There was blood everywhere.

Bright red blood.

You know, the kind no one wants to see first thing in the morning on an empty stomach? Or a full stomach? Or at all?

Yeah, that kind.

"How am I supposed to get Kaylee's breakfast and lunch ready when this thing is on my counter?"

Its nose and white furry face were bloody, and the rest of its fur soaked in bloody water. Sure, it was all contained in a ziplock bag, but that didn't make it any less gross.

Grimacing, he backed up from the counter. "Is this thing still good? Hasn't it been in the freezer since last year?" He swore toes were missing. "And why are you using one of the clear glass bowls instead of something that isn't see-through and used for our food?"

Shuddering, he went to the sink. Scrubbing at his hands with hot water and more than enough soap. Even though he didn't touch it, his hands still felt dirty. If he could wash out his eyes, he would. Snatching up the dishcloth and drying his hands, he glanced over at it and wished he hadn't. That beady, white eye was going to give him nightmares. "Jax, get your ass down here now!"

"Calm your tits already. You know you can't rush this."

Turning around, he raised an eyebrow. Jax posed in the doorway, staring off into space. Gothic outfit. Gelled spiky hair. Eyeliner.

"Why did that take you so long? You go to school like that all the time."

Jax snorted and entered the kitchen. "Yeah, okay. You know what, Tory? I'll forgive you just because appearances don't matter to you. If I sat around at home all day and didn't have to do anything, I wouldn't care either."

His eyes narrowed and he crossed his arms over himself. "I don't sit around all day and do nothing. You know that."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, pass me the paper towel, will you?" Jax waved a hand at him, snapping his fingers.

Jaw clenched, he passed Jax the entire roll. Leaning against the counter behind him, he rested his hands on the cool marble countertop. His fingernails tapped against it. While Jas took his sweet time unrolling the paper towel. Taking more care than he needed to fold each piece over the other.

"Can you hurry it up?" His brow furrowed when he turned around and saw Jax open the bag. "What are you doing?" He leaned back, covering his nose with his sleeve.

Ugh. Thawed-out rat. This was what death smelled like.

His eyes widened when Jax used thongs to pull the dripping rat out of the ziplock bag. Jax's silence put him on edge. He stared, watching Jax pat the rat dry before he took hold of it with the thongs again.

That smirk was the only warning he had before Jax brandished the rat out in front of him.

Yelping, he scrambled around the kitchen island before he darted into the dining room. "Jax quit it! That's gross! There better not be any blood dripping off it." Firmly holding onto the doorknob of the door that came between them. Jax would not get through to him from here.

Jax grinned, still swinging the rat out at him. "What was that you were saying about the kitchen being yours?"

"The kitchen is mine when Ma and Uncle Nicky are not here!"

"Uh uh, the kitchen belongs to both of us. Fifty-fifty. Uncle Nicky gets the kitchen down in the basement."

Yeah, not happening. If it were up to Jax, the kitchen would have burned down years ago.

"We're going to be late. Again."

Peering through the glass panel, Kaylee entered the kitchen. Long hair tied up in a ponytail, sleeves of her pale blue sweater rolled up. About to remove the strap of her backpack from her shoulder, Kaylee paused, dark eyes flickering between the pair of them. "Jax, why are you chasing Tory with a rat? You should hurry if you want to feed Monty before school."

Jax glanced over his shoulder at their sister before looking back at him. Flashing another grin, he waved the rat at him one more time. "Remember, fifty percent." He turned on his heel and disappeared from view.

It wasn't until he heard the stomping of Jax's boots heading downstairs that he crept out of the dining room and returned to the kitchen. He frowned, watching Kaylee pour herself some cereal.

"I could have made pancakes or something."

"I like cereal. Pancakes take too long."

"Okay, what about lunch? Which pasta do you want?"

"You don't have enough time to make pasta. I can buy something from the cafeteria or go out for lunch."

"You sure? I can put the burner on high."

"I'm sure. Don't worry about it."

Oh. Okay. Biting the inside of his cheek, he crossed his arms over himself and leaned against the kitchen counter.

"So...."

He blinked. "So what?"

Kaylee let out a sigh. Shaking her head, she raised her hand to cover up her mouth. "Jax and the rat? Fifty percent?"

"Oh, Jax thinks we have to split the kitchen fifty-fifty when Ma and Uncle Nicky aren't here."

Kaylee's brow furrowed. "Don't I get a percentage?"

Oh boy.

"We'll sort this whole percentage thing out tonight, okay?"

