The forest was lush and green, and felt serene, nothing could be heard except bird chirps, and crunching pine needles underfoot. I sniffed the air, catching unique smells, overshadowed by pungent stench of pine that it stung my nose. Unfortunately it wasn't strong enough to cover the– unpleasant smells. At least the animals that left them behind had been gone while.

 

Another deep breath, and I caught the faint smell of a foreign cologne. I have an amazing nose that could put a bloodhound to shame. It was a good party trick in college, and then it helped me become a tracker. I had been tracking that smell on foot for two days.

I hated that I was forced to walk the whole way. I was exhausted. If only I had a car, or heck even a bike, then maybe I would have caught up to those monsters, the ones that took my friends. If it wasn't for my nose I would have lost them forever. Lucky for me the smell had stayed on the road for many miles, but luck doesn't last forever. The smell led off road, and the trail was hard to follow. Where ever it went, it wasn't going to be easy. The smell of fuel, and the occasional imprint of tire tracks had kept me hopeful that I could find my best friend Kate. She had been with me through all the hard times, and even more so, while the world burned. Together we could do anything. Everything was fine for us. We even had a group of our own, and we all were surviving together. It was all ruined when they were ambushed. Our group learned about the protected strongholds in America still controlled by the Government, one was close to us in Idaho. We had decided we could backpack through the country, and make it there. It was going to be safe behind those walls. I was gathering supplies from an abandoned mart when it happened. It's my regret. Why was I so lucky? I wished I could have been there, then I could have done something. Of coarse what could a girl like me have done? bite them, kicking and screaming along with the others? All I had was a dagger. Would that have been enough?

 

It had been so long since I slept, and I was near collapse, trudging for several hours, praying that I could find something, anything. I was about to lose hope, but then finally my prayers were answered. The fuel's smell had gotten stronger. That meant that the vehicle had to be close. I ignored my aching legs, picked up the pace, and sniffed like my life depended on it. I caught a whiff of that damn cologne, and I chased it down like a hound.

It led me out of the dense part of the forest, opening into valley surrounded by the mountains. It was a beautiful scene. Just ahead there was a pick-up parked by a building, and around the area dirt that had been excavated was piled into large mounds. I hid behind one of them as I scoped the area. This place looked like some kind of mineral quarry.

When I got closer I noticed the cage tied on the back of the pick-up. I felt enraged imagining my friends locked in it like animals driven across the state. I was going to make those bastards pay! I moved in like an assassin towards the pick-up, being careful not to be spotted. I was nervous the entire way. I didn't want to blow my chance to get my friends out. I checked inside the vehicle , and to my surprise the keys were still in the ignition. What luck! Silently I opened the door, and grabbed the keys. It had a key chain of a scantily woman. Gross.

I pulled my dagger out of my belt, and went on the prowl, prancing on light feet towards the entrance. I walked up the stairs, and wiggled the handle, and of coarse it was locked. When one door is locked another one is opened, they say. I checked around the building and found a garage door slightly opened. Lucky again. I imagined I could crawl under there, so I laid on my stomach, peeking into the dark room, hoping with every fiber of my being that I wouldn't be seen.

 

I couldn't see anything inside, because it was so dark, I had to stare into the void for several seconds, until my eyes adjusted to finally see that it was crowded with boxes, and two nice looking cars. One of them had to be a Mercedes, and the other was some kind of race car. It looked expensive. I shimmied in, and sneaked close to the expensive one. My nerves were on high alert, I had to take a moment to calm down, while I assessed the situation.

 

The stench of the room smelt stale, there was something off about this place that crawled on my skin. In a crouch I crept from behind the car, and made my way to the front.

 

A door clicked open, and the echo of foot steps clacked across the garage. I doubled back behind the car, trying to stay quiet. My heart thumped in my throat. A man casually walked in the garage, stopping mid step, and turned towards where I was hiding. I shrink back, thinking small, holding my breath, hearing the footfalls coming closer. Dang it, did he see me? I prayed I didn't have to take a life. would I be able to? It was ridiculous that I was hesitant. I came here with that intention in mind. I would do what ever it took, and while I gripped the dagger at the ready, I was afraid. I couldn't crumble now. I had to do this is for Kate. I shifted my weight ready to strike, and then, out of shear happenstance a mouse, resting by my boot got spooked and ran from underneath the car, and out of the garage, squealing for its life. “Ah, only a Mouse,” he said chuckling halfheartedly. His footstep's echo diminished, and I let out the air I held in so tightly. I was feeling light headed. That was too close. I peeked over the car, and the man's head disappeared down into the floor. He went down a flight of stairs.

