A Dangerous Condition
And here she is again, round and beautiful in the sky. It's Full Moon, so time for another furry, howling story. This was, as usual, inspired by a Daily Prompt story starter where somebody doesn't want war but war is forced on him. Enjoy the story and enjoy the Full Moon!
A Dangerous Condition
John took the key to the lock and walked in. It always felt safer at home. He went to the kitchen and prepared his special tea which always made sure his condition was stable. Around that time of the month it was always so hard to stay under control but so far he had managed.
However, he suspected his coworkers and team leader were getting suspicious, something which added to his distress. But all he wanted was to live a normal life. He wanted a job, friends, possibly even a wife one day. He didn’t want to be a father though. After all, he had inherited his condition from his father, something he would never want to transmit to his offspring. His condition would die with him.
He took the hot, steamy mug and sat on the couch. Watching some TV would definitely help him relax, but not even one minute after he sat, his mobile rang. His team leader’s name, Nick, popped on the screen. John considered not to answer but he was too dutiful and honest not to.
“Hey, Nick.”
“Hey, John. Sorry to bug ya.”said the voice on the other side, one that was clearly not sorry. “It’s just that a last minute issue came up and I need your help here. Can you be in the office within the next hour or so? Kinda urgent.”
John sighed and took a long sip before answering.
“Not a good idea, Nick, to be honest I’m not feeling well at the moment. Anything I can sort out by email?”
“Well, it’s something that requires your full attention and I’d rather have you here. Or I can also go to your place with my laptop, if you prefer?”
Nick at his place was an even worse idea than going back to the office. John was stuck. He thought of his father who had committed suicide after realising his condition was about to be discovered. Really discovered... And it wasn’t something like an autoimmune or a mental disease. It was something far worse... far more dangerous. John had hated his father’s prosecutors but he had decided to stay in
the shade, away from the spotlight. He didn’t want to suffer the same fate. He took his hand to his silver pendant hanging from his neck. Along with his tea, that object was doing a great job keeping him under control. But he never really knew...
“John? You still there?”
“Nick, I really don’t feel well. I apologise but this has to wait until tomorrow.”
And he hung up before Nick could reply. His forehead was covered with sweat. He finished his mug and started preparing to go to sleep. It would be over in just a couple of days, as always, he would just need to hang in there. Nick didn’t call again but just as John was getting into his pajamas, his door rang. It was just after 22h, who could that be?
“John, open the door, please. This cannot wait. I have Maggie here with me.”
Maggie was Nick’s PA. John liked her and they had gone for drinks twice but she lost her interest when he admitted to a condition.
“John, what’s wrong with you? Are you aware that this might cost your job?”
Against his will, John opened the door, even on his pajamas. He could never have expected what followed. Nick pushed the door open, followed by Maggie and pointed a gun to his forehead. John nearly fell on the floor in shock.
“Not even a movement, John. There are a few silver bullets inside.”
John coughed, his heart beat quickening and the blood boiling. Shocks and bad surprises were not good for his condition. Not good at all.
“I don’t understand...” he babbled, his mouth filling with saliva and his whole body sweating. “You both need to get out of here.”
“Why, John? What are you afraid of? That we find out you are like your father? Did you really think we wouldn’t investigate your past?”
John looked at Maggie. She was frowning in pain, as if telling him she had had no choice.
“I”m so sorry, John. They made me tell them you had something... I couldn’t lose my job. I didn’t know what it was but they found out. I’m so sorry.”
They heard the police sirens outside. It was a trap. Nick wanted to lure him to the office to catch him, but since John had refused, he didn’t even have second thoughts about catching him in his own flat.
“Stop it, Nick. Neither I nor my father have ever hurt anyone. We know what to do to control ourselves.”
“That can always change and I cannot run risks.”
“Then shoot me now. What are you waiting for?” a spasm took over his spine. Aconitum tea wasn’t enough when the survival instinct took over.
“Nah.” Nick said with a laugh. “I want you to transform. Imagine how I will be treated, how famous and rich I will be when they find out I caught... a werewolf.”
John’s body hunched forward and he shouted. Maggie screamed in panic, but Nick grabbed her arm tight and pushed her to him.
“Sorry, sweetie. If he attacks, you will go first.” he said, using her as a shield between him and John who, by now, had hair covering his whole body.
“Please...” Maggie cried, horrified, her body shaking with the idea of being torn into shreds by that monster.
John growled as his teeth and claws grew. He heard the cops shouting in the corridor, a buzz so loud it only enraged him further. He had never planned on attacking them. He had never planned on attacking anyone. He didn’t want revenge nor war. But now war was being brought to him. He had no choice.
By the time the police arrived, his transformation was complete. They shot normal bullets against his body but nothing would stop him. It was that time of the month when the moon is full, nothing could. Nick even dropped his gun, now not so sure of himself. Maggie managed to escape the bloodbath that followed, screaming through the corridor as if she had lost her mind. Some neighbours opened the door to see what happened. They weren’t spared either.
John ran away through the night in his wolf-shaped body. When he woke up the following day, he was naked and covered with blood. The last thing he remembered was seeing Maggie shielding Nick as the cops shouted outside. But he knew what he had done. There was no way he could escape now, he had nowhere to run to. Worst of all, he couldn’t let that happen again. There was only one thing left for him to do. Do what his father had done. His body was found later, hanging from a tree branch. All his dreams had died with him, but so had the condition. The curse.
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Enjoyed this story? Check my other Werewolf Stories, which I post every Full
Moon:
Officer Brooks' Creepy Blue Eyes
Midnight Shift at the Zoology Museum
Or some of my non-werewolf stories:
You Were Supposed To Be My Best Friend
Fluffy, the Spiteful Cat
Behold the Brave New World
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