Love at First Like

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.