The first rays of dawn crept through the windows, illuminating the horror Jack had wrought. Sarah's lifeless body lay on the floor, a grotesque testament to the monster he'd become. The metallic scent of blood hung thick in the air, no longer enticing but sickening in its abundance.
Jack's mind raced, adrenaline coursing through his veins. He had to clean this up. Had to hide what he'd done. With trembling hands, he reached for his phone, thumb hovering over the emergency call button. But what would he say? How could he possibly explain this?
A new instinct took over, one that whispered of self-preservation above all else. Jack set the phone down and surveyed the room with newfound clarity. He needed garbage bags, bleach, a saw...
The methodical way he approached the gruesome task horrified him, yet he couldn't stop. It was as if another entity had taken control, guiding his actions with cold efficiency. As he worked, he noticed the bite on his leg had almost completely healed, leaving only a silvery scar.
Hours passed in a blur of cleaning and dismemberment. Jack's stomach churned with revulsion, but the hunger remained, an ever-present ache that seemed to grow with each passing moment.
A sharp knock at the door froze him in place.
"Mr. Harrison? This is Officer Reyes. We had reports of a disturbance last night. Just checking if everything's alright."
Jack's heart pounded. He glanced at the bathroom, where evidence of his crime still remained. "Just a moment!" he called out, voice cracking.
Hastily, he splashed water on his face and threw on a clean shirt. Taking a deep breath, he opened the door, praying the scent of bleach wasn't too noticeable.
"Sorry for the wait, officer. I was just cleaning up a bit." Jack forced a smile, acutely aware of every micro-expression on the policeman's face.
Officer Reyes peered past him into the house. "Everything okay here? Neighbor said they heard shouting and a scream."
Jack's mind raced. "Oh, that. Sarah and I... we had an argument. It got pretty heated. I feel terrible about it."
The officer nodded slowly, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I see."
After what felt like an eternity, Officer Reyes seemed satisfied. "Alright, Mr. Harrison. Take care now."
As the door closed, Jack slumped against it, heart racing. He knew it was only a matter of time before someone realized something was wrong. He had to leave-now.
Moving with renewed urgency, Jack grabbed a duffel bag and began shoving clothes into it. His hand hesitated over a framed photo of him and Sarah from their hiking trip last summer. With a pang of guilt, he placed it face-down on the dresser.
In the kitchen, he emptied his freezer of meat, wrapping the packages in a towel before adding them to his bag. The thought of eating them raw both disgusted and excited him.
As he headed for the door, he caught sight of himself in the hallway mirror-disheveled and wild-eyed-and felt a flicker of recognition mixed with horror.
With one last look at the life he was leaving behind, Jack stepped out into the early morning light. The wilderness called to him, promising isolation and freedom from prying eyes. As he threw his bag into the car, a strange sense of anticipation mingled with his fear and guilt.
Whatever he was becoming, he knew he couldn't risk staying in civilization any longer. It was time to return to the forest-to confront the beast he'd become in the very place his transformation had begun.