Chapter One

Everything ached: her feet, her heart and her pride. She had been walking for over an hour now, her car a few miles back run off the road because of a god damn deer. Though it partly was her fault as well... she had been driving for eight hours with only four hours sleep in the last 48 hours.

Yet, she would rather be here than back at home with her asshole ex and his bro's that were now demolishing her beloved Pub that had been in the family since her grandfather... She had no clue as to why her mother left it to him when she died.

"Oh!" A voice trills softly, jolting Ariella from her furious stalking and muttered insults. "Are you okay my dear?"

It said a lot about how deep in thought Ariella was when she spun around to see a kind woman standing next to a silver car. How did she not hear it coming, better yet how did she not see the lights come up behind her?

"Um, not really? My car broke down a few miles back." She replied while gesturing in the direction they had come from.

The woman hummed softly as she eyed back down the road and then to the darkening sky. "I can give you a lift to town dear, it's getting dark and being in the woods is not a good idea here. Wolves and bears have been known along here and in these woods."

Ari snapped her head to the trees that lined the small highway, taking in how the shadows darkened and shifted ever so slightly and by queue howls rent the air. Her heart skipped a beat as the howling continued on the other side of the highway awfully close and growing louder as the seconds pass.

"Uh, yes, that would be fantastic. I'm Ariella, everyone calls me Ari though." Ariella introduced as she made her way quickly to the passenger side of the car. She waited for the lady to get in before she herself took a seat, closing the door with a loud clack as another howl rent the air.

"Pleasure to meet you, Ariella, I'm Minna Candace." The lady replied with a warm smile. "It's only another ten minutes to town by car, I'll take you to George, our mechanic, he'll help."

"Oh, thank you. I have no idea where I am; I just drove and kept driving." Ari explained as she held her hands in front of the heating vent. "My phone doesn't get reception out here and its dead anyhow... but that saying where am I?"

"You're near Hollow Fields but closer to Good Glen." Missus Candace stated and took a nearly hidden turn. "Many people miss the turn off this time of year due to overgrowth and winter storms. 10 miles down the road is the turnoff for Hollow Fields."

Ariella took a glance at the time and sky before taking a guess at how much longer it would have taken her to walk the long stretch of road to Hollow Fields if Minna Candace didn't come across her. It would have taken her another couple of hours and she wasn't a hundred percent sure if she would have made it, not with the sounds of the wolves so close to the road.

"Thank the maker," She chuckled giving the lady a smile. "I would have frozen to death."

Minna cast the young girl a smile, one that told Ari that there was more to said smile. "No you wouldn't have dear, perhaps very sick yes but not dead."

A confused frown pulled at her brows but Ari let it go, the old woman was nice but strange and who was she to judge a quirky person? Her eyes scanned the dark forest, catching what she thought was glaring eyes in the shadows reflecting from the light but in a blink, they were gone. With a shake of hear head Ari passed it off as exhaustion, now that she was sitting it began to creep up on her.

But then again if her ex wasn't a complete dick then she'd not be in this position, she'd be at home watching Netflix and chowing down what was left in her fridge.

"Long day dear?" Minna asked softly as she took a look at the downtrodden expression.

"You could say that you could also say it's been a long month and still be correct," Ariella explained with a sigh. "My mother passed the other month, it wasn't sudden and I'm not sad about it as she's been fighting for the last year but she left my asshole ex the family Pub and well... he destroyed it."

"Perhaps an escape is what you need; maybe Good Glen can help you," Minna explained as she gestured before them with her right hand.

Ariella tore her gaze away from the strange woman and inhaled sharply as the town came into view. It was a small town, it had that small town feel but the cobblestone pathways, old Victorian lights and quaint little shops gave off a more homey feeling. There was no Starbucks or any form of fast food that she was used too but a mom and pop diner on the corner, right across from a small ice cream parlour.

The buildings alternated between new, refurbished and old brick from what could have been from the late 1800's or early 1900's.

"Oh wow," she breathed out in awe.

