Meg sat down one of the empty seats closest to Erica and Boyd, they were both chained up and now it was her turn. Isaac knelt down but her feet, tightening the cuffs on her ankles and wrists. She watched him work silently till Derek presence grabbed her attention. He was about to start putting the head band on her head when Meg said his name. His silver gaze fell on to her, Meg smiled up at him and gestured for him to lean closer. Arching his brows in wonder Derek squatted down to fall into eye level with her, she tugged at her crescent moon pendant.
"Can you hang this so I can see it, please? I am planning to use it as an anchor." Meg would have taken off the necklace but the rattling chains prevented arm movement.
"Are you sure that's wise? Considering what happened last time?"
"Well the circumstances are different. I am letting you take it of my free will."
Derek obliged without further teasing and reached over. Gently bringing the hoary chain over her head careful not to let it tangle with her jet black hair. Derek moved away to hang the chain on a pole in front of her, so it was in her line of vision. Isaac finished checking to see if the chain were strong enough to hold her before raising his blue gaze to meet hers.
"Think of it as a rite of passage to our group."
"I thought I was already welcomed in."
"Alright, think of it as werewolf bonding time." Meg laughed her anxiousness slightly eased, Isaac returned her smile and patted her forehand comfortingly before moving to stand behind her, gripping her shoulders to steady her as Derek placed the headband over her head. Meg closed her eyes and tried to soothe nerves, but the creaky turn of the screws only made her heart race right before the excruciating agony followed.
Her breathing was heavy and laboured, her head throbbed from the pain and the weight of the headband. Meg felt the prickling sensation of blood trickling down her forehead as she struggled to keep her eyes open. But then something changed, her temperature went up a notch as if experiencing a sudden fever, her palms started to sweat and her heart raced.
Meg knew it was starting to happen the change into a werewolf. She could feel the pull of the moon had on her, like the effect the earth's gravity had on the moon. Her chest began to hurt as if her rib cage was starting to shift inside. Meg gasped out from the pain and shut her eyes trying to block it but then her entire body began to ache. Sharp stabbing stings cut through her core, her muscles throbbing and her head hammering.
"Meg," Derek called out to her but she was deaf to his words as if lost in some dark place in her mind. He frowned, his heart clenching. He ached to approach her. Meg wasn't struggling or growling openly like Erica and Boyd were. No, she was silent and still which made him all the more nervous. Meg suddenly hunched over, her dark hair tumbling down her shoulders and curtaining her face. Her hands gripped tightly at the edges of the seat as if struggling to restrain her animal instinct.
Meg heard the sickening crack of her spine shifting and she cried out unable to bottle up the pain any longer. Her nails expanded and grew outwards, tearing through the delicate flesh around the cuticle which only added on to the pile of agony that was beginning to slowly build up. She didn't know how much longer she could last. The pain only fuelled this anger inside of her, a rage that she never wanted to face.
Kill, Kill, Kill her own mind had turned against her and destruction sounded like a tempting relief to result to. Her spine budged again without warning and Meg's body arched in pain struggling against the chains that rattled. The sounds annoyed her, and she could hear everything, smell everything. Her heart raced at the thought of killing, sinking her claws into warm flesh and feeling the pools of blood in her hands.
Yes, Yes Her mind chanted again as if knowing she was slowly giving into her primal needs. She allowed her eyes to open and just when she was about to let go a flickering light caught her eye. Her necklace, it was winking at her like a beacon in the cold darkness. The mood pendant had turned into blue colour with swirls of green in them, and her thoughts began to wander.
"It's a mood necklace sweetie, it's supposed to tell you how you are feeling,"
"How can something tell you how you are feeling? Only you know how you are feeling,"
"Yes but not always, sometimes our feelings can be this huge complicated mess so us mortals needs petty things like this to assure us, and besides look how shiny it is!"
"Ooo shiny!"
Meg chuckled fondly at the memory of her father then slowly the headache and the agonizing pain began to fade and everything seemed clearer.
