That night, a cold and quiet night, the rebels slept contently, tired after
the day's events. They slept undisturbed by any dream of
any kind; all was silent.save for the low, continous groans of pain from
behind Torn's door.
Torn lay in his bed, sweating to an unknown heat. His breath came in steady, raspy gasps and his muscles ached terribly.
Must've been today's heat, he thought to himself as he fought the throbbing headache at his temples. I've been killing Metalheads all day. It was hot, very hot. It must be today's heat.
Something at the corner of his brain said it wasn't, but he ignored it. Harken's voice rang in his brain, repeating the same words all over and over again: You will turn into its own kind.
Suddenly an unearthly pain struck his stomach, making him cry out. He slowly got out of bed, but his legs gave away once his feet touched the floor. He fell to his knees, lungs burning and mind spinning.
Torn shuddered and looked up to see his large window. Just as his eyes fell upon them, the curtains flew apart, revealling the shining face of a radiant full moon. Then it all began.
Searing pain flashed from his spine to all his limbs and Torn screamed. He struggled to his feet to run and get help, but the pain didn't allow him to go far. It attacked with a vengence, striking him down to the ground.
Torn: W-WHAT'S H-HAPPENING T-T-TO ME!!!?
No one answered his cry. He screamed again and again. From his shadow on the wall made against the light of the moon he could see cruel spikes sprouting out of his back, and where his nails should've been were long, monsterous claws. He screamed in fear, but he could not speak. He could feel his back hunching, the muscles on his arms and legs enlarging. His face had turned into a broad muzzle armed with a cruel set of fangs. Everything that was human was erased from his mind, filling it only with a blazing rage. His shirt ripped and hung in tatters on his wolfish body. Torn screamed a fearful 'No', which only came out only as a long, terrifying howl..
Finally, the transformation was complete.
Torn let out a moist growl from his newly formed muzzle. Warm breath poured out from his empty bowels, and he knew he must fill it soon.
He crashed full into the glass doors of the balcony, which swung immediately wide open. He leaped full from the balcony and descended down towards the streets like an agile, four-legged acrobat.
Finally his monsterous paws reached the ground. He looked all around him, growling silently to himself. He walked cautiously forwards, until finally he spied a lone figure singing drunkenly to himself waving a beer bottle over his head.
The Beast lunged without a moment's hesitation and opened its wide, red maw. He snapped it shut over his victim's head and twisted it quickly before he could scream.
The drunk man fell to the ground lifeless, his neck broken and skull partially crushed. The Beast then dragged his prey into a quiet lone corner and quietly began to feed.
*
The Next Day.
Ashelin: I won't be gone for long.
Jak: Better not. We need you here.
Ashelin: I'm just going off to lead a few troops in the Platform to find anymore of those nasty Metalhead eggs. I've heard a few began to nest there. Take care of a few things when I'm gone, will you Jak?
Jak: Don't worry, Ash. I'll get it all covered.
Ashelin: (Sounding concerned) How's Torn?
Tess: He's still asleep for the moment.
Ashelin: (Shaking her head) Poor guy, must've been exhausted. Well, better get going guys. See you all soon.
Jak: Bye Ash!
Ashelin left the room.
Jak: Did any of you girls check on Torn yet?
Tess/ Keira: No.
Jak: Well you better. Breakfast in fifteen minutes. Meet you and Torn at the Dining Hall.
Tess: I'll go and get him. You go with Jak, Keira.
Keira: Thanks.
Tess went upstairs to Torn's room and knocked on the door loudly.
Tess: Wake up, sleepy-head, breakfast is in fifteen minutes.
She waited for Torn's reply. But there was none.
Tess: (Sigh) Torn, wake up! I'm not going to stand here all morning. Dress up now or we'll be late.
No reply.
Tess: That's it. I'm coming in.
Tess opened the door and stepped inside. She looked around and found Torn lying face-down on his face without a shirt, snoring softly away.
Tess: Arg! You could at least put a shirt on with me around!
Torn: Eh? Whaa?
Tess: Torn, you look terrible. Had a nightmare or something?
Torn: (Groggily) I.don't.know.
Tess: (Sighs) Let's get you dressed and you'll have a nice breakfast downstairs.
Torn: (Massaging his stomach uncomfortably) I don't feel hungry.
Tess: None of that nonsense. Come on, get a shirt on and let's go.
Torn: (Mumbles quietly while Tess pushed him towards his wardrobe)
Tess: I'll meet you downstairs.
Down in the Dining Hall.
Jak: (Through a mouthful of pancake) Hey, Torn.
Torn: Hey, Jak.
Daxter: Whoa! Look at you! You look like some swamp-skulkin hobo.
Torn: Shut up or I'll skewer your head with my fork.
Keira: Where's Tess?
Torn: She says she's out in the gardens to pick some fruits for me. Says it'll make me feel a bit better.
Jak: That's so cute.
Suddenly there was a shrill scream outside, causing Daxter to choke on his waffle. Jak jumped and Torn gagged on his coffee.
Keira: That was Tess!
