Chapter 1

                                    

                                          
Willow sighed as she trudged up the front steps of her new foster home. She had always enjoyed the country with its lovely nights, hearing wolves howl in the distance. Then she realized she may not be staying for all too long. You see, Willow was a wild girl. She always loved adventure, but her other foster families did not. Willow recalled her last foster families and their perfect lives. That was definitely not the life for Willow. She hated those tight suits and long skirts that those private schools made her wear.
                          
"Willow," Mrs. Cooker said interrupting Willows thoughts. "I do believe this foster family will do you better than the last. Just please, don't fool around this time." As Willow looked into Mrs. Cookers eyes she could see that she meant it.
                          
She sighed, "Fine, I'll try." Mrs. Cooker nodded, "But if their anything like the last family I'm calling you right away!"
                          
"Oh great! I promise Willow they are nothing like the last few families." Mrs. Cooker gave Willow a big hug, "I better be on my way now. They already signed the papers beforehand so your all set! Also, they told me your room is upstairs to the left."
                          
"Thanks, Mrs. Cooker, I think I got it." She replied.
                          
"Be safe now, and don't get into trouble!" Mrs. Cooker laughed as she walked out the front door. Willow laughed along with her.
                          
Willow peered out the front window and watched Mrs. Cookers old van pull out of the gravel driveway and down the dirt road. Willow sighed, as she walked up the stairs and into a small hallway. There were three rooms to her left and one to her right.
                          
Huh, they sure aren't very good at describing things, are they? Willow thought, guess I'll just have to find it! 
                          
Willow looked in the first room. It was a boys room, then the next room which was a bathroom. As the peered through the last rooms door and turned on the lights, all that sat there was a bed. Guessing it was her room she put her old duffle bag on the unused bed. She started to unpack.
                          
"Hello? Is anyone here?" Someone yelled up the stairs.
                          
"Oh, uh. I'm up here! In the last bedroom!" Willow replied to the mysterious voice.
                          
Soon enough she heard big boots heading up the stairs and to her bedroom. A woman knocked and opened the door. She wore an old pair of jeans rolled up to her knees. Her boots were caked with dried mud. She had a plaid long sleeve shirt, the cuffs rolled up.
                          
"Why, hello there! You must be Willow. Nice to meet you, I'm Darlene." Darlene wiped her hands on her jeans, she held out her hand. Willow shook it. "I see you've started to unpack." She looked around the room. "Well, ill leave it to you then." Darlene shut the door.
                          
Well, she's nice! She must be my new mom. Huh. 
                          
• • •
                          
It had been a good few hours now and Willow was finally done unpacking. Willow hopped on her new bed, grabbing her phone. She tried texting her friend Harper, until she realized they had no WIFI. Willow only had one friend and it was Harper. Harper was one of her foster sisters, although the family hated Willow. Harper was always reading or she would use her crossbow she made herself. Harper would always take days to text back anyway.
                          
Willow decided she would head downstairs to find Darlene. Realizing the back slider door was open she headed out. Looking around, she realized she lived on a farm now. She went back inside and headed into her room again. She opened a drawer, pulling out an old photo. It was Willow and her parents. Looking at the photo she got her eyes from her father. You see, Willow had two colored eyes, one an amber the other an emerald green. Hearing a knocking on her door she put the photo away.
                          
Darlene pocked her head through the door. "Dinners ready. We're eating at the firepit outside, you'll see it." Darlene smiled, closing the door once again.
                          
What did she mean by "us"? Willow questioned, is there someone else besides just Darlene here? 
                          
Willow shrugged, thinking not much of it. Darlene could have just her and Willow. As Willow headed down the stairs she could smell cooked chicken and something else she couldn't distinguish. As she walked out the slider door she spotted a tiny yellow light in the distance. As she got closer she could see a person sitting by the fire. When she sat down in an old lawn chair she inspected the boy sitting next to her. He looked similar in age, maybe a year or two older than her. He was wearing a black sweatshirt with dark blue jeans.
                          
"Hey! I'm Hutch, Hutch Brooks. It's nice to finally meet you, Willow. I'm your new brother." Hutch smiled at her. Realizing he hadn't said foster brother, just her brother.
                          
Willow held out her hand. "Nice to meet you too." Hutch took it, shaking her hand.
                          
After that they sat in silence till they saw Darlene's dark figure coming towards them. She seemed to be on the phone with someone. Willow didn't think anything of it.
                          
• • •
                          
It was late and Willow found it impossible to fall asleep. She decided to get a warm washcloth from downstairs. Being careful not to wake anyone, she tiptoed down the hall and down the stairs. Once in the kitchen, she saw a dark figure in the corner. It seemed to be taking their food.