CAN'T FIGHT THE MOONLIGHT

CHAPTER THREE-TERRORIZED

Phil and Keely looked at each other bewildered and confused for a moment.

"What?" Phil asked, tilting his head.

"You're looking at the wolf," I repeated.

Realization dawned on Keely's face.

"You-you mean like a werewolf?" she stammered.

I nodded.

Realization slipped from her expression and fear replaced it now.

"I've read about them," Phil said slowly. "They change only on full moons right?"

I nodded.

"And they kill?"

I shook my head.

"My 'species' don't kill for fun…only when necessary," I explained.

"What are you talking about? Aren't most werewolves the same?" Keely asked.

I smiled.

"There are two kinds…Tyrix's and Landrols. I'm a Landrol," I said.

Phil and Keely leaned forward. Phil wasn't afraid as much as I thought he would be, but Keely certainly was hesitant.

"Landrol's have been around for centuries. They're peaceful werewolves. We don't kill for sport. We're loyal, trusting and caring. Tyrix's however, are not. They kill for fun, they're evil and love to attack for no reason," I explained.

"I never thought werewolves could exist," Keely said nervously swallowing her hamburger.

"They do," I said. "You just don't know it."

There was silence. Then, I looked from Phil to Keely.

"Now that you know, please don't tell anyone," I said urgently. "If anyone found out that I exist, I would be hunted and killed."

"Whoa," Phil said looking startled. "You've got my vote."

I looked to Keely.

She looked nervous still but nodded.

I went back to my lunch.

"A-Actually, there's something I need to tell you as well," Phil stammered.

I raised my eyes to his.

"Phil," Keely whispered. "Are you sure?"

Phil nodded.

"She trusted us with her secret. We should do the same,"

Phil took a deep breath.

"We're from the future," he said slowly.

I raised an eyebrow.

"You mean like the 'future' future?"

Phil nodded.

"The 22nd century,"

I studied him for a moment before I shrugged.

"That's fine,"

"You believe me that easily?" Phil asked shocked.

I nodded.

"Why not? I just told you I was a werewolf right?"

Phil nodded and smiled.

Keely ate quietly.

The bell rang ending lunch.

We continued to our classes.

After school, Phil invited us over to his house.

Curtis greeted me.

"Hello Gabby!" he said. "Curtis have surprise for Gabrielle."

I looked warily but amusedly at Phil.

"Curtis? I'm not sure Gabrielle…" Phil said hesitantly, but Curtis sprung a freshly picked rose from behind his back.

I took it.

"That's nice of you," I said smiling.

I looked at Phil and Keely.

Phil was suppressing a grin and Keely was biting her bottom lip.

Curtis happily headed upstairs.

Pim entered the house next looking absolutely horrible. Her shirt and hair were caked with food.

"Pim? What on earth happened?" Phil asked alarmed.

"Candida and her lovely friends," Pim muttered plopping down on the couch.

"What happened exactly?" I asked curiously sitting next to her and pulling bits of broccoli out of her hair.

"Dumped several food trays on me," Pim said dropping her school bag onto the floor.

"Aw man," Keely said sympathetically.

"She's such a spaz," Pim said angrily.

"Don't worry," I said softly putting my face close to hers. "I have a feeling those Fashion Zombies will get what they deserve."

"Think so?" Pim asked. "I've been coming up with a plan to get back at them…me and Curtis."

"So that's what you two were up to," Phil said slowly with a grin.

"Yeah," Pim said nodding.

"Well don't worry about it," I said reassuringly.

Pim grinned and nodded.

The next few weeks flew by. Phil, Keely and I have become real close now, closer than best friends.

The Full moon was approaching fast. It was tomorrow night.

"So I mean," Phil asked eagerly that afternoon as we were curled up in his room. Keely was lying on her stomach on the bed; Phil was sitting on the floor with his back pressed against the side of the bed and I was sitting on a chair. "We've read about werewolves in the future, but never actually saw one. I'm guessing they went into hiding?"

"I'm not sure," I said slowly. "That I can't answer."

We fell silent.

Around four PM, I left and headed home.

The next day at school, I was glaring at Candida and the rest of her 'friends'.

"She's in for a rude awakening," I muttered digging into my Sloppy Joe.

"Pim already tried to teach her a lesson," Keely said. "But I don't think Pim was able to go through with it for some reason."

"Yeah," Phil said grinning. "A reason by the name of Curtis."

"He's not exactly 'programmable' if you will," Keely said her lip twitching.

I ignored her.

"Someone should definitely teach Candida a valuable lesson that picking on people less fortunate than her is not cool,"

"We know that," Phil said. "But I don't think she does."

Sighing, I shook my head.

After school, we once again met at Phil's house and immediately, Curtis greeted us.

"Hello Phil, Keely, Gabrielle," he said beaming. "Me make brownies. Want to try some?"

"Um, no thanks," Phil said lightly grabbing my elbow and steering me toward the living room. "I need to borrow Gabby for a moment."

I felt Keely's eyes on me as I allowed Phil to push me gently into the living room.

Phil stood in front of me.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Um," Phil asked nervously. "Would you like to join me tomorrow evening for some ice cream?"

I looked at him shocked.

"T-tomorrow? Evening?"

Phil nodded.

I looked at him.

"L-Like a date?"

He nodded again.

I was never asked out before so this was all new.

"Um, sure," I finally got out.

He beamed and we headed back.

"What took you guys so long?" Keely asked.