"There's nothing to sort out. We both get fifty percent. Pipsqueak doesn't get any." Jax flashed Kaylee a smile when he entered the room, sticking his tongue out at her when she gave him a narrow-eyed stare before tossing the 'rat bowl' and the bloody thongs into the sink.

He stared, lips pressed together. Just breathe. Say nothing and breathe.

Inhaling deeply, he exhaled slowly.

"I bake! I should get a percentage of the kitchen, too."

"Babies don't get kitchen rights."

"Jax, that's enough. She's not a baby, and she does the baking when Uncle Nicky is gone. So, she'll get a percentage. We'll figure out an exact number later, okay?"

Kaylee frowned, but nodded. Jax snickered, washing his hands before he leaned against the counter and took out his phone.

"Ollie's coming over tonight. Make sure you buy snacks."

"Yes, sir. Anything else, sir?" He grumbled.

"I'll text you my list of demands."

"Okay, whatever."

"Is Nyx coming too? There's this new documentary we want to watch!"

He glanced at Jax, letting out a soft sigh when he saw Jax's frown.

"Sorry, looks like Mr. F took the night off to take her flying."

"We could watch something else tonight," he smiled at Kaylee. "After you get the papers done and we eat dinner."

"Okay," Kaylee brightened. "There was this other documentary I wanted to watch about big cats, but Nyx is too scared to watch it."

Jax snorted, shoving his phone into his pocket. "Christ, can you imagine a pair of skittish owls watching a show like that? What do you want to do? Give them heart attacks?"

"It's just a show...." Kaylee mumbled, moving around the island to get her backpack.

"Right. Well, I'm ready to go. Keys?" Jax snapped his fingers at him.

"I'm not giving you the keys. Last time you tried driving off to go buy snacks. You remember how pissed Ma was?" If they didn't need the car, he was certain she would have taken the keys.

"Yeah, that's why I bully you or Ollie into snack duty. Now, give me the keys or give your bestest bro ever a hug!" Jax flung his arms out wide, head held high, and eyes shut.

He backed away. "No."

Jax cracked an eye open. "That doesn't count. It has to be one or the other."

"No, it doesn't."

"Yes, it does."

"Yeah, I don't think so."

"Hug me or else!"

"Jax!" Kaylee shouted.

"What?"

From the corner of his eye, he saw the keys swinging off of Kaylee's finger. His lips twitched, but he forced them to remain still. Don't smile, don't smile, don't smile. 

Jax's eyes narrowed. "You sneaky, little-"

"I'll tell Ma you're bothering Tory, and you tried to take off with the car again."

Jax's eyes narrowed further until he burst out laughing, holding his hands up in surrender. Approaching the calendar next to the fridge, he marked a 1 next to Kaylee and Tory. "You're both starting off the year with a win over me, but I will plot my revenge and neither of you will see it coming!" He exited the kitchen and cackled down the hallway.

Kaylee sighed, shaking her head, and followed Jax.

He would have laughed if Jax were joking, but Jax would get his so-called revenge one way or another. The unfortunate part? He really wouldn't see it coming. When it came to 'revenge', Jax could be even more patient than their Ma.

He followed his siblings down the hall to the front door. Kaylee passed him the car keys, and he held the front door open for her before locking it behind them. Pressing the button on the car's fob, the doors unlocked, and they all climbed inside. He buckled up and waited for Jax and Kaylee to do the same before reversing out of their driveway and down the street. Stuck at a red light, he tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, eyeing the time on the dashboard.

Late. Again.

"I'll go to bed earlier today. I don't want to make you late again," he managed, stifling a yawn.

Next to him, Jax snorted, staring down at his phone. "Don't bother with the empty promises. You won't go to bed early and we're going to be late whenever you drop us off."

"We're not as late as we were last week," Kaylee pipped up from the back.

"So? Not like the school will mark that on our record. Late is late."

He pressed his lips together. Jax was right. He watched Kaylee through the rearview mirror, saw her frown, and look out the window. He'd have to try harder. If not for Jax, for Kaylee, at least. He stared up at the glaring red traffic light, fingers curled around the steering wheel.

Dropping Kaylee and Jax off to school, Kaylee rushed into the building while Jax shuffled along, his attention locked on his phone. Somehow Jax made it inside the building without tripping on the curb, the uneven sidewalk, or over the step right before the doorframe.

How?

No idea.

Jax was skilled like that.

