After about five minutes, the time had come, and a black car that strongly resembled ours had parked out.

“Finally!” Mum murmured and pulled into the free parking space. Neatly parked, she pulled out the keys, opened the door, and got out.

“You can go on in. I'll get some more money and a shopping cart from over there. Feel free to pick anything.”

With those words, she slammed the car door behind her and marched toward the ATM, where a small queue of people had formed.

A black shadow flitted across our windscreen.

I flinched.

My gaze followed the black bird that had perched on the car in front of me. It was a raven, puttering around on the roof of the car, curiously looking at its reflection in the window.

Sighing, I leaned back in the seat. My eyes fell on the radio. This was my chance.

I turned the station up louder. News was on again, and Joe was still chattering away.

“However, the hunter team that had gathered last week was not allowed into the woods. The reason is that the Copelands, who own the lands around Vanderwood University, will not permit the hunt. The family does not respond to interview questions.”

Damn, the wild wolf thing seemed to be a serious issue here....

“Mayor Blair will not take a position, but requests residents to stay out of the woods.” Blair? As in Blairville? “The mayor won't disclose whether her statement concerns only the wolves or also the missing people cases.”

The goosebumps returned, stretched all over my body this time...

“And now to Oliver Bexley with the latest weather forecasts.”

Wolf reports and now missing people? In this small town? Where had Mum taken me? And did she even know about this?

“Like every mid-summer, a massive storm front is brewing over Blairville, and we need to prepare for potentially dangerous conditions. Unusual purple clouds accompany this storm front. In the upcoming months, we need to be prepared for fall storms that may come with this storm front. These storms will bring strong winds, torrential rain, and possibly even strong hail. There is an increased risk of flooding, fallen trees, damaged infrastructure, and possible disruption to transport systems. These prospects may be scary, but we want you to be well-informed and prepared. It is essential that you take precautions to ensure your safety and that of your family. Secure loose items outdoors and stay away from tree-rich areas such as Fogs Forest or Copeland Woods. We strongly recommend that you pay close attention to local weather forecasts and warnings and follow possible instructions from the authorities. Our aim is to provide you with timely and comprehensive information to protect you from the forthcoming threats. Please take this warning seriously and prepare accordingly. We will continue to keep you updated with the latest developments. Stay safe and be prepared for the worst...”

I turned off the radio.

Everything in me wanted to leave this town immediately.

It had been dry in Sacramento, and there had been few weather extremes.  But damned flood-like rain and evacuations? Was this radio station kidding me?

Determined to convince Mum to listen to the weather and leave town with me NOW, I was about to open the passenger door when a white Mazda drove into the empty space, taking away any chance of me leaving the car without damaging the other.

The driver's window was down, and the speakers were blaring 7 Rings by Ariana Grande.

I immediately recognized the blonde girl I had seen earlier on the street gossiping with the other girls. She had a pretty face with high cheekbones, light blue eyes and was obviously good with make-up... Unlike me.

Her full lips formed into a smile, apparently for the black-haired girl in the passenger seat. She, too, looked very dressed up.

I rolled down the window pane.

“Hello?” I called out, probably a little too tentatively because Ariana Grande was winning the battle against my voice.

“Hey, could you please park a little further to the right? I can't get out otherwise,” I tried again, way too shy, but now she noticed me, turning her head toward me. Her friend turned down the music.

“Did you say something?” the black-haired girl asked me dismissively, and another laugh came from the back of the car.

Great, that was all I needed.

“I just asked if you could park a bit further to the right. Otherwise, I won't get out of here - and neither will you, by the way,” I repeated in a calm voice directed at the blonde girl.

She looked at me for a moment and seemed to consider parking out. Then she pressed a button, and the door opened…upwards.

Okay, maybe this wasn't a Mazda at all.

“So, I get out of here easily,” she chirped, putting on a saccharine smile.

Was she serious?

This time, the black-haired girl laughed, too, before getting out. Another blonde girl - the one who had been giggling in the street - appeared. Unlike the other two, she wore a bit more makeup, and her clothes were all pink and rather revealing, while the other two were dressed more elegantly.

“Just wait until we get back. We won’t be long,” said the blonde with the high cheekbones. “Oh, and don't try to get out. That car was expensive.”

All three laughed, turned their backs on me, and strutted off toward the shopping center.

Anger rose up inside me. How could anyone be so rude? I knew girls like that from high school days, and wherever they appeared, there was trouble.

I noticed how my heartbeat accelerated, and my arms began to tingle.

A glance at my wrist told me that my arteries stood out, and the dark blood was more visible than usual. As always, it reminded me of a kind of fine pattern that lay across my pale skin like a dark moving tattoo.

I shuddered and pulled the sleeves of my brown cardigan down further.

It hadn't been this strong for a long time. So had the headache that started a few seconds later and hit me full force.

It was the pills. The pills that were supposed to help me control these attacks, which they did, in fact, but just to a certain extent. If I hadn't taken them, I probably would have ripped open the car door and yelled at the girl.

“Bayla? Are you all right?”

I jerked my head around.

“Mum?”

Instinctively, I pushed my sleeve down even further and was about to open the door when I noticed, just in time, that an expensive car was parked there.

Furiously, I let go of the door handle.

“Are you okay, honey?” Mum asked, a little more worried this time.

“Yes, everything's fine. It's just the pills. I've got a headache...the usual.”

I tried to sound normal, but the concern didn't disappear from her face.