Chapter 5 - Changes

The corpse of the giant wolf lay motionless before him. Blood seeped from the wounds on its body, pooling around it and staining the ground. Erik was at a loss, overwhelmed by the unexpected turn of events. Why had something like this suddenly happened? What kind of monster was this? And… how had he managed to kill it?He pushed these thoughts to the back of his mind. For now, he needed to find a place to take shelter. The basement was no longer an option.But then suddenly Erik's legs felt like jelly and trembling uncontrollably beneath him. His breathing was ragged, the adrenaline that had fueled his fight now giving way to exhaustion.The sense of victory was quickly overshadowed by a sudden, overwhelming weakness. He tried to move but his body refused to respond.He stumbled, his vision blurring as he collapsed against a nearby wall. The once-clear hallway seemed to spin around him. The floor tilting as he struggled to remain upright.Panic surged through him once more but it was different this time—anxiety mixed with confusion and a deep, bone-weary fatigue."What... what's happening?" Erik murmured with low voice. His eyes darted around the room, desperately searching for answers.The fire extinguisher lay discarded on the floor, the metal chair and broken desk leg nearby. He reached out with a trembling hand trying to grasp at something to pull himself back to his feet. But his limbs felt leaden, as if all his strength had been drained in the battle against the wolf.Erik's eyes fluttered, fighting against the encroaching darkness that threatened to claim him."No... I can't... not now," Erik thought desperately, forcing his mind to remain active despite his body's refusal to cooperate.He can still hear the faint echoes of distant howls and he felt as if his consciousness was slipping further away.Suddenly, a strange blue light began to shimmer in front of him. The light formed intricate swirling runes that danced in mid-air. The runes were like something from another world—mystical symbols that Erik couldn't decipher moreover in his current state.They seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy, their brightness fluctuating as if alive.Erik's head felt light, his thoughts disjointed and unfocused. The shimmering runes appeared to twist and churn, the symbols changing shape rapidly. He tried to make sense of them but the effort was almost too much.Gradually, the runes began to stabilize, the chaotic dance of symbols slowing as if the light itself was trying to communicate something.Erik's fading consciousness caught a glimpse of the runes aligning into a coherent pattern. His eyes widened as the text became readable.["You have to get up now and look for your friends. I will lend you my power for now."]The message was simple but powerful. A moment later Erik felt a surge of hope wash over him. The overwhelming fatigue that had gripped him started to recede, replaced by a gradual but noticeable surge of strength.Erik's limbs which had felt so heavy and unresponsive began to regain their feeling. The numbness in his body ebbed away replaced by an invigorating energy.He pushed himself up against the wall, his strength returning with each passing moment. The pain and exhaustion were still there but they were now manageable.The runes flickered one last time before gradually fading, leaving Erik alone in the hallway. He glanced around, the reality of his situation hitting him again. He needed to find his friends and get to safety.He didn't know who or what had just spoken to him. But that wasn't important now. Whoever or whatever it was, it clearly meant well.Liam and Mia, He had to find them; they needed to be safe.As he made his way through the hallway, Erik's thoughts raced. The basement had been his initial refuge, and he hoped that Liam and Mia might have found safety there. But with the chaos unfolding around him he couldn't be certain.Suddenly, a new sound reached Erik's ears. The noise was different from the howls of the wolves he had heard earlier; it was closer. He stopped in his tracks, straining to hear over the pounding of his own heartbeat.Instinctively, Erik glanced through the nearest window. What he saw made his blood run cold. Mia was outside, facing a massive, snarling wolf on her own. The beast was nearly as large as the one Erik had fought, its fur a bristling, dark mass of menace. Mia doesn't look scared but still, she is overwhelmed by the sheer size of the creature.The wolf advanced on her, its paws tearing at the ground as it moved. Mia was desperately trying to fend it off, her movements quick but clearly strained. She wielded a makeshift weapon—a piece of metal she had managed to find—but it seemed like a mere twig against the wolf's formidable strength.He had to act Mia was in immediate danger by her own..With a determined breath he forced his legs to carry him toward the nearest exit. The runes' power still surged through him, providing mysterious strength that he hoped would be enough to help Mia.He reached the exit door, pushing it open with a rush of adrenaline. The cool air hit him. He sprinted toward Mia's location. He have to reach her before it was too late.But when Erik sprinted toward Mia he felt a sudden, inexplicable rush of energy emanating from her direction.When he came closer he finally can see whqt happened. There, Erik saw a remarkable change. Mia stood her ground.Her eyes blazed with a fierce light. A faint light began to glow around her, shimmering with a celestial blue hue.Erik's gaze locked onto Mia as the transformation unfolded. Her hair seemed to flutter and sparkle as if caught in an unseen wind. Her grip on the metal rod became more tighter and her movements though still strained became more confident. It was as if there is another person inside her.---