2

This can't be real, this can't be real, this can't be real…

The mantra repeated in Ianto's head. His eyes had to be lying to him. There was no way this was real.

he lay on the ground, staring up into the eyes of a monster. It was hard to make out just what it was until it stepped out of the shadows. In the glow from the flickering street lamp across the street he could start to see it clearly. The creature was a wolf of some sort, but much, much larger. It stood upright like a man, about seven feet tall with huge glowing red eyes that pierced the darkness. A wide grin spread across its face revealing razor sharp fangs and foaming jaws.

The creature walked, slowly, towards him as if toying with him, relishing his fear. It appeared to be smiling somehow. It enjoyed every second of his terror. The creature's lean muscles flexed under it's gray skin as it prepared to pounce. Ianto's body tensed and he raised his hands in front of his face.

Bang!

The sound of a loud, deafening gunshot split the night air. An intense, buzzing ring echoed inside Ianto's skull. The creature stumbled backwards, clutching at its chest; blood pouring out from under its clawed hands. It was hurt - badly.

Ianto leaped to his feet and then nearly collapsed. His equilibrium was nearly nonexistent as his head still reeled from the blast of sound. The wolf stood in front of him, still clutching its chest. Its mouth opened wide in a loud, piercing howl.

"Watch out!" A muffled voice said from behind Ianto. Out of the corner of his eye, Ianto saw the barrel of a large gun rise up alongside his head. He stumbled as he turned around to see a tall, athletic man in a long Great Coat holding an oversized shotgun. That was, no doubt, the source of the noise he'd heard.

The man's hair was jet-black and styled in an old fashioned way with a boyish flick across his forehead. A few days of hard stubble graced his dimpled chin, adding a rugged sex appeal to his already handsome face. A Webley was in his other hand swinging at his side.

"Let's try that again," the man growled before pulling the trigger one more time.

Ianto covered his ears just as a bright flash exploded from the end of the barrel. He expected the wolf to be blown to bits by the massive blast, but it moved like lightning, avoiding a direct hit. He had never seen any living thing move that fast before - it was barely more than a streak of dark-gray fur as it leaped over a large hedge and disappeared into the darkness.

He knew it was long gone. They would never catch it if they tried, and that was fine with him. If he never saw the thing again it would be too soon. The stranger with the shotgun let out a muffled groan as he lowered his weapon. He glanced over at Ianto and moved towards him. Ianto returned his gaze, allowing his eyes to be drawn into his. The eyes looking back at him seemed black with rage. It was the look of a true warrior.

"Are you okay?" the man asked.

"I think so… I… um… what was… that?" Ianto sputtered. He could hardly breathe. The fear surrounding his chest was like a ton of bricks pressing down on his lungs.

"Did it scratch you? Bite you?" He asked ignoring Ianto's question. The stranger grabbed his arm and inspected his body.

"Hey! What the hell?" Ianto asked.

"Checking for wounds," he snapped.

"It didn't hurt me, okay. I just have some skinned knees." He ignored his words; his eyes now glued to Ianto's upper arm. He pulled his arm closer to his face, holding it carefully in the dim light. Ianto followed his gaze to a spot just below his shoulder where his shirt had ripped. Beneath it he could see a long scratch.

"NO!" the man growled.

"What's wrong?" Ianto asked. "It's just a scratch. I'll be fine."

But as the words left his mouth he saw the wound disappear right in front of his eyes as if it had never been there.

"No, you won't," the stranger whispered to himself. Ianto watched in amazement as the wounds on his elbows and knees also faded from existence leaving pristine skin visible through the torn jeans.

"What's happening to me?"