Thursday 12th August 20##

Its bright

Simon Benet opened his eyes, then immediately shut it due to the harsh light. After a while, his vision adjusted.

Where am i?

He looked to the left and saw plain walls with a television playing cricket. He also saw an IV stand with a saline bag and a door that led out. His eyes widened slightly.

Am i in a hospital ?

Sitting up without any problems he noticed that he was tucked into a hospital bed.

Snap! Simon turned his head swiftly to the right and saw a girl sitting on a chair close to the window. She had black hair and Hazel eyes with a soft face and high cheekbones. She was pointing her phone towards him as she took a picture of his bewildered expression, It was his sister Molly. Simon immediately recognised her

"Molly.... What happened to me?" The situation felt strange- he remembered going into the forest with Austin, but now he's lying in a hospital bed.

"You got attacked on your little date" she said,lowering her phone, her voice betrayed no concern or worry in her tone. She spoke calmly "You've also been out for five days"

Suppressing a groan, Simon asked "What about Austin? Was he attacked too? What attacked us exactly" He had already understood what happened but to his memory was foggy since he just woke up

Before Molly could speak a petite nurse with a sock bun walked in seemingly already informed that the patient was awake.

"A bear" Molly still engrossed on her phone answered his question. She left the room without saying another word.

Left alone with the stern faced nurse Simon looked at her and offered her a smile which made the nurse frown and asked.

"Can you tell me where the bathroom is?"

----

Simon had left the hospital that evening, he now sat in the passenger seat of his sister's Honda, his thoughts swirling. He had learned a few things after asking questions from the doctors and nurses. He didn't remember the attack so he chose to believe their words, they were professionals after all.

Simon had also learned that he is injuries were rather mild. Apart from some bruises, a concussion, some scratches and bites Simon wasn't hurt too badly, he hadn't suffered a fracture like Austin.

He didn't feel bad at all, it was Austin who suggested the outing in the first place. He was even eager to meet him. The doctors told him Austin could remember the events clearly and recounted the situation. As a victim of memory loss because of the accident why wouldn't he want to meet up? He just need hus phone.

"Let's order Pizza, don't worry I'll pay" Molly's words disturbed Simons train of thought

A trap? Would my dear sister trick me when i only just left the hospital?

"Why are you being nice all of the sudden?" Simon probed

Molly shrugged as she skilfully avoided a pothole on the road "Do you want it or not? Either way im buying and I'll throwaway the rest."

"..."Simon was speechless.

They both arrived at Elen's Pizza and got down from the vehicle to order from inside rather than the drive through. This was because Molly's boyfriend here. Maybe the true reason for buying pizza was to meet him

Simon entered the pizza with his sister. The smell of fresh ingredients with cheese and sauce tickled his nose, saliva filled his mouth and his stomach rumbled.His sister gave him a glance and walked up to the register to take an oreder. Simon took a seat near the window, not having his phone to play with made him more inclined to look outside.

Elen's Pizza shop is primarily run by the Elen Family and is the most popular in town. Maybe it's because of the good pizza or the fact that everyone in the family was incredibly good-looking. Especially Timothy and Anne Elen, Molly's boyfriend and his sister. Timothy and Molly got together during middle school and they've been together ever since, Simon never tried to woo Anne as she had too many guys trying to get her attention, besides it would be weird if he dated the sibling of his siblings boyfriend.

As Molly ordered for the Pizza, Simon thought back to the night of the attack and tried to conjure the corresponding memories but failed to recall anything.

My injuries were not significant why do i suffer memory loss? Simon didn't believe that he was hit that hard, hell Austin had it worse would he become a complete idiot? But Molly claimed he was fine.

At Simon continued to monitor outside as something caught his attention. it a logging truck passing infront of the Pizza shop. He instinctively looked at the thick long logs and saw they had scratches.

"Claw marks" Simon noted but they didn't resemble a bear. The claw marks were too wide and too deep. Suddenly Simons heart started beating quickly, he's eyes dilated as he felt a familiar and deep dread arise from his heart. He felt the scene around him distort as he seemed to be placed in a dark forest with dense and thick trees. He trembled slightly and he started hyperventilating.

The commotion caused the people within the store to turn their heads , some even got up but none where as quick to react as Molly, by the time the truck left his view she was already by his side.

"What happened?" Her voice was panicked. She pushed othere away and asked for space. Timothy joined her side while Simon had already calmed down.

"Im fine" Simon reassured his sister. Molly had a worried expression on her face. Timothy suggested "Maybe he needs rest, take him home and I'll bring the pizza myself".

"lets go home" Molly agreed said goodbye to Timothy and brought Simon back to the car. Simon was feeling a little embarrassed and a little confused. His intuition told him that what had attacked him wasn't normal.

On their was back after a long silence Molly looked at him "What made you start hyperventilating?"

"I'm not exactly sure" Simon knew it had something to do with the claw marks on the tree trunks. He hesitantly asked "Where i was attack, were the trees marked?"

Seeing that Simon was fine Molly calmed down and replied "Yes, they were made by the bear. Its leaves a mark after every attack"

"Every attack?" Simon was surprised

Where there more? Molly spoke with a subdued voice "Two others were attacked after you but they didn't survive".

Simon became silent, Molly didn't try to lighten the mood and she drove home

They got home safely, their father wasn't back yet. Simon took a bee line to his room upstairs, the first thing he did was call Austin but got a message as the reply

"Im already coming over, Wait outside"

How did he know i was out? Did Molly tell him? He is rather eager to see me too?

Simon quickly typed "Okay.".

Simon went downstairs to go to the front door. He gave his sister a reasonable excuse and waited outside. It was already already evening the sky was cloudy, the light of the setting sun shone on his black unkempt hair that blew in the cold wind but Simon didn't feel that cold, even if he did he would have waited. After a while he saw a youth turn the corner. He was slightly taller than Simon and more handsome. He had grey eyes, Brown hair and Thick eye brows. But what stood out the most was the cast on his left arm.

Why does he have a serious look on his face?

"You look more intact than i thought" Simon commented. That bear should've done more damage

Austin rolled his eyes "What did you tell them?" He asked seriously.

"Tell them? What do you mean? i didn't tell them anything.".

Austin breathed a sigh of relief and whispered "Thats good.".

"Why are you acting like this?" Simon suspect that Austin strange behaviour hinted at something more than just physical injuries. But the next words were something he didn't expect.

"Because we were attacked by a Werewolf"