C6 Escape

The little she-wolf continued to run into the woods, her sight blinded by bloodlust. Her vision was red, with black dots representing distinct objects, like the reddish-black coals of a dying fire. Run! A voice in her head screamed over and over again and she obeyed, racing as though trying to tear herself from her skin. The pain was intense and overwhelming, and all she could think of was the pain and flesh: delicious, intoxicating flesh.

She reached a clearing in the woods and stopped, her little wolf heart racing unnaturally. She let loose a scary howl that could be heard from miles away, and staggered as though drunk, the pain wracking her bones. It bent her unyielding body until she was on the floor, whimpering in agony, her sight still tinged with red.

Suddenly her head snapped up. She'd heard a sound. It could have been easily missed by a human but her wolf ears had picked it up. Her eyes adjusted and located the source of the sound: it was a massive moose, night-grazing and oblivious to the watchful eyes of the she-wolf.

The she-wolf slowly stood, despite the hot pain still flowing up and down her body and snarled, her eyes unfocused and glazed. All she could think of was the 1000-pound animal about a kilometer from where she stood.

Kill! The voice in her head commanded, and she raced like a bullet towards the moose. The moose looked up suddenly and let out a terrified bellow, scampering as it tried to escape the predator. In a matter of seconds the wolf had the moose in its grip, not letting go as the animal struggled to escape. There was a harsh rending sound as the wolf tore its prey in two, its organs falling to the ground.

She almost went mad with hunger as she tore at the warm flesh and was rewarded with a momentary lull to the pain. She kept on eating until all that was left was the entrails of the moose. The wolf panted in satisfaction, her muzzle stained with blood, and took two steps forward. But the pain and the adrenaline rush had tired her out and she barely made it as she fell to the ground in exhaustion

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Several hours later, the little girl woke suddenly to the steady, rhythmic bounce of a car's backseat. Her head felt muddled, like a pond being repeatedly churned by several feet. Her throat was extremely dry and her mouth tasted of blood. It was night beyond the car window, and a waning moon followed the steady motion of their vehicle. She had no recollection of any events leading up to this, and after seeing the two strangers in the front seat, she began to cry.

Beth turned to the girl and cooed at her "Shh, it's alright. You're safe."

"She's awake?" Axel asked, glancing at the girl through the rearview mirror.

"Yeah. And obviously terrified." She answered, stroking the girl's hair.

"Where's my daddy?" Lauren whimpered.

Beth and Axel exchanged a quick look of alarm "He–He's... your dad is–"

"...Dead." Axel cut in "Your dad's dead, kid"

Lauren stopped crying and shook her head vigorously "That's a lie! He came to me last night. I know it, I–think." She frowned "I can't remember anything. Why can't I remember anything?"

"It's 'cause you're pretty banged up. The accident that took your father's life also took a part of your memory. You should go back to sleep."

"Accident? I was never in any car! The last place I was was home. Then my dad came home?" She frowned and shook her head again, then went silent, only muttering to herself.

After a few minutes of that, she spoke up again "I have questions. A lot of them. Why does my mouth taste of blood? Why are there hair strands on my body? And why can't I remember anything?!"

"See, the accident–" Axel began.

"Oh, cut the crap Axel. Let's tell her the truth" Beth snapped, then turned to Lauren with a much kinder voice "Look, this might be hard for you to understand and trust me, it's hard for me to explain to you." She sighed, then continued "You're a werewolf, Lauren."

"I'm a what?"

"A werewolf. That explains the fact that you can't remember anything from the time you were at home. When you Change at the full moon, you might not be able to remember anything that happens during that period. And it also explains the stray hair on your body and the blood in your mouth. But bad people might be after you, and for us to keep you safe, we need to take you out of town."

Lauren was shaking her head before Beth finished "I can't be a werewolf. Werewolves don't exist!" She said, her eyes welling with tears.

"Wait until there's another full moon before doubting us, kid!" Axel retorted. "Listen to us. Don't you notice anything different about your sight, your hearing, your smell? Can't you see how things stand out to you in heightened ways? That's what lycanthropy does. It sharpens your senses. Makes you stronger and more agile. Don't you feel stronger?"

Lauren stared at them for a while, then went mute and retreated into the shadows of the backseat. and Beth turned to Axel with a look of consternation. "That was a little harsh."

"You wanted to tell her the truth, didn't you? And the truth's not always pleasing."

"I get it." Lauren nodded "I understand."

Beth turned and rubbed her knee "Will you be okay?"

Without sparing a reply, Lauren turned and stared out of the window, testing her sharpened sight and hoping she would be able to see beyond the woods that surrounded them on both side. She wished she could run into the woods and cry out, she wished she could take out her anger on someone, but all her strength could spare her was tears, sorrowful tears that smeared the windowglass with her despair.