had never told anybody about that incident as far as Presley knew. Only he and his mother were aware that she’d started her period while at school, and to this day she had no idea how Lorcan knew in the first place. The stain hadn’t been as bad as she’d made out to be in her mind.

  Mrs. Bamey had helped her clean up and gave her the necessities she needed before sitting her down for a discussion about something she described as “The Estrus Cycle”. Presley still thought it was a weird way to refer to a woman’s period, and it was definitely a different version of the talk Uncle Arnold had with her.

  Maybe that was why Presley had gotten a crush on him. Lorcan had helped her during a confusing time and he didn’t embarrass her about it. Plus, how could she not have developed a crush on him after he missed the bus to make sure she was okay? He was her own personal Superman in a way.

  Of course, Pr
esley had been too shy to pursue that crush and it eventually faded with time. Lorcan was an extremely popular guy and he was in high school already. Why would a high schooler want to date a middle schooler anyway? It wasn’t how it worked.

  He would’ve liked me, she thought to herself as she toyed with the hem of the oversized shirt she was now wearing. I was an idiot.

  But the fact remained that after what had happened with Tim, she didn’t know if she’d ever be able to date again. She’d been so confident he was the one for her. The ‘one’ wouldn’t break up with you over something like that, she gently reminded herself. The ‘one’ would stick by you no matter what.

  She suddenly became restless as she stood from the bench and glanced towards the third story of the hospital. She knew that she was born on the third floor. Uncle Arnold told her countless times of how he took the stairs because the elevator was too slow. He’d been so excited about her birth and he couldn’t wait a second longer. The thought of his excitement still made her smile from time to time.

  He loved her when her mother didn’t, and that was sometimes a hard pill to swallow. How did a person’s mother not love them? It was a question that had many answers, but Presley wasn’t sure which answer fit best for her. She couldn’t even think of the possibility of having a child she wouldn’t want.

  I wanted it, she thought as she took a step towards the hospital before immediately freezing. The hairs on the back of her neck stood upon tingling skin as a chill ran down her spine. A pulse of panic surged through her chest as she turned her head to gaze over her shoulder. It was an incredibly strong sense of someone’s eyes being on her, and she didn’t like it. She wasn’t alone.

  “Who’s there?” She called out as she gripped the loose fabric resting against her side. She suddenly felt vulnerable. Only an idiot would run away without grabbing her clothes first, but how was she supposed to do that when Mrs. Bamey had snatched them up to do laundry? And besides-it wasn’t her fault she left in such a hurry. Uncle Arnold had shown up and she knew he was angry with her. It was a fight she didn’t want to have.

  A calm breeze swept over the hospital grounds then, picking up leaves and carrying them short distances as she shivered from the air licking at her naked legs. She curled her toes against the soft grass as she swallowed the growing lump of dread in her throat.

  What if her Uncle Arnold had followed her somehow?

  Impossible, she thought. He was still inside when I took off. There’s no way he knows which direction I went.

  A frown tugged at her lips as her brows furrowed and Presley’s eyes scanned every direction. She didn’t see anyone, but she could feel them. Someone was there.

  “This isn’t funny,” she gulped.

  There was still no reply.

  Maybe she was just being paranoid. It had been known to happen before. Of course, back then it was because she’d discovered the joys and wonderments of marijuana and she was always so sure the cops were waiting right outside the door to take her in for lighting up.

  The rustling of the leaves as the wind picked up caused her to jump as she whirled around to gaze in the direction of the wooded area behind the hospital. Her heart was pounding in her ears as she licked her dry lips, eyes darting back and forth to catch any signs of movement. She still couldn’t see anybody.

  Presley’s hands curled into fists as the muscles in her body began to tense up. That often happened when she felt scared. Maybe she didn’t have anything to be afraid of, but her gut instinct was rarely wrong. There was something or someone watching her and she didn’t like it.

  “I’ve got mace,” she called out. Lie. She didn’t have anything at the moment. She wasn’t even sure where she’d left her cellphone and even if she did have it, there was a good chance she wouldn’t get service in this area anyway.

  You’re a genius, Presley, her mind scolded as she whirled around upon hearing the sound of a twig snap. The quick rhythm of her heartbeat echoed in her ears as she willed her breathing to remain steady. She wasn’t in the dark and she could see everything right now, why did she feel like she was stuck in a corny 80’s horror film?

  Flashbacks from the night before suddenly flooded her mind as she recalled the wolf that stared her straight in the eyes. The image seemed so vivid.

  It wasn’t a dream.

  She remembered now. She remembered everything. Jim had given her a lift home but they never made it there. Oh God, poor Jim! Was he okay? A hand quickly darted to her mouth as Presley’s eyes widened and a thick feeling of dread pooled in her stomach. Her chest ached as she realized the bear and wolf nightmare had in fact been a reality.

