Chapter 51
It’s been months since Winter has been gone and I’ve gotten myself a regular job in a cafe as a barista of all things. Can you imagine that? I never would have thought I would have to be as responsible as I now am, taking care
of the bills and still going to school at the same time. Is this how Winter had felt every day when she had done all the
household chores and responsibilites?
“Thanks, have a good one” one of my regulars yelled out as they left, the last customer of the night, and I closed the door gratefully and locked it. Now all I have to do is clean up and I’m done for the night. It doesn’t take long, I’ve
got myself into a regular routine and before I know it, I’ve put my coat on and ducked out the door. Brrr it’s slightly
cold and I shiver, putting my hands in my pockets.
I walk home slowly. It’s otherwise a beautiful night and the stars are twinkling overhead. I don’t bother to use
the car anymore. Not when I can avoid it anyway. Walking saves gas and means I have more money to take care of the
bills. Besides, it’s not like home is that far away and I’m not frightened that someone’s going to jump me. I’m a shifter for heaven’s sake, not to mention, the town is mainly made up of pack members and shifters.
I stared at my house, feeling strangely hesitant. It looks so uninviting and cold. Then again, it’s felt that way since Winter’s been gone. I never really saw just how having my little sister around made the house feel more like a home. I miss her laughter and her smiles, even if her smiles were rare and few and far between. I miss Winter. I miss
than I ever thought
put my keys away in the entrance hall, turning on the lights. It might
at least leave the front porch light on, but it always
My stomach growls. Damn
a scent in the house and it doesn’t belong to me. It’s not
I’d know the smell of that bastard anywhere. It seems to
have been stolen. Then again, it’s not like there’s anything worth stealing
no one there. The smell
not going to shy away like a coward.
of me think
I approach the door leading down to the basement and I give a grin. If the person
in for one hell of a beating. I opened the door
someone waiting down here for me and my eyes continually scan my
myself, prepared to shift at a second’s notice. I reach the bottom of the stairs and begin to move
I’ve never gotten around to replacing the light globe that’s no longer working. Some light would
right about now.
cautious, moving around the various bits of junk and furniture that’s piled haphazardly all over the
the years, but it also contains one
sick to my stomach as I stare at it. The cage, or more accurately a cell, stands in one corner, made of silver with shackles and restraints against the wall, to keep someone immobile and unable to move. A cell, that I remember with remorse, Winter was often placed in and locked up for
pleaded to be let out. The crying. God, my stomach churns to look at it and I
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