I tried to sleep after mom and dad left. I really, really did. In fact, I even got a few hours of sleep. But then I got woken up.

“Zoey. You have to get up.” Miss Torrey says, waking me from my sleep.

“Stoop.” I grumble, rolling over.

“No. Zoey. You must get up.” Miss Torrey persists.

I moan and get out of bed. “Why.” I whine.

“Because there are bad people coming here. Stop whining. There’s no time. You need to leave now. Climb out your window. Elizabeth is waiting outside for you.” She says.

“But…but mom and dad.” I reply, going to move towards my door, fear growing in me.

“No! Go out your window and follow Elizabeth. We will reunite you with your parents once it’s safe. Go. Now. You must live.” She hisses.

I almost disobey her. I almost rush past her and into the living towards my parents’ room. But howls start filling the night and they terrify me. I don’t want to die and Miss Torrey said that she’ll bring me to my parents once it’s safe. So I turn to my window and open it. With one last look at my room I jump out the window, landing easily on the cool grass.

Elizabeth appears beside me, hovering just above the dew covered grass. Often I wonder what it would be like to be a ghost. But it seems so lonely. They can’t touch anyone and if someone does believe you exist, they’re usually terrified of you. Except for me. Elizabeth is my best friend and I don’t care if we can’t physically touch. Ghost are a lot less scary than most real people anyway.

“Come on, Zoey.” Elizabeth says, floating across the yard. I follow after her, shuddering as each howl fills the night. We run across the yard before stopping. “Hide!” She commands.

I jump into the air balloon basket and crouch down, wishing I was with my parents. I hear some movement in the trees not too far from the basket. Elizabeth reaches down and grabs a stone, throwing it away from us. It cracks against branches, making a lot of noise. After a second I hear something run off towards where the rock landed.

“Okay, let’s go.” Elizabeth says.

Just as we step out from the basket a brown wolf jumps in front of me. It growls, stepping forward and snapping. I fall back and try to crawl away while Elizabeth is picking up anything she can to throw but nothing is working. I squeeze my eyes and try to reach in like my dad told me, searching for my magic. The wolf jumps and I feel its teeth close around my neck, its claws dig into my shoulders and stomach. I feel my body jerk as it shakes its head from side to side, trying to end my life. But I’m not going to die. Just as I feel like my body is giving up, I feel my magic well up and surge through me. Finally.

I reach out and grab a fistful of wolf fur, holding on for dear life. At first, nothing happens but then the wolf lets me go and begins to whine, trying to pull away from me. However, the more I hold on, the stronger I get. I can feel my life coming back into my body and I begin to notice that the wolf is becoming weaker and weaker. It collapses to the ground and I stop feeling my strength return.

“Oh my gnome, Zoey…” Elizabeth mutters. “You just…” She keeps muttering stuff but I cry out and step away from the now dead wolf. I killed it. I killed someone. I turn away before I can see the person it transforms back into, coming face to face with a white wolf head.

“Uncle!” I exclaim, relief flooding through me.

He sniffs the air, looking towards the dead Were, then turns and begins to run towards his room. I follow, Elizabeth beside me. He stops at the door and looks back out into the darkness behind us. Elizabeth flies past me and throws the door open so I don’t have to stop. I run in after her, Uncle following me. As soon as we’re both in she shuts the door and turns to me.

Uncle shifts back to his human form and kneels down. “Zoey, we thought you were gone.” He says.

I let out a small cry and run into his arms. I want mom and dad. “I’m sorry. Miss Torrey woke me up and I got scared so I ran away.” I say into his shoulder.

He gasps and pulls away. “Zoey…” He mutters, looking at me.

I felt it too. “I don’t know…it just…the Were attacked me and I was dying and it just started happening…” I rambled.

“It’s okay. Listen. There are some bad people here right now. I need you to take this.” He shoves some wolfsbane into my pj pocket, careful not to touch my skin, “and hide under my bed. Do not come out for any reason. When it’s safe I’ll come back and get you. I promise.”

I nod as he turns back into a wolf. Elizabeth opens the door for him and he runs into the night. As soon as he’s out she shuts the door and comes over to me.

“Get under the bed. I’ll keep the doors shut to anyone except your uncle or parents.” She says.

I nod, too scared, shocked, and confused to do anything else.