The room felt like a hoven. Drops of sweat poured down James's forehead. The planks of the floor, creaked at any subtle movement. The flashlight shined in the room, cutting through the deep darkness. Its bright white light revealed secrets unbeknownst before, such as the location of the much coveted door; but sitting in front of it, acting as a dragon to a princess, was a horrid creature awaiting him. Its fluorescent red eyes pierced through the darkness, depriving James of any word, leaving him agape. A deep layer of dark gray fur covered the entirety of its body, leaving no visible uncovered spots. From what the flashlight revealed, the creature appeared to be lean, with the shape of its bones outlined by the skin. From the face, a snout slightly protruded, topped by a black rough black spot, the nose. Its white, sharp teeth reflected the light of the flashlight. Stuck in the fur, there were pieces of white and blue cloth, belonging to a shirt and a pair of shorts. Resting on the floor, with the palms facing the ceiling, were its hands, different in only the number of digits, which didn't exceed four. The moment James saw it, a gasp came out of his mouth, while his eyes widened and his legs recoiled.
The creature lied there, anchored to the floor, as if it didn't have the force to do otherwise. Its eyes were glued on James, scrutinizing his soul, looking for his wrongdoings. James returned the glare, and, in the meantime, maniacally scrambled for a plan to get out of there. Time was running short. Seconds, minutes, hours? Nobody knew how much time had passed. The eyes seemed to get bigger and bigger. He had to do something. Then he realized that, because of it, general malnourishment, if the werewolf were to attack him, it would've not afflicted any important injury to him, letting him survive. So, with no other option available, he jumped at the monster and fought against it, throwing smacks and kicks left and right until he deemed it was safe to do otherwise. He survived, and the fight didn't even last for too long; although the creature left him a souvenir to remember the fight. A bleeding bite mark was on his right arm. Its teeth dug deep into his skin. It hurt, but at least it was still attached to his body. They had made quite a hassle in that hoven. They were so loud, in fact, that Mr. Rossi went up the stairs and knocked gently at the door to assess the situation.
Mr. Rossi: What's all this hustle and bustle, James, are you two OK?
James, taken aback, didn't know how to answer, so in a rush whispered: Yes, all good. Lorenzo is sleeping like a rock.
Mr. Rossi: Oh, good to hear that; but what was that noise a few moments ago?
James: That? Uh, well, that was me continuously falling onto things left on the floor. Lorenzo is messy.
James crossed his fingers.
Mr. Rossi: I'm really sorry, James. I keep telling him to put his thing in order, but does he listen to me? No, of course not! And then this happens. Did you hurt yourself? We have some patches in the medicine box down stairs.
James sighed. Rossi had bought the lie.
James: Um, no, all fine, don't worry, I'll patch myself up once I get home.
Mr. Rossi: Alright, well why don't you open the door, so that I can escort you to the entrence, and call it a day? Or should I say night?
James: Um, that would be great, but the door won't budge. So instead I'll use the stair in the garden.
Mr. Rossi: Ah, alright. I guess I'll have to call the fire department tomorrow to break down the door.
James: Yup. Before I go, Lorenzo wanted me to tell you that tomorrow, he'll eat at my place. Is that OK?
Mr. Rossi: But of course! I have no worries with you, James. Now go, it's already too late for you. I'll leave the stair where it is, put it back in place when you're done, alright?
James: Sure, no problem.
Mr. Rossi then marched to his bedroom. James remained there, listening to every step Rossi took. Then, when he heard the muffled squeaks of the mattress springs, he put his plan in action. He began by calling his friend Freddy. He was hesitant at first, but convinced himself that it was the best thing to do. Next, he convinced him to come alongside his brother by telling him that Lorenzo was in danger; finally, after explaining them where to meet, he abruptly hung up the call, so Freddy wouldn't have had the time to ask questions. When they were both in the garden, their climb up the ladder began, up and up. Once they reached the top, Freddy knocked at the pane of the window, James slided the window up, letting them enter. When they were in, James closed the window behind them. James greeted them with a smile. The gloom hid the remains of the fight, together with the inert body of their friend. He gestured them to sit on the bed. They followed as instructed, and, once sitting, they both asked him in unison: "Where is Lorenzo?". James's smile dimmed slightly. He looked around himself before answering.
James: Lorenzo? -He chuckled nervously. -Well, he is here, but he isn't himself, at the moment.
Freddy: Show him to us.
James's heart throbbed, he felt ashamed for what he had done, and if they called the police, he would've turned himself in for the regret; but no one other came to his mind when he devised the plan, that's why he called them. Still, the time to hide the body himself didn't turn up, so he called them. In the end, he finally moved. They followed James's movements with their eyes. While he tip-toed to the unconscious body, hidden in the shadows in the room's corner. Thoughts darted through his head, all of them so impulsive. What he was doing was the only logical of the ideas in his head. When he reached the body, he grabbed its legs and dragged it to where the moonshine hit the floor. They followed the rustle, and when almost cadaveer arrived in front of them, they're minds went blanck for a moment. Freddy bowed his head, leaving it falling down, then he put his right hand to his forehead, and started shaking his head. Franco remained motionless, far from the creature creating as much distance from it as it was possible. In the end, they both stared at it behind their square glasses; then looked away. Freddy languidly looked at James and said: "What have you made of him? A monster!".
James: "No, not a monster. I wanted the best thing for him, for everybody!". He said confidently. -Think about all the good things that this could-
Franco adjusted his glasses, then he firmly interrupted the din: -Guys, listen. It's about to be morning. I can hear the first birds chirping. We have two options: the first one is to fight about who did what and why, getting caught in the process; the second one is us taking Lorenzo wherever James wants him, and settle everything there.
James: Finally someone who is on my side.
Franco: I'm not on your side, you were wrong: you forced Lorenzo to go under this crazy experiment without his consent.
James had his mouth ready to reply to the statement, but before any sound could come out of it, Freddy looked over at him, and frowned while he raised his eyebrows. James consequentially closed that bottomless pit of a mouth and looked at Franco.
James: So, what are we gonna do now, boss?
Franco: First, we open that window, it's hell here.
James stood up and opened the window, then turned to Franco and saluted him, then exclaimed: -Yes sir!
Franco: Next comes the hard part: Freddy, the strongest one in the room, will carry Lorenzo on his back down the ladder. Subsequently, James, being the first one to climb down, will put the ladder back to its place. The last part only comprises in getting to James's house and putting Lorenzo somewhere safe. - He stopped to regain breath, then spoke again. -Questions?
James raised his hand and started shaking it impatiently, like a student with a curiosity attack. Franco looked at him and, frustrated, agreed for him to speak with a "Yes?".
James: We don't actually need to take Lorenzo down the ladder. Rossi is sleeping in his bedroom, so we have the floor clear to go through.
Franco nodded in complaisance, then finally gave the go for the plan. James unlocked the door and went downstairs to make sure everything was clear. Once assessed that the floor was actually devoid of anyone, he approached the main door to open it. He then called upon his friends, which stormed silently down the stairs and went to the front yard. Finally, once he closed the door, they got close to the gate, which was left ajar by Mr. Rossi, and started running as fast as they could to James's house. The sun was rising. Their actions were now exposed to the light of the day, ready to be seen and judged by the public, especially James's ones.