As I faced the wolf, my heart pounded furiously inside my chest. I couldn't believe that this was going to be my end. But, luckily for me, Philip appeared out of nowhere and swiftly intervened, blocking the wolf's bite with his elbow. I watched in awe as he raised his arm upwards and flung the wolf across the room with incredible force. I was beyond shocked by Phil's stunt move, as I never expected him to do something like that.
Despite my gratitude for saving my life, I couldn't help but worry about the possible injury Philip could have sustained during the attack. So, I tried to check his arms in hopes that it wasn't bad. But he wouldn't let me see the problem, and he said, "Don't worry, it's no biggie, plus it has already healed. So I will take on this beast because I can't have him eating you since I wouldn't be able to investigate what happened to me and Jael." He waved his arm, showing that it was free of any wound, which relieved me greatly.
Phil carefully removed his slippers and strolled barefoot towards the wolf, his heart pounding with anticipation. He knew he would have to engage in combat with the ferocious animal, but he was ready. As he approached the wolf, he felt a strange sensation in his hands, and to his amazement, he saw that his nails were growing into long, black claws. Examining his hands with fascination, he smiled, accepting the new weapons he now had at his disposal.
The wolf got up on its feet with a fierce growl, its eyes fixed on Phil. With killing intent, the wolf lunged at Phil with sharp claws, but he was quick to react. Blocking the attack with his claws, he hissed back at the animal, determined to defend himself. Phil threw the wolf back a few meters, and it landed on its feet, its eyes now filled with rage.
The animal ran towards Phil again, aiming for his neck, but he was ready for the onslaught. With swift movements, he evaded the attack and watched as the wolf pounced on the ground where he had just been.
He smirked, "Is that all you got? I expected way more from you but I guess you are all bark with no bite." The wolf barked with hostility and the connotation of shredding him to pieces, launching another attack on him. He contrived the attack with ease and went on for 5 minutes non-stop.
While engaged in the altercation, I began to observe a subtle change in Phil's demeanour. His eyes took on a deeper crimson hue, and he wore a sinister grin that suggested he would derive pleasure from annihilating the wolf. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss, as Phil's potential to pose a greater threat to my safety seemed to increase with each passing moment he spent in pursuit of the wolf. Furthermore, despite our recent introduction, I inexplicably felt a sense of familiarity with the wolf. Its fur, predominantly black, sported red-tipped ends, which created a captivating scarlet tinge.
As the altercation ended, Phil blocked the wolf's attempt to attack his torso by catching it by the neck mid-way. He let out a sinister laugh and forcefully threw the wolf onto the ground, causing a loud impact. The wolf was badly injured and unable to stand up to launch another attack. It realized that it was going to die and had no choice but to accept its fate. Phil was just about to use his claws to impale the wolf's neck, but I quickly intervened and positioned myself between them to prevent him from doing so.
Phil was thoroughly perplexed by my actions and inquired, "Why did you intervene? It posed a threat to your safety." He disdainfully gestured towards the wolf.
"Because we would have lost our only lead regarding Jael's whereabouts," I responded.
"Do you honestly believe that creature has any knowledge of what happened to Jael?" He scoffed at my remark. "Spare me. I'm quite certain it's the very same creature that devoured him."
I crossed my arms, feeling dissatisfied, "Consider the possibility that Jael may have acquired supernatural abilities, perhaps transforming into the wolf you're currently attempting to eliminate."
Phil stared at me intently with his piercing crimson eyes. "And what evidence supports your theory?" he interrogated.
"Well, if it's within the realm of possibility for you to undergo a sudden vampire transformation, then it's equally possible for Jael to undergo a sudden werewolf transformation. Shall we explore this further?" I countered. Phil contemplated for a moment before responding.
"You may have a valid point, but I suggest we make a wager. If you're correct and the wolf is indeed Jael, I will acquiesce to your every instruction. However, if the wolf turns out to be an ordinary creature that killed Jael, you must heed my every word and action," he extended his hand to seal the wager.
"I accept your proposition, but would you mind retracting your claws before we shake hands?" I requested, indicating towards his claws. Phil swiftly retracted his claws and clasped my hand, sealing our bet.