Without the traffic jam of parents and buses dropping off their students, it was easy to exit the high school parking lot and get back on the road. At first he drove the usual route home, but at the last minute he continued straight instead of taking the left turn.

Over the bridge, past older homes, the mechanic's yard, and construction sites for townhouses. Forest took over on either side of the road, and eventually those faded out into fields. Ahead of him, the other vehicles slow down before coming to a halt, and looking past them, he saw why. 

A freight train. With shipping containers.

This could take a while.

Easing to a stop, he turned the car off as well and picked up his cellphone. He scrolled through his contacts for Uncle Nicky's number and jabbed the call icon.

"Hey, kid. What's up?"

"I'm heading over to your house. I'm just stuck waiting for the train."

"I'm heading home too. Whoever gets there first can be in charge of the coffee!" Uncle Nicky laughed.

He stuck out his tongue. Uncle Nicky's version of making coffee was so strong, more hot water needed to be added to make it drinkable. "Why weren't you home? It's too early to have gone out to mediate."

"You'd be surprised when shifters are involved."

"What, some bear lost their temper in pack territory again?"

"No, nothing like that this time, but I've got to let you go. There's another call coming in and I have to answer it. See you soon."

"Bye."

Hanging up with Uncle Nicky, he tapped his fingers on the steering wheel and stared out the window, trying to catch a glimpse of the end of the train.... and there it was!

Finally!

He turned the car back on as other vehicles ahead of him started their engines, too. The flashing light and clinking bell stopped, and the barrier rose. The vehicles ahead of him shot forwards, and he continued on to Uncle Nicky's house.

He relaxed as he drove through farmers' fields. He made a right turn on a mud road and passed the row of mailboxes. From here, the forest grew wild again. If anyone didn't know what to look for, if they didn't slow down, they would have missed the wooden fence that was taken over by vegetation and missed Uncle Nicky's property entirely.

That was how Uncle Nicky liked it.

It's how he liked it, too.

Though how much privacy could Uncle Nicky get when his closest neighbours were a family of crows?

He slowed down to make the turn, eyeing the nearly melted snowbanks and trees on either side of the long driveway. When the trees cleared, he sat up straighter, leaning forward when the small cabin came into view.... along with Uncle Nicky's black SUV.

Super strong coffee, anyone?

With a rattling sigh, he pulled up behind the SUV and parked. Getting out of the car, and shoving the keys into his sweatpants, his eyes remained locked on the hardened muddy ground until he reached the cabin's front door.

Victory! No slipping on ice.

"That train took forever!" He complained. Pushing open the front door, he wiped his shoes on the doormat before he stepped inside. Taking off his shoes, he put them on the shoe rack and breathed in the brewing coffee. Super strong coffee may kill his taste buds, but he loved the scent of it.

He smiled, but it faded when he didn't see Uncle Nicky in the cabin. The bathroom and bedroom doors were open, and Uncle Nicky's briefcase was on the small wooden table next to him. Maybe Uncle Nicky went into the greenhouse or down in the cellar?

He paused at the approaching footsteps and poked his head outside. Uncle Nicky, still dressed in his suit, his black vest buttoned up and the chain of his pocket watch glinting in the morning light. A sprig of basil in hand. Huh. Must have been in the greenhouse.

Uncle Nicky's furrowed brow and frown melted away when he glanced up and saw him. "Hey, kid! You lucked out with making the coffee, but how about an omelette with fresh basil?"

He stepped aside so Uncle Nicky could enter the cabin and close the door behind him. "You just got home and you want to make me an omelette?"

"Anything for my favourite nephew," Uncle Nicky grinned, heading right for the kitchen sink to rinse off the herbs.

He snorted. "Yeah, don't let Jax hear you say that. Last time you did, he guilted you into making him tiramisu!"

"Did he now?" The corner of Uncle Nicky's mouth curled upwards as he took out plates, the frying pan, and what else he needed from the fridge.

"Yeaaah, you don't remember? Jax was smug as hell for weeks!" How could Uncle Nicky have forgotten?

Uncle Nicky glanced over his shoulder at him, a mischievous gleam in his blue eyes. "Oh, I remember, but what Jax doesn't know is that I was craving tiramisu at the time, and the dish I made for the rest of the family was much larger than his."

He snorted a laugh, leaning back against the wall.

Uncle Nicky flicked on the small television on the counter, flipped channels to put it on the News, and just like that - his frown was back. Carton of eggs still in hand, Uncle Nicky stared at the small screen as the anchor women discussed the breaking news - last week's disappearance of the small herd of horse shifters near Little Cove had come to a tragic end.