Tip toeing around the railing, I peered into the depths that were poorly lit. My heart paced again, I tried to swallow, but my throat was dry. I descended and holding the dagger so tightly that my knuckles were pale. The smell was thicker here. I'm not sure what I was expecting from a dank basement, but it was foul. The guy hidden from my view clicked open a door, and clacked it back shut. It gave me the courage to reach the bottom, and I found a hiding place behind crates stacked on each other. The lighting was poor, but I could hear people, and when I looked over my crate my heart sunk. This was madness! Why in our day? These people were locked up like Animals crammed together in one cell.

The door that the man closed opened again. I ducked down behind the mess. I couldn't see what was happening I could only listen as the cage was opened, and then girls were dragged out. That sounded just like...

The door shut, and I made my move across the room to the prisoners. When they spotted me I held a finger to my lips, and so many words were passed in silence. We had an understanding.

 

I pulled the keys from my pocket. and there were multiple. I had to try them all.

“Wendy?” a soft quiet voice said my name. I paused. I looked frantically, and I saw her, Shanna, a friend from our group. “Shanna,” I whisper. I reach for her in the bars. “Shanna. I can't believe it” I said my voice an inaudible whisper. I pulled away, testing the keys, and one of them fit! I twisted the lock, and a sigh of freedom flushed through all of them. I opened it quietly, and people poured out. Whispering “Quiet,” “Keep it down,” “Thank you.”

I embraced Shanna as they escaped. “Where is everyone?” I whisper.

 

She pulled me to follow her “It's not safe,” she said.

 

I stood firm “I'm not leaving with out the others.”

“Wendy, they're gone,” she said.

My heart stopped. My eyes darted towards the door. The girl was Kate. I knew it. I felt it.

 

Shanna interpreted my intention. Her grip was tighter pulling on me. Her eyes weld up in tears. “It's too late. They're monsters.”

“You, go.” I pushed her “Go.” She struggled with her self, but then ran. I admit it hurt, but I understood. She disappeared up the stairs, and I turned towards the door. I planned my attack as I ran at it, getting angrier with each step. Stab them all, I thought. I twisted the knob, pushed into it with my shoulder, and slammed it open.

This was a room of nightmares. It will haunt me forever. I froze, looking at all the blank faces, men detaching from bloody necks. My breath left my body. Right in front of me was Kate, lifeless. The man holding her in the center of the room smiled with a bloody grin, while he sat in a throne. He let her drop to the floor, discarded her like she was nothing. He stood up tall. He was a large man, and staring up at him was like looking into darkness itself, his eyes beacons in the void. I didn't expect this, I–I...

I ran. A deep voice shouted behind me “Get her!” I pumped my legs up the stairs. I'm nimble, I could escape. I could slide underneath the garage door no problem, and– I reached three steps before hands grabbed me.

I turned on them, swinging my dagger, catching a man in the chest. He yelped in pain, and doubled back. I swiped wildly at the rest keeping them at knife length. I didn't have a chance. One dipped under my swing, and smashed me into the wall, then tore the knife from my hand. I tried my hardest, but it was no use. They pulled me back into the room to face the man.

He was in the room hands behind his back, waiting for them to pose me in front of him. He walked nonchalantly towards me. “The prisoners are gone.” the man holding me said. The man showed intrigue “tisk tisk” he said speechless for words.

His eyes crept all over me, and finally he spoke. “You came down here all on your own, Little one, and freed my prisoners?” he paused. “But why did you not leave with them?” He spoke rhetorically. I glimpsed at Kate, and he noticed. He looked around the room at all the bodies before stopping on hers. “I see, and you thought you could save her too.”

I clenched my teeth so hard I feared they would break. My response was silent distaste. He held his hand up to the man holding my dagger, and with a wordless command the dagger ended in his palm. He checked its edge. “You want vengeance. I can see that.” He grabbed my wrist, and forcefully placed the handle into my grip. With a wave of his hand the others released me, and stood at the door. I looked at the dagger perplexed.

“Go on. Try and get your Justice,” he said.

 

His nonchalant attitude made me so angry. He sounded so arrogant. I was stuck between him and them, and there was no other way out of this, so I didn't care, because I was dead anyways, so I would kill as many of them as I could.

 

I lunged at his neck with a swipe, and he stepped aside gracefully. I swiped and stabbed, and swiped again. I felt played with as he danced around me, while his friends laughed and hollered. I hated his smile, I swiped at his face, and he dodged, parrying with a slap to my face. I tried again, he pushed me off balance, and I hit the floor, banging my knee, but that didn't stop me. I got up despite the voice inside my head that cried I can't do this. I ignored it, because I have to do this. I charged him, yelling with all my might. I couldn't hold back, I wanted him dead.

