What if you knew that horrific events were coming and you figured out a way to protect your home and the ones you love, would you do it?
Yes? Then come along and read When Worlds Collide.
Spectacular colours filled the evening sky, painting it with gradients of pink and orange. So beautiful, Stacey thought and smiled, reaching for her sunglasses. Too bad it never lasts long.
The sun had begun to melt into the horizon, as she turned off of Boundary Road on her way home from running a couple of errands and picking up some groceries after work. She loved the way the rays of the setting sun lit up the tops of the autumn trees against the backdrop of the dark blue sky. She also loved the smell of the roasted chicken coming from the back of her SUV.
As she drove along Glen Road, she turned up Boom 101.9 FM and began to sing along with the song on the radio. "Darling you've got to let me know. Should I stay or should I go?" But even bopping along to the music on the radio couldn't sustain her good mood for long, as the closer she got to home, the more her problems crept back over her mind.
"That's the million dollar question now, isn't it?" she sighed, checking her mirrors and thinking about her husband, waiting at home. Well, he was at home, but he probably wasn't waiting for her. He was waiting for his supper. Stacey took another deep whiff of the cooked chicken in the back of her vehicle. Her shoulders drooped and the brief sparkle from moments ago faded from her eyes. She just didn't have the energy to cook tonight.
In their earlier years together, they couldn't wait to get home on a Friday evening and cook up something tasty on the barbeque, no matter the weather. They would then settle in with a drink or two to just enjoy each other's company for the night. Stacy let out a soft chuckle remembering those times - those very-intimate-in-every-way times. But that was over now.
Over the last few years, they had grown into strangers, and felt more like roommates than partners now. Doug barely looked at her anymore, let alone touch her. Stacey sighed again as she approached the wooded stretch of road with the sky growing darker. Almost there, she thought, taking off her sunglasses.
A knot of dread grew steadily in her stomach making her somewhat nauseated. She didn't know if the uneasy feeling was because she knew what was waiting for her at home, or from passing through this part of the drive. Dense woods lined both sides of the road, making it even darker, so she flicked on her high beams. This section always gives me the creeps, she shuddered and picked up her speed a little.
Just then, some movement caught her eye.
Stacey checked her mirrors again and looked around, concerned there might be deer about to jump onto the road, but couldn't find anything. As she reached down to turn up Hungry Like the Wolf by one of her favourite bands, Duran Duran, there it was again - a large shadow on her left side. This time, she slowed down and saw it.
A big black something, blacker than the growing darkness, was moving quickly just inside the tree line. Running along the edge of the woods, the dark figure quickly broke through the trees and ran up onto the pavement.
"A wolf!" Stacey blurted and swerved to stay in her lane. "It's a wolf," she repeated, "a very, very large wolf." She then started to scream as it ran up alongside her vehicle. Keeping pace, it moved up to the driver's window and bent down to peer in at her.
As its bright yellow eyes met hers, Stacey began to panic. "OMG! Why is it doing this? What does it want?" Looking back and forth between the wolf and the road, she tried hard to keep the SUV steady as she was shaking uncontrollably. "How the heck is it so big?!"
Then she had a thought. Oh, maybe it smells the chicken. "Do you want the chicken? Is that it? Do you smell the chicken too?" she yelled through the window. But the wolf didn't respond, other than to bend its head down to look in at her again.
Another scream burst out of Stacey's throat and she hit the gas to try to speed away from the beast. Calmly, not even panting, it picked up its pace to stay with her vehicle. "Holy crap! Holy crap! Holy crap! What does it want?!" Turning to the window, she yelled at it again, "what do you want? Why are you doing this?! What are you?!"
She then realized something. She should be home by now. This stretch of road seemed a lot longer than it should be. Like three times longer, she thought. Wait, didn't I pass this spot already?
The wolf made a deep huff, drawing Stacey's attention. Dipping its head down to the window one more time, it smiled and winked before picking up its pace even more. Breaking away, it then veered off up the road in front of her and disappeared back into the woods to the right of the vehicle. "Oh crap, I live on that side of the road!"
Stacey broke out of the wooded stretch and was back in a more residential area, as Hard to Handle was just finishing on the radio. Everything seemed normal again, other than her trembling. "Ah, here we are," she sighed in relief, turning into her driveway, while scanning the bushes and trees around her home for the beastie. She had never been so thankful for the garage as she pulled in and hit the button to lower the door behind her.
"Awooo werewolves of London... Awooo," sang out of her car speakers when she came to a full stop.
"Very funny Boom," Stacey laughed nervously and shook her head before turning off the ignition and getting out of the SUV. In the safety of the closed garage, she gathered her bags, and then went inside. Walking into the kitchen, she set the groceries on the counter, trying to hide her shaking hands and looked around for her husband.
"Doug?" she called out, while starting to put the groceries away. "Doug, I'm home!" Sorting through the bags, she heard the patio doors slide open in the other room, and then close again. "There he is," she murmured, reaching to put the cereal boxes on top of the fridge. She then jumped with fright when she felt arms slide around her waist and bristles against her neck. Turning quickly, she found her husband grinning at her.
"Are you okay?" Doug chuckled, pulling Stacey to him.
"Yeah, you just startled me. I wasn't expecting that at all." She looked up at him, her cheeks becoming hot and flushed, and rested her hands on his chest. "Hey, how come you're all sweaty?"
"Oh, I was out for a run." Sliding his hand down between them to pat his stomach, he continued, "been letting myself go. Thought I'd get back in shape. Get some stamina back, if you know what I mean." Then with a playful growl in the back of his throat, Doug leaned in to kiss his wife."
The soft brush of his warm lips against hers sent a sensual jolt down through her body, igniting a fire she thought was long dead. Slightly dazed, she gazed up at him for the first time in a long while. The strong, rugged lines of his features reminded her that he was the handsome, caring man she had married all those years ago. So she reached up to gently stroke his whiskered face, and then noticed something different about him. "Oh, letting your beard grow back?"
Doug nodded, "Mmhmm." Then lifting his nose to the air with a sniff, he detected their dinner. "Hey, that smells great." Giving Stacey an affectionate squeeze, he let go to grab the ready-made meal and carry it to the table. "I'm starving."
"Uhm, yeah." Stacey stood there puzzled for a moment. Then grabbing plates and cutlery, she asked as casually as she could, "hey hun, do we have wolves around here?"
© 2021 by Linda Casselman
Last: Just the Beginning
Next: What's in the Closet?
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Did You Hear The Call?
Become a Shield Warrior-in-Training
