Sarah comes to the town of Wolfsbane looking for a fresh start. But when people start disappearing, she begins to suspect that something sinister is at work. With the help of Michael, a mysterious man with a secret of his own, she sets out to uncover the truth. But will they be able to solve the mystery before it's too late? And can they find love and acceptance in a place where they are both outsiders?
Chapter 1 HOWLING AT THE MOON
The bus ride was long, and Sarah was starting to feel the effects of the late hour. The bus jostled and swayed on the dark, twisting road, and the rocking motion was making her drowsy. She found herself dozing off, only to be woken by the bus slowing to a stop. The bus driver's voice crackled over the intercom: "Last stop. Wolfsbane."
Sarah grabbed her suitcase and stepped off the bus into the cool night air. The town was small and quiet, and the moon shone brightly overhead. The bus pulled away, leaving her alone at the bus stop. As she stood there, taking in her new surroundings, she heard it again. A low, mournful howl, coming from somewhere in the woods that surrounded the town. She shivered, a feeling of unease settling over her. She told herself it was just a wolf, but it was hard to shake the feeling that something was off about this town. As she made her way down the deserted main street, she felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. Something was definitely not right in Wolfsbane.
She spotted a flickering light in the distance and made her way towards it. As she got closer, she saw that it was a sign for a bed and breakfast. The sign read "Nettleberry Inn - Vacancy." Sarah's heart leapt with relief. She could stay there until morning, and then figure out her next steps. She knocked on the door and waited, hoping someone would answer. After a few minutes, a light came on inside, and the door opened a crack. An old woman peered out at Sarah, squinting through thick glasses. "Yes?" she asked, in a hoarse voice.
"I'm sorry to bother you," Sarah said, "but I just got off the bus and I was wondering if you had a room for the night?" The old woman eyed her suspiciously. "We don't often get new faces around here," she said. "What brings you to Wolfsbane?" Sarah hesitated, unsure of what to say. "I'm... looking for a fresh start," she said finally. The old woman nodded, and opened the door wider. "Well, you can stay here tonight," she said. "But you'll have to leave in the morning." Sarah was just grateful to have a place to sleep for the night. The old woman led her to a small room, with a single bed and a small window that looked out onto the darkened woods. "The bathroom is down the hall," she said, and then she left, closing the door behind her. Sarah sat on the bed, feeling exhausted and a little uneasy. She was sure she had heard something rustling in the woods, just beyond the window. And she still couldn't shake the feeling that there was something strange about this place. But she was too tired to think about it anymore. She lay down on the bed and closed her eyes.
Sarah woke with a start, hearing a low growl outside the window. She sat up, her heart pounding, and peered out into the darkness. A pair of glowing, yellow eyes stared back at her. She let out a small scream, and the eyes disappeared. Had she imagined it? She was too scared to stay in the room, so she grabbed her suitcase and went to find the old woman. She knocked on her door, and waited. There was no answer. She knocked again, more loudly this time, but still no one answered. Her heart was racing as she headed for the front door.
She turned the handle, and found that it was locked from the outside. She tried to open the window, but it was locked too. She was trapped. She heard another growl, closer this time, and she backed away from the window. She could hear heavy footsteps outside the door, and she was certain that whatever was out there was getting closer. She searched the room frantically, looking for anything that could be used as a weapon. She spotted a small statue of an angel on the nightstand, and she picked it up. She held it tightly in her hand, her knuckles white. The footsteps were right outside the door.
Suddenly, there was a loud crash as the door flew open. A huge, dark shape loomed in the doorway, and Sarah raised the statue above her head. "Get back!" she yelled. The shape lunged towards her, and she closed her eyes, bracing for the worst. But then she heard a familiar voice. "Sarah! Are you okay?" Sarah opened her eyes and saw Michael standing in the doorway, looking at her in concern. She let out a shaky breath, realizing that it had just been a nightmare. "I'm fine," she said, setting the statue down. Michael came over to her, putting his arm around her shoulder. "You were screaming in your sleep," he said. "What was it about?" Sarah told him about the dream, and he listened sympathetically. "You've been through a lot," he said. "It's not surprising that you're having nightmares. Why don't you try to get some rest?" Sarah nodded, grateful for his understanding. She lay back down on the bed, and Michael sat beside her. "It's going to be okay," he said. "You're safe here." She smiled and closed her eyes, and soon she was sleeping peacefully.
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