Fur With Fang

The full moon illuminated me and the creature I'd been battling. We both stood perched on small cylindrical chimneys which seemed to be in disuse. His fangs glistened like ivory, or something like that, and my blades (yes, blades) produced just enough light for me to properly see without my helmet taking the time to adjust. I could hear my scarf blowing in the wind, and I could hear his heavy breathing. His red eyes glared at me, letting me know he was ready to cut me in half.

All was quiet.

Then, we jumped at the other. He howled and I screamed with built-up rage. Just how the hell did I get in such a place?

Let me go back to when this started.

…

A few days ago I watched Charlie type into her computer at a breakneck speed. Frankly, I didn't know fingers could move like that. "Why am I doing this again?" she asked.

"I have a theory."

"About the Order member murder, right?"

"Right. The police have his I.D. public?"

"Well, yes. After a crime scene like that, it'd be hard not to make it public. And you're asking me find out as much about this guy as possible?"

"Right."

"Wouldn't it be easier for Bolt to talk with the police?"

"Yes. But they don't trust me yet. Not many, at least. Richardson and Garret are okay with Bolt, but I doubt anyone else would really tell me jack at this point. Besides, they'd probably assume a guy like Bolt would just figure it out."

"Ugh. Right, right. I'm printing this all out, okay? As I find it."

"Please and thank you." I saw the edges of her mouth curl up, almost into a smile. It's odd, honestly. Charlie doesn't really smile, not a lot at least. I don't know why. She also seems really angry all the time, but I guess she's really just serious about, well, everything. I'm surprised she puts up with our (Lou is included here too) crap. Her room is surprisingly colorful though. She keeps a fresh coat of blue paint on the walls, and the carpet is a bright red, unlike the other parts of the house.

As I was pondering, Charlie tapped me on the shoulder. "Look at this," she told me.

I got up off the floor and looked at the news website she had pulled up. "Werewolf?" Yes. The article was on a rash of seemingly random attacks by what a few eyewitnesses described as a 'wolf-like-man'.

So. Werewolf.

"I think," she started, "that this might be connected to the Order."

"It's possible. I mean, it's weird for them though. They usually seem to breed the creatures for one go as a monster. They tend to not be able to change back into a human afterwards, you see."

She nodded. "Maybe they're getting better at monster making. I mean, they churned out the Endless after all."

A chill worked its way up my spine. "Yeah, yeah, but I think that was a fluke. He didn't do anything besides attack me. He… anyway, I'll deal with it as I can." There was a long silence. "You know what still bothers me?"

"What?" She stilled searched different sites for more information.

"His body never dissolved. When a Order member's nervous system dies, the member dissolves."

"You think he wasn't a full blooded monster?"

"I don't see how that would work, though."

"Neither do I. In any case, I'll bet that has something to do with the current going-on's. Could it be he was a failed experiment?"

"Then why would they have him up and around?"

"… hrrrm. Why can't your problems be more normal, J.?

"Because I'm most likely not human in the first place?"

Charlie stopped typing and turned around in her seat. "Is… that what you think?"

"Huh?"

"Do you really think your not human?"

"Well, I'm probably not. That's just how it is. What's gotten into you?"

"That's not a healthy way to think."

I shrugged. "I kill things on a monthly basis. I can bend steel with my bare hands. I look like an insect. I don't think any of that melds together into a healthy mind."

"Nuh-uh." Charlie shook her head. She got out of her chair and wagged a finger in my face. "That's not you. That's Bolt. Bolt kills monsters. To protect people. Bolt is a suit of armor, it can bend steel, it looks like a grasshopper… because it's a suit of armor. Not you. You're J… you're a perfectly normal person. You're kind, you're intelligent… if not a little scatterbrained…" She started to calm down. She let out a sigh and fell back into her chair. "Sorry. I just… I don't want you start thinking … that you shouldn't be around people or something."

I nodded. Odd as it may be, Charlie has a tendency to see where one train of thought may lead to later. I guess it makes sense. If I started thinking I wasn't human, like, really started to think… then sooner or later maybe I'd believe I shouldn't burden others with the bullshit I lug around. Frankly, I have thought that before. Charlie's little lecture did make me feel… better, I guess. At least, for the moment, I think she wants me around. I'm pretty sure Lou would like me to stay friends with him.

Eventually, Charlie had a large stack of things that related to one Rudy Alph. I got home to hear Jim and Susan talking about something or other. I think it might have been about me. I know I might not think about them too much, but so far they've been the best couple I've been put with. There's only ever been one 'bad' family I've been put into, but Jim and Susan are the best of them all by far. I guess I've learned to try not to attach myself to them too much… just in case.

Now I have to wonder… what if I go back into the system? What if I have to leave Morrison City? Okay, no. No no no. This is not a good time for that kind of thinking.

Anyway, I read through the papers and felt like getting some fresh air. Mr. Alph's life was pretty droll to say the least. It was cold outside, I could faintly make out my breath. My cell phone rang. "Hello?"

"Hello, again." The voice was familiar… Mr. Fly.

"What do you want?"

"Nothing, really. I just want your input."

"Do what?"

"Your input. Your opinion. Information, dear boy."

I made a noise of acknowledgement.

"Good. Now… what is your purpose?"

"Huh?"

"Why do you continue to live? To fight?"

"Why is that any of your damn business?"

"I want to know my potential clients. Especially if they're… how do I put it? Superheroes."

I sighed and thought for a moment. "I'm not sure."

"So you fight with no motivation?"

"No! I- I fight to protect people."

"Why?"

"Because someone has to."

"See, you do have a purpose. Flimsy as it is."

"What, do I need a reason to help people?"

There was a pause on the other side. I started thinking I might have got the weirdo to think for a moment. "Well put," Mr. Fly said. "Now, I must be off. But a bit of warning."

"What?"

"Not everything is the Order. And not everything can be explained. And not everything will readily present itself to you."

He hung up. I check the number on the phone, but the call wasn't even registered. I still find that creepy.

I figured I might try to go inside and do some more research when, suddenly, I heard something… like a faint howl.