I woke up in my bed. I was in pain all over and my mind was in a haze. I vaguely remembered the party and the music. I didn't feel like I had been drunk, especially because I had only drunk coke…. Suddenly someone knocked on my door.
- Come in, I said.
- Hi, Ezequiel said. I came to see how you were.
- Not too bad, I replied. But my head hurts and I don't remember much from the party. What happened?
"I have a better question for you," Ezequiel replied after a brief hesitation. What do you remember?
I sat up on my bed and tried to collect my thoughts.
- I arrived at your house, you introduced me to your friends and I had a glass of soda, I replied.
- Yes I know all that, cut me Ezequiel. Since I was with you. Can you tell me if you remember what happened to you afterwards?
- I fell from somewhere, didn't I? I replied after hesitating for a few seconds.
- This is it, my friend exclaimed. In fact, you wanted to leave because you got sick and in fact you just fell down the stairs. And since you hit your head, we all thought you lost your memory, but obviously you are okay. Anyway, what's your name?
"Callum Ashad," I replied, shrugging my shoulders.
- Great! Do you remember who I am?
- You are Ezequiel Reyes, my best friend! The hardest part would be to forget you.
- Yes I admit it, Ezequiel agreed. Okay, I'm reassured you're okay with nothing serious.
He sat on my bed for a few seconds before resuming:
- Well, I'm glad you're okay. I'll have to leave you, but see you in high school tomorrow?
- Yeah, don't worry, I replied.
With that, Ezequiel walked out and the door closed, leaving me alone with myself. I had no idea what to think of this evening at Ezequiel's. I only told her what I clearly remembered, but I also remembered that a man in black beat me up when I left the party. I had managed to push him back before he was struck down. Yes, it was a crazy story and that was why I hadn't told Ezequiel these details. I didn't want him to think I was losing my mind.
So the next day, I tried to approach the day in high school as if nothing had happened. Might as well chase the latest events from my memory, whether it was my assault or the fact that I chickened out in front of Wendy. As I crossed the hallway to reach my locker, She was leaning against hers.
- Hi, she said, kissing me on the cheek. Have you been better since this weekend?
- Yes, it can be okay, but how do you know that I got sick?
- I saw you fall in the hallway at Ezequiel's house, I called him to help me pick you up in the car and take you home. And Ezequiel told me what you told him when he came to see you yesterday.
- I should have known. By the way, did you see him this morning?
- Yes, he's at the gym. He talks to his trainer.
- Who discusses with his trainer? cried Ezequiel, running towards us.
The bell rings, without giving me time to answer my friend. Several waves of students formed, advancing down the hall to divide into their respective classrooms. Caught in the flow, Wendy greeted us because not being in the same class as Ezequiel and I, she was going to a different course from ours.
"See you guys later," she told us.
"See you," Ezequiel replied before turning to me. What are you doing?
- I'm taking my history book, go without me if you want. I'll catch up to you.
"Ok, uh… see you later then," he said before running up the stairs two meters down.
I felt confused, to be honest. Ezequiel and Wendy behaved like a war wounded to me. Yet according to their account, I would have hit my head if I fell down the stairs at Ezequiel's. But I didn't remember falling and I didn't have any marks on my body, bruises or anything. On the other hand, I remembered that there had been a thunderstorm because I had seen a lightning bolt and that I had fought, but everyone was acting as if nothing had happened, which made me think that it was wrong. 'had never happened.
- What are you doing here, young man? asked M. de Ligt, a supervisor of the school, who had just appeared just behind me, interrupting my thoughts.
"I was taking my book," I replied.
This supervisor was a man in his thirties. His face was adorned with a thin three-day-old beard and his whitish complexion made it look like he had been emptied of his blood to inject milk instead, which had earned him the nickname "Snow White". The look he gave me gave me chills.
"I have to go to class, sir," I stammered before turning to head for the stairs.
- We can stop beating around the bush, don't you think? he sneered.
- What do you want to say ?
We were alone and our breaths echoed in the hallway, usually crowded. The atmosphere was becoming oppressive. Its regard was stabbing me and I felt my heartbeat quicken.
