This story is a work of fiction solely from the twisted mind of Chromex. Any resemblance to any persons living or dead is purely coincidental. All characters are of at least 18 years of age unless otherwise specifically mentioned. Please do not copy/redistribute the story, in part or total, without the author's permission.
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"Who's Mercy?"
That simple statement rocked me to the very core of my being as I stared at my sister in complete disbelief. How could she not recognize me and how could she not know who she was? It was her, there wasn't a shred of doubt in my mind that the person standing before me was my sister, but something had happened. I started to open my mouth but Holly quickly cut me off.
"Angel, can you give us a few minutes? I just realized I need to talk with Elizabeth about something. I'll let you know when we're ready." My shock was compounded at hearing the name Holly just called her. I instantly focused on her throat and the small silver necklace she wore. The chain was different and the metal slightly worn, but the charm was the same one I had given her for her twelfth birthday, the name Angel written in script. She had always been so sweet and caring, unable to harm a fly and wanting to save the world, we had started to call her Angel, as in the Angel of Mercy.
"OK Holly, if you need me I'll be down in the clinic," she said, "It's nice to meet you Elizabeth." Same voice, same cheerful disposition, and the same interest in helping people, there was no way this wasn't my sister. After watching her leave the room I collapsed on my couch, completely drained from the emotional upheaval today had brought. I heard Holly close the door and move around my room as I counted the knots in my ceiling.
"Here," Holly said, handing me an ice-cold beer from a fridge I seemed to have missed. Taking a large pull off the beer, I felt the liquid move down my throat and settle in my stomach. "Elizabeth, how do you know Angel?" Holly said sitting next to me on my couch.
"Her name isn't Angel, it's Mercy," I said, "and she's my sister. Angel was her nickname, and I gave her that necklace when she was twelve. The chain is different but the charm is the same."
"Natalie is going to have puppies tomorrow," Holly said, rubbing her temples, "I don't think I've ever seen someone unintentionally be the focus so much drama in a single day."
"I'm not worried about Natalie and believe me, it wasn't my intention," I said, "The only thing I care about now is why my sister doesn't know who she is."
"How positive are you that she's your sister? The condition in which we found her, it wasn't pretty."
"You found her broken, beaten, and raped didn't you?" I asked although the look on her face had already answered my question.
"How did you know?"
"The last time I saw my sister alive, we'd gone for a walk in the woods. We did it all the time as we both loved the forest. I was even looking into becoming a park ranger after college. It was starting to get dark and we were almost back when we were attacked." Tears began to stream down my face as the pain I had long suppressed began leaking back, prompting Holly to wrap her arms around me, as I relived that agonizing day. "I don't know if I never got a look at my attacker or if my mind is just blocking it but I'll never forget his voice," I said, "Rough and gravelly he threatened that if either of us called out, he would kill the other."
"You have no memory of what he looked like?"
"No, like I said all I remember is the voice. Why?"
"Just trying to figure out if this was a rogue we've put down since she's been here. If Angel is your sister then, the rogue wolf that raped you is a very frightening creature indeed." It was with that one matter of fact statement, the one impossible memory I had suppressed came rushing back. The cruel golden eyes, vicious yellow teeth, and black fur on what could only be a werewolf, holding me down with a strength that was impossible to fight. My body shuddered as the terror of that moment ran fresh through my mind.
"How did she come to be here and how is it she shifted when I didn't?" I couldn't worry about what happened to me, Mercy was the only important thing right now.
"She was found by one of our patrols," Holly said, "She'd been left in a spot that hunters like to use to enter our territory, so it's one we watch frequently. As for why she shifted and you didn't, whoever did this was methodical and controlled. She had a single, clean bite to her arm, but it was more than enough to trigger the change. She was suffering from severe head trauma combined with the memory loss, so Damien thinks she may have been unconscious when she was bitten. If this rogue had bitten you, you would have shifted. The fact that you were raped and not bitten shows extremely uncharacteristic control for a rogue."
"Is she ok?"
"She has no memory of anything before waking up in the clinic," Holly said, "but physically she's in perfect health. We called her Angel after the necklace obviously, but maybe with you here now her memories will return." There was nothing I could do to stop the happy tears streaming down my face, not that I wanted to. Despite everything that had happened, my sister was alive and well. "Damien will probably want to talk to you tomorrow once word gets around. I'm not sure how we are going to approach Angel with this, but he might have some ideas."
"I just wish our parents were still alive," I said, "she and I are the only family we have now."