I slipped under his arm, and the blade sunk between his ribs. He exhaled a pained grunt. I twisted the dagger pushing into the muscle, savoring the feeling, pushing with all my body. That smile was gone. I did it. At least I killed him before I died; However, The hole wasn't bleeding. When I thought it was over, he grabbed my clenched fist, and with a steady strength the knife slid out. I was nowhere strong enough to keep it in. He grabbed my hair, and pulled firmly on my scalp. It was painful. It forced me to let go of the knife. I could see the wound sewing itself together.

His laugh vibrated in my rib cage. “Good, very good. You are fun.”

“What are you?” I said.

He smiled big like I made a funny joke. He was so close to my face that I could see his canines, sharp and elongated. He got even closer and sniffed my hair, pulling on my curls. I hated every second being so close to those hungry eyes. Those sharp teeth. Any movement away from him was punished with a tug on my hair.

“Do you not know what I am?” he says

“You're a monster.”

He found it amusing. I hated him so much. I wish he were dead.

“You know it. I can see it in your eyes Go on then, Say it.” He gripped my hair tighter. It hurts no matter how much I struggle.

“Say it!” he yelled.

“You're a vampire.”

Content with my answer he loosened his grip. “Yes. A Legend in the flesh.” He sees my expression, and laughed again. “Now what do you think boys. Should I have her, or keep her as a pet. They cackled like hyenas, chanting “Bite, bite, bite.”

He brought me into a hug. I pushed against him, but he was too strong. He grabbed my face forcing my chin with his thumb to expose my neck. I couldn't free myself. I felt his lips on my neck, kissing me playfully, then his teeth punctured in. I felt a jolt in my body. I felt sick, I knew then that I was dying. I raged, something inside of me broke, and I fought like beast against it's restraints. What is happening? In ten heart beats I felt a change. I wasn't getting weaker. I was getting stronger. I pushed him off, and he stumbled back.

 

My blood dripped from his lips, and he watched me perplexed. I looked down at my hands and in moments I no longer saw my hands, but claws of a creature, I felt hair growing from all over my body, and was I getting taller? I saw him, and anger came over me, nothing else mattered but seeing him destroyed.

I leaped at him with powerful legs that aren't my legs, and my mouth was not my mouth, but jaws rowed with sharp teeth that chomped on his arm, and claws digging into his chest. He growled in anger, punching on my snout. The others were on me in seconds, attempting to control me, but I swiped them away with my claws. Despite my incredible strength. He wasn't going down easy. Each hit was inhumanly strong, and the others pulled me off him, and had me cornered. If they were human I'd have an advantage, but they weren't. The beast decided it wanted to survive. Instinct took over, and so I ran. My powerful legs pushed off the ground, and the distance to the stairs was nothing. Jumping up the stairs was effortless. On all fours I crawled through the opening of the garage, and I ran towards the forest faster than I have ever ran in my life. My senses were strong. My sight, smell, and hearing were overbearing, and the Beast completely took over, and I got lost in it.

***

He ripped the torn shirt off of his body, and threw it on the ground. “After her!” he yelled. The other vampires stumbled over themselves getting to the garage. What the hell was that?! He thought. He walked after them, seeing the empty cage made his blood boil. Perhaps more legends exist? He thought. Could she really be? When he was turned into a vampire he never thought it could be possible, but vampires exist, so what does that mean about the other legends? The gears in his mind spun. He was gaining a new intrigue. He had to catch that thing, and understand it. He wanted her.

He emerged from the basement, blinded by the light from the open garage. And of course those bumbling Idiots were standing around. He marched outside “What's wrong!” he bellowed. Zane was frantically looking on the ground.

“Ajani, the keys. They are gone!” Robby said.

“Bah!” why are you bothering with keys, run after her on foot!”

“Did you not see? We wouldn't catch her even if we tried,” He said.

He raised a hand to strike, and Robby flinched. He loved that reaction. “Find the spare key. We are going hunting.”

He went into the old office room in the building that he and his crew refurbished into a living space. He grabbed a two hundred dollar button up shirt, from the drawer he stole from an abandoned outlet, the most expensive one there. In the mirror he adjusted the wrinkles and fixed the cuffs of his purple silk shirt. It made him smile, to look so good. He definitely had come a long way, and it would only get better from here.

