Renaissance of Chaos

VIII

    The car had barely pulled into the driveway when James had unbuckled his seatbelt and was ready to jump out the door and rush inside when he noticed his older brother's car parked barely two spots away. Icicles ran down his spine and he froze in place, with his hand on the car handle. He could feel the strength leave his body and he was unsure if he could walk should he leave the vehicle. Did he even do the right thing by coming? What would he even tell his brother? That he was concerned after almost being ran over at a red light and decided to come?

He barely thought about it when he asked Alfred to give him a ride. His mind was filled with horrible scenarios, what ifs which made his stomach churn and anxiety pour in his bloodstream, suffocating every cell in his body. He could think of nothing but how to get to the hospital and be by his brother's side and did everything he could to reach this goal. But now, when his sibling was so close, he was frozen, insecurity seeping into his mind and whispering doubts into his ears.

Did he have any right to be there?

"Everything ok, buddy?" Alfred asked, concern gnawing at the sight of his friend's face growing paler and paler.

Despite his lanky appearance, James was a strong man who had been through a lot and wasn't easily shaken. Thus, seeing him worked up and on the verge of a panic attack was putting the other on the edge as well. Not knowing what was going on didn't help either. He was enjoying his vacation only an hour ago when his phone rang and when he answered, he was welcomed by his best friend's frightened voice as he rambled on and on about something horrible going on with his sibling. He didn't wait a moment longer. He grabbed his car keys and drove all the way to the town to pick him up and take him to the hospital.

The drive had been silent, but tense. James stood still, almost like a statue, had it not been for the constant fidgeting of his fingers, tapping incessantly against his knee. Alfred had to stifle a laugh. It was always funny to see how much of Gertrude had rubbed off on him. Perhaps he'll make fun of it one day, but not now.

Alfred took a deep breath and placed a hand on James' shoulder.

"Hey! It's going to be ok, alright? I may know nothing about your family, but I know you, and if they are one bit like you, then they won't go down easy." he patted the other on the shoulder, doing his best to offer comfort.

James relaxed a bit, but he was still tense, his muscles strained with anxiety. He struggled to give Alfred a reassuring smile, but all he could manage was a slight twitch of his lips.

"T-thanks Alfred. I..." he paused and looked away, movement in the parking lot drawing his attention.

He flinched the moment his eyes lied on an old man, hair stark white, back straight and pace calm but slightly rushed. He looked like an ordinary human by all intents and purposes, and yet, he wasn't anything but that. As someone entailed with the supernatural since young, James knew how to tell between humans and monsters. He had developed a strong automatonophobia in the first years, but as time passed by, he learned how to control it better, to the point where he didn't even flinch when he came into contact with vampires or werewolves in disguise. This time however, he could not control it. He froze, his body breaking into a sweat, a great shiver taking over. He tried to look away, but he couldn't tear his eyes away from him, his gaze ever following him.

He wasn't the only one though. Alfred's hands gripped the steering wheel hard enough for his nails to dig into the leather. His control over his form was loosening, as fur began to cover his enlarging body, pointy dog ears emerging from the messy stack of brown hair on his head. His jaw was widening, teeth elongating and turning sharper, like the fangs of a beast.