Chapter 2. Kidnap

Suddenly, she felt something jump onto her body and lunge at her.

Alpha fought. He fought the furry monster and defended Willow. Willow jumped back in time to save herself.

“Zoey!” Willow cried, suddenly remembering her daughter.

As Willow crawled to the stairs, she saw something very unnatural.

Alpha’s body was crackling, growing. It wasn’t average growth, but it was getting bigger and bigger. So, Alpha’s stature was precisely the same as the monster in front of her, the only difference being that Alpha’s fur was completely white.

“My goodness!” she exclaimed in horror.

All Willow could see were two mutant dog-like creatures.

They attacked each other and burst into the house. Alpha tried to protect Willow, who was pinned helplessly to the stairs. There was a loud crash. The noise was deafening. The furniture was smashed and destroyed. Then there was the sound of their clawing and biting each other and the howling they let out to each other.

Blood splattered the floor as Alpha’s body was dragged into the living room. The ornaments on the cabinet were shattered as Alpha’s body was thrown against it. A dagger slid to the floor near Alpha’s side as Willow watched.

Willow, an ordinary woman living a mundane life who had never experienced conflict, developed incredible bravery. Seeing Alpha crouching and howling in pain from his wounds, Willow rushed over to pick up the dagger.

Distracted by Willow’s presence, Alpha launched a surprise attack that sent the nasty fuzzy thing tumbling to the ground. With all her might, Willow then drew her dagger and plunged it into the beast’s left chest.

There was a howl of pain, and the creature’s eyes were fixed on Willow.

Not long after, the creature was utterly dead. Then, its body transformed into human form.

Willow moved backwards, defenseless.

She stared in fear at Alpha, who had already transformed. Meanwhile, Alpha continued to stare at her with a horrible growling voice.

“You… what are you?” Willow squealed.

“Mom?”

Zoey’s voice came from upstairs. Alpha’s head snapped up automatically.

“Stay away from my daughter! I swear you’ll regret it…”

The sound of breaking glass from upstairs cut Willow off. She turned her head to the upper floor.

“MOM!!!”

The scream sounded like a warning to Willow. Then Alpha jumped first and ran up the stairs to the top floor. Willow followed, terrified. The door to the room was smashed in. There was no Zoey; her daughter had suddenly vanished. All left was a broken window with shards of glass scattered on the floor. Alpha immediately jumped out of the window and ran who knows where until his figure disappeared.

Willow could only stand in front of the windowsill, stunned. Her tears broke out.

“Zoeeey!!! Zoeeey!!!”

***

Willow sat on the porch steps, her body wrapped in a thick blanket and her hands holding a cup of no longer hot tea. She wasn’t trembling anymore, but she looked very frail. There was no one to keep Willow company. The neighbors just watched from the blinds, not daring to approach. It didn’t hurt Willow; she’d never been much of a social person except for Charlotte.

Several police cars were parked on the side of the road, and even a couple of officers came by to let her into the house. The ambulance had just left with Charlotte’s body and the naked stranger who had died in the living room. None of the officers had questioned Willow yet, as she was still visibly shaken.

Out of the crowd of police came a tall, thin man. He was wearing a black jacket. He walked over to Willow, stood before her and held out his hand. Unwilling to make small talk, Willow ignored him.

“I’m Detective Shawn Jensen,” the man said, then withdrew his hand. Willow gave him a quick look, then turned her attention to the yard. Shoe prints trampled the grass.

“Mrs. Willow Anberline. Can you hear me?”

“Clearly.”

“I know this is very difficult for you, but I need to know what happened… so we can investigate your daughter’s abduction. And the murder of Mrs. Charlotte Abraham.”

“I already told you that when I called 911. You didn’t hear that?”

“I was just making sure.”

“Making sure I’m crazy?” Willow pressed.

Willow and the neighbors called 911 within minutes of the horrific incident. It wasn’t long before the police arrived and then an ambulance. Willow, as a witness, described what she had seen.

But none of the officers showed a look of sympathy or trust. They looked at Willow as if she were a depressed single parent, lonely and just trying to get attention by making up stories. The medical officer even offered to call a psychiatrist and give Willow a sedative.

All because she was telling the truth.

Then, the detective in front of her wanted to hear the chronology of events. It sounded ridiculous to her.

What for? Willow thought.

If only after this, Shawn Jensen would be sitting in his office making fun of Willow over a cup of bland coffee and a cold doughnut.

“No one said you were crazy, Mrs. Anberline.” Shawn shook his head and looked worriedly at Willow. “I’m here to help you.”

“Just find Zoey and find out where she is. That’s what I call help.”

A heavy exhalation came from Shawn’s breath. “Alright. I’ll talk to you again when you’re a lot calmer. Do you have a relative or someone to keep you company tonight?”

“What for? I don’t have anyone else.” Willow wiped away the tears that had suddenly rolled down her cheeks.

Shawn nodded only briefly. “I’ll take you to a hotel where you can rest and be safer. You can take the things you need. That’ll be okay, right?”

“Yes, of course.”

Willow rose, leaving the blanket carelessly on the porch steps. She walked lazily into the house, closing her eyes slightly as she passed the spot where Charlotte had died, and then went upstairs. Shawn followed close behind.

As soon as Willow looked up at Zoey’s room, her emotions could no longer be contained. Willow crouched down and burst into tears. It was Zoey’s birthday, and Willow had forgotten. Willow’s mind was filled with regret. If only she had gone home sooner and taken Willow to the town. Maybe Zoey would have survived. Possibly, even Charlotte would still be alive.

And Alpha.

Willow was silent for a moment. Who exactly was Alpha?

Could it be that he was the one who had been the target all along, the one who had torn Willow’s little family apart?

“Mrs. Anberline,” Shawn called in a soft voice. “Are you all right?”

Willow looked up and nodded briefly. She got up and walked into the room, stuffing clothes haphazardly into a travel bag. This time, Willow was angry. She had to find out who Alpha was and who the strange man was who had turned into a monster. After carrying her bag, Willow hurried out of the room.

“Shall we go now?” asked Shawn.

“Yes, now, Detective Jensen,” Willow nodded.