"Man, last month it had been a large wolf pack in Algonquin Park, and now it's a herd near another Park? Seems like someone's targeting shifters." He shook his head, crossing his arms over himself, only to eye his Uncle from the corner of his eye. "Right?"

"Hmm?" Uncle Nicky glanced at him distractedly.

"Nevermind," he shook his head, pushing himself away from the wall. "Is there anything you want me to do? Tidy up the cellar? Check the greenhouse? Chop up more wood?"

"Kid, I love you, but I'm not letting you near my greenhouse again."

He crossed his arms over himself and frowned down at his socked feet. He didn't mean to kill the plants by drowning them in water. It was summer! Don't plants need more water in the summer?

"And I have more than enough firewood thanks to the last time Jax upset you and you took out that frustration with the axe. So, what did Jax do this time?"

"I didn't say anything about Jax."

"You didn't have to. I know you're upset about something, and this early in the day... well, it all points to Jax."

"It's nothing. Really. I'm just restless and I wanted to do something productive." Fingers tapping against his upper arm, he pushed off from the wall, and reached for his running shoes. "I'm going to go for a run if you don't need my help with anything."

"A run?" Uncle Nicky slowly asked, a knife poised above the green onion he was about to chop. "There's still patches of ice out there, and that hoodie won't be enough to keep you warm. Take my hat and gloves."

"I'll keep my eyes down on the road to avoid the ice.... and I'll take the hat, but your gloves make me feel like I've got hobbit hands, so no." He wriggled his fingers in a wave, tugged his Uncle's beanie on, and -

"Take your cellphone and don't catch Pokemon! Take a water bottle too. I don't care if you're not thirsty now, you'll be thirsty later."

His cheeks burned, and he whipped around to face his Uncle. "That was one time!"

"Exactly!" Uncle Nicky pointed the knife at him, putting it down to grab a water bottle from the fridge. "One trip over a tree root resulted in a twisted ankle. I'd prefer you to get back here with no injuries."

"Yes, Uncle Nicky," he mumbled, taking the water bottle after he knelt down to tie up his shoes. He was about to step out the door when Uncle Nicky continued behind him.

"And don't forget to do the stretches!"

"Anything else?" He stood in the doorway, eyebrow raised. He should run away before Uncle Nicky went through his mental checklist.

Uncle Nicky smiled at him. "Yeah, love you, kid."

"Love you too. I'll be back soon!"

Closing the cabin door behind him, he found an ice-free spot behind his car and went through his series of stretches. Water bottle in hand, he unlocked the car and snatched up his old mp3 player from the cup holder. Shoving one earbud in, he scrolled through the songs, and settling on one, he stuck the mp3 player into his pocket. He started down the driveway at a jog, water bottle in hand.

https://youtu.be/lmc21V-zBq0

With music playing in one ear, and his other ear free to listen for traffic, he took off at a steady pace in the safest ice-free spot he could run. The middle of the road. He stopped for a moment once he reached the mailboxes and made a face before taking a gulp of water. Turning around, he started his way back at a jog before he ran.

He ran past Uncle Nicky's place and kept going. Up ahead, a pair of crows perched on a pole were obnoxiously cawing at each other. As if they were laughing. And maybe they were. Who knew with crows? Slowing down, and stepping off to the side, he took another drink of water, eyeing the crows, and preparing to run on for a bit more, but he frowned at the dark splotches on the mud beside his shoe.

He reached into his pocket and stopped the music.

Eyes locked on the dark, uneven splotches, a trail led down the road ahead of him. A quick glance behind him, and there were splotches there, too. Whatever these were from, it didn't look like it was fluid from a car. Something like that would have been in the middle of the road, not off to the side. That's why he hadn't noticed them until now. That, and because the crows had distracted him....

He tensed.

The crows were silent.

Gulping, he took a breath and looked up. Only to stumble back. The crows were looking down at him.

Jaw clenched, he held his head high and waved them off. They didn't scare him!.... Okay, yeah, they kinda were creeping him out, but that wouldn't make him run away.

He tried to ignore the crow's eyes on him as he followed the splotches, intentionally keeping his eyes locked on the road before him as he passed them. The splotches veered off the mud road, into the dirty grey snow, and there! Edging up the snowbank!

Eyes wide, he froze. His breath lodged in his tightening throat.

Bright red blood.

Dripping, trailing down the snowbank.

He took a step closer, then another....

.... and at the top of the snowbank?

Bloody paw prints.