Chapter 6: How to Disappear

Flynn looked up, watching the sky which turned out to be overcast today, as if she knew she was grieving. Nature was sad when Flynn was sad.

The guests said goodbye. What Flynn didn't expect was that her parents had so many coworkers and friends. Flynn felt that this funeral was more like a festival because it was so crowded, that almost the entire town came.

Flynn realized that if Maria and Shawn's funeral was over, it meant that Flynn had to be ready for her new life, which would be lonely.

Flynn wiped away her tears. She promised herself that today was the last time she would cry. Flynn would never let her tears out again.

"Do you want to go home now?" asked Curtis.

"I still want to be here. You guys go home first, I'll catch up. This place isn't too far from home anyway." Flynn looked down. "Don't feel too sorry for me. Everyone is sad, and I'll be cheerful again after a few days."

"Alright. You shouldn't turn off your phone," Peter said.

Curtis and Peter finally decided to leave Flynn there. But, they didn't leave Flynn alone, several people were secretly guarding Flynn.

All Flynn did for a few minutes was stare blankly ahead. She needed some time alone to empty her mind. Honestly, Flynn's head was very full.

Finally, after almost an hour of sitting like a lost soul, Flynn wanted to go home. It had also started to rain and Flynn didn't have an umbrella with her, so she had to go home immediately.

But as she stood up, suddenly an umbrella was over her head, protecting her from the rain. Flynn turned around to see who had provided the free umbrella service.

"Sorry I just came," Neil said.

Flynn was surprised, not because Neil came late, but because Neil came.

"Are we that close that you needed to come?" Instead of the thanks Flynn had in mind, Flynn blurted out the question.

"We're not close. But yesterday I heard it firsthand. So it would be very strange if I didn't come."

Flynn walked out of the area that had been shaded by Neil. "Go home if you don't want to be here alone."

"Wait, Flynn." Neil held Flynn's hand to keep her from leaving. "Are you moving out after this?"

Flynn did not expect that question out of the many things that could be asked. "What does that have to do with you? You helped me once, okay, I'm grateful for that. But that doesn't mean you can ask me privacy questions like this."

"It's a relief if you don't move."

"After this meeting, I hope you don't see me again."

"I can't Flynn," Neil said. "We'll still meet whether we intend to or not."

"Are you clairvoyant?" Flynn's voice rose. Then she realized that she had no energy left to be angry. Flynn took a deep breath. "Just mind your business and I'll mind mine."

Although Flynn had already expressed her unwillingness to be approached by Neil. Neil still followed Flynn while continuing to carry her.

Even though Flynn asked Neil to stop seeing her, Neil couldn't do it. He couldn't fight something that was destined to happen.

"Are you going to follow me home? I brought my car. And you have your car too. So it's time to go our separate ways."

"I want to make you feel better. Do you want to go to Bofinger Wildlife Management Area?"

"Are you blind or something? Can't you see that I'm in grief? Why are you offering me a vacation?"

"That's why, I know you're sad. Instead of dwelling in sadness and brooding alone at home, wouldn't it be better if you had friends?"

Flynn was not the type of person who needed other people when she was sad, she was more comfortable alone. But for some strange reason, instead of refusing, Flynn nodded her head.

***

"Here." Peter stopped at the spot where Flynn's parents' car had crashed. "We'll start the investigation from here."

Peter and Curtis were investigating the death of Flynn's parents without Flynn's knowledge.

After seeing and feeling Shawn's wound, Peter was sure it was not pierced by iron, but by silver.

Maybe Flynn, the doctor, or the police didn't know, but the truth was that Maria, Flynn's mother was just like Peter and Curtis. Therefore, when Maria and Shawn had the same wound in the same place, Peter became suspicious.

Peter and Curtis could smell another wolf in this place. Especially when they smelled the blood splashed on the leaves around the scene.

"Do you think the same as me?" asked Curtis.

"This smells just like the guy who drove Flynn home." Peter's anger peaked to the point that he almost turned.

"Hey calm down!" shouted Curtis.

"They were in the same pack. And that Alpha killed Maria and Shawn with a silver stake."

"But this is weird. If they killed them, why did they leave a trail? The smell is still there."

Fights between packs do happen sometimes and take casualties, but after the fight is over, no trace of odor is left behind because the winner will clean it up. But the werewolf odor in this place was overpowering like it was intentionally not removed.

"I'm sure they're targeting our pack," Peter said.

"If that's true, then you'll be leading our pack from now on."

Peter growled. "I'm not an Alpha. Only an Alpha is fit to lead."

"But there's no way she's doing that right now. She doesn't even know who we are yet. She'll go crazy if we explain all this now. So take over the role of leader in our pack temporarily."

"Everything has to go through elections. The elders won't agree if we jump to conclusions." Peter suddenly noticed the silver flakes on the ground. "They're even still targeting someone who's already changed."

"You know what's savage about werewolves? They will hunt you down no matter if you marry a human as long as the territory can increase," Curtis said.

The two transformed into wolves and howled to summon the other members to honor their slain Alpha.