"Mom, I'm back!"
Lauren tossed her backpack onto the couch the moment she stepped into the cozy living room, decorated with antique ornaments collected over the years. Exhaustion was written all over her face.
"Hey, darling. How was school today?"
Jane emerged from the kitchen with an apron tied around her waist. A few streaks of flour dusted her brown hair and cheeks, making her look both adorable and homely.
Lauren let out a long sigh.
"Not any better."
Jane's smile softened. She walked over and perched on the armrest beside her daughter.
"Oh, sweetheart. You'll get used to it. I promise things won't always be like this."
Lauren looked at her mother with tired eyes.
"Mom... that's exactly what you've been saying."
Jane blinked.
"For the past six years."
"It hasn't been six years," Jane corrected with a chuckle. "Only three."
Lauren threw her hands into the air dramatically.
"Well, it feels like six!"
Jane laughed softly before asking,
"Alright then. What do you want?"
Lauren sat upright.
"I want to stop going to that hell you call a school."
She folded her arms stubbornly.
"I don't want to study there anymore."
Jane smiled knowingly.
"Is my little darling getting worked up again?"
"Obviously."
Lauren rolled her eyes.
"I baked your favorite cookies. Want some?"
"Thanks, Mom..."
She forced a weak smile before shaking her head.
"I'm not hungry."
She stood up, slung her backpack over one shoulder and headed toward the staircase.
"They're just cookies, not dinner."
"I don't have an appetite for anything."
Without another word, she disappeared upstairs.
Jane watched her go before letting out a heavy sigh.
Her smile faded.
When Lauren had walked in earlier, Jane had noticed the swollen bridge of her nose immediately.
Someone had bullied her again.
And as a mother...
There was nothing more painful than watching her child come home hurt almost every day.
An Hour Later
"Ah!"
Lauren groaned as a kick landed squarely on her stomach, sending her stumbling backward.
Romeo lowered his fighting stance and grinned.
"Come on, Lauren! You've got this!"
She clutched her stomach and shook her head.
"No, Dad."
She stepped back, breathing heavily.
"I'm already tired."
"Let's stop."
Romeo folded his arms.
"And when another bully comes after you tomorrow?"
Lauren avoided his eyes.
"I'll... handle it my own way."
Romeo snorted.
"That's exactly what you say every single time."
He pointed toward her bruised nose.
"And look what happened to your beautiful face."
"Dad..."
Lauren whined.
He ignored her.
"Again."
He beckoned with one finger.
Lauren glanced toward the porch where Jane stood watching quietly with crossed arms.
Taking a deep breath, Lauren charged.
She threw a punch toward Romeo's face.
He blocked it effortlessly.
Almost immediately, he countered with a jab aimed at her cheek.
Lauren ducked.
She flipped backward twice before landing gracefully on her feet.
Without hesitation, she rushed forward again and kicked his shin.
Romeo retaliated with a swift roundhouse kick that clipped her jaw.
She crashed onto the grass.
Instead of giving up, Lauren swept her leg beneath his feet.
Caught off guard, Romeo lost his balance.
Lauren seized the opportunity.
She drove her fist into his cheek.
A bruise instantly blossomed across his face.
She raised her fist for another strike.
But Romeo was faster.
He caught her wrist.
With one smooth movement, he flipped her onto her back and raised his fist high.
Lauren squeezed her eyes shut.
She waited.
One second...
Two seconds...
Nothing happened.
Slowly, she peeked.
Romeo stood over her with a proud smile.
His hand stretched toward her.
Lauren smiled back.
She grabbed it, allowing him to pull her to her feet.
"Good job today."
Lauren rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly.
"You weren't too bad yourself, Dad."
Romeo laughed.
The two of them walked toward Jane, who was already waiting with an ice pack.
Before Lauren could react—
Jane pressed it firmly against her bruised cheek.
"Oww!"
Lauren jerked backward.
"Mom!"
"It hurts!"
Jane didn't loosen her grip.
"Stop acting like such a crybaby."
"You were throwing punches a minute ago."
She lightly smacked Lauren's shoulder.
"And now you're whining?"
Lauren pouted.
"Mom..."
Romeo chuckled.