Minna laughed softly as she pulled up in front of George's shop and shutting off her engine. "Come, dear, I'll take you to meet George and then you can stay at mine."

"Oh, oh! No, I cannot possibly intrude." Ari began as she got out of the car, stopping as Missus Candace merely laughed.

"Dear, I run a bed and breakfast. I just had a cancellation so you won't put me out at all." Minna replied as she patted the young woman on the shoulder in comfort.

The jingling of a bell had both women turn to see George make his way out to them, his weathered face covered in grease that seemed to cling to salt and peppered hair. It pulled a small giggled from Ari's lips as he reminded her very much of her grandfather when she was little, right down to the oil-stained overalls and a flannel shirt.

"Minna! What a fine surprise, what can I do fer ya love?"

Minna smiled and pulled Ari to her side, drawing George's attention to her. "Nothing for me George but Ariella here had a run in with a stray deer. Her car's just up along the highway, a few miles back from the turnoff to Good Glen."

"Oh, that's a shame, Miss Ariella. Them deer's a bit pesky around these times, I'll be sure to go up first thing and get it for ya," George said apologetically as he watched the girl's shoulders slump. "Too dark to be getting' it now."

"I understand, I also know it may take a while to fix," Ariella reassured as she saw his truly apologetic expression. "I just don't like to be a..."

"Oh no dear, you'll be no burden here," Minna exclaimed with a bright grin. "Come, let's get you all settled in for the night and tomorrow I'll bring you back over tomorrow after breakfast to see what George's prognosis is."

Ari sighed and gave George a soft smile as Missus Candace began to direct her back towards the car, pausing for a moment and then jerking back around to face him once more, her hand digging into her pocket for her keys. "You may need these."

"Thank ya, Miss Ariella," George replied as he took them, giving Minna a look as the girl turned back around. "See you tomorrow Minna!"

"Be seeing you, George."

Ari stared at the large house with wide eyes; it looked like it was something that could be in a fairy-tale. It was a large two-story stone home with large white windows, she could see chimney tops on the roof and a small glass and wood structure to the left and she was curious as to what it was... was it a patio or a glass house?

"It's beautiful isn't it?" Minna said with a soft smile as she pulled to a stop at the crest of the drive right in front of the door. "It's been in my family for what seems like generations. Come dear let's see if I can find you some pyjamas."

"Oh, I can sleep in my clothes no worries, I have clothing in the trunk of my car well... a fresh change of clothes but depending on how long I'll be here I'll need to get more I guess..." Ari trailed off as Missus Candace placed her hand on her arm gently, effectively calming her.

"Dear, I have plenty of clothing and you look like the same size of my niece." Minna soothed. "There is a small boutique in town where you'll find all you need and we can get something there tomorrow, for now, let's not worry about it."

Nodding Ari gave the kind woman a shaky smile and followed Missus Candace into the house. It was just as stunning inside as it was outside, a wonderful mix of stone, neutral colours and warm timber. It was welcoming and very homey, especially with all the photos and paintings of the town and what she assumed was Missus Candace's family.

"Wow," she breathed out earning a small laugh from said woman.

"I know it's stunning, still fills me with warmth every time I step inside," Minna explained and gestured for the young woman to follow her. "Come let's get you settled dear, it'll be a big day tomorrow."

X

Ari didn't know where she was but the smell of smoke and cedar was nearly overpowering. It drew her attention to the left where it was coming from, the snow under her feet crunching with each step as she made her way towards the light.

Fear struck her as she came to a clearing, a raging bonfire in the middle of it with a pack of wolves on one side and a sleuth of bears on the other. A whimper escaped her lips as she stared at it, flinching when dark brown eyes and lupine yellow all turned as one towards her.

No harm will come to you here...

The largest bear took a step forward, pausing when she scurried back, a scream tearing from her throat as she tripped backwards and began to fall.

"What the fuck?" Ari gasped as she shot to her feet, stumbling more as the blankets around her legs caught and sent her towards the bed.

What was that?