Jenny Warburton was celebrating her fifth birthday today, at a park just on the outskirts of Philadelphia. It was a warm, and slightly breezy day. The date was, Monday July 4th, 1994. There was an open area that was surrounded with tall, black fences, and only had four ways in. Two were connected to the main highways and the other two opened up to back streets. All entrances had cobblestone pathways that lead to the center of the park where a big maple tree stood, which was over a hundred years old. It wove around like a basket, ending with multiple, rickety branches.
Park benches, painted red, sat on the sides of each pathway. Around the tree was a thin wire fencing that stopped people from trying to climb it. Sitting on a one of the benches, was John Johanson. Today he wore a blue short sleeved shirt, and matching shorts with a white trim, as well as sandals. His legs were crossed and hands behind his head, as he watched Jenny running around the grassy field. She was giggling up a storm, chasing after butterflies that wowed her with their colors. Her blonde hair flew in the air, shining like pure gold. That day Jenny had a pink shirt, with red overalls, and pink shoes on. Her hair was pinned back on each side with red barrettes.
In front of John sat a fairly big white blanket with yellow flannel patterns stitched across it. On top of this blanket were dozens of torn present wrappings and toys laying all over. John didn't blame Jenny for laying them around; she was only five after all. So innocent and full of life; not a care in the world. That was why John felt so horrible for her. He knew that eventually she was going to have to endure the most pain any human being should have to put up with. He knew that she was going to turn into a werewolf and he hated the way the guilt tore at his soul. Every morning he looks into Jenny's little face, and sees her big eyes; feeling more and more bad as time went on.
John would not let these bad thoughts ruin his daughter's birthday, so he pushed them as far back into his head as he could. Memory suppression became a normal habit of his everyday life, especially after that night where this whole venture unfolded. Above him, birds chirped happily, flitting across the air. They had no care in the world either, that was something that Jenny and they had in common. No matter what happened to them, they would always remain the same as before. This alone was enough to bring a smile to John's face. The heat of the sun beat down upon him, warming not only his skin but his heart as well. "Daddy?" Jenny came up to him and asked. She was smiling so hard that her eyes grinned with her mouth. "What is it sweetie?" John replied.
"Can you play with me?" She rocked back and forth on the balls of her feet, holding her hands behind her back. "Of course Jenny, just let me get the camera out to record us. I want to get as much footage of you as humanely possible." "Foot… foot…" Jenny tried. "Don't worry sweetie; you'll learn more words as you get older." He pulled the camera out and set up the tripod so that he could record them playing tag. As he got the camera out, he heard Jenny talking again; this time it was to someone else. He turned around to see her looking over her left shoulder, chatting away to something, or someone.
"I'll ask him, don't worry; I'll ask Daddy now. Daddy?" Jenny asked. "What is it sweetie?" he replied as he set up the camera. "Where's Mommy?" This question made John stop dead in his tracks. All these years have passed as he pushed the memories away, and now they were flooding to the front of his mind. All the screaming and blood; crying and howling, he felt his heart rate increase. "Uh… Sweetie; now may not be the right time for that answer." "But why Daddy? Why can't I see Mommy?" Jenny asked. She looked so distraught in John's eyes. He reached down to pick her up and set her on his lap. She played with her hair, sucking her left thumb, looking at the same object that he couldn't see.
"I will tell you all that you need to know Jenny, but not now. I have to wait until you are mature enough to understand this fully. Until then, it's best to say that Mommy is on a vacation, and you will see her someday; I promise." "Okay!" Jenny replied. John kissed the top of her head and let her back onto the ground. A child's innocence was one thing John loved the most about them. He wanted to preserve Jenny's for as long as he could. He continued to set up the tripod, while Jenny ran towards the tree. "What are you showing me?" she asked herself. "Okay, wait by the tree?" she replied. "I'm there now." John couldn't help but feel something wrong stirring in his stomach. He turned to see Jenny climbing through an opening in the fence around the tree. Above her the tree branches shook, like someone was pulling on them.
It took only seconds for the whole scene to unfold right before his eyes. Jenny was laughing as another butterfly went by. A branch above her cracked and then snapped completely off. John's heart skipped, watching the branch fall as if it were in slow motion. He tried to run to her, but didn't get there in time. The branch fell, and smashed Jenny on top of her head. Tiny screams and cries cracked through John's subconscious; making him wince. "OH MY GOD, JENNY!" He sprinted faster and when he got to Jenny he threw the branch off of her, and picked his bleeding child up. "Daddy, I hurt; Head hurts…" Jenny cried out. "I know sweetie, just stay with me… I'll get help… stay with me…Jen…" his voice faded out as Jenny's mind floated away from the world.
John panicked, looking everywhere for help, to no hope. He was the only one there, so he sprinted from the park, rushing out so fast that he forgot his camera and everything else. He didn't care about what was still in the park; he just wanted Jenny to be safe. He ran as fast as he could towards his car, belted her in and slammed on the gas to the hospital. Every few seconds or so he would glance over at Jenny, making sure she was still breathing. He was a doctor but an Obstetrical Gynecologist, not a pediatrician. As the time ticked on, John's impatience grew. He was still a couple blocks from the hospital so he tried to focus on Jenny while driving, cursing at the tree branch all the while. And questioning who that person was that Jenny had been talking to.
* * * *
The old woman was in the familiar cavern, with Harold who was in his human form once again. He looked so maniacal that his face would scare most people. He had the smile of a joker complete with a long crow shaped nose and bright hazel eyes. His cheeks were sunken in and cheekbones stuck out so far that it completed his crazy appearance. His hair lay flat on his back, ending at his shoulders. It was the color of orange and red. That day he was wearing a long green trench coat and white shirt underneath. His pants were green as well and his shoes were thin, long and black.
The old woman was dressed in ragged, ripped clothes and was staring at the sword that glowed ominously in front of her. She reached for it with her right arm, yanking it back as it burned. Underneath the bandages, the sensation continued to sting. Her fingers twitched while the very center of her palm seared hotter than fire itself.
She got up and walked over to Harold, getting to her knees. She gazed up at his face, "Do you remember the night you joined this army?" she asked. If looks could kill, Harold's eyes would be piercing the woman's throat. "I-I'm sorry Harold, I shouldn't have asked that." She said consolingly. Harold shook off her sorrow, turning away from her. Just the site of her angered him so much. Hatred boiled inside him like no other feeling. That disgusting woman is the exact reason why I have this stupid curse. I'd rather be dead than do this. Harold thought. He felt sad, as he wiped his face. Outside, a bright sunlight was lighting up the cave's doorway but stopped short of them.
It felt like the story of his life. No matter how close he would get to find the light, he'd get shrouded in darkness. He sighed once again, turning his back on the light and warmth, back into the empty blackness that he's always known since that fateful night. The old woman looked right through Harold's face, with such a malicious smile that it even made his soul cringe. He rubbed his arms and settled against the cavernous walls, letting his mind go blank. In the very back of his brain, he knew what was to happen to Jennifer Warburton and it honestly sickened him. But he didn't want to tell the woman this because she did save his life. "We should turn in Harold; it is getting later in the evening and I want to get up super early tomorrow." The woman said. Harold nodded, and followed the woman into the shadows; finally disappearing.