Chapter 6

Sitting in class, Natsuki's words repeated themselves in Mark's mind.

"It's up to me..." he said softly.

He didn't want to live for an eternity without his best friend. This life was forced upon him by Natsuki, but she was just trying to help. There was no way Mark could do the same to Sayori.

Not without her permission first.

Hearing the bell ring, Mark got up and began heading for the club room. Walking through the door, he was the third to arrive, after Monika and Yuri.

As soon as he entered though, Yuri tilted her head upwards, sniffing the air once before looking to Mark. Her gaze met his and locked, watching him for what felt like forever while Mark stopped in place like a deer in headlights. As for Monika, she just stared at Mark, her eyes narrowing as she realized something was different about him.

Hearing the door open again, this time Natsuki entering the room, Mark glanced back at her.

"You're joking, right?!" Yuri asked Natsuki, her voice clearly laced with anger.

"What?" Natsuki shrugged. "I didn't wanna wait around. Better to do it now than later."

Mark looked between the two girls, cusious about what it was they were talking about.

"I thought we agreed-!"

"Yeah, and I decided that it was stupid." Natsuki cut Yuri off. "Bite me."

Yuri glared at Natsuki.

"Don't tempt me."

"Enough! Both of you." Monika growled at the duo. "Seriously. I'm getting tired of playing babysitter with you two! It's getting old." Monika crossed her arms. "Sheesh." She then looked to Mark. "I noticed Natsuki... gave you a bit of a boost."

Mark glanced back at the pink haired girl.

"You two noticed?" Mark asked. "That quick?"

"You smell like dog." Yuri told him.

Mark then turned to Monika for her explanation.

"I could sense something different about you." Monika explained. "That, and also the bandages on your arm. I figured it wasn't just a dog bite. And with these two fighting like cats and..." she paused to glance at Natsuki. "Dogs... I came to a conclusion. Natsuki turned you, right?"

It wasn't as much of a question as it was simple confirmation.

"Yeah..." Mark nervously rubbed his neck.

Yuri turned and glared at Natsuki, and if looks could kill, Natsuki would be a butchered horror movie victim.

"I thought we agreed that I'd be the one to turn him!" Yuri growled.

Mark was taken aback.

"You talked about this?!"

However, his question was ignored.

"I decided he'd be better off being a werewolf." Natsuki said as she closed her eyes and crossed her arms, a grin plastered on her face. "If I'd allowed you to turn him, he'd have to feed on blood. With this, he can still enjoy his favorite foods. Without having to hurt anyone. Or, y'know, sneak into someones home at night. Or steal from a blood donation truck."

"Yeah? You tell him about what he needs to eat to keep the beast under control?!" Yuri growled.

Natsuki rolled her eyes.

"I doubt he'd think it's that big'a deal."

Mark looked back and forth between the two girls.

"What do I need to eat..?" He asked.

"Hearts." Natsuki replied nonchalantly. "Animal hearts."

"You're leaving out a shit load of info there, Nat!" Yuri placed a hand on her hip, glaring at Natsuki.

"Jeez!."

"What-?"

"You'll lose control and your wolf will devour whatever it can get. Including human hearts if you don't keep it nourished." Natsuki said, again, in her nonchalant tone.

Mark looked visibly stunned.

"And you neglected to tell me why?!"

"What's going on?" Sayori asked as she entered the club.

Mark looked to Natsuki.

"This is far from over."

"I figured." Natsuki shrugged.

She didn't seem to be bothered by anything that had just happened.

Sayori looked back and forth between the two.

"It's nothing to worry about, Sayori." Mark told her.

"Your tone says otherwise." Sayori pointed out.

"We can talk later." Mark told his childhood friend before taking a glance at the other three women in the room. "As for now, I won't be staying." Mark began gathering his things.

"What? Why not?! You never miss club!"

"Again, we'll talk later, Sayo." Mark told her before heading for the door. "Same goes to you, Natsuki!"

"I don't regret what I did." Natsuki told him. "You'll learn to live with this."

"Not like I got much'a fuckin' choice."

Those were his last words before Mark left, heading back home.

Hours later

Walking back and forth in his room, Mark had no idea what to think. He didn't have problems killing animals, but the thought of possibly hurting someone was... unthinkable. He couldn't ever let that happen.

"Son of a bitch!" Mark shouted as he punched the wall.

"Mark?"

Looking back, Sayori walked into the room, wearing her casual clothes which consisted of a pair of skinny blue jeans, a pink hoodie and red undershirt.

"The, uh, the door was unlocked." Sayori said, gesturing to the front door.

