Paper Cut
Chapter two:
All I remember is pain. I can still feel it, even though I know I'm not awake. It creeps into my bones, making my stomach weak. As far away as I am, I can still smell vomit and blood. I'm covered in it. Vomit and blood. My teeth feel weak, like chalk. I grind them from the pain. I feel like I'm coming back now, even though I don't want to.
Screaming, I hear it all around me. The sounds of young women running for their lives float to my ears. It's too dark to see anything. Darkness covers everything. But I can hear them. They fall to the ground and are ripped to shreds. I smell their death.
I shouldn't have gone outside. I should have hid. I begin to crawl back into the cabin. My belly scrapes on the floor. Sensitive fleshy organs are smeared on the concrete as I leave a trail of blood and hand prints.
I'm slightly aware of another girl there. She is hiding under the window, still intact. If she was smarter, she wouldn't have screamed about my poor state. I pull myself under a bed and hide. She shouldn't have yelled. The thing slams its fist through the window. It grabs a hold of her scalp and pretty brown hair. I can hear the ripping, and more blood splashes across the room. I cover my mouth to keep in my scream, and possibly another gush of vomit.
She gets free and falls to the floor; she desperately tries to get up. Her hands slide across the walls. They leave a beautiful masterpiece of death and fear. I think the thing has entered the cabin. I heard the door slam open but my eyes are slowly, closing. Am I dying? I hope not. There is still so much to live for. The last thing I remember is that beast on top of her, ripping her apart.
--
One week later.
A scream echoed through the halls of the BPRD. It was followed shortly by more ear-splitting shrieks of pain.
In the infirmary, agents tried in vain to strap the injured teenager to a medical table. Her squirming, thrashing body was unable to be contained, and they decided to try a different method. In the bright artificial light, it was apparent that the youth is not even awake.
Walking down a hall to the infirmary, Abraham Sapien and Professor Broom discussed the situation at hand.
"Well, you see Professor, even though the beast was not caught, there are clues to lycanthropy. She hasn't moved for seven days, and her wounds have healed quite quickly. And now the endless screaming. I suspect she is close to change." Professor Broom listened quietly as they continued walking.
Abe continued talking, reading from a book. "In this passage, it says that a lycanthrope's first change is the worst. When they are first bitten, they must heal before the change can take place. The longer they wait, the more painful the process becomes." He showed the Professor an old picture of a sort of evil wolf creature. It had a child in its fangs. The entire picture gave off a bad vibe. "Interesting, isn't it?" The Professor gently took the book from Abe, his hand shaking slightly.
"Werewolves are creatures of the night. They are something to be wary of." His voice was softly accented. He sighed and gave the book back to his companion.
"It is not the human side you should fear. The wolf is the true hunter." With that, they turned the corner and entered the Infirmary.
The agents had figured out a way to suppress the girl on the table; a thick strap of leather held her across the chest, as well as others on her arms, legs, abdomen and head. In her feverish state, she struggled against the offending material, eyes clamped shut and teeth bared. She screeched again and it echoed throughout the room.
Abe turned his head as Hellboy entered. "Jeeze, will someone shut this kid up?" He placed his hands over his ears, the stone one covering most of his head.
"Actually, that is what I am here to do, Red." Abraham Sapien stepped closer to the medical table. "She appears to be trapped in her own mind. There is a chance that I can reach her and quiet her down. Possibly even wake her up." He looked toward Broom and blinked.
The Professor spoke up. "If you cannot find her, if she is lost, Abe, I highly suggest that you do not prod too deep. She is in the middle of life and death. The beast may have already consumed her."
Abraham Sapien nodded at the professor. He stood next to the table and observed the girl in front of him. Her long black hair spread out over the pillow, dark circles enveloped her eyes, and a look of pure anguish smeared on her face.
He slowly removed one of his gloves and lowered it to the girls face. He lightly touched her forehead and was swept under the current of her consciousness.
--
I screamed and screamed into the darkness.
'Help!! Please!' I slammed my fist to the floor. I was stuck and I couldn't see. It was so dark and empty, and as alone as I felt, there was always something at the edge of my vision. It played there, fangs drawn. It was waiting for me to be enveloped by the darkness. It was waiting to swallow me whole. The darkness crept ever closer. There was no way I could escape it. The black clouded my vision, that beast coming closer and closer. I could smell its wet fur, see the white of its fangs--the black wolf was coming to eat me.
Then I heard a voice, soft and clear, blue as ocean water. It asked if I could hear it. I screamed. 'Yes! Please, please help me!!'
At first there was no answer. I pleaded again, asking it not to leave me, asking not to let the darkness have me. Then he spoke again. I could hear him better. He told me to step into the darkness and not show fear.
He must not see the beast, it was right there. Right there waiting to eat me. I stood and the voice told me to hurry. He became blurry and hard to hear. Then he disappeared.
Through my fear, I froze. The darkness lifted slightly, and I could see the wolf for what it was, a giant black beast. It was crouched, waiting to rip me apart. I swallowed my fear, inhaled deeply and began to shout. 'This is mine!' I yelled at the top of my voice, making myself as large as possible. 'Leave me alone!! Go away!! Go away!!' I kept eye contact and screamed. 'Get out! GO AWAY!' I waved my hands, and took a step closer, the wolf coward backwards, into the darkness. I took one last deep breath and let the wolf feel my anger. 'GET OUT!!'
And then, I woke up.