Torn: Must've seen a bug.
Keira: Come on, let's check it out.
The three went into the gardens and saw Tess standing next to a group of men, who turned out to be the Huntsmen of Mar.
Jak: (Demanded sharply) What're you guys doing here? Tess-
Harken: Stay away from this, boy. You won't like it.
Keira: What's going on?
Tess, who was fidgeting on her spot, pointed a shaking figure to something halfway hidden under a few bushes. Harken stepped bravely forwards and drew the bushes apart with his gun.
Jak gasped loudly at what he saw. It was a man.well, atleast what remained of him. His body had been savagely torn apart, and horrible puncture marks could be seen on his head. A terrible smell came from his opened, rotting gut.
Daxter: (Faints and falls off Jak's shoulders)
Jak: Who did this??!
Tess: And in my garden, too!
Harken: No man could've done this.
Jak: I though you've already killed that beast that murdered the seven people?
Harken: Indeed I did.
Keira: Are you saying there are more running around in the city?!
Harken: It could be possible. The Metalheads are all getting hungry. They've been feeding on each other for quite some time now. But due to your endless attempts to kill them, they've reduced in numbers and perhaps decided to move into the city for more prey.
Jak: Are you blaming us for this murder!?
Harken: I might and I might not. But that doesn't concern me for the moment. Our hunt will not end until I slay the beast that did this. Come on, men. Let us go!
The men left. Jak went up to Tess.
Jak: What were they doing here?
Tess: They just arrived a few minutes after you woke up, gaining access through the back gate.
Jak: (Slaps forehead) Which reminds me; I have to fix that.
Torn: Fix it soon, Jak. That Harken could be right about the Metalhead beast.
Daxter: (Reviving from his fall and jumping back on Jak's shoulder) You know, Torn.that Harken guy really looked serious when he talked about the Beast's bite and all.
Torn: Will you give me a break about the beast thing??
Jak: I'm on Daxter's side.
Torn: What? You're acting like kids believing in this-
Jak: Then what's this body doing in the gardens, near the palace and near to your balcony?
Torn: ARGH! That's it! Fine! I'll prove to you I'm not turning into some damn beast! You can stay in my room and I promise I won't leave your sight.
Jak: Deal.
Tess: Not so fast, Jak. Ashelin's gone off, remember?
Jak: So?
Tess: You have to lead her troops into Haven Forest for more Metalhead hunting tonight.
Jak: Oh yeah. Why can't you lead them?
Tess: (Folding her arms) Do you think I'm leader material?!
Jak: All right, tomorrow's a day-off. Maybe we can do it that night.
Torn: (Sarcastically) By all means.
Torn lay in his bed, sweating to an unknown heat. His breath came in steady, raspy gasps and his muscles ached terribly.
Must've been today's heat, he thought to himself as he fought the throbbing headache at his temples. I've been killing Metalheads all day. It was hot, very hot. It must be today's heat.
Something at the corner of his brain said it wasn't, but he ignored it. Harken's voice rang in his brain, repeating the same words all over and over again: You will turn into its own kind.
Suddenly an unearthly pain struck his stomach, making him cry out. He slowly got out of bed, but his legs gave away once his feet touched the floor. He fell to his knees, lungs burning and mind spinning.
Torn shuddered and looked up to see his large window. Just as his eyes fell upon them, the curtains flew apart, revealling the shining face of a radiant full moon. Then it all began.
Searing pain flashed from his spine to all his limbs and Torn screamed. He struggled to his feet to run and get help, but the pain didn't allow him to go far. It attacked with a vengence, striking him down to the ground.
Torn: W-WHAT'S H-HAPPENING T-T-TO ME!!!?
No one answered his cry. He screamed again and again. From his shadow on the wall made against the light of the moon he could see cruel spikes sprouting out of his back, and where his nails should've been were long, monsterous claws. He screamed in fear, but he could not speak. He could feel his back hunching, the muscles on his arms and legs enlarging. His face had turned into a broad muzzle armed with a cruel set of fangs. Everything that was human was erased from his mind, filling it only with a blazing rage. His shirt ripped and hung in tatters on his wolfish body. Torn screamed a fearful 'No', which only came out only as a long, terrifying howl..
Finally, the transformation was complete.
Torn let out a moist growl from his newly formed muzzle. Warm breath poured out from his empty bowels, and he knew he must fill it soon.
He crashed full into the glass doors of the balcony, which swung immediately wide open. He leaped full from the balcony and descended down towards the streets like an agile, four-legged acrobat.
Finally his monsterous paws reached the ground. He looked all around him, growling silently to himself. He walked cautiously forwards, until finally he spied a lone figure singing drunkenly to himself waving a beer bottle over his head.
The Beast lunged without a moment's hesitation and opened its wide, red maw. He snapped it shut over his victim's head and twisted it quickly before he could scream.
The drunk man fell to the ground lifeless, his neck broken and skull partially crushed. The Beast then dragged his prey into a quiet lone corner and quietly began to feed.
*
The Next Day.
Ashelin: I won't be gone for long.