"Reveal yourself, elementary," de Ligt cried before collapsing on all fours to the ground.
His back twisted and his arms grew, making his fatigues crack. His cries soon changed to growls, his fingernails grew longer, and his face changed shape to look like a wolf. He screamed that paralyzed me with fear. Even in my nightmares, I could never have imagined something so scary.
- Aha! Small elementary course, course! Give me the pleasure of the hunt! Let's play together, will you?
I was paralyzed. My knees were banging together, sweat was beading on my forehead, and I was nauseous. Still, I was sure of one thing: I shouldn't stay there! I rushed into the hallway without looking back. Panicked, out of breath, my heart pounding, I rushed down a staircase at the corner of the hallway. Thinking myself safe, I slid against the wall and threw up.
As much to admit, I was afraid of dogs, to the point that their mere proximity made me sick. Knowing that, you can imagine how I felt when faced with a psychopath transformed into a werewolf. Suddenly, a door sounded. I turned my head to see where it was coming from and saw that the fire doors down the hall were moving, but no sign of de Ligt. I was about to sigh in relief when I saw that de Ligt was squatting right in front of me.
- Boo, he said deadpan.
I let out a cry of surprise and out of sheer reflex I slammed my fist into de Ligt's nose.
- Ah, son of ..., growled the latter.
Without wasting another second, I walked up the four-by-four stairs to the hallway just above the one where de Ligt had turned. The cleaning lady had probably passed by because the hallway smelled of lemon fresh wash. Suddenly, the tiles gave way under my feet and my shoulder hit the wet floor. Shit, I thought. I had slipped on the still wet ground.
"I found you," de Ligt sneered. Come on, he cried. Use your power, defend yourself! I'm playing with you there, kid!
I wanted to tell him to shut it up but he didn't give me time because he spat out a jet of flame.
- You have your element in front of you! Fight!
I didn't know what he was talking about but with a desperate gesture I put my hand in front of me, as if to protect myself, and closed my eyes. With the logic of desperation, I hoped the flames wouldn't touch me. After a few seconds, I opened my eyes. The flames wrapped around my arm in a glowing halo. I was surprised I didn't feel any pain, but in fact the flames weren't touching me. They seemed to levitate an inch or two above the sleeve of my jacket.
- Aha, de Ligt gloated. Please confirm that I was right about you kid.
It's starting again, I thought. The same had happened the night of the party at Ezequiel's. A weird guy attacked me and I pushed him back with fire coming out of my hand, my memories were clearer now. The flames still swirled around my arm and I figured if I had done it once, I could do it again. I reached over to de Ligt and imagined the flames shooting up at him, but nothing happened.
- Callum! Wendy's voice suddenly echoed in my head.
What is this madness? I thought. I was sure it was Wendy's voice.
- Callum! Said out loud: Ignis, Hastam Ardere! Don't ask yourself questions, just do it!
De Ligt pounced on me, visibly tired of waiting for me to attack. I rolled onto my side to avoid his blow before I got up. Then I raised my flaming arm, thinking "I'm going nuts" before proclaiming the line Wendy, or at least the voice in my head, had dictated to me.
- Ignis, Hastam ardere!
Immediately, the flames leapt towards de Ligt and reached his chest. He rolled over on the floor groaning.
- Wow, I exclaimed, looking at my arm. There was still no sign of a burn.
"Not bad," de Ligt muttered, raising his steaming chest. But we have played enough now. I must… .
He couldn't finish his sentence because the ceiling lamp directly above him struck him down. De Ligt the werewolf collapsed to the ground, shaking with spasms as Ezequiel and Wendy tumbled down the hallway both breathless.
"Oh no," de Ligt growled. Not them
- Yes, Wendy told him. And you, leave our friend alone.
- Wendy… Ezequiel, I stammered. What do you… .
I tried to get up but my legs refused to carry me and I leaned against the wall.
"Callum," Ezequiel cried, picking me up by the bars. Are you OK ?
- I don't feel very well, I answered before feeling my strength leaving me. I understood that I was losing consciousness. Yes, for the second time in three days.