Love in the shadows

We were driving home from a day trip to the lake, the sun setting over the trees as we wound our way through the woods. Mom was singing along to her favorite song on the radio, her voice off-key but enthusiastic. Dad was laughing and teasing her, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

I was sitting in the backseat, watching the trees blur by outside the window. We'd had a great day, swimming and picnicking and just enjoying each other's company. I felt happy and content, surrounded by my loved ones.

As the song ended, Mom turned down the radio and asked, "Who's up for ice cream when we get home?"

Dad and I both cheered, and Mom laughed. "I take that as a yes," she said, smiling at Dad.

And then, without warning, the car swerved off the road, tires screeching in protest...

Shuuuuuuu!

The car tumbled, its tires screeching as it careened off the winding road and into the darkness of the woods. Branches snapped, and leaves crunched beneath the crushing weight of the vehicle.

I screamed as the car swerved off the road, the tires screeching in protest. Mom's hands were still gripping the wheel, but her eyes were wide with fear. Dad's face was set in a grimace, his arms bracing himself against the dashboard.

What was happening?

The impact came out of nowhere, a crushing force that sent our car tumbling into the woods. I felt weightless, my stomach lurching as the world around me spun out of control.

Glass shattered, metal crunched, and branches snapped. The sounds were deafening, a cacophony of chaos that left me disoriented and terrified.

The car finally came to a stop, the silence that followed almost as jarring as the crash itself. I was dazed, my head spinning, and my body aching from the impact.

Mom...Dad...

I tried to call out to them, but my voice was barely a whisper. I struggled to move, to free myself from the wreckage, but a searing pain shot through my head, making my vision blur.

As I struggled to free myself from the wreckage, I saw Mom and Dad crawling out of the car, their bodies battered and bleeding. Mom's face was contorted in agony, her eyes wide with fear. Dad's voice was hoarse from screaming, his words barely intelligible.

"Help...help somebody ,olive..." Mom cried out, her voice weak but desperate.

My voice was hoarse and barely audible "Mom...Dad..."I whispered feeling weak.

Just then, three figures emerged from the darkness of the woods. A woman with long, curly brown hair and a kind face approached us, concern etched on her features. A man with broad shoulders and a strong jaw stood beside her, his eyes scanning the scene. A boy, about my age, with messy black hair and an uncertain expression, hovered behind them.

"Is anyone hurt?" the woman asked, her voice gentle.

Mom's screams grew louder, more frantic, as she stumbled away from the car. Dad's eyes locked onto mine, filled with a desperate plea for help.

And then, something terrifying happened. The woman and the man began to transform, their bodies contorting and shifting, their limbs elongating, their skin morphing into thick, gray fur.

The woman's face stretched into a snout, her eyes turning yellow. The man's body grew larger, his muscles rippling beneath his fur.

The boy, his eyes wide with a mix of fear and fascination, watched as the woman and the man transformed into wolves. They were enormous, their eyes glowing in the dark.

Without hesitation, the wolves attacked Mom and Dad, their jaws snapping, their claws tearing. Mom's screams turned to terrified whimpers as she tried to defend herself, but it was no use. Dad's eyes remained locked on mine, filled with a deep sadness and regret, as the wolves overpowered him.

I watched in horror, my mind frozen, as my parents were brutally killed. Mom's body went limp, her eyes glassy and unfocused. Dad's body slumped to the ground, his eyes still fixed on mine, even in death.

Tears streamed down my face as I watched my heart shattering into million pieces but I couldn't look away. I was paralyzed with fear, unable to move or speak.

The wolves, oblivious to my presence, continued their savage assault, ensuring that Mom and Dad were truly gone.

As the wolves transformed back into their human forms, they turned to leave, seemingly unaware of my presence. But then, the boy head snapped back, his nostrils flaring as he sniffed the air.

"Wait," he whispered urgently to the man and woman. "There's someone else."

His eyes locked onto mine, and I felt a jolt of fear. I tried to move, to hide, but I was frozen in place.

They turned to follow his gaze, their eyes narrowing as they took in the sight of me, still trapped in the wreckage.

But it was too late. The sound of sirens echoed through the woods, growing louder with each passing moment.The man, his face twisted in a snarl, kicked the car with incredible force.

The vehicle's damaged engine sparked, and flames erupted, engulfing the wreckage. I felt a surge of heat, and my lungs burned from the smoke.

"She won't survive" he growled , his voice dripping with malice ..as the fled the scene

Everything went black.