As I knelt beside the injured wolf, I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. The wolf's disdainful gaze seemed to accuse me, and in a way, it was justified.
I took a deep breath and spoke softly, trying not to startle it. "Hi there, I'm sorry for the trouble you're in. When you have friends like him, they always have to protect you, especially when you can't protect yourself. Anyway, I'm here with some questions that need your answers. Don't worry; you don't need to speak out loud... or bark out loud, but you could tap me with your paw or wag your tail to respond as a yes or no. Sounds good?"
The wolf, though wary, decided to play along and placed its paw on my lap, indicating a yes.
A small victory, I thought, whispering to Phil, "See, we're making progress; it's not long before I win the wager."
"We will see about that," Phil, ever skeptical, responded. I turned my attention back to the wolf and began asking the questions.
"OK, so may I please pat on your head?" I asked, and it put its paw on my lap. As I gently patted its head, I couldn't help but notice the softness of its fur, and to my surprise, it seemed to enjoy the gesture, wagging its tail in excitement and joy. I continued with the questions, leaving my hand on its head.
"Let's get the obvious out of the way, shall we? Are you a male or a female? It is a bit weird for me to keep calling you 'it' when I should know your gender. Put your paw on my lap to say that you are female, or wag your tail to say that you are a male. Got it?" The wolf nodded in understanding and wagged its tail, indicating that it was male.
"Moving on, were you originally human, or were you a wolf all along?" I asked, reminding him how to respond. He put his paw on my lap, signifying that he was human before.
"OK, second last question; do you know me and Phil?" I inquired while continuing to pat his head. Once again, the wolf put his paw on my lap. I couldn't resist turning to Phil and whispering, "Guess who's winning today's bet? Yours truly!"
He scoffed in response, "Sure, it might be a person who turned into a wolf, but let's not forget the bet. If it is not Jael, then you do not win."
I turned back to the wolf and asked the final question. "Are you... Jael?" I held my breath, hoping for a positive response. The wolf slowly put his paw on my lap, implying a yes.
I was over the moon with the answer, which meant I won the wager. I was inwardly dancing and even hugged the wolf in bliss. After all; I finally found my grandson and he was 'somehow' OK. I spun toward Phil with a grin on my face.
"I guess I won the wager. Now, you have to do whatever I say." I spoke, feeling myself.
"You may have gotten the answer to your questions, but you haven't won the wager. We need proof, and that's what I'm going to find," he answered.
Utilizing his newfound strength, he moved me away from the wolf and gently placed me on the bed, now adorned with torn sheets and scattered fluff. Taking a deliberate step forward, he positioned himself directly in front of the wolf. The wolf, sensing Phil's imposing presence, emitted a low growl. Lowering himself to the same level as the wolf, he fixed his gaze upon its eyes.
"While you 'may' bear the name Jael, we must exercise caution to ensure you are not deceiving us. There exists a possibility that you are an imposter, and we must ascertain the truth," he stated, delivering an enigmatic smile tinged with uncertainty to the wolf.
"Here's the deal. Why don't you transform into the human we have been looking for? And when I mean transform, I mean change that wolf body into a human body. If you cannot do that or you're not the person we're looking for, I'll kill you." He grinned, giving a scare to the wolf. The wolf wimped in response as it couldn't do that in its current state but Phil didn't seem to care how the wolf was feeling and just wanted the facts. He tilted his head toward the wolf, "You either die or transform. It's that simple, and I won't take your wimps as an answer."
"Phil, it is unnecessary to inflict harm upon this unfortunate wolf by merely requesting it to change. It is widely recognized that first-time werewolves encounter difficulties in returning to their human form after transformation. Without caution, the process can take up to a week or even a month," I raised my voice, hoping that he would comprehend my point.
However, he simply faced me and stated, 'We require factual evidence. This approach offers the most effective means of obtaining that information. If it fails to transform, I will eliminate it." He redirected his attention to the wolf, who appeared extremely frightened. "Why are you hesitating? Change form!" he shouted. The wolf had no alternative but to comply.