Jak: Better not. We need you here.
Ashelin: I'm just going off to lead a few troops in the Platform to find anymore of those nasty Metalhead eggs. I've heard a few began to nest there. Take care of a few things when I'm gone, will you Jak?
Jak: Don't worry, Ash. I'll get it all covered.
Ashelin: (Sounding concerned) How's Torn?
Tess: He's still asleep for the moment.
Ashelin: (Shaking her head) Poor guy, must've been exhausted. Well, better get going guys. See you all soon.
Jak: Bye Ash!
Ashelin left the room.
Jak: Did any of you girls check on Torn yet?
Tess/ Keira: No.
Jak: Well you better. Breakfast in fifteen minutes. Meet you and Torn at the Dining Hall.
Tess: I'll go and get him. You go with Jak, Keira.
Keira: Thanks.
Tess went upstairs to Torn's room and knocked on the door loudly.
Tess: Wake up, sleepy-head, breakfast is in fifteen minutes.
She waited for Torn's reply. But there was none.
Tess: (Sigh) Torn, wake up! I'm not going to stand here all morning. Dress up now or we'll be late.
No reply.
Tess: That's it. I'm coming in.
Tess opened the door and stepped inside. She looked around and found Torn lying face-down on his face without a shirt, snoring softly away.
Tess: Arg! You could at least put a shirt on with me around!
Torn: Eh? Whaa?
Tess: Torn, you look terrible. Had a nightmare or something?
Torn: (Groggily) I.don't.know.
Tess: (Sighs) Let's get you dressed and you'll have a nice breakfast downstairs.
Torn: (Massaging his stomach uncomfortably) I don't feel hungry.
Tess: None of that nonsense. Come on, get a shirt on and let's go.
Torn: (Mumbles quietly while Tess pushed him towards his wardrobe)
Tess: I'll meet you downstairs.
Down in the Dining Hall.
Jak: (Through a mouthful of pancake) Hey, Torn.
Torn: Hey, Jak.
Daxter: Whoa! Look at you! You look like some swamp-skulkin hobo.
Torn: Shut up or I'll skewer your head with my fork.
Keira: Where's Tess?
Torn: She says she's out in the gardens to pick some fruits for me. Says it'll make me feel a bit better.
Jak: That's so cute.
Suddenly there was a shrill scream outside, causing Daxter to choke on his waffle. Jak jumped and Torn gagged on his coffee.
Keira: That was Tess!
Torn: Must've seen a bug.
Keira: Come on, let's check it out.
The three went into the gardens and saw Tess standing next to a group of men, who turned out to be the Huntsmen of Mar.
Jak: (Demanded sharply) What're you guys doing here? Tess-
Harken: Stay away from this, boy. You won't like it.
Keira: What's going on?
Tess, who was fidgeting on her spot, pointed a shaking figure to something halfway hidden under a few bushes. Harken stepped bravely forwards and drew the bushes apart with his gun.
Jak gasped loudly at what he saw. It was a man.well, atleast what remained of him. His body had been savagely torn apart, and horrible puncture marks could be seen on his head. A terrible smell came from his opened, rotting gut.
Daxter: (Faints and falls off Jak's shoulders)
Jak: Who did this??!
Tess: And in my garden, too!
Harken: No man could've done this.
Jak: I though you've already killed that beast that murdered the seven people?
Harken: Indeed I did.
Keira: Are you saying there are more running around in the city?!
Harken: It could be possible. The Metalheads are all getting hungry. They've been feeding on each other for quite some time now. But due to your endless attempts to kill them, they've reduced in numbers and perhaps decided to move into the city for more prey.
Jak: Are you blaming us for this murder!?
Harken: I might and I might not. But that doesn't concern me for the moment. Our hunt will not end until I slay the beast that did this. Come on, men. Let us go!
The men left. Jak went up to Tess.
Jak: What were they doing here?
Tess: They just arrived a few minutes after you woke up, gaining access through the back gate.
Jak: (Slaps forehead) Which reminds me; I have to fix that.
Torn: Fix it soon, Jak. That Harken could be right about the Metalhead beast.
Daxter: (Reviving from his fall and jumping back on Jak's shoulder) You know, Torn.that Harken guy really looked serious when he talked about the Beast's bite and all.
Torn: Will you give me a break about the beast thing??
Jak: I'm on Daxter's side.
Torn: What? You're acting like kids believing in this-
Jak: Then what's this body doing in the gardens, near the palace and near to your balcony?
Torn: ARGH! That's it! Fine! I'll prove to you I'm not turning into some damn beast! You can stay in my room and I promise I won't leave your sight.
Jak: Deal.
Tess: Not so fast, Jak. Ashelin's gone off, remember?
Jak: So?
Tess: You have to lead her troops into Haven Forest for more Metalhead hunting tonight.
Jak: Oh yeah. Why can't you lead them?
Tess: (Folding her arms) Do you think I'm leader material?!
Jak: All right, tomorrow's a day-off. Maybe we can do it that night.
Torn: (Sarcastically) By all means.