"It's fine." Mark told her, his anger quickly subsiding but not fading entirely. "You know you're always welcome."

"I know, but... I wasn't sure if you wanted to speak. You seemed... upset." Sayori told him.

"Yeah, I still am." Mark told her as he turned away.

"Mind telling me what's wrong?" Sayori asked, sitting down on the couch.

"Yeah." Mark let out a sigh before joining Sayori on the couch.

Turning to him, Sayori leaned against the back of the couch, her right leg resting on the cushion to better face Mark.

"What was the argument about between you and Natsuki?" Sayori asked, jumping right to the chase.

"It's just, uh, a..." Mark rubbed his neck, trying his best to find his words.

"Mark." Sayori said softly, reaching out and taking his hand into her own. "You can be honest."

"That's just it, though." Mark said. "The truth sounds like bullshit. You won't believe me."

"Try me." Sayori said, scooting an inch closer to Mark.

Letting out a sigh, Mark looked to Sayori.

"Th- hmph, there are... I don't even know how to say this. Fuck... Sayori... I was... damnit!"

Sayori placed a hand over Mark's.

"Take your time."

Mark slowly nodded his head. Thinking of a way to explain it, an idea popped into his head.

"I need to show you something."

Getting up from the couch, Sayori followed Mark into the kitchen. Standing next to the counter, Mark took a deep breath before rolling up his left arm sleeve.

Sayori stared at his arm for a few moments before realizing what it was he was showing her.

"The bite. It already healed?"

Mark nodded his head.

Staring at him, Sayori narrowed her eyes before rubbing her own forehead, chuckling softly.

"Wow. Nice one." Sayori rolled her eyes. "I'm so gullible. I shoulda known when you said it was a wolf that bit you." She shook her head. "I'll get you back."

Mark shook his head.

"It wasn't a joke. I was really bitten by a wolf." He turned around, leaning against the counter.

"Suuuure." Sayori crossed her arms. "That make you a werewolf then?" She jokingly asked.

It dawned on Mark that Sayori wasn't going to believe anything he said. Unless he could prove it.

"Alright then." Mark turned around and grabbed one of the knives out of the drawer.

Watching him, Mark tapped the tip of the blade before spinning it around and holding the handle out to Sayori.

"What?" Sayori asked, slowly taking the knife from Mark.

"It's sharp, right?"

Sayori gently tapped the blade's tip, confirming it was rather sharp.

"I guess." Sayori replied, handing the knife back to Mark.

Taking it, Mark glanced at his right hand that was placed on the counter.

"One of the perks of being a werewolf: fast healing." Natsuki's words echoed.

Contemplating what he should do, Mark considered if what he was planning was really neccessary. Should he go to such lengths just to prove himself?

"Fuck it."

Mark took a deep breath, cleared his mind, then quickly spun the blade in a reverse grip and plunged the knife into the center of his hand.

Falling to his knees as he let out a groan of pain through clenched teeth, Mark gently banged his head against the counter.

"Mark!" Sayori yelled his name, reaching for the knife before stopping. Her mind was going a mile a minute as she couldn't figure out what to do.

"Ooooh, that was really fuckin' dumb!" Mark said softly, leaning against the counter. "Fuck... fuck!"

Looking at the knife that was still plunged in his hand, Mark grabbed the handle and tried to pull it out but couldn't as the pain quickly flared.

"Yes, uh, there was an accident at-"

Mark looked up to see Sayori was on the phone.

"Sayori!" Mark quickly reached up and took the phone, seeing she had dialed the police.

"Mark!"

Hanging up, Mark put Sayori's phone in his pocket.

"What are you doing?!" Sayori yelled. "You're gonna need-!"

"All I need is for you to-" Mark groaned in pain. "Rip the knife out!"

"What, but-!"

"Just rip the damn knife out!" Mark shouted.

Sayori, grimacing, slowly wrapped both hands around the handle.

"One... two... three!"

Tensing up just as Sayori ripped the knife free, she looked at the blood covered blade before tossing it in the sink.

As for Mark, he clutched his hand close to his chest, looking at it before leaning back against the counter.

"That was really fuckin' dumb..." Mark told himself, feeling the pain in his hand slowly easing until there was no pain.

"No shit!" Sayori shouted, kneeling beside him. Grabbing his wrist, Sayori pulled his arm towards her. "Let me see your... hand..." Sayori trailed off, seeing no wound.

Turning his hand over, the wound was completely gone.

"What the fuck..?"

Mark chuckled softly.

"Heheh... told ya so."

End of chapter 6