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Looking down at the map and I huff in annoyance. We were walking in circles at this point! Letting out a groan behind me I turn to face Rose and Riley. The twin siblings I knew since middle school. Funny how we stuck together next to Austin, my best friend, and I. Their love for the paranormal has led us to this bizarre forbidden park. The Wailstone park, a place rumored to have a hell portal. This isn’t going to be good.
Rose scrunches her nose and covers her nose with her hand. “Ewww what is that smell? Burnt flesh? Smoke? I really don’t think we should be here.”
Riley rolls her eyes and protests, “You said it would be a great idea coming here. Now you want to forfeit? I’m going ahead!”
Austin reaches a hand out to halt the twins but I stop him. We look at each other and he sighs. The twins are polar opposites. Riley’s stubborn and head strong and Rose is timid but also quick to jump onto something her sister may like. Just a habit both Austin and I couldn’t stop.
Me and Austin follow behind a stomping Riley as Rose sulks behind with her head down, her glasses barely hanging on to her face. The air was cold and dank, leaving me with a sense of uneasiness.
After a few minutes we all stop in front of a barely visible light. It projects out of a tall boulder with red flickering specks and an eerie presence. The chains around the odd light were snapped in half. Sounds echoed out of the portal like screams and whispers of the damned.
The fog thickens around us and I hear a snarl echo from within the park. Several heavy footsteps as the sound of a dragging chain reaches me ears and I freeze.
We all look at each and huddle together for a moment. Rose is shaking and Riley is on high alert, frantically searching the area. Austin looks back at me and I shake my head. “No one make a single sound. Not a single itty-bitty step” I breathe.
The sound of the chain grows closer and slowly turn my head around to see a pair of unearthly blood red eyes staring back at us. I turn back to everyone else and signal them to slowly move away.
“Amber, Oh my god what do we do? Is that a dog? That’s no way that’s a regular dog” Austin whispers, his voice trembling.
“There’s a weird portal, you dim wit! Of course it’s not a regular dog!” I whisper back angrily.
The eyes move through the fog and Riley and Rose quickly yet quietly back up and move behind me. Austin also hides behind me, giving me a concerning look. I hold my ground and stare down the pair of eyes. Without a second moment the canine leaps out of fog straight towards me.
The others run behind me and I desperately struggle against the black dog. I grab ahold of its neck and desperately push it back. It’s snarling and snapping jaws spiking my flight response. The ragged black fur tightening in my grasp and the foul smell of something metallic, blood. Dried blood cover its snout and face. A hellhound? No way!
I fall backwards and feel a claw rip through my clothing and skin. I successfully push the hellhound back and scramble to my feet. I turn around and bolt for it, the canine stalking me in the process.
I hide behind a tree, bringing my hand to my shoulder. Bleeding and a painful burning sensation took over. My stomach turns and I slump down to the cold grass. I am not going without a fight! Come here you mutt!
The secret I held for a very long time. I’m not human as my whole bloodline are linked to one thing. Lycanthropy.
My senses suddenly sharpen and my smell enhances. The others are close and I catch a whiff of sweat and the hound’s never-ending stench of filth and musk. My vison shifts, although not enough for this messed up place, I could see a bit better through the density of the fog.
Pain shoots through my arms and I fall to my knees. The pain travels to my legs and into my chest. My eyes water and the burning wound rips. Fur sprouts from my body and I feel the agonizing shift of my bones and muscles. My skin tears as the fur covers my body and my face stretches into a fleshy snout, eyes shift into lupine pupils and I let out a monstrous howl.
My ears perk up to a scream and race towards the source on all fours. I lower my body and hide in the grass for just a moment, analyzing the scene. I didn’t want to scare them but it doesn’t seem like I have much of a choice.
Austin is circling around the hellhound with a branch and Riley is hidden with Rose near a broken slide. I could see Rose was holding her arm. It attacked her! That’s it! Rage consumes me and without a second thought I leap out of the grass and tackle the hellhound.
Austin screams and backs away as I wrestle the hellhound. I snap my jaws around its neck and lift it into the air, shaking it around like a rag doll. I toss it out of my mouth and it rolls to the side. Slowly staggering to its feet, the hellhound growls and circles around me. Blood drips from its neck wound and I smile with my lupine lips. Bring it on!
With one last charge at me, the hellhound dashes towards me and I step to the side. I swipe a claw against its side, ripping through fur and skin as it passes. The hellhound howls in pain and falls to the ground. I slowly approach it and see its red eyes staring back at me in fear. Night, Night!
I sink my jaws into its neck once more and with a swift jerk, I snap its neck. The red eyes dim and the body slowly disintegrates into a burst of smoke. I reel my head up and let out a victorious howl.
I lower my body and turn my head around to face the three friends I left in shock and fear. Riley stands there, jaw dropping, Rose is a bit freaked out, and Austin is shaking with a twitch in his eye. Great! Just what I needed right now.
I stare intensely and lock eyes with him. The boy I knew since middle school. Standing in front of his own friend, a monster. I watch as fear takes over his eyes and he shift his feet as if he’s about to run. I raise a long sharp finger to my mouth as to silence him.
Austin’s eyes widen and he freezes. He opens his mouth but shuts it as soon as I step forward. His fingers tremble and he raises a hand to his chest. Taking a deep breath, Austin locks eyes with me again and I snort in response.
“It’s me. It’s Amber. Is everyone okay?” I ask quickly, the words coming out in a deep grumble.
“Oh my god it talks!” Rose squeals, catching me off guard.
“That’s Amber? There’s no way that’s her” Riley asks in response, pointing a finger at me.
Austin sighs and locks eyes with me once more. “So, when where you going to tell us this? That you’re a flipping werewolf? Ears, head, tail, and all?” He shoots back, raising an eyebrow.
I grumble in response then look down at my clothing that’s barely covering my body. “We should go home and I’ll explain later” I sigh in relief.
After giving Rose bandages and checking everyone I sit back down on the bed and shake my head. After tedious amount of explaining my bloodline was not on my to-do list. One thing was for certain, we were not doing our hunting for a while.
Austin sighs and leans against the wall near the door. “So, are we going to ignore this after tonight?”
I huff and shake my head. “No, but I don’t want you guys to,” I pause for a moment then continue, “I don’t want you all to fear me. I never meant for this to happen but it’s the way I am. I’m cursed.”
Rose objects, “No you’re fine. Thank you. I’m glad we have a big furry lady to protect us when we need it!”
Riley smiles back and nods in agreement. “Dude if you think about it, it’s technically a gift. It’s painful to deal with but you’re able to control it and defend yourself, right?”
She may be right but at the same time I always have this lingering feeling of guilt. They took my explanation calmly, something I didn’t expect. Maybe I am fine for now. Yeah, everything is fine even if they are traumatized!
I gently wrap Rose in a bear hug and Riley follows after. Austin stands there awkwardly for a moment then gives in. We squeeze in the group hug and a wave of relief washes over me. We were safe. I’m safe and I can protect my friends like I always wanted without the fear of my true self. A werewolf.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ20x5jNJeC
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMSoFUSzDv
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuJW6U9sIN
