The Life of Tiger Bensen

Chapter 4, Hunger PART ONE

“You know that moment, when you realize that you've made the biggest mistake of your life and you hope for a chance to go back and fix? Well, this is my chance. I could run away with Andy right now and forget about everything that has happened. But, I'm never going to escape it..am I? Andy is a werewolf and so is Tiger and Tanner...and Jay. Oddly enough, although I'm the only one human, I feel just like them. If I run away with Andy, I'll be leaving behind the one thing that truly makes me happy...but right now, the only thing it's making me is afraid. If I stay, I might never get another chance to start over new. To be myself and not have to keep secrets or have to be afraid of anything,” Maria stopped when she noticed coach has stopped writing. “You're not going to tell my dad are you?” She asked, looking at him with pleading eyes.

“Maria, I have known your family for years. If anything, your father doesn't need to know until you make your choice. I've had Tiger on the team for years- god only knows I suck at my job- but while everyone is pointing that out to me, Tiger is the only one who has ever said anything that was completely opposite. If you stay, you'll know you'll be safe. If you go, you might have more trouble than you think,”

“So, if I may ask, how did you find out about them? Ya know, the werewolves and...everything.,”

“My daughter, Katelyn, went missing when she was five years old. After that my wife and I were never the same. Tigers father found her body out by Lake George..it was mauled by an animal. No one knew what kind of animal. But Tigers father did. He showed me the unspeakable. It was like, just knowing what had happened to my daughter and what did that to her, gave me a feeling of closure. After my wife left me, I had to find out more. That's how I found out about them. That's when your father and I, started our own little hunting club,”

“You hunt them?” Maria asked, becoming frightened. What if he hunts Tiger?

“Not anymore. It was really only the one that had killed my daughter that I was after. But even then, I couldn't kill him. He was only just a boy,” Coach stopped and looked at the time. “I appreciate you stopping by Maria. If you have anything else you want to say, don't be afraid to give me a call,”

“Can I trust you not to tell my father?” She asked.

“Of course. After all, we're like family,” He replied.

Tiger hit the punching bag as hard as he can. Just looking at the dark red color of it made his stomach turn and pull into a knot. He hit it once more, finally calming down.

“What do you mean?” Tiger asked, “You can't just take her away from me-”

“Tiger, it's not taking away if she went willingly,” Said Tanner, holding the punching bag in place as Tiger hits it.

“You're insane. Maria is innocent, she doesn't deserve to be used like that-”

“You're finally starting to care? How sweet,” Said Tanner. Tiger took a swing at his face but Tanner dodged his fist.

“Hey guys, coach just called me,” Said Jay.

“Coach has your number? What does he want? It's Saturday, we don't have practice until next Friday,” Tiger tried taking another swing at Tanner. Again, he missed.

“He said it's about Maria and about that guy Andy. Who's Andy and why wasn't I told about him?” Of course they forgot to keep Jay in the loop. After all, Jay has been taking many sick days from helping out with the entire situation they're in.

Tiger took off his gloves and was about to walk away. He turned back and finally, with one more swing, hit Tanner. “That's for sending her to Andy,” Tiger said, walking out with Jay. After not taking Monks Hood for almost 48 hours, he feels stronger than usual, more aggressive as well.

“So, what do you think coach knows?” Asked Jay.

“I have no idea,” Replied Tiger.

As the reached the school, Tiger noticed coach outside waiting by his car.

“Seems important,” Said Jay. They both got out of the car and headed towards him with caution in every step they took.

“We don't have much time. You need to get Andy away from Maria. Do NOT trust him. He's working for the Werewolf Hunters of the Emergen Knights,”

“How do-”

“There is no time. I know you have a lot of questions but now is not the time, Tiger. I'll explain everything when you've completed the prophecy-”

“What prophecy?” Asked Jay.

“Just listen. Keep her away from Andy. Stay low and whatever you do, do not mention meeting me here. Make sure Maria is somewhere safe where no one but you can find her. Get her as far away from her father as well. He's going to kill her,” Coach said.

“How do you know all of this...how do you know so much?” Asked Tiger, realizing his suspicion was correct.

“Who do you think told me? Maria's father, along with Andy and I, we work for the W.H.O.E.K. But what we do, isn't our choice. Once he says we have to do something, we do it automatically like-”

“You were compelled to...,” Finished Tiger.

“Yes,” Replied Coach. His attention scattered away for a moment towards the trees. “Go,” He said. “I've told you too much,”

Tiger and Jay ran back to their car and when they got in, coach was already on the ground holding his stomach. Blood was dripping from his hands.

“Coach!” Yelled Jay. Tiger pressed on the gas and sped away.

“What the hell just happened?”

“We know too much,” Said Tiger. “We need to think about Maria. We need to get her out of town. We-” Tiger began to see like he was looking through a periscope. Everything turned a purple and blue color and Tiger couldn't help but feel the sudden urge to bite something. All that he was hearing was the sound of a heartbeat. The sound of Maria's heartbeat. It was calm.

“Hey!” Shouted Jay, slapping his hand on Tigers shoulder as he was doing 80. “Did you not hear me? Slow down! My car won't be able to take it anymore,” Tiger did exactly what he said. “I know you're freaked out- I am too! But can you tell me what you're thinking? Whenever you get quiet, something bad always happens,”

“I don't know what came over me. Sorry. Let's stop at Tanners, get.....,” Tigers vision went black and he couldn't hear anything. He blacked out.

When he opened his eyes, Tanner was over him holding a lighter to his eyes.

“This is gonna hurt like a bitch,” Said Tanner. Tigers eyes followed the lighter and down to his arm it went. There was a huge cut that didn't seem to want to heal. Tanner pressed the lighter up to the blood that was oozing out from the cut and within a second, his blood was lit on fire.

“God-” Tiger held his breath and tried to stay calm. “Why aren't I healing?” Screamed Tiger.

“You still have Monks Hood in your system. Usually it goes away quickly....Tiger..”

“I swear I didn't take anymore! Just make it stop! Make it stop hurting!” Tiger yelled. The last time he felt something like this was when he broke his ankle and his wrist from one of the football games.

“I'm trying. I don't even know what form of Monks Hood you've taken-”

“There's different kinds? Aw man...you're screwed,” Said Jay.

“Not helping,” Said Tanner. “Tiger, I need you to stay awake. Do not-” Tigers eyes closed. “...close your eyes,” Tanner finished.

“What if he closed his eyes?” Asked Jay.

“Nothing. I just wanted him to experience this one last time before he turns back into a full werewolf,” Tanner smiled.