Summary: One-shot. In the depths of the small town named Berkmoor lives a terrifying secret -one which has pulled back a young Hayden Haddock from a stable life in busy New York. After a number of attacks, he finds himself trapped within the town's barriers yet again, unable to plea for help. His biggest problem? The only person that believes his mad tales is the very same person that has brought upon this curse: Sir Alvin Thompson, a treacherous foe...
A/N: First time here! Let's see how this goes... This fun little idea was heavily inspired by a rather disappointing movie -yet I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't watch it again. I figured writing an 'inspired by' one-shot would be a good kick-starter to what I have planned. Anyway, props to you if you know what movie was in mind when writing. This isn't really horror-ish, just a mention or two of blood. With that, I'll leave you to reading!
London, 1849"Now gentleman, I present to you all: a young man who has sadly allowed his delusions to sway his life into a pitiful tragedy yet again."
"Coming all the way from New York, this boy, once in my care, has been admitted for his murderous imaginations. Alas, as a child he witnessed the mutilations of his mother, courtesy of his father, which have carried into the boy's adulthood."
The Doctor -head doctor of all, the overseer of this insane asylum- holds his chin high, with excitement anticipating and his eyes twinkling with glee for who he is about to introduce. After weeks of holistic engagement, he will now present the lost soul he will soon be one step closer to curing.
As the gathered men in the crammed auditorium grunt and nod in curiosity, the Doctor paces back and forth, his gaze lingering to each one of them. Gathered tonight is a group of about thirty, wealthy or so intellectuals (or men who are looking for a good story to tell in the pub) who've come to witness an ironically boring event; a necessary action in order to prove his patient wrong and to end the death he has brought.
Taking a moment to fix his glasses that are fogged up with his hot breath -not from his nervousness but from his gleeful excitement at his about-to-be successful treatment- the Doctor clears his throat and pauses before announcing, "Mr. Haddock believes his father to be innocent out of the misplaced love he has for him. And not only that, he claims the death of the woman to be the fault of Sir Alvin Thompson, a well known policeman who lives in a more secluded area."
Now he turns fully to the door, awaiting who will come through of it. Rolling his wrists, he invites in a tall, older man that has been paying attention for his cue through the small circle of glass at the center top of the door. When he enters, the audience is revealed to a young male restricted to an uncomfortable looking wheelchair, equipped with tight restraints as he has caused an outcry in the small town of Berkmoor. At the corner of where the row leaves a wedge of space to enter and sit at, the older man takes his seat and folds his hands at the wood of the row that is slightly elevated. The Doctor takes a moment to thank him and then immediately turns to the crowd.
Behind him, the dirty individual struggles to keep his head up, his spirit dead and eyes almost closed. What should be an energetic youth is nothing but a ghastly hollowed shell of what used to be. He is clothed in white and gray with tattered socks; simple colors that are used to easily identify any patients in the long hallways of the facility. The patient's presentableness was of no priority to the Doctor; him believing the messy look to add to the boy's own diminishing reputation, therefore only allowing the young man a handful of water to wash his face a couple of minutes prior to the meeting.
"Gentleman I present to you, Hayden Haddock… a disturbed youth who believes he has been bitten by none other than a werewolf."
Laughter erupts from the room. Men slap their thighs and cry at each other, in disbelief of the ridiculous statement. The boy was born of a gypsy, maybe their madness and myths have influenced his now warped perception of reality. May God bless this deranged lad!
Hayden -or rather Hiccup, as he is accustomed to the used-to-be belittling nickname- is beginning to stir back awake, for minutes before the Doctor had drenched him with strong sedatives so that he could not defend himself. Rolling his head to the other side, his neck cracking in all sorts of places, his hearing detects the low grumbling voices all around the auditorium and while Hiccup tries to speak, he finds he is gagged. Through the similarly looking men with their spectacles and canes on the three full rows, he discovers that the very investigator that helped admit Hiccup back into the Asylum almost one month ago, is present at this meeting, hiding away in the corner at the top.
That morning had been horrendous.
As soon as Hiccup had revealed himself out of the hollow tree trunk, the stern face of the investigator had been among the first of the policemen to ride up on their noble steeds, all readied with loaded guns. Alvin had been watching from a distance, seemingly the one to have called him as before Hiccup was blown to the head, he had seen the pair converse.
Alvin had sickeningly smirked upon Hiccup's awakening.
They won't kill you, but they will blame you.Throwing his hands up into the air, as if proudly presenting a circus act, the Doctor credits himself for saving his ill patient. "Under my hand, Mr. Haddock has been the first to undergo my newest treatment. Now gentleman I will get to that in a minute. Only now do I ask that you all remain patient. This young mess here will soon be completely ridded of his deluded beliefs. What you see before you is the start of a newly changing young man."
Hiccup shudders. Newly changing. The Doctor's taunts aren't unnoticed. Among the evil man's ironic choice of words, his so-called methods of fixture are in reality methods of torture. If he wasn't ever traumatized before, his stay at the Asylum has definitely caused immense displeasure- every gasp for air in that freezing tub of water will never let him forget what pain he felt. 'Doctor' is the stage name of this man's sadistic nature.
