Chapter One: The Weirdest Halloween Ever

Disclaimer: Everything you recognise belongs to Smeyer, I only own Penelope

31st October, 2020, London England

The echoing screams and laughter floated from the surrounding buildings, the bars full to the brim. Penelope sighed, her breath fogging up the glass as she mournfully looked out the window at the merrymakers on the street. Her dingy little flat overlooked a busy high-street, and there was never a silent night, but especially tonight. She knew sleep would not come easy to her – then again, it hadn't come easily to her for the last month. Or two. She was sure if anyone could see her, they'd describe her like a scene from Bridget Jones' Diary to the letter. A twenty-something disappointment with a smoking problem and no joy to speak of. Penelope grimaced at that last thought; it had been a while since she had last felt happy, content. Her long-term boyfriend had broken up with her after the last time he couldn't get her out of bed and out of her depressed I'm-not-leaving-the-house state. She had no prospects; her shitty degree had ensured that, and now no partner, and pretty soon no place to live.

So yeah, the people out there having fun really pissed her off.

It wasn't that she couldn't have fun. Before her mood had taken a serious dive, Penelope had been the life of the party. She loved meeting up with her friends from university, having wild nights out in the dark streets of London, having house parties and game nights. That was where she had met Rob, who had liked her because of her loving, out-going personality. When that wasn't there anymore, well, neither was he.

"Fucking scumbag", she mumbled, opening the rusting window a bit so the smoke of her cigarette would not linger inside the room. Only she, she thought, could have such bad luck as to not only lose any sign of getting a decent job after she had finished her degree, lose her friends, and lose her boyfriend and any shred of sanity she had left in the space of two months. Putting the cigarette out, she pulled the sleeves of her dark knitted jumper down her arms, feeling the chill of autumn wafting through the open window. Getting up from her spot on the window seat, she walked to her bookcase, the only nice piece of furniture she had in the small apartment; the dark, cherry wood piece was a gift from her parents when she had moved in. Her eyes raked over the paperback books, most to do with her degree, some 'adult' fiction books she had bought to make her collection seem more grown-up, and finally the books she had kept since she was a teenager. She quickly glanced at her collection of the Twilight saga books; she hadn't read them in years, but she remembered vividly how much she had loved them when she was younger, how she'd lose herself in the pages. She wondered if she should start them again, whether they'd give her that same feeling that she so desperately wanted.

"Nah", she said out loud. Nothing but some chocolate and a drink would do her for now. Wondering over to her small kitchenette, it didn't take her long to realise that they were mostly empty, and no chocolate in sight. Great, she thought, and wondered when was the next time she'd be able to fill them up again. She had taken a shitty job at a nearby shop, but it wasn't enough to support her or make her feel any better at basically having failed at life. But right then, she had a strange feeling fill her chest; she knew she had to get out, whether it was her craving for something sweet, she didn't know. But she was soon grabbing her coat, making sure her handbag had her wallet and keys, and dashed out into the cold. Her car was parked further down the street; another gift from her parents. A part of her sadness was also knowing she had failed them. They had worked so hard in her life to make sure she had everything she had wanted or needed, helping her through her studies and offering her the car and to help with the apartment. She knew that help would soon run out, but didn't want to think of it just then. Climbing into the old Honda, she turned the heat on high, the radio loud.

Fifteen minutes later, slowly munching on a chocolate bar, Penelope was heading back towards her street when she saw the man. He was tall, tanned and dark-haired. His skin glistened in the moonlight, a distinct difference from the many pale young people who were gathered outside the busy shops and on the street. But that wasn't what caught her eye; he was dressed in traditional Native clothing, her eyes recognising the style and symbols from pop culture or history books she had read. Damn, he must be out of his mind to wear basically nothing in this weather. He wasn't even wearing any shoes! She giggled, wondering whether he was just so plastered he had lost them on the way.

He turned quickly, as if he had heard her, and his deep-brown eyes penetrated her, making the girl shudder. He was quite far away, but even so, she swore she could see a smile work its way onto his face. The man started walking towards her, making Penelope quake in her seat. Why was he walking towards her, and why was he looking at her like he knew her? She wanted nothing more to drive off and not look back, but the man's eyes had her rooted in her spot. It was only until he was standing next to her car did she think that she was in trouble. Why couldn't she look away?

"Penelope," he said quietly, a deep vibrato voice coming out of the man's mouth. She stood stock-still, her heart beating a million miles. "It'll all be over soon; he's waiting for you."

"What will be over? Who's waiting?" she squeaked. What have I gotten myself into, she thought, this man knows my name! What if he was some sort of stalker waiting to kill her?

The man smiled softly at her, his eyes showing an age she hadn't noticed before. "I know the pain you feel, the fulfilment you seek. Continue on your way, and you will find what you've been looking for."

"Don't have to tell me twice, mate" she said, finally coming to her senses and feeling her foot press hard on the gas.

Driving off in an unknown direction, Penelope felt her mind go in all sorts of directions. How did that man know her name? Who was he? Why the hell was he wearing a Native American costume, in the height of winter? She couldn't fathom what had happened. And she wouldn't. Her heart was pounding against her chest, the tightening of her lungs causing her to panic. She didn't know where she was going, only that it was far away from where that man was, and away from the direction she was meant to go. The car continued picking up speed as the girl felt more and more overwhelmed, a sense of foreboding taking over her. The road got progressively darker as the street lamps disappeared, only the headlights showing she was speeding down a road surrounded by trees. It didn't cross her mind one bit that there was no expanse of trees or forests near where she lived. Short breaths came out of her open mouth, the panic really settling into her bones. Her eyes flickered around the road; why did she get the feeling she was being watched?

She looked around, now realising she did not know where she was, and it was in that moment that her eyes were off the road in front of her did she hear the howl, notice the looming mass she was heading towards, and let out a piercing scream. Attempting to swerve, she lost control of the car, the speed having caused the wheels to slip on the road and come off the tarmac. The last thing she saw before heading head-first into her windshield and the grass beyond, were the large, brown eyes of the wolf she had spared.

A/N: edited 16/03/2021