Chapter Three- The Chamber

Atticus bit his lip as he, along with the others, watched Jaden and Jesse share card combos of their respective decks. The two were so much alike and they seemed to be connecting in a way that was remarkable. The others eventually left but Atticus remained where he was watching the two boys talking. He saw Kuriboh and Jesse's spirit monster Ruby playing with each other until Kuriboh looked at him, cooed, and floated over to him which caught Jaden's attention. "Hey, Atticus," he said.

"Hi, Jaden. Hi, Jesse," Atticus said as he came over and sat.

"Jesse, this is Atticus Rhodes. My boyfriend."

"Pleasure to meet ya," Jesse said, holding out a hand.

Atticus took the hand. "Same here," he said, relieved that Jaden had called him his boyfriend, despite the fact they were supposed to keep it a secret. He also saw that Jesse was no threat to his relationship with Jaden; the boy was simply too likeable to not like him.

"Jaden says you can see spirits, too," Jesse continued.

"It's a recent development. I have to say that it's cool to be able to see and speak to them."

"Sure is. So, which monsters in your deck do you talk to?"

"Well, I know Red-Eyes Black Dragon but I haven't sensed any others."

"Red-Eyes, huh? That's a mighty strong monster."

"Jaden, I admit I was a bit worried," Atticus said as they headed toward Slifer. "I thought you liked Jesse more than me."

"What?" Jaden said, surprised. "Atti, that's crazy. I said nothing and no one would come between us and I mean it. Jesse is just a new friend who can see spirits too."

"I sensed he shared that gift during the exhibition match. A shame we couldn't see that Rainbow Dragon."

"Yeah, sounds like one sweet monster."

"Well," Atticus said as they reached the red dorm. "See you tomorrow, Ja." He gave the younger boy a kiss on the cheek before heading for Obelisk. Yeah, I was being ridiculous that Jaden would dump me for Jesse. We're still in love and that Jesse is actually a pretty cool guy.

Jaden smiled happily as he watched Atticus walk away. The two of them were a good match. He turned and decided to take a walk in the forest. He was soon striding through it toward the abandoned dorm. He knew the dorm was forbidden but as long as no one saw him and reported him to Sheppard, he would be all right. Besides, I don't plan to go in it, just stand there and admire it while thinking of the times when I did go in it.

Jaden soon found himself standing before the dorm, admiring how it looked in the light of the full moon; it looked majestic and magical, just like the inside. The images of the Millennium Items on the wall and the chamber in the basement. That chamber is the reason why I'm not going in. No creepy Shadow Realm monster for me. No way.

Jaden walked over to the left side of the dorm, moving carefully as the ground seemed crumbly. He was curious about what lay beyond the dorm beside more woods. He hopped lightly across the ground but as he jumped over a patch of broken ground and landed past it, the ground gave way and he tumbled down a shaft of earth and landed on his rear on a stone ground.

"Ow!" he said as he stood, rubbing his rump. He looked up at the hole and then the sides. The dirt was soft in places but hard in other places. It'll be hard going getting out of this hold. But, wait. Maybe there's a way out down here. He looked around to see that the walls down here were stone and clearly man-made which made another exit plausible. He stayed where he was as he turned in a circle to seek out the exit. I can hardly see a thing, though. I could use some light. A shaft of light then stabbed down from above and he looked up to see the full moon. Yeah, that's better, he thought.

The bottom of the shaft suddenly became easier to see and Jaden blinked at the visual acuity. Then he gasped as a burning warmth swept over him. He folded to his knees and doubled over, groaning as he felt parts of himself contracting or stretching. He lifted his head and opened his eyes to see his nose and mouth pushing out into a snout. He felt pain in his back and knees until he stood on his hands and the balls of his feet. The scary part was he couldn't feel his toes or fingers. He looked at his hands and gasped. His hands were paws and covered in fur the same color as his hair!

What is happening to me? Jaden wondered. He groaned again as his muscles throbbed and another wave of burning washed over him before it ended. He panted from the residue pain, vaguely aware of his tongue hanging out. Slowly, he exhaled and then craned his neck to see that he had four legs and a muscled body covered in brown fur. I look like a dog…or a wolf. He looked ahead of him and he could make out words written on a few sections of the stone. He stumbled over to it and his eyes roved over the words, their meaning making his mouth drop: He was a werewolf now!

He would be forced to change on the full moon but otherwise he could change whenever he wanted. Anger or fear could trigger a change until the feeling that caused it had passed. He was in complete control of himself and fully aware while in wolf form. His new condition would show on his human form in the form of pointed ears. His senses, speed, and strength would be enhanced in human and wolf form.

This chamber and full moon is what changed me into a werewolf. Well, this isn't so bad. Actually, it's kind of cool. He looked back at the hole and then his legs and paws. He flexed his paws to see sharp claws.

"If I am stronger, maybe I can simply jump and climb out," he said. He walked to the hole, crouched, and leaped with a thrust of his legs. His forelegs stretched up with his claws unsheathed. He sailed up the shaft and his claws latched onto the hole's edge and his back ones anchoring into the hard dirt wall. He used his strength and claws to climb out of the hole and speed away from the unstable ground.

He stopped once he was near his dorm. He then paced as he thought of what to do. He couldn't resume human form until morning so he could sleep outside as he couldn't open a door with paws. Or I could just knock and have Sy or Hassleberry open it. Yeah, that makes more sense. He nodded to himself before heading for the dorm and spent time climbing the stairs. He reached the top and felt lucky that tonight was the last full moon until next month. I can practice stair climbing in the meantime.

He went over to the door and used the back of his paw to knock. His ears heard footsteps and the doorknob turn. The door opened to reveal Hassleberry who stared at Jaden before he exclaimed, "Sam Hill!" and shut the door.

He heard Syrus and Hassleberry's voices before calling, "Hassleberry, it's me."

"Jaden?" called Syrus. "Where's the wolf? Hassleberry said he saw a wolf."

"He did because I am the wolf. I fell into a chamber near the abandoned dorm and it, combined with the full moon, changed me into a werewolf."

"Werewolf?" Syrus squeaked, fear lacing his voice.