Derek was caught off guard when Meg began to laugh. His stare immediately fell onto her his eyes full of question. She had this dazed look in her eye but it only lasted a moment before she blinked rapidly and gazed around the train as if just noticing her surroundings ,but as clear as day Derek saw there was no trace of blood lust in her ample golden eyes.
His bewilderment only lasted for a moment when Erica managed to break away from her chains and stared at Derek ready to pounce. He acted fast and pushed Erica back against the pole to secure her again but then Boyd swiped at Derek's back. His claws sinking into his flesh. Derek grunted in pain his grip loosening the slightest allowing Erica to elbow him in the face and race past him heading to the exit. She would have gotten away too if Meg hadn't stuck her leg out causing the werewolf to trip and fall face first. Derek was on his feet in an instant and rushed over, working quickly he grabbed Erica's ankles and dragged her back to her chains and locked her there making sure the chains were secure enough. Meg watched all the while, shocked by how animalistic they all looked and Derek being the only normal one in the mix. But her gaze was more focused on Erica's face; she grimaced at the sight of the blonde sideburns.
EW, do I have that? She pondered attempting to reach up to touch her face and feel the hairs, but the chains prevented her from doing so.
"You know this would have been kinda kinky if I wasn't threatening to turn into a killing machine." Meg blurred out, a weary chuckle escaped Isaac and Derek's lips. She completely forgot about her tall male friend.
"Isaac you are okay!" She exclaimed cheerfully. He glanced at her from his seat across her. There were chains holding him and his features had morphed into that of a werewolf but he smiled wolfishly her away, still holding onto his human side.
"So are you, the anchor worked I see." Meg grinned at his words and nodded.
"How long is this going to last?" she asked looking back at Derek who was approaching them in heavy strides.
"A few more hours, but I think you two will be fine, surprisingly." Derek said facing them with his arms crossed in front of his chest. Meg wondered if the full moon affected more than just a werewolves blood lust, like their sexual arousal for example because she found Derek more appealing than usual. To the point where she wanted to touch him. Shaking away the un-lady like thoughts that threatened to consume her, she rolled her eyes at him.
"I am touched by your faith in us." Meg grumbled sarcastically, Derek smirked and walked over to her. Meg was surprised when he squatted down in front of her, as if searching her eyes. She was amazed to find this tender relief in his grey eyes as if her finding her anchor was the greatest thing that happened to him all day.
"The head-band doesn't suit you." He noted teasingly Meg pouted feign hurt.
"Aw that sucks, I was planning on wearing it for Halloween." She grumbled in jest. Derek stood up and began to loosen the screws gently and Meg flinched when her healed skin twisted in the process. When Derek took it off Meg felt an instant release of pressure and hunched over to rub at the wounds that were already beginning to heal.
"That wasn't so bad, except for the agonizing pain." She remarked earning a smile from Isaac, but then his expression turned grim looking towards their other two friends who were still struggling against the chains. Determined to get free.
"Can't say the same for Erica and Boyd though." Isaac muttered under his breath.
"Isn't there a way we can help them?" Meg asked looking to Derek who was still in a squatting position beside her.
"They need to find their anchors on their own," He answered stiffly but Meg was persistent.
"What if we were their anchors?"
"I don't think it would—"
"Have you tried?" She argued. Derek's lips pressed into a thin line staring into her amber eyes that were blazing in a new found determination.
"I want to talk to them." She said, he frowned.
"They will try to kill you Meg, it's not that simple." At an attempt to scare her with possibilities of what could happen. The last thing he wanted was a fight triggering a survival instinct in Meg.
"It's not like I am alone, you are here, Isaac's here, and you can make sure nothing happens." She expressed nodding her head in Isaac's direction, he was listening intently. Derek lowered his gaze contemplatively before heaving a sigh, succumbing to her words.
"Fine," He grumbled begrudgingly and began to unlock her chains. Meg rubbed at the bruises on her wrists that were already beginning to heal. She stood up and looked to Erica who seemed to be watching her. Derek watched intently as Meg carefully approached them. Boyd was growling low in his throat and snarling at Meg, but she focused on Erica who stared at her with killer instinct.
