The next afternoon, everyone was settling into the room once more. Adele was slowly handing out the day's supplies, looking more pale than usual.
"You ok, kid?" Hellboy asked, noticing her pallor. "You look like you're feeling under the weather."
"Oh…I'm ok, thanks. Stomach's just a little upset right now. Probably too much coffee at breakfast. Nothing to worry about."
"Maybe this might help?" Hellboy rummaged around in his coat pocket and produced half a roll of antacid tablets.
"Thanks. It's worth a try." Adele popped one in her mouth and handed the rest back. She put a small table in the centre of the room and set an apple and a banana on it.
"We'll be rendering those today?" Abe asked.
"Looks kind of hard." Hellboy grumbled.
"Don't worry. There's no time limit. Just relax and concentrate on light and form. Try to see the shape instead of what the actual object is. That'll make it easier to draw." She reassured.
While everyone began to draw, Adele sat down in an empty seat and stared at the floor, lightly rubbing her stomach with one hand. Hellboy leaned over to Abe. "She's not feeling too hot today. I gave her some stomach tabs."
"Poor girl. There's other medications in the infirmary if those don't work. Let's ask her how she's feeling after class." Hellboy nodded and him and Abe returned to their work.
Several minutes passed. The room was silent as everyone concentrated on their drawings. Adele stood up, looking a little pained. "I've just gotta use the washroom. I'll be right back." She smiled weakly and headed for the door.
"Let us know after if you need anything else," Hellboy said. She nodded and disappeared out the door.
Ten minutes passed. Twenty. Half an hour rolled around and Adele had still not returned.
Liz glanced out the door. "I'm a little worried. I'm going to go check on her." She got up and headed for the washroom.
"Hmm. Hope she's ok." Hellboy wondered aloud. "What do you think of this, Blue? A masterpiece, huh?" He showed off his half-finished drawing to Abe.
"Not bad. Perhaps you've got more talent than you thought."
"Maybe. I'm kinda liking this." Hellboy bent over his drawing and resumed scribbling.
Meanwhile, Liz pushed open the door of the women's washroom. As she did so, she heard a soft moan come from within.
"Adele? You've been in here for a long time. I thought I'd check on you. Are you ok?" Liz's voice echoed slightly.
"Uhhhh…" Adele groaned. "Yeah….no problem…..I'll be right ouu….ugggggghhhh…." A louder and more painful moan came from inside the stall that Adele was occupying.
"I don't believe it," Liz said. "You sound more sick than you say. I'm going to go see if I can find anything for you in the infirmary. Ok?"
"NO!" Adele's sharp answer startled Liz. "Sorry. I mean…uh….just a bit crampy. I think it's passing, anyway. I'll come back now." The stall door clicked open and Adele emerged, sweating profusely. Her long hair was soaked and plastered to her neck and shoulders.
"Oh, geez, Adele," Liz took her arm. "You really look rough. Look, I'll tidy up the class. You go lie in bed, ok?"
Adele tried to smile. There were dark shadows under her eyes. "Maybe that's a good ide…AAAAAAAAAAAA!" Suddenly Adele reeled back against the wall, and slumped to the floor, convulsing.
"Oh my God!" Liz yelled, and ran as fast as she could back to the class.
Abe and Hellboy's heads snapped up. Someone in the hall was screaming. They looked at each other, then shoved back their chairs and ran out the door to see what was wrong.
Liz was tearing down the hall, gasping. "There's something really wrong with Adele!" she yelled. "I need help! Quick!" Abe and Hellboy gave a start, then ran after Liz as she raced back towards the washroom. She burst through the door, the guys in tow. When she saw Adele, she screamed.
Adele was writhing in pain on the floor, covered in blood from head to toe. It looked like she had pulled some of her hair out, as matted, bloody hair seemed to be stuck all over her body.
Abe ran to her side, steadying her with his hands. "Adele! What's wrong? Tell me where you're hurt!"