"I just asked Gabrielle if she would like to join me for ice cream tomorrow evening," Phil announced cheerfully. Curtis flew upstairs and Keely just remained standing.

"Oh," she said.

That was it.

"Shall we head upstairs?" Phil asked as if he didn't realize something was wrong.

But I did…both Keely and Curtis seemed to have the same expression on their faces.

Mr. Diffy dropped me off at home that evening.

So, the next evening, Saturday, I got ready for the date.

I was dressed in a light purple semi-pleated skirt which reached my knees, a white poplin shirt and I applied makeup and lip gloss.

"You look lovely sweetie," Dad said beaming. "Just remember that tonight's the moon. You need to be home by 9."

"Gotcha Dad," I said.

Phil picked me up at 7 and we headed out.

Mrs. Diffy dropped us off at the local ice cream parlor and would be picking us up at 9 because I told her that was my 'curfew'.

"So you change tonight huh?" Phil asked quietly leaning forward so no one could overhear us.

"Yeah," I said nodding as I sipped my vanilla milkshake.

Phil spooned some of his chocolate ice cream and took a bite.

"How long have you had this?" he asked intrigued.

"All my life," I said. "Since I was 5. The traits came out more when I hit 12, but now that I'm 16, it's full blown."

"Full blown?" Phil asked, looking a bit nervous.

I laughed.

"Nothing to worry about," I said reassuringly. "It just means that I can transform fully."

He relaxed.

So I began asking him questions about where he was from.

"That sounds really cool!" I said excitedly.

"Yep," Phil said grinning.

We continued to talk until it was 9 o'clock.

Mrs. Diffy would be picking us up at any moment.

Just then, I felt a sharp pain shoot across my abdomen.

I cried out and grabbed Phil's arm.

"Gabrielle?" he demanded anxiously.

He put his arm around my shoulders.

We were standing outside the ice cream parlor.

"I think it's time," I cringed as I staggered around to the alley way next to the parlor.

Phil glanced up at the sky. Sure enough, a full moon could be seen bright as ever in the midnight sky.

I collapsed behind a dumpster and began changing.

PHIL.

I was scared for Gabrielle. I didn't know what I could do for her. Secondly, Mom was picking us up at any moment.

I stood, terrified as Gabrielle started changing: her back lengthened and narrowed; her chest expanded, straining the material of her shirt; her legs bent into haunches and her shoulders smoothed out; Dark gray fur grew all over her body, covering every inch of her; a tail grew at the base of her spine and fur covered that. It curled upward slightly; her hands and feet changed into paws that had white only over the digits; her ears stretched and tapered into points; her eyes changed into that amber/jaundice color; and her nose and mouth stretched forward into a snout. White canines and incisors slid down under deep violet lips. Her bottom jaw lengthened as well and had the same powerful teeth. Before long, Gabrielle was gone and all that remained was the wolf.

I swallowed and remained frozen in my place.

"G-Gabrielle?" I stammered.

The wolf parted its jaws, yawning and then stretched.

It shook its body and then slowly began making its way toward me. I felt like I was going to barf.

All that could be seen was those amber eyes reflecting the streetlamp like gold coins.

The shoulders rolled easily as it approached me.

I heard laughter behind me.

I slowly turned around, though not sure if that was wise with the wolf coming toward me.

It was Candida and her friends.

"Well well," Candida smirked putting her hands on her hips. "Diffy's looking for a good place to put his cardboard box for the night."

I quickly looked back to where the wolf had been. She wasn't there.

I shakily turned back to Candida.

"What is your problem?" I demanded. "Why can't you just leave my family alone?"

"Because you're a bunch of weirdos," Candida said smoothly.

I again looked back. The wolf wasn't there.

I went to turn my attention back to Candida when the wolf jumped up onto the dumpster and stood squarely on all fours. It lowered its head, retracted the top lip of its snout exposing the white canines and it flattened its ears out sideways. It snarled.

"This your dog?" Candida said.

"Yeah," I said, feeling a bit braver now that the wolf was here.

"Nice pooch," Candida smirked and gave my shoulder a rough shove.

At that moment, the wolf pushed off with her hind legs and sailed cleanly over my head, keeping her front legs tucked. She knocked over Candida, who landed on her back. The wolf stood over her, snarling and licking its lips.

"Get this off of me!" Candida cried.

"Not until you leave my family and friends alone," I said flatly.

"You'll pay!" Candida cried as the wolfs jaws came within inches of her throat.

"I wouldn't be saying that right now," I said folding my arms over my chest. "Is it a deal?"

"Yeah sure!" Candida said actually terrified now.

"Fine," I said.

Immediately, the wolf backed off and came over to sit on her haunches next to me. She sat, glaring at Candida until she scrambled to her feet and took off with the rest of her friends. They vanished from sight.

I glanced down at the wolf.

"Nice job," I grinned.

The wolf looked up at me.

Mom picked me up.

"Oh dear," she said eyeing the wolf. "Where'd she come from and where's Gabrielle?"

"Oh," I said thinking quickly as the wolf jumped into the backseat of the car. "Gabrielle wasn't feeling well so she called her father to come and get her."

"Fine," Mom said. "What about her?"

She gestured to the wolf.

"Stray I'm guessing," I said shrugging.

The wolf tucked her hind legs under her and lazily dropped her head onto my thigh.

"We have Curtis you know," Mom said her lip twitching as she pulled away from the curb.

"I know," I said fighting the urge to laugh. "But it might be nice to have a canine around too."

"We'll see," Mom said.

I gently reached to pet the wolfs head. She didn't move but groggily closed her eyes.