Chapter 10
Running through pitch black hallways and down decaying stairs, Mark panted in fear as something chased him in the darkness. Everything was dark except the immediate area around wherever he was standing. It was as if he were out on a city street illuminated only by a single road lamp.
Coming to a crossroad, Mark halted to a stop. Hearing the wolf closing in quickly, Mark booked it left and continued running. Glancing back, he saw the wolf's eyes glowing in the dark as it gave chase.
As he ran through the halls, he spotted a steel door. Making a quick decision to go through it, Mark slammed the door shut behind him. Looking around, horror set in as he saw nothing but walls.
It was too late to go back through the door. Hearing the wolf clawing at it, desperate to get to Mark, left him trapped.
Mark was only able to press his back against the door and hope that was enough to keep the wolf out.
"SOMEBODY HELP ME!" He cried out to the endless ceiling. "SAYORI!!!"
After the screams finally died out, Sayori and Natsuki cautiously descended the stairs. Seeing a dozen bodies lining the floor, Sayori screamed in horror as Natsuki began to look for any survivors.
"It's starving..." Natsuki commented. Without looking to Sayori, Natsuki motioned for her to get outside.
Sayori was frozen in place, too terrified to move a muscle. Noticing, Natsuki ordered Sayori outside, which she finally did.
Following the blood trail, Natsuki couldn't help but feel a strong hunger for the fresh corpses. Natsuki forced the feeling down as she continued to follow the blood. Seeing it led into the basement, Natsuki took a breath before beginning to descend.
"Hey!"
Her voice bounced off the walls of the stairway.
Getting no response, Natsuki continued her descent, her movements slow and steady. She wasn't scared, but she was still cautious.
Arriving at the bottom step, Natsuki tried to flip the lightswitch, only for the room to remain in darkness. Narrowing her eyes ever so slightly, Natsuki could make out the jagged shared of the broken bulb.
"You busted the light?" She asked into the darkness. "Dick move."
Taking another step into the room, Natsuki was suddenly pounced on from the side. Fighting against Mark's feral wolf, it managed to swipe at Natsuki, cutting her arm.
"AGH!" Natsuki yelped in pain as she covered the wound with her hand.
Mark went for another attack but stopped. Sniffing Natsuki, the wolf snorted before turning away.
Just as it did, Natsuki heard someone call down the stairs.
"Someone down he-"
Hearing new prey, Mark shot his attention to the voice. Dashing up the stairs in the blink of an eye, all the stranger could get out was a brief scream before it was replaced by the sounds of flesh tears. After a moment, a head was thrown down the stairs.
Watching it bounce across the ground made Natsuki dizzy at the sight alone. She wasn't used to any of what was happening, let alone how quick it was.
Upon seeing the blonde hair of the head was now soaked in crimson red, Natsuki pulled herself away from the signt.
Approaching the stairway, Natsuki gazed up them to see Mark's wolf hunched over and digging into his current meal.
Natsuki covered her mouth at the sight. Seeing Mark eating another human, tearing the body to shreds, left Natsuki nauseous.
After Mark was satisfied with his meal, he darted to the left and out of sight of Natsuki. Hearing the sound of glass shattering, Natsuki rushed up the stairs to see he had busted out through the kitchen window.
"Fuck! Sayori!"
Rushing to the front door, Natsuki yanked it open. Seeing Sayori standing on the porch with a few other survivors, sent relief throughout Natsuki.
"Good. You're okay." She said. "Come inside."
"Are you fuckin'-"
Before the jock could finish, Natsuki interrupted him.
"That fucking thing just busted out through the window." Natsuki told them. "It's out here. So unless you wanna stand there and look like a human happy meal, I suggest you shut up and get in the damn house!"
Without needing to be told again, Sayori headed inside. Following her lead was the head cheerleader, Janet Pol, a blonde haired, blue-eyed, straight A student. Then Rick, a short haired brunette with brown eyes. And finally the jock. Natsuki knew a bit about him. One of the linebackers, Wes. He kept his brown hair short, somewhat combed back, giving it a spikey look.
"What the fuck kind of animal could do this?" Janet asked.
"That wasn't an animal." Rick stated. "The way it moved and..." he glanced at the bodies of the partygoers.
"Where's Freddy?" Janet asked worried, glancing around the room. She did her best not to gaze over the fresh bodies. Although, the image would never fade from her mind.
"Is he a blonde, spiky-"
"Yes!" Janet cut Natsuki off. "You see him? Where?!"
Natsuki immediately felt nauseous. How the hell was she gonna break the news to this girl? How do you tell someone that their friend's head was in the basement while his torso was half eaten?
Natsuki just stared at the girl, nervously rubbing her hands.
After a few seconds of silence, Janet seemed to understand Natsuki's silence. Her face turned pale as she shook her head.
"Where... where is he...?" She asked again, her voice breaking.
