A/N: Okay, so I know I said I wouldn't post this until I finished Archangel, but I finished the trailer for it the other day and I was thinking, since you don't actually have to read Archangel (though I would love it if you did) for this story to make sense. So here it is.
Link for trailers is on my profile. Please Review.
Gasping and struggling to keep his breath, Justin Russo ran. He did not have to look back to know that the beast was still chasing him; he could make out the distinct patter of its feet, the crunching of dirt beneath heel.
The trees surrounding Justin bore spell forms engraved in Latin, Aramaic, and Babylonian. Though how he knew that, Justin had no idea.
There was a loud crack, and one of the trees fell forward, blocking his path.
Justin didn't hesitate. On the contrary, he kept running. He kicked up off the ground at the perfect moment, vaulting over the fallen tree. He dove into a roll as he landed, enabling him to keep running as he came back up.
What the! Why couldn't I pull that off when I tried out for the track team!
Justin shook his head.
Focus! I need to find Alex and get out of here, wherever here is.
The path split before him into to dirt roads, one veering to the left, the other to the right.
He went right.
As he ran, Justin could hear the growls of the thing that hunted him, and the wind itself seemed to whisper, "Thiess, Thiess."
Justin stopped running as the path came to an abrupt end, and was shocked to discover that he was standing on the edge of a great cliff. And on the other side…was the fantasy world he and Alex shared, along with Princess Russo herself.
"Justin, hurry!" she exclaimed, pointing off to one side.
Justin followed her finger and saw a great bridge of stone, connecting his side of the cliff to hers.
He made a break for it…just as the beast landed on his back. Justin and the beast struggled, each grappling with the other.
At last, Justin came face to face with a muzzle, and two sapphire eyes.
It's a wolf, Justin thought in surprise as he kicked it off himself. The wolf spun in the air before landing on its feet.
"Justin!" Alex screamed again, the fear and worry evident in her voice.
Justin reached for his back pocket, felt for his wand…only to realize that it was not there.
There was a most gruesome sound, like that of a banshee's keening death screech, and Justin realized with a shock that it was laughter.
The wolf was laughing.
Justin watched in horror as its shape began to shift and transform. It grew in size, shooting upwards as though it were a sapling sprouting from the earth.
"Thiess, Thiess."
The hind legs grew longer as the forelegs grew shorter, paws receding into furred, clawed hands.
"Thiess, Thiess."
Now fully upright and in its humanoid form, the wolf smiled.
"Thiess, Thiess."
The wolf extended its right hand, and Justin was shocked to see it holding his wand.
"Thiess, Thiess."
It snapped the wand in half, and continued snapping it until it fit in its enclosed fist. It did nothing more for a second or two…until it opened its first ever so slightly and let the splintered ashes fall to the ground. Ever. So. Slowly.
"Thiess, Thiess."
The wolf smiled again. Then it lunged.
"Justin!"
Justin woke from his nightmare with a yell. His bed sheets were strewn about the floor, and he was covered in sweat. It was the third night in a row that Justin had had that dream, and he still had no idea what it meant.
A few doors down, Alex Russo had a similar awakening. Though they were rooms apart, their minds shared the same, singular thought: What the hell?