Not bearing anymore or it, Hiccup fights against his restraints. He wants to spat against the lies, to defend his innocent father against the mendacious claims of the Doctor. Nonetheless, his attempts only sound like muffled cries.
The Doctor ignores him, batting an eye and continuing his monologue. "Fine gentlemen I announce to you, that this man believes himself to change under a full moon, mixing between man and beast." He turns to look Hiccup in the eyes, "I am here to show him that no such thing will occur any more than I will sprout wings and fly out of a window."
A few men chuckle at the joke. But what they're all ignoring is no laughing matter.
"We are to sit here and observe the nothingness that will come out of his mythical fallacies, and Mr. Haddock here will take one step forward to becoming a contributing member of society."
Glaring at the moon, blaring bright, Hiccup bites at the gag, shaking his head.
"Ah, he wishes to speak," The Doctor suddenly decides, maybe to allow Hiccup to make a mockery of himself.
He lowers his hands to slip down the tightly tied cloth. "And what do you have to say for us Mr. Haddock?"
Catching his breath, Hiccup glares back up at the man, quickly deciding where to begin.
He proclaims himself loudly, albeit his voice is shaking. "You're looking at the wrong person! I implore you to search for Alvin! That treacherous man killed my mother. My father is innocent! He'd never-"
"Mr. Haddock that is quite enough. Tonight all of your deluded fascinations with lycanthropy will cease tonight. You cling to your childish imagination to deny what your father really did that terrible night! What say you about 'the wrong person'?" The Doctor turns back to the audience, now whispering amongst each other. "Even so this boy claims Sir Alvin to be a literal beast!"
Another round of ridicule overtakes the small room, bellies jiggling. Hiccup has no time to feel embarrassed however, his thoughts are repeated patterns of leave, danger, leave. These men don't know what kind of bloodshed they're creating for themselves.
Hiccup pleads with them again, inching forward as much as he can. "Please! Alvin is a monster, capable of killing a hundred men in one night! You've seen what he's done! He's the one responsible for the attacks! And now, he's bitten me… framed me just as he did my father… Only, I can't control myself." Waves of guilt silence him, but he croaks out a final request. "Let me go, please. I don't want to kill any of you."
Any of the front row men that heard him chuckle loudly and the Doctor even throws out, "Mr. Haddock, you surely are the actor! I will never doubt your talents again. Good to know that even after all of this you'll still be able to go back to your famous trade."
Clouds part ways from the moon like the Red Sea and it's beams of light cast down into the dark room, sprouting a terrible migraine. Attempting to calm his breathing, Hiccup inhales deeply, closing his eyes; all in the effort to prolong his painful transformation. Maybe he can trick them and the gathering will end soon.
The surge of unease is heavy, and in the pit of his stomach he feels the aching, making him queasy. He can hear the Doctor begin to speak again, but the words are lost to his ears and all he can focus one are the 36 heartbeats present in the room. His hands clutch into fists and he swallows a gulp of pain. Calm calm calm, stay calm.Strong scents mix into one overwhelming sensation, making his head pound against his skull. Every respire, every pant; he can hear them wait for a scene. The shuffling of their shoes and the tapping of fingers on old wood is too loud. His mouth salivates, leaving a bad taste and throbbing.
At the very least Astrid is on her train back to London now, avoiding the destruction he'll cause. He wants to picture her in his mind, yet at her beauty his heart will beat too rapidly and he'll lose concentration.
Whispers leak from their tongues.
Is he insane?Damn boy has killed my cousin's wife!After everything that's happened we're wasting our time with him?For a moment there is blackness; silence in the mind.
Hiccup can hear himself breathe, steadily. Darkness soothes him with any trace of light leaving his vision. Everywhere he feels irritated, but he can ignore some of it...it's okay it's okay it's-Yet another howl yanks his attention. He madly opens his eyes and looks to the window above, knowing exactly who that is.
A challenge.Anger builds from his gut and his slow breathing speeds into quick pants as the protracting of what was to come is now over and he will no longer contain himself.
He rocks violently in his chair, jerking his arms, trying to rip the now tearing restraints.
"...and as we sit here and quietly observe that nothing will happen, I can assure you that this investigation can be put to…"
At every agonizing fracture more pairs of eyes cling to the shifting person(?) in front of them with the last man to notice being the Doctor himself.
His fever is boiling into rage. Hiccup doesn't know how Alvin can consider any of this to be a gift, for every dislocated bone and shredded piece of skin of his can disagree. With the restraints no longer holding his malformed writs and ankles, Hiccup is no longer fixated on himself; he's locked his gleaming scowl at a fat man with a top hat right in the center of the three rows, crying out. Feeling pieces of ripped clothing fall to the floor, he steps forward, his heels no longer touching the stone ground. Claws curl and sharpen like daggers; readying himself for the heart.
