But something else lingered at the edge of my mind. I remembered the car tipping forward, and the terror of knowing I was about to die. And then… something saving me. Something powerful and fast.
But there was no one here to explain. The nurse who came a few minutes later told me I had been found unconscious in my car by the side of the road, but no one knew who had saved me or how I had gotten there.
As I lay there, staring at the ceiling, the pain of betrayal still gnawing at my heart, a new thought took root. I had been saved by something… or someone.
But for what reason?
It had only been a few weeks since that night. The betrayal still felt raw. Every time I closed my eyes, their faces haunted me, a cruel reminder of how blind I had been. I had buried myself in work, but even that couldn’t fully distract me from the pain tormenting me.
So when my editor, Marissa, called me into her office with a new assignment, I jumped at the chance. Anything to escape the city and the memories that haunted me. I didn’t care where it was or what it involved. If it meant putting some distance between me and my shattered life, I was in.
“Laura,” Marissa began. Her eyes softened with a hint of pity. “I know you’ve been through a lot lately, and I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted some time off.”
I shook my head. “I need this, Marissa. I need to work.”
Marissa studied me for a moment, then nodded. “All right. I’ve got something that might interest you. There’s been a series of strange animal attacks in a small town upstate. The locals are spooked. I want you to investigate.”
“Animal attacks?” I echoed, raising an eyebrow. It wasn’t my usual beat—political scandals and crime. But perhaps this was exactly what I needed… something different.
“Yes. A few livestock have been found torn apart. And one man claims he was attacked by a large, unidentified animal. But the locals are tight-lipped. They’re superstitious, especially with the full moon approaching.”
I smirked. “A full moon? Let me guess. They think it’s werewolves?”
Marissa chuckled. “You never know with these small towns. But seriously, Laura, I want you to be careful.”
I nodded, though I didn’t take her warning too seriously. If something was going on in that town, I’d uncover it no matter how secretive the locals might be.