Wicked Little Town

“Little Redwood welcomes you.” The sign I was looking out for, the place I used to call home. The place I couldn’t have run further away from.

I shifted in the back of the clean cab as I thought of Little Redwood. I thought of the community, the people who knew everyone and everyone knew everyone else. Generations of teenagers going to the same schools, generations marrying each other and generations never leaving Little Redwood.

I imagined the well-maintained public places, the cute market and the well-kempt streets I used to roam, safely.

My fingers idly played with the pendant that hung on a long silver chain, the black onyx teardrop-shaped pendant sat just under my bust when I was standing. I used my fingers to trace silver vines that encased the stone.

I didn’t want to come back to Little Redwood, I wanted to be at my new home in the big city. A place where I wasn’t anyone to anybody, just a nameless face.

However, I had to come back, just this one last time.

“You know,” the cab driver spoke, looking at me through his rear-view mirror, I let my hazel coloured eyes find him in the reflection. “I will only be able to drop you at the Redwood sign.”

“What?” I was taken back by his words, surely he could go a little further and drop me at my aunt’s door? “Is it about time, that’s-”

“No,” he cut me off abruptly. “I am not permitted to enter the town. I can drop you at the sign. To be honest, if I were you I wouldn’t go past the sign myself.”

His tone was serious, he was being absolutely serious. I laughed a little. It was normal for outsiders to be wary of Little Redwood and all the secrets we held. Yet, we never omit outsiders; they were always welcome to learn and live with us.

“I’ll be fine, I was born and raised in Redwood. I will be-”

“When was the last time you were here?” He asked me with a raised eyebrow.

I had to admit it was years since I had stepped foot in Little Redwood. But, I wasn’t blind to it either.

“Then,” he spoke without my reply. “You are in for an eye opener, like I said I won’t be entering or going past the sign.” He reminded me again.

“Fine.” I shrugged. My aunt’s house wasn’t too far from the border of the town anyways. Thankfully, I packed light.

I sat back in the seat and watched the familiar scenery pass us by. However, my mind was wondering who would still be in town and hoping my brief visit wouldn’t bring any unwanted faces to my door.

My mouth fell open as the Little Redwood sign came into view.

“Oh my God.” I whispered. The driver huffed in the front seat.

“Not such a perfect Little Town anymore, huh?” I didn’t care how sneering his remark was. I cared about what I was seeing ahead of me.

I quickly paid and tipped well over, considering I wasn’t exactly the place I asked him to drop me. But I just wanted to get out of the cab quickly to assess what I was seeing.

I walked slowly towards the once-white sign surrounded by purple, white and yellow flowers not standing with graffiti all over and in the flowerless flower beds were empty bottles and discarded drug paraphernalia.

For generations, this sign has stood, maintained and loved. Now, it was abused and damaged.

“What has happened here?” I whispered as my hand followed the carved words in the stone.

My dark blonde hair blew lightly in the wind that was whistling through the air. It should be the height of summer, but not here in Little Redwood. I sighed as I stood upright, picked up my fabric holdall bag, and stepped into Little Redwood.

I noticed two men casually leaning against the brick wall of the old fire station. It was turned into a children’s centre but it looked run down and the graffiti littered the walls. The men seemed to whisper in my presence. It was making me walk faster to avoid their gaze.

I was astounded by the streets and the houses I roamed as a child. They looked dirty somehow, some empty or inhabited by squatters. I was shocked by the silence, even as I noticed the centre of the once lively town was in front of me, I still hadn’t heard much in the way of people.

Cars whizzed past and the odd person I did see seemed to avoid my eye contact and quickly crossed the street. What had happened?

Little Redwood was definitely different, the feeling of warmth and friendliness was gone. People would say hello, people would be talking. That felt like it was all gone now.

I gripped my bag as I continued to walk into the town centre. I recognised the graffiti that littered the old fire station and the town sign was just as prominent on empty walls, empty buildings and even the pavement I was treading.

Shops I used to buy my sweets and goodies as a child were not here, or if they were they looked like they were on their last legs.

What had happened to the town I was raised in?

I kept walking, passing the eyes of men and women dressed in black acting like street soldiers. Their presence was making my stomach churn. I walked faster to pass them, turning to the estate I was raised on and I dropped my bag in horror of the sight that was in front of my eyes.

“My house.” I whispered, bringing a tear to my eye.

I stared at the detached home, well the ruins of the detached home that sat on the edge of the cul-de-sac I used to live in. The house was a shell of charred bricks, burnt out furniture could be seen from the gap where the building had caved in.

“Abbey?” A voice spoke softly, making me turn to face her beauty. She was just as tall as I remember, her tanned skin glowed, her dark brown hair was flowing in the light breeze.

“Nova?” I was surprised to see her, she smiled weakly but she looked uncomfortable. I went to hug her but she stepped back and held her hand up.

“Please, Abbey, don’t come closer to me.” My heart tore as Nova stopped me, the friend I had had since I was a toddler was rejecting me.

“Nova what’s-”

“I have a warning,” I could see the sadness in her brown eyes. “Get out of Redwood, get out as soon as you can.”

“But-”

“Listen to me, Abbey. The town is evil, pure evil. I have come to tell you that you have until 6 pm to sort your affairs and leave.”

“Nova, what the hell is going on my Dad just died! I need to be here for my Aunt, what is going on, please.”

The fear in her face was making me petrified. Nova was always happy, smiling and never serious. Yet, once I began to examine her. The clothes she wore were well-worn, her hair was flowing but she could use a trim and she had bags under her normally bright eyes.

“I can’t,” she whispered. “I’m sorry about your Dad, he was a good man, the last of the best. Please for me, for your Dad and especially your Aunt, leave Little Redwood before your time is up.”

I went to open my mouth to reply but Nova ran, she was fast and within a heartbeat she was gone. Who was threatening her? Who was threatening me? What would happen if I didn’t leave Little Redwood by six? Who or what was sucking the life out of the town that used to be full of energy and warmth.

The clouds above me darkened as if someone had conjured it up to match my mood.

“Abigail?” I looked over the other side of the Cul-de- Sac where my Aunt Sarah stood.

I went to her but the sound of a car pulling up made our heads turn. I gasped as the hearse slowly pulled up. Curtains twitched but no-one left their homes. I felt a string pair of arms wrap around me, I looked up to see my cousin Nate and beside him his younger sister Louisa.

My heart was breaking as I looked at the coffin with his name on it. My Dad loved me, he loved Little Redwood. I let the tears fall. Nova was right, he was the last of the best. He was all I had and I was all he had. Now he is gone.

My hand lightly touched the glass. What had happened to Little Redwood, the perfect town my Dad had built, the town he believed in with all his heart. What happened to make the streets bare, to make a Werewolf such as Nova so terrified?

I had six hours to bury my father and get out. But I wouldn’t, not until I found out the answers.