  Presley’s knees nearly gave out on her as she took a step backwards and then turned around to run in the direction she’d come from. She was only a mile or so out from the main road and she suddenly felt very threatened. She had to get out of here.

  As her right foot swung forward, her legs gave out on her when her eyes fell upon the colossal gray wolf that stood near the path she’d walked on only moments before. Presley collapsed against the grass as her mouth fell open and a silent scream ripped past her lips.

  This wasn’t real, right? This couldn’t be real. Logic and irrational fear began to collide in a waging war in her mind as she pressed her palms against the grass beneath her body, trying to push herself up. Every nerve in her body screamed for her to stay still, but her mind told her she needed to run.

  A low growl sounded from the wolf as it lowered its head, paws as big as Presley’s head moving, bringing it closer to her as she stood on shaking legs and took a step backwards. Her eyes lowered to the wolf’s black muzzle, watching as its mouth opened to reveal razor sharp fangs.

  Better to eat you with, my dear, Presley thought as her eyes widened. Her breathing had grown shallow as she managed to take another step back, trying to keep distance between herself and the majestic murderer whose silver eyes were zoned in on her.

  She’d seen a wolf once. At the zoo when Uncle Arnold took her during the summer of 6th grade. She couldn’t remember being overly fond of them then, and she sure as hell wasn’t keen on seeing one with no barrier between them. It was a staring contest as the wolf continued stepping forward and she continued stepping back.

  Presley’s eyes finally tore away from the wolf as she tried to evaluate the situation. The road she needed to be on was directly behind the wolf; the chances of making it past him were slim to none.

  Glancing to her left, Presley saw the extension of more woods. It probably wouldn’t be a good idea to go in there either. Despite the advantage of trees that may temporarily throw the wolf off her trail, if she fell she would be in some serious trouble.

  A thought came to Presley then, and as crazy it seemed, she knew it may have been her only hope. As she met the wolf’s gaze once more, she pleaded to an unknown higher power that her plan wouldn’t backfire. It was the only chance she had at avoiding being this monstrous predator’s next meal.

  As if it happened in slow motion, Presley did an about face and her right leg moved forward. She didn’t dare look back as she sprinted towards the open door of the hospital. Did she know if the door would close behind her? No. Did she know if once inside, she wouldn’t contract some freaky disease? No. All Presley knew in that moment was that the hospital’s thick walls were a lot stronger than her skin. If the wolf was going to claw at anything, it would be the bricks.

  She could hear the growling bark of the wolf and she knew he was giving chase. At one point, she was certain she could feel his hot breath against her neck. The distance was very short, but for her it was a lifetime. Her adrenaline had never been so powerful before.

  She let out a cry as she bounded up the steps that would take her inside, nearly tripping over what appeared to be a rusted oxygen tank. She wasn’t sure how it happened, but she was suddenly flying through the air before she found herself in the entrance of the hospital. Her bare feet barely touched the dirty concrete floor before she was darting to
the left and racing down the hallway.

  She heard the wolf’s teeth snapping together and she knew he was still in hot pursuit. She didn’t look back as she mentally paced herself, mind reeling with the next step of her plan. She hadn’t thought of a next step!

  And then, like the chiming of an elevator sounding off to signal its next stop, Presley’s eyes landed on the doorway that led to the stairwell. The very same stairwell her uncle had raced up to greet her in would now save her. Hopefully.

  Presley’s leg muscles were burning as she moved her hand out in front of herself, her eyes on the knob as her bare feet slid over the dusty tiles. She braced herself for impact against the door and just as her body slammed into it, she turned to see the wolf lunging at her.

  His claws were out. He was ready to strike. Presley’s eyes squeezed shut as the air in her lungs escaped in a blood curdling scream. This was it. This was the moment. She was going to die.

  It was only upon hearing the ferocious growl of another animal that she opened her eyes and watched as a blur of gray and red collided mid-air. The gray wolf hit the floor with enough force to crack the surface, and then his gigantic body slid halfway down the hallway before stopping.

  The world around her began to blur, sounds becoming a hum in her head. Presley’s body was on fire and pain surged through her from her harsh greeting with the door. She lifted her eyes to the blurred figure that stood before her and the only thing she could make out was the reddish-orange fur covering its enormous body.

  The last thing Presley could recall before darkness enveloped her were the kind hazel eyes getting closer and closer.

  Nine

  Dimitri wiped the perspiration from his brow with his forearm as he glanced down to the unconscious female who lay comfortably against the tattered clothing he’d been wearing before he transformed. It was a somber moment for him at the realization of what he’d just done. He defied his alpha, killed someone of his kind-someone of his pack. A lycanthrope’s blood was on his trembling hands.