It won't get out of her head, young Penelope can still remember the cries, the screams, the blood, the monsters who came that night uninvited--Penelope knows not who these strange men are nor what they want, but they came and murdered them before her very eyes.
The tears rolled in uncontrollably down her pink, rosy cheeks. She tried to scream but had no voice. Why would they do this?? She would ask herself. She felt not anger nor hate, but sadness and loss, regret for not even trying to help them--dear mother and father.
Penelope opened her eyes. She found herself laying in bed, warm and comfortable, safe and sound. The men were gone along with her parents. The aroma of delicious freshly baked cookies entered the room, making her mouth water.
She rubbed her sleepy, half-lidded eyes before getting off the bed and stumbling across the room to reach the bathroom mirror and wash her face. As she wiped it, she took in the details of her own reflection; her delicate round face, dark ginger red hair that cascaded down her shoulders, her fair skin and big, round brown eyes. A perfect semblance of her late mother.
A gentle voice called out suddenly, "Penelope , breakfast is ready!"
Penelope could easily recognize that sweet voice. "Coming grandmother!" She answered as she quickly put the towel aside and finished freshening up. She bolted down the stairs and was greeted warmly by her grandmother who had prepared a delicious breakfast for her granddaughter.
Penelope took a seat and thanked her. "Oh, it's nothing dear." she said sweetly, "Now eat! We'll talk right after about your parents."
Her fork nearly slipped out of her hand. "My parents?"
The old woman's expression was grim. She nodded. So it wasn't a dream then? They're really... gone? She took a bite of her pancakes drizzled in chocolate syrup.
"Listen, Penelope. Things are going to be different from now on you understand? The world isn't a safe place, helpless little girls like you have to learn how to defend yourself."
"But how?" She asked. "I couldn't do anything against those men last night..."
"Last week, darling." Her grandmother corrected. "You did try to fight back against them, you got badly hurt and fell into a coma--fortunately you're still alive!"
A huge eye-opener for Penelope. She didn't remember ever fighting back against the intruders. Who were they? She recalled seeing on one of the large men's right arm, a symbol of a black wolf.
"Wolves." Her grandmother began. "They're called the wolves."
"What did they want from us?!" She demanded.
"Shhh, hush now dear child. I will reveal all in due time, but for now, eat and rest well--you have a long week ahead."
Penelope gulped, the lump in the back of her throat only grew even more and more painful. One day, she swore, one day she will make those Wolves pay!