"Erica its Meg," She was suddenly on her feet and tried to launch herself at Meg but Derek quickly pulled the girl back before Erica bit her, but that didn't stop Meg. The chains prevented Erica from moving any closer, but she kept biting at the air around her trying to hurt Meg.
"Erica can you hear me? You need to listen to me." Her soothing voice whispered but the blonde continued to snap and snarl.
"Don't stand so close," Derek warned but Meg didn't listen to him for the first time and gently held Erica's face in her hands, forcing her to stare into Meg's eyes. Erica struggled against her hold but Meg steadied her.
"Erica, remember what happened in the food court today? Wasn't it epic how we totally made her regrets ever talking about you the way she did huh?" the blonde continued to struggle and growl but Meg persisted and continued to speak.
"That was the first time I had gone shopping with a friend, I had the best time, even though you were grumbling and rude I still had fun, and I know you did too. Remember that temporary tattoo of a fish I found in my chewing gum wrapper? Well…" Meg let go of Erica for a moment to roll up the sleeves of her shirt and Derek observed, amazed that Erica didn't try to attack her this time but also gazed down at Meg's arm.
On her skin was an amateur drawing of an orange fish that had already begun to fade. Meg raised her hand up closer so Erica could see. Erica's golden eyes widened staring at the tattoo intensely.
"Look, when I flex it moves!" Meg grinned demonstrating her flexing abilities. Derek saw Erica's snarling expression flicker for a moment before she shut her eyes completely shut and she swayed as if she was about to faint. Worry clouded Meg's eyes as she drew closer to her blonde friend, moving aside a thick golden lock of her hair tenderly.
"Erica?"
"You are such an idiot." She groaned her voice had turned back to that normal snide tone and Megra beamed.
"Hey, you are doing great." She spoke softly keeping her urge to dance in celebration at bay. Erica was breathing heavily her knees weakening under her.
"Yeah but I don't think I can—"Meg sensed Erica's struggle to hold onto her human side that was slowly slipping, so she acted quickly.
"Can you think of something? Anything or anyone that is emotionally significant to you?" Erica was silent for a while and Meg grew worried at the thought that her moment of humanity was fleeting.
"Bean," She whispered.
"Bean…?" Meg echoed curiously, but then her knees gave out under her and she began to fall. Meg quickly caught her and lowered herself and Erica to the floor, Derek had taken a step to help but stayed back when Meg seemed to have the situation under control.
"My dog," Erica mumbled almost inaudible. Meg helped her lean back against the metal door before sitting beside her.
"Oh, what breed is it?" She asked inquisitively eager to know more about her friend and also to help Erica keep a leash on the wolf.
"A Labrador, it was one of those dogs that were specially trained to help people with…disabilities." She paused a moment to gather her thoughts and Meg waited with patient solicitude.
"My parents got him for me in the beginning to help me adjust, so I could go out more without them being afraid of what might happen…he died last year." Meg felt her heart clench at Erica's words, seeing the deep sadness in her eyes. Meg didn't want her to reflect on the loss of her pet but on her fondest memories.
"What's your best memory of him?" Meg asked smiling kindly and attentively. Erica glanced at her from the corner of her eyes before beginning to retell her reminiscences to Meg. Derek stepped back to give Meg and Erica some privacy, Boyd wasn't going to be a problem anymore either since the struggling had worn him down. Derek walked down the train aisle and sat on the seat adjacent to Isaac who was listening to Meg and Erica for a moment before turning his gaze on to Derek who seemed to be lost in his thoughts.
"It's amazing how she does that, isn't it?" Isaac said grabbing Derek's attention for a fraction of a second before he returned to staring at the floor.
His mind exploded with questions about Meg, suddenly everything about her fascinated him more than usual. She possessed an unworldly ability to adapt and befriend people, gain their trust and keep it. Derek didn't trust anyone. He refused to since his family's death but Meg… with her innocent gaze, her openness, her warm kind spirit, he couldn't help but want to tell her all his sorrows and plans…everything there was to tell. It was bewitching and damn near scared Derek, but his biggest fear was that one day, he will crumble and give in.