The shouting men are almost deafened by his snarling, yet most are fixated at retreating to the back door (no they won't escape). Hiccup crouches and with a strong spring he leaps to the man who is sobbing in fear. Saliva mixing with blood oozes out from his thumping gums and shifting teeth and onto the man's forehead, racing down his cheeks. Hiccup's disfigured feet weigh onto the rich fool crushing his lower half. Swiftly, he dives his hand through the thick fabric and into the rib cage, scraping his way from the tip of his lungs and right into the pumping muscle. The top-hat man screams one last time before his eyes roll back and his squirming ceases. Just for show, Hiccup forcefully yanks at the right arm, releasing it into the air and proclaiming his might.
Although this is only his second time of hell, with his limited thoughts, Hiccup remembers this too-human form lasts for just a few more moments before the animalistic appearance comes forth and any logic leaves him. Coming up from the dead corpse below, he almost falls at the abrupt crack in his back. No matter, he ignores the affliction and reaches out for the next man in his path. Hiccup makes contact with a long, dark coat but once he yanks at it blood spurts out as his claws had been deeper than he realized. Some of it soars into his mouth and he licks it off his changing face. The victim topples forward and the beast finishes his kill with smashing the ribs into bits.
Men pound on each other, trampling to any corner they can to distance themselves from the maiming episode in the center of the room. At the heart of the crowded yells by the door, the Doctor mistakenly makes himself known by wailing frantically at someone to the other side. The beast locates his target, and with that, his vision blurs to red.
The man drops to the floor.Find the eyes, claw them out.Leap, crush, break glass.Rip, guns, thrash his flesh.Warm, red, wet clothes.Up, out, cold, yelling.Grass and chasing, get away quick!Alvin will be no more.
Wait.
Guns are behind him.
They'll follow to Alvin.It is not their right to do so!
He can turn back and kill them all, but one small part of him protests and Hiccup decides to find sanctuary instead.
The torture has ceased now as he jumps from rock-to-rock down to the waters. He is running awkwardly now, but he can't imagine himself doing so. The quiet water moves slowly a few feet ahead of him and he decides that under this bridge he will shield himself. Disregarding the foggy reflection he sinks in his face to drink. The water is cold and fresh to the warm blood still oozing down. With more shouts nearing, he back himself to the secluded wall under the bridge, keeping alert of what's around. He can hear footsteps rumble on the above ground. With their guns and growing numbers, now they do not fear him.
—-
Sharp chirping rings in his raw ears. He feels awful. Bright rays of sunshine are the opposite welcome to what the moon had brought the night before and the clacking of hooves from the saddled horses inform him of the waking hour. There's much activity in the mornings as everyone rushes to be where the day calls them to.
Awakening his sore body, his hoarse throat can't swallow anything making it painful. Thankfully, whatever he had done yesterday brought him to the perfect spot for a drink and he crawls over where rocky land meets the shallow waters. There are some docked boats in the distance, yet no men.
As soon has his thirst is quenched, Hiccup pauses at his cupped hands, realizing it is over. No abnormalities. A twinkle in the image of ripples catches his attention -he can't help but feel relieved at the green eyes staring back at himself. Tussled auburn hair is tainted with brown and red, smeared all over his eyebrows nearing his eyes. Instinctively, Hiccup scrutinizes his human hands again, turning his palm over and over loving the sight of them being dirty and trembling. He pats himself down ensuring he is still clothed enough, before rising to his bare feet and deciding where to go. Last he remembers his home had been bombarded by Alvin, as if guarding it all these years. The truth lies within those walls.
While Hiccup hadn't explored much of Berkmoor when he had first arrived, in his youth there had been an intricate store full of old relics that had always captured his interests. The owner of the store had always been kind to him and with no one else to run to, Hiccup was going to risk his life going back.
As he thinks, one voice makes itself clear, "To the blacksmith shop please, Gobber's place." A melodious voice speaks from above. Astrid is still here. He is angry at her staying, but more fearful than ever. He will meet her there. Without her help what else is he to do. Hiccup only prays Alvin will not know of her presence here. In the depths that monster is lurking, waiting for his challenged to come about and die. By nightfall, death will come, whether it is slated for him or the animal that created this mess.
Alvin the Treacherous will pay for the murderer of his mother and cousin. Hiccup's father will find justice after he brings forth the real criminal that has plagued Blackmoor for fifteen years. Whatever happens to him, may he rest knowing that all will be well for those that he loves.
A/N: And with that is, the ending. Questions, comments, concerns? Let me know! I'm always up for some construction criticism. There's a modern and older version of this movie (The Wolfman), with both being pretty mediocre I'd say -although I did enjoy the more modern version of it. Interestingly enough, every scene beyond the 'wolfman' parts were interesting. I didn't like the protagonist much -his character nor his acting- but I would be lying if I didn't say I'd watch it again. There's better movies out there sure, but this one does its job in entertaining me. Thanks for sticking around for my mini movie-critique. I'll be on my way...