Outside the truck idled, waiting for Ajani and Robby opened the door for him, then Robby jumped in the back to sit with the cage. “Lets go.” Ajani said tapping the side of the door. The driver put it into gear, and the truck set off into the woods.

***

It was disorienting waking up in the woods. It's definitely something I didn't want to get used to. My memories were fogged over, and I had a headache. I didn't remember how I ended up here. I thought back to what happened, wondering how much time had passed. The moon in the sky told me it was nearing night; however, It struck me odd that it wasn't darker, I didn't reflect on it long, because as the brain fog went I felt the wetness on my face. I wiped away the saliva, and my hand was covered in red. It's actually blood. I exclaimed an “Ugh!” and I wipe my face with my sleeve. Was it mine? I didn't feel hurt, there was not real blood on my body either. I got off the ground, and I cried out a “Yelp.” In front of me in the grass laid a grotesque site of a dead deer ripped apart. It shocked my memory and I remembered being that thing, running through the forest, running then pouncing on a deer. Oh no...Oh God. Did I?..

 

I wasn't hungry, and that disturbed me deeply. I slumped back onto the ground, and cried. What's happening to me? Was this a mutation? I've heard of that happening. The world was changing, but what kind of mutation would evolve like this? this was crazy! I changed into a beast. Or was this something else. Could the monster myths be real? That man believed he was a vampire. Did that mean I'm a werewolf? Am I a werewolf?! Since when? It dawned on me before I completed the thought. I always had a good nose. It was my super power. It was my quirk that made me feel so different, but maybe it was a symptom of something more. It would explain a lot, but never in my life had I ever transformed, then again maybe it's because I've never been that close to death. The beast saved me when I was inches from it. I look at my body with a different appreciation, and awe, I feel for the bite holes in my neck, and they are gone. Now I am just delusional. It couldn't have been a dream, but how could I tell? Even the clothes I was wearing were intact! With my transformation they should've been torn. Just like the movies, but I don't remember that at all, just like that I was a naked furry werewolf. I had to pinch myself just to make sure I was awake. The pain was convincing enough. I checked my pockets, and sure enough I still had the keys to their pick-up. I tossed that ornament down in disgust.

“Well, what do I do now?” I sat in the grass, and I began to cry again. “Kate, what do I do?” I was alone in this god-forsaken world. I had thought everything would be ok, just as long as the both of us were doing it together. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry...

***

“Easy.” said Ajani, holding onto the handle bar. His driver hit every bump. “Drive slower we need to keep our eyes peeled.”

“Yes sir,” said Zane.

Five hours, and still no luck. He knew he could find her. It would just take time. He could find anyone he wanted, as long as he bit them. He never could explain it. Some kind of connection, like a magnet, pulling ever so faintly on his soul. When he bit someone they would never live long enough for him to test it, but his followers he could track to the ends of the world. He could almost know their exact location when he focused enough, but the pull on her was weak. It was a mystery that he found bemusing. Maybe he didn't drink enough of her blood, maybe her inner beast was jamming the signal. It was something he would have to experiment with at the end of the hunt.

“Stop,” Ajani said abruptly. The truck stopped roughly, and he got out. He closed his eyes and meditated, He felt a humming that vibrated like a tuning fork getting more excited the closer he got. It wasn't an exact science. only a vague gut feeling. He sniffed, and smelled blood. Another unique skill. Like a shark he could smell blood for miles. He kneeled in a patch of flattened grass, and saw carcass remains. He was getting warmer. The blood was freshly spilt. She couldn't be far, he thought to himself.

Something twinkled for a moment. He wasn't sure what it was, “Flashlight,” He commanded. Robby hopped off the truck, and handed it too him. He swept the light in the spot where he got a glimpse, and he sees a reflection. He picked up the shiny little key chain. “She was definitely here.” he said to them. “Follow me with the truck.” He walked forward smelling the blood, feeling the pull.

***

I heard an engine, and saw the lights of the pick-up, “Damn”. I scurried into the bushes in a panic, and hid like prey. If only I could change on demand. Would I be able to? Would the beast save me when I needed it most? I couldn't afford to get lucky twice.

I had no idea what he was doing. He walked in one direction, stopped, then walked a different way, feeling the air like a weirdo.

“I know you are out there,” he said, “Come out, and we can talk.”

I calmed my breath, listened, and didn't move.

“I didn't catch your name before, what do I call you?”

He acted so casual like he didn't just try to murder me.

“Ah of course. I shouldn't be so rude. My name is Ajani.” he said. I could hear him rustle through the grass, trying to sneak up on me. If I stayed here he would find me, but if I moved anywhere I'd give myself away. I decided to do the dumbest thing, and jumped out in the open held up my middle finger, and ran.

