Chapter 01: A Scary Night

ASHLEY

Like every other night we were all seated right there at the table. The atmosphere was filled with our laughter, and for the first time in what felt like forever, there was peace.

The stew bubbled in the pot, rich with spices mama had been saving for a special day.

Ezra was halfway through telling a story about how the day had gone and I was laughing so hard my sides ached at his wits.

“You’re telling me,” I wheezed between giggles, “That you slipped face-first into manure trying to impress your crush?”

Ezra scowled, his cheeks reddened. “It was dark, okay? I thought it was a pile of hay.”

Father joined as well and burst out laughing, slapping the table like he'd explode if he hadn't. Even my mother, who was always trying to keep the peace between us, was hiding a smile behind her napkin.

For a moment, I looked around the table of what was my happy family. A smile creeped over my face as I wished to myself that this could be forever.

Well the moment of silence wasn't for long as the first howl shattered everything.

It rang out across the village like a war cry, low yet guttural, listening to it left a feeling that felt soaked in malice. We froze, all of us at the table …Even the fire seemed to dim.

I could literally feel every bit of that moment like it had life and was breathing.

Ezra’s fork clattered to his plate bringing us all back to the moment. My father's eyes darted from him to the window, then to the sword leaning against the doorframe.

“No,” he whispered. “It’s too soon.” he muttered to my mother who had clung me to herself.

I could hear my heart racing, I knew what that sound was.

I thought about the stories I’d heard as a child, of werewolves, of the cursed ones who lived in the mountains. Of humans who never survived the bite.

All that whole time it had seemed to me as feeble but this time it felt real, too surreal.

Another howl came this time louder and closer and then the screams, screams that made your blood run cold.

At this time no one needed to tell us what was coming , we all knew.

Mother stood quickly, rushing toward the kitchen window. Her hand flew to her mouth. “The barns, the barns are on fire!”

Father grabbed the sword. “Ezra, take your sister. Hide under the table.”

“Father—” My brother stood still resisting the urge to run.

“Now!” he barked.

My brother didn’t hesitate this time. He grabbed my wrist and yanked me to the floor as father yanked open the door. The heat hit us first in waves.

Coughing, I made an effort to muffle the rest of the smoke with my palm.

I heard hooves racing down the road, people crying out for help, the sound of buildings collapsing and burning.

My father stood still, with the sword in hands ready to strike the first being or animal, whatever living soul that walks through the door.

Suddenly, a massive shadow burst through, with wood splintering around us. I screamed as the creature stepped into the firelight.

It wasn’t a man, and it wasn’t a beast either. It was something between. It was a walking nightmare, towering over all of us. Its muscles coiled under dark-matted fur, and there were blood stains on its claws. It was something I had heard only in tales. It was the Lycan King!

I gasped, gripping the table clothes while clinging to my brother, Ezra. He tried to hide his fears but I could see right through his eyes. I could hear both our hearts racing heavily.

Its eyes glowed like burning coals, as he turned to my father who had stood still like a statue.

Gripping my father by his throat, I watched in horror as his sword clattered to the floor before he tossed him into the flames.

Then it happened, I gasped.

The moment his piercing yellow eyes met mine, I knew that was it.

Somewhere I could hear my mother's whimpering voice in the background of all of this, my heart raced heavily as he walked slowly but cautiously to where we were.

With a wave of his hands, the table that had been shielding us was in shatters even before it hit the walls.

For a moment his eyes locked in again with mine, he stood there still like he was shocked or something else intertwined.

Ezra leapt up with the kitchen knife. “Get away from her!”

The beast growled again and swiped.

My brother flew across the room like a ragdoll, his body slamming into the wall with a sickening crack.

“Ezra!” I screamed, crawling toward him, but my mother pulled me back, shoving me behind her.

“No matter what happens,” she whispered, her voice trembling, “You run. You run and you never look back. Promise me.”

I shook my head, tears streaming. “I can’t leave you mother.”

“You must!” Her voice cracked as she spoke.

The creature roared as my mom spun around, arms wide like she could shield me.

My chest tightened, I couldn’t breathe properly. I curled into myself, clutching my sides as memories crashed over me like waves.

“Run, Ashley. Run and never turn back.” My mother’s voice echoed in my head.

“Stop!" I cried out with a voice trembling.

It felt foolish but I was hoping there was a kind of sympathy in this barbaric human – animal.

The beast didn’t stop, it continued to where she had crawled away in a bid to create a sort of distraction.

She didn’t even scream. Mother stood up with a knife aiming to strike big. I watched her fall, her blood hot on my skin, and chin as her body collapsed like a broken doll.

For a minute everything went silent in my head; it was almost like the world had stopped spinning.

I crawled backward blindly, my body shaking so hard I couldn’t tell where the pain was coming from. I felt the heat of flames at my back.

For a brief moment I held her cold hands, her eyes though almost lifeless still whispered the words. Run!

I stumbled through the open back door, my feet slipping on ash. The village was no longer a village, it was a battlefield.

The beasts were everywhere, tearing through homes, tearing through people. Children ran. Mothers screamed. Everyone fought and fell.

I ran, not knowing where I was going.

I just knew I had to move. Keep moving. Don’t stop, I was keeping to her last words.

The forest span before me. My mother used to say it would hide me when the world couldn’t, and now it was my last hope.

So I ran into the trees, the darkness swallowing me whole but with each step I took came many more behind me.

I heard the growl behind, closer, heavier. Each footsteps thundered as the trees groaned as it passed.

I tried to scream, but the air burned my throat. I tripped, crashing into a patch of wet moss. Pain shot through my ankle.

Before I could crawl forward, claws grabbed me by the waist and slammed me onto my back.

The air left my lungs and I choked before turning to look into those fearful red eyes. It was fearful as it pierced down at mine but it left another feeling that felt unknown.

Its shadow blocked the moonlight and my heart stopped.

Even on all fours, he towered over me. His body rippled with power, and fur streaked with blood and ash. His snarl echoed through my bones but again it was those eyes,those cursed, glowing red eyes that stared straight into mine. Not with hunger but with intent.

I tried to move, but he pinned me down. His clawed hand wrapped around my throat not enough to kill me, just enough to silence me from making any sound.

“Please…se.” I whimpered, trembling.

Just then he lowered his head.

“No,” I whispered, tears spilling. “Please…”

I shut my eyes in a bid to breathe my last, and then… I felt it.

They sank into my neck with a searing pain so violent I thought I would explode. I arched my back, screaming. Screaming so hard I didn’t hear myself anymore.

It was like fire was poured into my veins. Like my blood was being ripped away and replaced with ice. My limbs jerked uncontrollably, my chest burned. My vision spun seeking a solace for all the madness.

When he pulled away, through the blur of agony, I saw his face above mine one last time. Expressionless, Like I didn’t matter…Like none of us ever had.

He turned, melting into the shadows of the forest, leaving me shaking, bleeding, and alone.

The last thing I saw before darkness swallowed me was the shape of his massive form disappearing between the trees. And then… nothing.