The year of the nightmare
Chapter XII: This is the monster in me…
The boy was lying, curled in a fetal position in the corner of some bushes, panting. He was greeting teethes and smashing the ground with his fist. He has never felt so sick. He spat a lot of times, a brownish and sticky thing, punching, crashing trees that surrounded him. He groaned, feeling himself getting worse. He curled up a bit more, hiding his nose with his growing hands. This time, he began to change his mind slowly... He gripped the ground, throwing mud away, as he fell, trying to get up.
-Shane!
He groaned in fear as he heard footsteps getting closer. He got up, dizzy, taking hold onto some trees to get away from her. He didn't go far at all, because he collapsed, face in the mud. He gripped his growling stomach. His scar was burning him, becoming dark red. He yelled from the pain, it was like if God's hands were tearing his members apart. He started to sob, but didn't cry. He was laying, shaking and groaning, though he no longer ever cried. His tear ducts were worn, even thought he hadn't cried. No longer could he feel anything, other than the large waves of sharp pain. He felt it coming quicker and longer. It was like if long broad shoulders tried to emerge from him, to replace his own, crashing bones. A now sinister stranger was taking his place tonight. His once robust legs were deprived of muscle, and he curled them to his chest to regain any kind of comfort. His whole body was weak and he was hungry for food. But his wants were more important that his needs… That is how it all begins… He snorted violently, letting the curse take over what was left of his human parts… He heard someone scream. It made him froze. He pushed himself away from some centimeters, his back facing the young woman. She ran towards him but hesitated to even touch him. His clothes were ripped, and there was no doubt that he was changing. She turned him to face her but froze in fear and horror. His once handsome face was now deformed. He has a large snout, big fangs, sharp ears… He wasn't his fiancé anymore. Her eyes were lost in his. They were deep brown, and watery. He was begging for help and comfort. After a moment, she gently stroked his head. His fur was smooth and silky, unlike the beast's. His heartbreaking whimpers stopped and his breathing slowed down. He was watching her, waiting for any sign of pity or disgust. Nothing happened.
His throat was dry and sticky, and his belly only whimpered, wishing to be fed, though knowing it probably wouldn't be granted food until sometime later… He could wait. Dried bile and stale urine along with the smell of mildew made his throat lurch, though he could only gag, nothing in his stomach to be thrown up. His loins tightened and he whimpered, hoping to not to have to give into the urge. Several minutes later he whined before roaring. His head started to change in a final growth, his nose had another shape, longer, and his eyes hadn't change color but were smaller… Quickly, it was all his body that changed completely. He was no longer human. He was a beast. She was caressing his long hairy back. She had never felt something so soft. He turned around a bit, but Mitchie didn't move. He slowly got up on his long legs, shaking, trying to find his balance. Everything was a blur to him. Except her. She was shining through the trees. She was shining in his still human eyes. He slowly sat in doggy-style, facing her, watching her carefully to catch any small detail. The wind blew, smashing him hard. He groaned, and, by instinct, tilted his paw up, howled at the moon…
He whimpered while sniffing loudly. Then, he froze, watching carefully the lights fading in the camp. They all went out, except two: his cabin and the girls'. He howled with all his pride. The moon was a small crescent, and two brownish humans' eyes were gleaming in hurt and lust, on what looked like a wolf's head. The eyes. The only human part left. Clothes were torn, on the ground, left in the mud and blood. He looked at Mitchie, who didn't move. She held a shaking hand towards him.
-Shane?
He whimpered, slowly licking her hand. Feeling a bit dizzy from his transformation while he tried to walk, he fell on the cold ground. He stood there, didn't move at all. He turned on his side, facing the camp. He whimpered, covering his eyes with his huge paw. He shivered a bit when he felt Mitchie's hand on his paw. She put it on the ground, and watched closely his eyes. They were shining with love, but she could clearly tell he was lost and afraid.
-Don't worry, I'm here…
He whimpered once again. The air was fresh, rather cold, but it didn't bother him. Mitchie was shaking a bit, as she was wearing a simple T-shirt with Jeans. He couldn't help but felt horribly guilty. He got up, shaking, still feeling dizzy, and gently pushed Mitchie on the tall grass. She looked at him quizzically and a part of her feared what he could do. He licked her face just once, and curled up next to her, so she could hold him tight in the cold night.
-You know…
He turned towards her, tilting his ears. He sniffed loudly the air, still eyeing her suspiciously. His head wasn't so terrifying. His whole body was the size of a rather big wolf, but he looked a lot like a dog. Only his snout, fangs and size were from the wolf. She couldn't clearly see in the night, but she was sure he was light grey, with a darker stripe from the top of his head to the tip of his tail. Also, his tail was like a German shepherd's.
-You're not a monster. You're just a wolf-dog. But mainly a dog…
He yelped happily, licking her face. She had to push him away because of all the drooling. She looked at him carefully. His eyes were still the same. He was the same. That's when she noticed a small tuft of hair on his forehead. It was his human hair that didn't change during the transformation. She smiled widely when she realized he was the same. He had physically changed, but not mentally. She held him tight, and earned a whimper from him. It was it. He might be part wolf, but he's mainly a dog. A lost dog.
-You know what, Buddy?
He looked at her and huffed. She laughed, punching his shoulder playfully.
-You don't like "Buddy"?
He groaned, nudging her with his head.
-Alright, Shane… Hey, it sounds good for a dog!
He huffed once again, looking away. She smiled, and held him once again, caressing his soft and warm grey fur.
-Anyway, let's head back to the Camp… Or else, they won't believe me…
She quickly got up and Shane went next to her, yelping. His head was up to her stomach. She took hold onto him to get back to the camp as the ground was rocky. Meanwhile, in the dark of the small wood, two brown eyes were watching them. It growled in pure anger, smashing the bushes. The beast was taller than Shane, and bigger. It was a dark grey, almost black, wolf, with sparkling brown eyes. It was about two head taller than Shane. His broad shoulders smashed a tree down, while he was watching them go. It did a mistake by letting his prey go, thinking he was dead… Now, he was alive. He is the only threat to him. Now, there was only one option left to him, much to his dislike… It can't change the past, but it can create the future…
-Shane! Come here, boy!
They arrived at the Camp. It was dead silent, and everyone was asleep. Well, almost. Mitchie sighed in exasperation as Shane was licking the water from the lake. After some seconds of drinking, they walked again, but they had to stop, because this time he wanted to pee. He scratched a tree, trying to get up, but fell each time. Mitchie laughed, and he looked at her, whimpering.
-Have you ever seen dogs pee?
He huffed, trying one more time to get up but failed. This time, he sat, facing her, groaning in anger.
-You just have to rise one of your hind legs, to stay still, and there you go!
Shane huffed, got up and sniffed for a spot. He stopped at a garbage can, raised his leg but was stopped by Mitchie.
-Trees or grass. Not on these where everyone touches it.
He groaned, went away to the closest tree. He peed a bit everywhere, but not on him luckily. He came back next to Mitchie, triumphant, head high.
-You're proud to have peed, Shane?
He huffed, walking next to her, still arrogant. They silently walked through the Camp, trying carefully to not wake them up. Then they stopped only a few meters away. They were here. At their cabins.