"GET AWAY!!" The shock ofAdele's bloodcurdling scream made Abe pull back momentarily. When he did, Adele jumped up and shoved past Hellboy and Liz out the door, and ran down the hall.
"After her!!" Abe yelled, and they all chased her, breathing hard. Adele came to a sudden stop down the hall, and thrust her hands in front of her, staring maniacally at them. "Not again." She said hoarsely. "Not AGAIN!!" She took off running again. She saw dark, open storage room, dived in, and slammed the door shut. As everyone sped up in pursuit, they heard the click of the lock.
"No! Adele! Let us in!" Liz yelled breathlessly, banging on the door.
"Liz, go get the Professor!" Abe urged. Liz whirled around and took off towards his office.
Abe pounded hard on the door. "ADELE!! Open the door! Please!" he pleaded. Horrible guttural sounds were coming from within the room.
"I'll take care of it." Hellboy flipped back his coat and drew his arm back. Then with one solid punch, his fist thundered through the door, making a gaping hole. He gripped the doorknob from the inside and with a single yank, ripped the entire door off its hinges, and tossed it against the wall behind him, where it clattered noisily to the floor. Then him and Abe jumped into the room, and flipped on the light. Their eyes widened in horror at the scene before them.
Adele – or what only remotely resembled Adele – was huddled against the wall, groaning, her eyes squeezed shut. There was not loose hair stuck to her, as they had thought; hair was actually growing out of her body. Thick and coarse, it tore its way out of her skin, leaving bloody rivulets as it did. She had torn her bloody clothes off, and although naked, she was almost completely covered by the thick growth of hair. As the light came on, she gasped and looked towards the door. Abe and Hellboy stood there, gasping for breath, staring at her openmouthed in horror. Abe was shocked at her face. It looked like her nose and mouth had grown enlongated, like a muzzle. Her face was also covered with hair, and her gritted teeth seemed to come to sharp points. The only thing that still looked the same were her eyes, although filled with pain and fear.
She saw how they were staring at her, and shielded her face with her arms.
"DON'T LOOK AT ME!!"
Her ear-shattering scream reverberated off the walls, and she cowered, shuddering. Abe took a step towards her. "Adele! Please, let us help you." His voice was strained, trying to sound calm. He held out his hands towards her.
"NOOOO!!" She hid her face from him, and curled onto the floor, clawing at the hard tile. Abe stepped back. He heard quick footsteps pounding down the hall. He looked out the door and saw Prof. Broom and Liz running towards them.
Then he heard Hellboy's voice. "Holy. Shit."
Abe looked quickly back at Adele. Except now, Adele was gone. In her place was a great, shaggy black wolf, hunched in the corner, growling, its sharp teeth bared.
Hellboy lifted his hand in caution. "Don't move." Everyone froze in their tracks.
The wolf's eyes flicked back and forth to everyone' faces. The deep growl continued to rumble in its throat.
"What the fuck do we do??" Hellboy hissed out of the corner of his mouth.
Abe slowly lifted his palm towards the wolf. Everyone waited in silence for a moment.
"It's ok," he said. "She's still in control of her mind. She's just very, very, frightened."
He crouched down and looked into the wolf's eyes. "It's all right. We're not going to hurt you. Please. Let me help." His hand tentatively reached out and touched the thick coat of fur.
The growling ceased, and the wolf whimpered piteously. Abe looked deep into her eyes, those same moon-eyes that had smiled at him from the face of a girl. Pleading eyes.
Help me. I'm so scared. The wolf's thought rang in his mind.
"It's going to be okay, sweetheart." He softly reassured her. Moving slowly forward, he gently drew his arms around her and stroked her soft fur. The wolf closed her eyes, still whimpering, and leaned her great head against his chest.
Quietly, Prof. Broom walked up behind them, holding a syringe. As Abe shushed softly into her ear, Prof. Broom gently eased the needle into a vein in her hind leg. A deep sigh, and the wolf sank into Abe's lap, asleep.