In a momentary instance, the fur coat swiftly underwent a size reduction, resembling human hair. Simultaneously, the paws diminished in size, assuming the form of hands and feet, while the tail gradually vanished beneath the wolf's underside. The snout underwent a transformative inward reduction, forming the shape of a nose, and the golden eyes transitioned in colour to brown. A disconcerting sound of bones cracking and grinding pervaded the air throughout this metamorphosis. To shield myself from the unsettling spectacle, I instinctively closed my eyes and partially blocked my ears. In contrast, Phil remained steadfast and observed the entire process. Despite my attempts to block out the noise, I still faintly perceived muffled screams and groans, which sent shivers down my spine.
This went on for approximately five minutes until the room fell into an eerie silence. Just as I was about to open my eyes, Phil stopped me by covering them with his hands.
I couldn't help but wonder why he did that, but he quickly explained, "It's best if you don't see this. It could be traumatizing." Instead of pressing for more information, I decided to leave it be. Phil moved around briefly, but I kept my eyes closed until he instructed me to open them. After three minutes of fabric flying and bustling noises, he finally permitted me to open my eyes.
In front of me, Jael was placed in a white outfit typically worn by patients, adorned with brown bears, rendered immobile. I felt relief knowing that he was safe, despite his broken bones, and hurried towards him to embrace him warmly. He accepted the hug graciously, although he couldn't reciprocate due to his condition.
"Jael! I am immensely relieved to see that you are unharmed. For a moment, I feared that the wolf had devoured you. As it turns out, you merely suffered the consequences of Philip's altercation," I expressed, maintaining the embrace.
Jael shifted his gaze towards Phil and responded, "I am also grateful that you are safe; please accept my apologies for my aggressive behaviour. In all honesty, my inner wolf believed it could overpower Phil and inadvertently harm you in the process, leading to my current state."
Phil raised his hands in surrender and admitted, "Jael, I must apologize as well. I, too, had my issues and harboured strong intentions of harming you. So, the sentiments are mutual."
Jael attempted to raise his hand but remembered his broken bones, so he voiced his request, saying, "Let's forgive and forget. Would you kindly assist me in getting off the floor?".
I distanced myself from Jael to allow Phil to assist in carrying him. Once Phil completed the task, I proceeded to search the area for any undamaged stretchers. Fortunately, I managed to locate one in pristine condition. Guiding Phil towards the stretcher, he gently placed Jael upon it.
"Thank you for your assistance; unfortunately, I have lost the ability to walk," Jael remarked as he settled into the comfort of the stretcher.
Phil let out a chuckle and remarked, "Ironically, you have become the supernatural being that you desired to be."
Jael swiftly responded, "Says the individual who has become a bloodsucker." Sensing the brewing tension, I intervened and prevented Phil from making a retaliatory remark towards Jael.
"Let us save any negativity for a more opportune time, as we currently have a mystery to unravel," I stated. The two individuals nodded in agreement.
Jael inquired of me, "Jean, why is it that you appear unchanged?"
I turned towards him and replied, "While my external appearance may remain the same, I have undergone internal transformations." Jael was preparing to pose another question, but I promptly diverted the conversation, saying, "Alright, now that Jael is with us, whom shall we approach next?"
Phil seemed to have something to say when Jael interjected, "Why don't we pay a visit to my girlfriend, Georgina? I miss her dearly and would like to ensure her well-being."
"Honestly, Jael, I am not prepared to encounter that unruly individual. She might insult me or, worse yet," Phil objected.
I have noticed that Jael, who is like a grandson to me, is in a relationship with Georgina Bell, the female councillor of G.9W. I am not aware of how she became a leader since I arrived in West after the class leader elections. In my opinion, both Bell and Adrian are not the best leaders, but the class is accustomed to them, so I tend to ignore their misbehaviour. Bell doesn't seem to get along with Phil, who is the class captain and student representative for food affairs. She uses her authority to threaten him for his "rude" behaviour, but Phil doesn't take her seriously since he has a higher authority than her.
Similar to Phil, I had reservations regarding our upcoming visit to her. However, Jael earnestly implored us to proceed.
"Please allow us to go. Consider it a means of compensating for my present circumstances." He pleaded. Phil and I exchanged glances, expressing our shared apprehension, before eventually redirecting our attention towards Jael.