“This way!” he said in a booming voice. The lights started to follow me. What luck. I asked for that. Could only blame myself.

 

“Don't run. I won't hurt you. I only want to talk.”

“I don't care!” I yelled back. My path ended in a large ditch. It was too wide for me to possibly jump to the other side, but at least I could try. It was either try, or get caught... I reached the ledge, and pushed off with all my strength, and to my surprise I landed on the other side, not skipping a beat in my run. I looked back, and he was about to do the same thing. I guess if I could he could too. I looked again, and of course the ditch didn't stop him at all. The truck screeched to a halt, and steered off. The pick-up thankfully wasn't able to try it, but it didn't stop it from trying to find a path.

Ajani's Heavy breathing was ringing in my ears. He grunted in frustration trying to catch up to me.

I curse, and scream into the depths of my soul “How do I call you?” The Beast stayed dormant, It wasn't helping

I broke out of the trees onto a road connected to the remains of a town. All the houses and fences, and playgrounds were emptied, rusted, and falling apart. Now my plan was to lose them in the neighborhood. I jogged until my lungs began to burst, and with one last effort weaved between houses, and from his view I picked a fence and vaulted over. “Damn it!” I panted, while I tried to breath. My diaphragm worked overtime to shove air in my lungs, and I was going to throw up. By mere chance I slipped, and wasn't spotted.

 

From the gaps in the fence I saw Ajani stop as well, looking every which way for me. He stood there trying to catch his breath. I am cooked. I thought to myself. The pick-up's beams rolled into view, at the beginning of the cul-desac. The men jumped out, and he signaled for them to spread out. The men span out everywhere. “She couldn't have gotten far.” he said.

I had to get out of here. I wished for a little luck, and that's when I heard the snarling. I turn around, and a mongrel had snuck up on me. This is what a mutation looked like. The animal to some degree was a dog, but there were grotesque changes to its anatomy, longer claws, crooked teeth, excessive skin, and it looked like it hadn't eaten in days. I stood still as a statue, looking around for some way to defend myself, then stepped ever so slowly to the other side of the yard. Maybe I could escape by jumping the other side of the fence, and not be seen by the men.

 

I stepped on a squeaky toy. I felt the failure in my entire body. The dog barked at me. “No, no, sh, sh,sh” I said in vain. I knew they were already heading my way, but that didn't matter, because I thought the dog would get to me first. With a stroke of genius I kicked the squeak toy at it, which was a gamble on my part, that could have cost me my life, but the dog instead of ripping my throat out, attacked the toy. With out a second thought I ran to the other side of the fence I grasped the top of the fence and kicked my legs up, and rolling over to the other side. I landed with a thud, and scrambled back up, already calculating my next step.

 

***

Ajani heard the barking, and signaled everyone to hone in on the noise. He was quick to investigate, getting to the yard, and hoisting himself over, landing in a spot with a dog chewing on some kind of toy. The startled dog didn't hesitate, charging at Ajani with a leap to his throat. He caught the hound by it's throat and squeezed. The enraged dog kicked and snarled until it slumped to the ground with a broken neck.

He rubbed his eyes. “I need to slow down,” he said to himself, “Feel the pull.”

He relaxed his shoulders, and summoned the power. The faint heart beat that was so close. What direction was it? The Men caught up, and waited for him to finish what ever they thought he was doing, not wanting to interrupt. When he noticed they were there, he walked in the direction of the pull. “She went back this way. Lets go.” he said to them. His patience was running thin.

The pull lead him back to the truck, and his jaw dropped. The girl was opening the door, and hopping in. What did she think she was doing? The engine flared up. He jumped into a stride of an Olympic runner, and the others did what they could to keep up. The lights blare in his eyes. “No!” He had her key. He pumped his legs faster than he had ever pumped them before, but it was too late. The truck drove away, a hand stuck out the window in the familiar gesture. He stopped, and stared at the vehicle as it disappeared.

 

He turned, and looked at Zane, who was pale. Ajani shortened the distance between them, grabbed him by the shirt and punched him in the face “You left the keys in the truck! AGAIN!” He punched him again, and again, growling in anger, Then in a spurt of aggression he bit his neck, and drank. Zane struggled, but didn't have the strength of his master.

Ajani spat out a chunk of flesh, dropping the man with a hard thud. Finally his rage had calmed to a steady storm, He looked at the other two. “This is not over! Back to base!” Robby, and Pete didn't need to be told twice.

The entire walk he focused on that pull, the thump of a heart beat ever so faint, but still there.

“She is going to pay.”