***
After about eight thousand people died from the rain, the elites denying involvement, the people of Smallsvile decided they will ponder on what to do next to see another day. Their farms aren't growing seeds. The ones around only stayed afloat for a week. A period they couldn't do anything to save even a twig. It was maddening.
Figma P and the capital Bokök came through for them but the famine increased and more people died.
Alpha called out to Catherine, his voice baritone but tired. He and his pack have been gathering wood and planning with a few of the scientists and engineers that managed to run away from 7th Alley when missiles were dropped on them when the rain fall. They were silent intermediate-range ballistic missiles with a new touch to them. The thumping and scattering of houses with blood made them know it's a mission to wipe away a generation of people.
"Do you still want me to think you are Elvira or I should call you your name, Catherine?" I know you're different from her and I have seen her several times in places. Why are you here?"
"We should do this later, Alpha. I need to get these supplies to the bunker."
"You are ignoring the questions, right? That's not fair but I'm not judging you. I only want to know you. Our days are shorter now."
"I know. You should tend to your wound. I'll come over tonight to help."
"Catherine, you know I love you. The kisses we've shared gave me stronger affirmation that we are meant to be together. I have feelings for you since that day…"
She covered his lips with her. They moved toward the shadow holding each other tighter. Her face was closer to his. Their noses crossing part. His tongue slides into her mouth, she dabbed her fingers into his hair. Her heart beats faster as he slides his hands into her thighs. She grabbed his neck and pulled his head towards her chest. They both mourned knowing love is amazing. The sexual tension between them increased, she kissed his neck then pulled away.
"We can't do this out here, and I'm Catherine."
"And I'm a werewolf."
They both smiled, sliding their fingers into one another's and walking towards the bunker.
***
Damien saw them that night. He hid behind a shallow fence peeping through a tiny hole in the woods. He loves Alpha too and Alpha knows that, but they've talked about it that it's good they remain platonic lovers. Damien knew he was gay since they were children growing up among the mutts. His parents were mutts too and cool to be round. One day a new family moved in close to their house, it was Aiden, his mom, and their cat. Right there he fell in love with him. Aiden was chubby then.
He looked around turning his fingers like a puppet. He knew he was happy for them and will always be. He'd vowed to protect Aiden by all means possible and he'll stick to that.
"Love is a good thing. I love you Aiden. Death is the only separator."
***
When Elvira drove into the fortress in her blue 1968 El Camino and saw how ruined it looked. She looked puzzled and the thought of it reads as giant spinning spiders to her. But, she said in her mind that she will renovate it once she inherited it. She saw Sam, the only face she recognized and he looked famished.
She came down, her heels stunning and probably from the latest collection of who I don't know but like Stuart Weizmann's.
"This isn't the Same I know. What happened to you?" She walked gently towards him smiling. Sam glanced at her grunting within. She has been like a bone in the neck to him.
"Sam, aren't you gonna answer me?" Sam looked away and walked back to the gate.
"Who let you in?"
"You're asking me that? In my father's house? Who do you think you are?"
"We are security conscious. If you must come you could have called. Safety of our visitors is important to us."
"Whatever. Where can I find the new girl?"
"Who is that?"
"Are you kidding me, Sam? Catherine, my sister. Don't fuckinh tell me she's not here."
"She is in. You should find her in the office. Left her a few minutes ago."
"I'll be right back."
***
She was thrown out of John's estate after Andrea snitched about her plots and they, knowing they needed a bait, let her go with the instruction that Andrea snitched on her and wanted her dead.
Maddie had told her, "Weren't going to kill you. You'll now be in our inner circle. As you've said, if Andrea wasn't spying for others he'll not have been eavesdropping on what you are saying in your bathroom. Who knows he's not the fake one here?"
"Thank you, Sir. I'll make sure I give my best."
"You are a beautiful lady and I sense your beauty enticed him. He might be another Ceaser soon. Cleopatra played her game right. I heard Alpha wants to have you as his mate?"
Puzzled like the first grandfather clock, her lips pouted like she wanted to say something but the words weren't forming.
"You don't have to say anything. Use that weakness against him and have his head here. Now the people, the mutts, and those rebels are defenseless. When hunger hits the mind the weather grows frail."
"What about my father? You still want his clothes?"
"Not at all. We have him already. He betrayed you. Alex shouldn't have been your father. It was a mistake."
"Mistake?"
"Yes. His sperm cell only got Catherine in. You came from a second sperm cultured with his. It's Martin's, my Nephew."
Her head spun, hearing strums from a guitar, then a piano-like from the second symphony of Dmitri Shostakovich.
"You are blood, Evira and that's why Alpha sensed you. Your germ cloud was on Catherine when he met her. It was you he fell for."
"I don't understand."
"You'll soon. You'll. Your biological father committed suicide and we have him here. He's in the lab. Identical twins are now a thing we can create in the lab. I and John were aware, Nicholas loved your mother. We took his sperm and have it cultured with Alex's after understanding it'll result in Identical twins. Nothing is impossible, Elvira. Nothing."
She left the sitting room with another connection but with a fizzled mind. If she was never curious and strange, how on Earth could she get to know all these about her life? So many questions are worth asking.
***
When she got in after walking through the stairways, she said, "I want some water."
Catherine raised her head from the book she was reading and the personal history of what she knows about them flows through her like a spinning dice. She doesn't know what to pick.
"I have been spinning too," Elvira said, sitting in the Ergonomic chair.
"This will strengthen my lumber. Nice of you, sister."
"I'll get you the water," Catherine said and walked into the next room. When Alex was around, that room was where he stacked books and he never allowed anyone there but Elvira. She was always on his neck then for books on ethology and psychology. She became well-read that she dropped out of college after studying ancient art for a year.
"That was Father's study."
"Yeah, we still have all his books here. We only redesigned things. The books are great."
"Yeah." She glanced at what she was reading. It's a book of Ode to melancholy.
"Who reads poems when the world is in chaos?"
Catherine walked back holding the water in a mug.
"Have it."
"Oh, thanks."
"Don't mention it. I read poems when I have things knocking my mind off and I listen to music too."
"Oh," she placed the mug on the table. "Humans own perspectives, fight over them but in the end, it's all oneness. Your point is valid. And I have come to apologize. I got my father killed due to my recklessness."
"It's alright. Now you are using the same thing on me. Your perspective, at the time of your action, could have been right. I studied astrobiology but I'm not using it now. At least I gaze at the stars and imagine what we could have been without them."
"So we are all right."
"Yeah. Situations shape things. Vulnerabilities."
They both smiled.
***
Alpha and Damien and the rest of the pack that went out into the streets to have meetings with the people came back. As their SUVs drove in they noticed the sleek Camino packed along the barn which now functions as a mini-farm. Alpha came down, his boots matching the mud slowing.
"Who owns that, Sam?" Sam came out from the farm holding a rake in his left hand. He smiled then walked to him.
"It's Elvira's. She came in some minutes ago."
"Elvira! What's she doing here?"
"Visiting her sister. And she's clean."
"Are you sure," Alpha and Damien said, giggling and looking at each other.
"Yeah. She's clean. Mathew Maslow, you stay watch tonight."
"Alright, man. We couldn't get you the game." Mathew said walking away with the others. He's new and a scientist from 7th Alley.
"No probs, man. It'll see to that. Thanks!"
"No worries. No worries."