"I'm sorry..." Natsuki turned her gaze to the floor. Regret quickly set in as she saw the colorless faces of the bodies at her feet. She felt nauseous.
"No..." Janet's face fell as she stumbled backwards. "No..." she leaned against the wall, looking up at the ceiling as Natsuki's words dug their way into Janet's reality. "I was supposed to..." tears filled her eyes as she slid down the wall, hugging her knees. "Mom trusted me to..." Janet sobbed. "To look after you."
She buried her face into her knees as she sobbed.
Natsuki glanced back towards the basement, where Freddy's body was. No one should see a family member like that. And, because of her, Mark's wolf was released and sent on a rampage.
At least, that's what she was beginning to believe. After all, Natsuki was the one who bit Mark. If Yuri were to turn him into a vampire, maybe something like this would've never occurred. Or if Monika were to use a spell, instead. One that usually comes with a hefty price, though.
"Take her upstairs." Natsuki told Sayori. "Hide. I'll find it."
Natsuki was careful with her words. She didn't want to accidentally give out that she knew what the "it" was.
"What are you gonna do?" Wes asked, crossing his arms.
"I saw a shotgun earlier today." Natsuki replied. "I'm gonna take it and use it to blast that thing to oblivion."
Sayori stared at Natsuki, her eyes filled with worry.
"You?" Wes asked. "Seriously?"
"Yeah. Me." Natsuki crossed her arms as she mirrored Wes' attitude. "You wanna go out there?"
Wes fell silent.
"Exactly."
"But what about-"
Natsuki quickly interrupted Sayori before she would accidentally give something away.
"Don't worry." Natsuki said with a smile. "I'm fucking invincible!" She pointed her thumb to herself.
Sayori realized what Natsuki meant.
She was a werewolf, and so was Mark. Normal bullet wouldn't do anything, and Natsuki also wouldn't even need to fire off a shot. She'd already seen he wouldn't harm her.
"Be back in a bit." Natsuki said before heading off.
As soon as the door shut, Natsuki shouldered the shotgun and began heading off in the direction the wolf was. She had it's scent, so tracking it wasn't exactly difficult.
She found Mark stalking around the cabin a few minutes later. It didn't care she was approaching, since it was part of her pack.
Upon seeing it, Natsuki could only stare in wonder at what was going to happen to Mark in the morning. When he was finally back in control.
"Hey, man." Natsuki spoke slowly as she approached. She'd never been in this situation before. She didn't know if it would lash out at any moment. "We're gonna have to talk."
The wolf didn't even move, it's eyes fixated on the cabin. It knew there was still relatively fresh food inside. Along with fresher food still.
"Mark, I-" she trailed off as her head suddenly felt extremely light. Her vision blurred in and out as she tried to keep her balance. Her body heat began to increase, causing her to sweat.
Nothing like this had ever happened to her before. She wasn't worried, since her focus was on her friend and pack member.
Reaching out to touch Mark's wolf, she suddenly stopped as she noticed the blood, staining it's snout. Some of the flesh from it's victims was still stuck in it's teeth, causing more nausea for Natsuki.
It was getting to her, but not in the way she preferred.
A low grumbling in her stomach got her attention as she realized she was in danger. Her fever, her nausea, her stomach, it should've been obvious.
Her wolf was starving to get out. The carnage inside made it stir. The blood made it thirsty and the smell of flesh made it hungry. More hungry than Natsuki ever felt before.
She'd ignored it. Buried the feeling under the worry of Mark.
Which was the last thing anyone needed.
Natsuki's breathing increased as she dropped the shotgun and fell to the forest floor. She'd never experienced a forced transformation before. After all, she'd always made sure to keep her own wolf fed.
Yet, she'd slipped up. She was so focused on the exams from school. Her new pack member. The excitement of the party. All of these factors played part in one simple, yet big mistake.
She'd let her wolf starve, and was now about to go through the same thing Mark did.
Arching her back as she grew, Natsuki yelled in pain as the forced transformation began. Her clothes tore. Her nails fell out, replaced by long, sharp claws.
It was painful. More painful than all the other transformations she'd went through previously. Her wolf was in control of her body before she fell unconscious.
It tore away at her skin, revealing her snow white fur underneath. Her eyes changed, showing that of a wolf's. In place of her pink eyes were a pair of bright yellow irises.
Giving one final yell of pain, Natsuki pushed herself back onto her hind legs. A howl replaced the yell as her wolf broke through and took over entirely.
Where Natsuki was now, she had no idea. She looked around, but found no clue as to the forest she was in.
She was currently standing in a large, open patch of grass. Everywhere she looked, trees surrounded her. No buildings, no landmarks, nothing. Just... forest.
"Hello?" She called out, looking around to see if anyone heard her. Doubtful. "Is there anyone-"
Before she could finish calling out, a loud howl answered her. She wasn't alone.
Turning her head to the same direction, she saw the form of a pure white wolf stalking her. It's yellow eyes stared into her pink irises.
End of chapter 10