Chapter 10

No one slept that night. No one even went home. They poured over the files about themselves, about the program, and anything that had to do with what the werewolves really were. From what they could gather, werewolves were beings that have existed as long as humans, or possibly longer. The 'hunters' were formed to keep the wolves away from humans, and over time turned into a group that actively hunted them, at least according to the documentation they read.

When morning finally came, the twins and Austin left, but the rest of them remained. It was hard for them to wrap their heads around just what it was they had discovered, and harder still for Ariel to imagine Jane stealing all of this. She had gone into the library to find out why they were all getting sick in ways that did not align with heavy metal poisoning, and I stead discovered that they were not human, their parents were not their parents and all of them had been orphaned and kidnapped. It was devastating news, so when Austin and the twins came back with coffee and doughnuts, it was welcomed.

"So according to these documents, we all have the ability to hear our wolves. Because of the wolvesbane they have been giving us our whole lives, they never woke up. So for those of us who have gotten through the withdrawals, we should be start trying to wake them up." Jane explained, looking at Ariel and the twins.

"You are going to have a rough few days when it really hits you, but you will feel like a new person when you get past it." She explained, Austine and even Sarah nodding their heads in agreement. It made sense. They had been taking this poison their whole lives and so their wolves never woke up.

It was nearly dark when they finally left, the boxes of files hidden in the derelict house. As she was walking home, the soreness was increasing and the night of no sleep was really wearing her down. She felt sick and her head felt like it was floating. They all had already come up with excuses for why they were so late, and were all going to use each other for their cover stories. Ariel was at Jane's house, and since Jane was home alone all night, it worked out well.

Walking through the door, Justin and Mary were very clearly upset. They attempted to grill her on where she had been and why she was not answering her phone. She calmly explained that she had gone over to see Jane. wcause she was feeling better, but started to feel crappy herself. Jane let her stay, but she didn't charge her phone and it was dead. As she kept talking, more and more worry filled her mother's face.

"Ariel, why didn't you have Jane call us to come get you?" Mary asked, Jane sighing. She felt like she was going to vomit.

"I knew you guys would be at work and I didn't want to bother you." Ariel told her. She was uncomfortable with the hug, and hated having to act like she didn't feel betrayed. Still, she had to play along for now. None of them knew how the people who raised them would treat them if they knew that had found out everything.

"It would not be a bother." Mary said, placing a hand in Ariel's forehead.

"Goodness, you are burning up. Let's get you to bed." She put an arm around Ariel and helped her up to her room. Ariel changed into pajamas and got in bed as Mary got her a cup of tea. It was not long before Ariel was asleep, knowing that she was in for a few days of this. All she had to do was get through it and she would be able to rejoin the others.