"Easy, Jane."
"Don't bully my little angel."
Jane gasped dramatically.
"Oh?"
She folded her arms.
"So now I'm the villain?"
"I'm jealous."
She turned and marched back into the house, pretending to be offended.
Lauren and Romeo exchanged amused glances before bursting into laughter.
"Dad..."
Lauren whispered.
"I don't think your sweetheart is making us dinner anymore."
Romeo sighed dramatically.
"I think you're right."
"Then you'd better apologize."
Lauren grinned mischievously.
"I don't want to sleep hungry."
She hurried inside before Romeo could reply.
He remained standing in the backyard.
His smile slowly disappeared.
His sharp eyes scanned the dark forest beyond their fence.
The evening breeze suddenly felt colder.
For a brief second...
A strange feeling settled deep inside his chest.
Like someone...
Or something...
Was watching.
After a long moment, he finally walked inside and locked the back door.
1:03 A.M.
"No!"
Lauren screamed.
"Don't hurt her!"
The enormous black werewolf sank its fangs into Jane's shoulder before violently dragging her across the blood-soaked ground.
Lauren struggled desperately against the iron grip restraining her.
"Mom!"
Her father lay several feet away.
Naked.
Motionless.
A deep gash stretched across his ribs as blood soaked the earth beneath him.
"Dad!"
She cried until her throat burned.
The monstrous wolf raised one massive paw.
Its claws slashed across Jane's throat.
Her cries stopped instantly.
Moments later...
Jane's wolf form disappeared, revealing her lifeless human body.
Blood trickled from the corner of her lips.
Her once-bright eyes would never open again.
"Mom..."
Lauren's voice broke.
"No..."
Tears streamed uncontrollably down her face.
The black werewolf slowly turned toward her.
Its glowing crimson eyes locked onto hers.
It began walking closer.
Every step echoed like the beating of a war drum.
Lauren trembled violently.
The beast stopped only inches away.
Its deep voice rumbled through the darkness.
"Now..."
"It's your turn, Chosen One."
"No..."
Lauren shook her head frantically.
"Please..."
"No!"
The werewolf lunged—
"AHHH!"
Lauren bolted upright in bed with a terrified scream.
Her chest rose and fell rapidly.
Sweat drenched her body.
Tears clung to her eyelashes as she looked around her room.
Darkness.
Silence.
No blood.
No monsters.
Just her bedroom.
"It..."
"It was only a dream..."
She covered her face with trembling hands.
Then—
The bedroom door flew open.
Lauren jumped.
Her heartbeat nearly stopped.
A second later, she relaxed.
Jane hurried in, followed closely by Romeo.
Both still looked half-asleep.
Jane immediately sat beside her daughter.
"What happened, sweetheart?"
She gently rubbed Lauren's back.
"Did I wake you?"
Lauren asked quietly.
"A little," Romeo answered with a yawn.
"But that's alright."
He walked over to the bed.
"What happened?"
Lauren swallowed.
"I... had a nightmare."
Jane frowned.
"A nightmare?"
"What was it about?"
Lauren hesitated.
Then she slowly recounted everything.
The attack.
The blood.
The black werewolf.
Her parents' deaths.
And the terrifying words—
"Chosen One."
When she finished...
Jane and Romeo exchanged a quick glance.
Then both of them laughed.
Lauren frowned.
"What's so funny?"
Jane smiled warmly and cupped her daughter's face.
"Our little wolf has such a vivid imagination."
Romeo nodded.
"No one is going to hurt us."
He gently ruffled her hair.
"We're strong."
"And we'll always protect you."
Lauren wanted to believe him.
Yet...
That strange feeling remained.
The dream...
Had felt too real.
Jane tucked the blanket snugly around her daughter.
"Now get some sleep."
"You have school tomorrow."
Lauren nodded weakly.
"Goodnight, Mom."
"Goodnight, Dad."
Jane kissed her forehead.
Romeo did the same.
Together, they left the room and quietly closed the door behind them.
As silence settled once more, Lauren closed her eyes.
She didn't know why...
But somewhere deep inside her heart...
She couldn't shake the feeling that the nightmare wasn't just a dream.
It felt like...
A warning.