"Very well. We shall pay a visit to your significant other," Phil responded with reluctance. Jael's elation was palpable as he hastily urged us to proceed. I positioned myself behind the stretcher and proceeded to wheel it out of the room, with Phil closely following suit.
Once we left, we made our way to Georgina's room steadily since it was not so far from Jael's room. I looked up to Phil and decided to start up a conversation.
"Philip," I called him. He turned to me.
"What is it, Jean?" he answered.
"Remember when I stopped you for nearly killing Jael in wolf form?" I asked.
He responded, "Yeah, I remember. what about it?"
"Well, there is another reason as to why I stopped you. While you fought Jael, you looked like you became someone else, like how you were in your bloodlust. It deeply terrified me that you might revert and suck me dry once you had killed Jael, causing me to stop you,'' I explained. Phil nodded in understanding.
"Oh, Jean. I'm sorry about that," He scratched his head in response. "I never thought being a vampire would have all these amplified emotions."
I beamed, "It is okay. Just promise me you won't act on your emotions."
"Alright, I promise," he answered.
Upon the conclusion of my brief conversation with Phil, a nurse appeared before us. It was none other than Ms. Sally, the very same nurse who had checked on me approximately three hours ago. Instantly recognizing our presence, she displayed astonishment.
"Ms. Hathaway, Mr. Trajan and Mr. Cullen, what brings you here during these early hours? Considering that you have not fully recovered from the lightning strike, you should be in your rooms resting," she exclaimed, approaching us. I had no intention of returning to my room, especially since I promised my grandson we would visit his girlfriend.
Therefore, I concocted an excuse, stating, "Ms. Sally, I apologize for being outside. My friends and I desired to have a meal in the cafeteria, as we were feeling hungry." Jael and Phil nodded in agreement, as they too preferred not to return to their rooms.
Ms. Sally sighed, remarking, "Well, if you were in such dire need of food, you should have notified me. Nevertheless, you are not permitted to be here. Your proper place is in bed, recuperating and sleeping." Internally, I cursed my feeble excuse, realizing it did not free us from this predicament. Unexpectedly, Phil approached Ms. Sally and locked his crimson gaze with hers.
In a hushed tone, he uttered, "Forget that we were here and attend to the patient you were initially meant to visit." Ms. Sally's hazel eyes turned red, acknowledging his command, and she nodded before walking away from Phil, passing me and Jael. She continued until she was no longer in sight. Perplexed by Phil's actions, I turned to him, sharing my deep confusion. Similarly puzzled, Phil and I sought clarification from Jael, who seemed to possess the least confusion.
"Philip utilized compulsion, a vampiric ability that allows him to exert control over someone, compelling them to comply with his desires," Jael explained. Phil's actions suddenly appeared reasonable to us, and we proceeded towards Georgina's room.
We arrived at the front of Georgina's room feeling skeptical of entering. Jael gave me and Phil some encouraging words to make us enter.
"Don't worry, I'm sure she probably sleeping or watching TV and wouldn't mind our intrusion," he said, calming our suspicions down a bit. Phil walked up to the door and slowly opened it.
When the door was fully opened, we were beyond shocked by the sight room's interior. The white walls were covered with multiple spots of blood and bigger globs were at the bottom, the bed was painted fully in blood with no white speck. Human body parts were everywhere in the room. One arm was on the bed, a leg on the tiled floor in a pool of blood, a half-eaten brain was plastered on the wall opposite the door and intestines decorated the bed rails.
I was very nauseous by this disgusting sight but the worst was the centre of the room. There sat a girl our age with blood-covered indigo-tinted brunette hair munching on the other arm. It took her a while to notice our presence. She turned in our direction and I was met by a horrifying sight: Her eyes were as black as the night and her iris were blood red. Her face, especially the mouth region, was covered in blood and human bits. There was even an eyeball hanging out of her mouth, adding more to the gore factor. Unlike me, Phil and Jael were unfazed by the horrid sight, with Jael moving his head forward to properly see who this girl was.
After two minutes of suffocating silence, Jael uttered, "Georgina?"
The girl, doing the same thing as Jael, replied, "Jael?"
To be continued