Upon opening his eyes, Ford found himself outside of the shrine. The door was closed again, and his things were placed neatly in his bag. He shouts at the top of his lungs for someone, he felt lost, maybe he was dead. His things had been looked through, but something new was in his palm.
A neat, perfect envelope. Ford examined it carefully, he felt like he was about to lose consciousness again, the envelope was a yellowed white in color, a royal blue wax seal held it closed. The seal was of the flowers from the story.
Ford looked around, he didn't want to admit it but he was scared and alone. Sure, he had seen some weird, even scary things. But he has never felt that close to death before. Shakily, he read the note to himself. Written in perfect cursive was this:
Dearest boy,
I am thrilled that you heard my story. It has been a long while since anyone has opened up that dusty old shack that I used to call home.
I am the wicked old witch you heard about. I want to meet you again, I apologize, but I did take a gander at your things.
I invite you to stay in my lovely home. It is a beautiful structure built on a lake. I humbly offer you meals, and guidance.
I have given you knowledge not many have had, Stanford.
Take precautions today, because you will find yourself under the skin of a werewolf.
Yours truly,
Phoebe
Ford clutched the thin note between his fingers, quivering, he placed it back in the envelope and reflected. Tears streaming down his face. He looked at his journal again. He contemplated several options, going back to his own home was one. He lived in the woods, far from people. No one bothers him there.
He felt like finding his brother and asking him for help. His father even, since his mother Caryn was long dead.
However, he was afraid of all of that. If he was really a monster would he consciously put the lives of his loved ones in danger? Ford curled up around his lives work and with a long, heavy sigh, he packed his things and followed a map given to him by Phoebe.
Ford passed by several highways and long stretches of railroad. Tired from the walking, he decided to go into a nearby town for something to eat. He was starving. He nearly fished through the trash, distracted by it.
"No," he verbalized to himself. Ford wasn't going to give up his dignity over garbage. No matter how hungry he was. He went inside a local fast food chain and ordered a small meal. A simple chicken sandwich, fries and a salad.
This meal turned into two. After he found himself even hungrier. He forced himself to stop eating and leave. He kept a the plastic silverware in his pocket. He wasn't going to stoop down to a level where he is eating like a wild wolf.
The air was cold so he huddled in his jacket for every scrap of warmth. His teeth chattering from the sudden wind, he kept going, he felt warm but he also felt strange. Looking at his hands, he made sure nothing was happening to him. He found himself at a landmark on the map. It was a large lake labeled, 'Muck Mog Lake,' looking around, he finally saw the ivy covered house up on a hill. He was panting, suddenly sickened, Ford leaned on a tree and whined a new sound. Ford covered his mouth in surprise.
That almost sounded like a wolf. He looked around to make sure that was him. Shaking, he brushed sweat from his forehead and slumped down, his legs felt like they were set on fire. He screamed as his legs quivered and shifted under the fabric of his pants. Panting loudly, Ford fell onto his back. The dead tree above him swayed gently. The world was calm.
Ford had his breathing back at a steady pace. The world seemed so colorless, he rubbed his eyes and realized he was losing the ability to see color. He looked around frantically, he could see and hear every animal near him.
Ford was amazed, yet freaked out. He braced himself against the tree and tried to stand. He glances at his fingers and yelps as they begin to bleed as horrible, yellow claws shred his fingernails.
He bit his tongue until it bled, he tried not to scream, because he a figure of a woman far in the distance. It frightened him and he tried to get as close to the ground as possible. He took sharp breaths as fur began to tear up his clothing. It felt like razors were digging out of his skin.
Clenching his fists against the agonizing pain at its dragging pace, he spat on the ground. Mortified, he found that his teeth were falling out, making room for more carnivorous teeth.
That broke him, he screamed until his screams didn't sound human. He began to fight the urge to lose his self control. Beastly primal thoughts plagued his mind. Trying to reason with himself was not working. He shook his head and dug his claws deep into the ground. There was nothing holding back this beast anymore. The last thing the human Ford could muster was a sad, pained whine.
The woman walked ever closer. She was holding a flint lock pistol in her right hand and chains in her left. Her features were unimportant to the monster before her.
