Episode 5

What Now?

This could be either her initials or that of the person who gave it to her. He knew that lockets have many pictures inside them. He wanted to know what she had decided to keep closed in that locket. It must mean something. “The locket may not have had anything to do with the story,” He thought it's better I don't open it, “it would be an invasion of privacy.”

He sat right next to her at the edge of the bed. All through his mind kept wandering back to the moment when he had touched her skin. Jack realized he had left that part out when narrating to his parents.

“It was a majestic thud and a striking flame across the sky at nighttime. Of course people must have seen it,” Jack pondered. But his mind kept striking at one fact, “What exactly was that? It seems like some powers were denounced under heaven.”

He was immediately drawn to her face. It had an enchanting beauty to it. He took it all in her pumped cheeks her bruised lips, her wounded forehead and her long eyelashes. He wanted to see her eyes and look into them.

Her beauty just seems incomplete otherwise, he saw that most of the cuts and bruises were bandaged. There were still some that were mild, yet they looked awfully painful. Her neck and shoulder blades had scratches to his eyes ran a little further down. He noticed, “That's my T shirt.”

His mother had changed her into one of his clothes. One of his old favorite T shirts, he recalled. Though his mother had cleaned her, he noticed one little twig it was poking out from behind her ear tangled in her lush brown hair. Jack ever so carefully pulled it out successfully, but his hand accidentally brushed against her ears. She faintly twitched in her sleep.

Not wanting to wake her up, Jack left the room and came downstairs. He didn't know what to do. He was pacing around the house. He did his best to keep the thoughts of her away. He was waiting for her to wake up and was getting impatient. Firstly, so that he could be sure she was alright. Secondly, he wanted to hear her voice, know her name, her story.

He wanted to know everything about her and what had happened earlier today.

Lost in thoughts, he came over to his balcony. It was just seven o'clock on a beautiful Saturday. The weather was cooler than yesterday. He immediately remembered; she might be cold.

He brought in some chopped wood and got the fire started in the fireplace. Within minutes the room was warm like a summer breeze. He caught sight of his mother coming over. She came up to the door but didn't enter inside.

“Here. Just give this to her.”

She handed him a bag of clothes. Jack looked displeased, “She's not going to like it. The dresses or the fact that you undressed her.”

Vanessa just rolled her eyes.

“Ask her to take a warm bath if she can when she wakes up.”

As if taking notes, Jack nodded.

“You better get the heater started.”

Jack responded, “Yeah, already did.”

Vanessa continued, “It might be a little difficult for her. So just be attentive. If you need anything, just ring me.”

Jack was silent thinking about how he'll handle the situation all alone. And just as he was thinking he felt his mother's hand on his. Vanessa Leaned and spoke in a hushed whisper.

“I know she'll be in a lot of pain. Though I did everything I could. She may need a doctor.”

Jack knew what she was trying to say.

“ Yeah, I understand that it’s risky.”

Vanessa continue, “She will need one. If you were in her place, I would like you to be taken care of by a legitimate doctor. I would have wanted to know for sure that everything is alright.”

Jeff tried to cut her off. She was getting emotional.

“Mom.”

But Vanessa continued, “That's exactly what her mother would want for her too, right?”

Jack placed a hand over hers, “Yeah, I guess so.”

Vanessa quickly regained herself.

“So don't worry. Just check how she's doing when she's awake. If you feel that we need a doctor, forget about the risk and just call Dr. Keith. You have his number, right?”

Jack replied, “Yeah, I do.”

She had a serious look on her face as she spoke now.

“Let's not tell your father about it. He may not like the idea of getting anyone else involved. He never did.”

This was not the first time Nathaniel was torn between his duty towards the pack and duty towards the family. Jack spoke honestly,

“It's a huge risk.”

Vanessa cut him off.

“ It has to be done. No more arguments.”

Jack agreed, “Alright.”

Vanessa was about to leave.

“So just text me anything you need. I'll be right here. And take care.”

Jack replied, “Yeah, okay.”

Jack didn't have a good feeling about this. Vanessa emphasized again,

“Not a word about this to your father, alright?”

Vanessa reassured as she began to leave. Jack exclaimed

“Wait, what am I supposed to tell the doctor if he asked me about the situation?” He continued without waiting for an answer, “If dad gets to know he's going to be furious as hell with me.”

He took a short pause and gulped down the fear rising in his body, “I can handle all that but I don't want to disappoint him. You know that.”

He had a point. Vanessa considered what he was saying and simply stated,

“Just…, make up a story? I don't know. But just handle it. Well, there should be no more questions thereafter.” She said it and begin walking away, “I'll handle your father. You just do as I say.”

He turned to go back inside and immediately remembered something. He turned back around and shouted at Vanessa, who had already caught speed, “Where's the breakfast?”

She shouted without looking back, “You make it.”

It confused Jack why she was in a hurry all of a sudden. Jack made a mental note of everything that his mom had just told him. It felt odd. His mother was asking him to lie to his father. She has never done anything like this before. He charted out his next steps and then started. He put the bag of clothes on the table and went to the basement to get the heater started. As a werewolf, they were tolerant of cold weather. In fact, they felt sweaty under multiple layers of clothes that they usually had to wear, so cold water showers serve them best. When he came back up, the house was hot as a furnace. For jack that was extreme, but for her, a human. It would be comforting. He made a pot of coffee and decided to check on her once more. He touched her forehead with the back of his hand to check if she was having a fever, or if her temperature was rising. Jack couldn't figure it out.

I don't want to fall short. I want to do everything to make sure she is alright. Perfectly fine.”

He ran back down, “Should I call for a doctor or not?” He was torn between caring and doing right by her, at the same time he had to adhere to the codes and protocols of the werewolf pack. He went over and sat at the kitchen counter on the tall bar stool. He said out with an aggressive tone.

“Oh God!” he put his head inside his folded arms trying to think without any distractions. He was trying to come up with a lie to tell Dr. Keith if at all the situation worsens up but he dozed off, having lost all his sleep last night.

Sounds came from the bedroom upstairs, “Ah…” They were not loud enough to wake him up. He was too tired. Then came the loudest scream from upstairs. Startled Jack almost fell off the chair.