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Epilogue
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Echoes of the Pack Prologue
The atmosphere feels thick with an unsettling presence, like a tightening noose constricting her skin. Her body is there, my sister's body. I stand in silence, waiting for her to blink, hoping she'll step down from the railing and dismiss this as a mere joke or prank. But she doesn't. Our eyes lock in a continuous state of panic. My hand moves from my chest to my mouth, then extends toward her. She swings back and forth, each swing diminishing, mirroring the growing intensity of my breaths. I shut my eyes and collapse onto the ground, releasing a scream that drains all the air from my lungs. "Azura!" ... Four hours earlier... "Can you and Alora give Ahren a ride home, Azura?" Ahren's mom disconnects her phone from the car's audio system, creating a loud pop sound. She smiles as she observes them standing together. My sister and Ahren make a striking couple. He looks like a high school football star, while she is tall and blonde, as if she's been taken from the pages of Vogue
Echoes of the Pack Chapter 1
I'm waiting outside the police station for my parents to come out. I have a small packet of tissues in my pocket, the kind you carry when you're not feeling well. There's also a big tissue box in Dad's car on Azura's seat. Our family SUV is the only vehicle in the small parking lot. You'd expect a busy police station, but in our peaceful hometown of Palawan, crime is rare. Then my sister passed away. The police are looking into her death, even though it seems like she took her own life. They're following the rules, so they called my parents to get more details before releasing her body. When the glass door opens, my mother rushes out of the station. I go to get the tissue box. She takes my hands and dabs her eyes. My father is talking to the detective in charge of Azura's case. "Mom," I start to say, but she hugs me and stops me from talking. Her tears wet my t-shirt. I try not to cry. She lets go, cups my cheek, and whispers, "It's over." She smiles, but I'm not sure why. We all
Echoes of the Pack Chapter 2
El Nido, on the Palawan coast, is a small town about 180 miles south of Portland. It's technically part of Palawan, but the residents here consider themselves a unique community, which sometimes confuses census and tax collectors. My hometown is less crowded than Palawan, with houses scattered along the coast or near the forest, like mine. It's not the type of small town where everyone knows each other's second cousins, but it's hard to avoid running into familiar faces. The families deep in the forest that wasn't taken by the government when national parks were established are an exception. My dad called them hillbillies living off the grid, but I couldn't confirm his claims. The people living in that remote part of El Nido are a mystery because few venture there, as the ocean is our main source of life. "Thanks, Greg," my dad says on the phone with a client. "I appreciate your understanding... I'll call you when we're done. Goodbye." We're going to the boatyard to check the boats
Echoes of the Pack Chapter 3
I put on Azura's old black dress because I don't have any black clothes of my own. Black was always her choice, reflecting her rebellious grunge style. The dress is a vintage 1950s pencil design that used to fit her perfectly and accentuate her curves. It's a bit snug on me and falls a few inches below my knees, but it still looks good. My mom, from the doorway, smiles at me and suggests, "She'd want you to wear it with her favorite shoes." I glance at the black ballet flats on my feet and reply, "Yeah, she'd love to see me trip and fall at her own funeral." My mom chuckles, but there's a strange tension in her expression. I've seen that look on my parents' faces too often, and I fear they'll bury themselves in work before Azura's coffin is even lowered into the ground. I hope they don't make me go along with them. If I'm lucky, they'll leave me at the dock to keep watch. The place already has a manager who could use extra help. I'd gladly quit my current job if it means staying. M
Echoes of the Pack Chapter 4
Walking through groups of students in the hallway, the silence becomes deafening, drowning out my thoughts. Their hushed whispers and furtive glances follow me as I pass by. Each step to my locker feels like a march towards my own execution. Ahren is waiting for me at my locker. He opens his arms, and I gratefully embrace him, needing a moment to collect myself and find solace. "I wish they wouldn't stare," I mutter to him as I retrieve my belongings. My gaze lands on a cherished photo of Azura and me hanging on my locker door. The picture was taken during our second year when we went hiking in a national park and encountered a bear. Azura, in her "genius" moment, insisted we climb a tree for safety. I had warned her that bears could climb too, but she brushed it off. We ended up perched in that tree for quite a while, where we snapped the photo. A copy of it now resides in her locker. "I have to clean out her locker," I say, shutting it with a heavy heart and walking away. "How a
Echoes of the Pack Chapter 5
After my encounter with Laurel, I decided to skip the library. Most lunch breaks were spent eating in my car. Eventually, Ahren discovered my hiding spot, and he started joining me there from time to time. He's a good friend, but sometimes, I yearn for solitude. I just wish he'd give me some space. Zaven walks into the room and comments, "Alora, you're early," as he places his bag against the wall. "Yeah, since I haven't been doing much at home, I thought I'd start stretching early." He approaches the ballet barre and begins preparing. I reach down one more time to touch my toes before lifting my leg and resting it against the barre. I mentally count before bending forward and resting against my thigh. I'm relieved that I haven't run into Lucien again. He remains a mystery, and I'm still trying to decipher his connection to Detective Dristan. Lucien doesn't appear to have many problems, so Detective Dristan must know him well. Lucien mentioned they might be family. Zaven places a
Echoes of the Pack Chapter 6
Wind whistled in my ears, carrying the scent of rain in the air. As it tugged at my clothing, I felt the electric energy in the atmosphere dance on my fingertips. Birds flapped their wings and sought refuge in the trees. What would it be like to have such freedom, only limited by the direction of the wind? "We're heading out," a hand rested on my shoulder. I nodded, "Alright." "After work, Ahren's mom is coming over," my mom hugged me tightly. "You and Azura, always so different." "Please, don't say that," my dad interrupted as he picked up their bags. I embraced my mom, but said nothing. "Take care," I said as I grabbed a bag to help with their departure. Their destination was work. What would it be like if they were me? Free to leave without anything tying them down, not even family. I sighed and returned to the house, feeling low. They seemed to be leaving more frequently, and I couldn't help but wonder if it was due to their business or if they simply didn't enjoy having ch
Echoes of the Pack Chapter 7
"Alora." "Azura," I mumble as I turn over and open my eyes. It's chilly. The tip of my nose feels numb, and my breath moistens my lips. As I wake up and realize I'm not in bed, I scramble to my feet. I'm in a forested area, and I reach out to touch wet leaves and branches, which feel frigid beneath my fingers. Somewhere deep in the woods, a voice calls my name. "Azura?" Silence. The pine trees remain silent. I push up onto my hands and knees and glance back. I'm not far from our house, just a mile into the dense forest behind our home. Moonlight bathes everything around me, casting a brightness akin to daylight. It's almost blinding, so I shield my eyes and scan the area, trying to figure out the way home. A loud snap sounds from behind me. Birds scatter as the bushes rustle. I squeeze my eyes shut and press my palms into the ground. I have an urge to remain as still as possible, as though I could hide my head under my arms and pretend I'm somewhere else entirely, somewhere not
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