The Lycan Games

Chapter 10: Don't Open the Door

Genevieve runs through the woods. She's out of breath, soaking wet, and starting to freeze. The tips of her fingers have no sensation. She can barely feel her toes. Her mind races. When will the werewolves catch up? How fast can they find a way over the river? And will she find safety in time?

Genevieve begins to climb a ridge. She crawls up, grasping onto shrubs, small bushes, and large ferns to pull her up. Once at the top, she can see a valley below. And in the valley, twinkling light and billowing smoke from a chimney. Genevieve's eyes widen with hope -- it's a cabin. No - it's way more than a cabin. It's her ticket out of these fucking woods.  

In the distance, howling breaks the air. It sends chills down Genevieve's spine. What is she waiting for? Genevieve bolts, straight towards the cabin and into the valley. 

---

A wood cabin. Warm and cozy. Taxidermy animals grace the walls. An older man hobbles around the home, cooking. A cast iron pan sizzling on the wood-burning stove holds two charred sausages. The old man removes the pan, setting it aside. The older man begins to hum. A folk song of some sort. Laugh lines frame his warm eyes. He's content. Not a care in the world. Little does he know he's being watched. 

---

Genevieve peers through a window. Shivering from the cold, she watches the older man. How safe he looks, and warm. But she's not sure. Is he one of them? Can he be trusted? She glances around the room. Looking for signs of danger. But what she finds is a sign of safety -- the taxidermied head of a wolf. Fangs protruding, glistening eyes, coarse fur, and very dead.  

---

The older man opens a cupboard. Inside, various plates and mismatched cups. He pulls two plates and two chipped glasses. Behind them, a bottle of light brown liquid. Romania brandy. The cheaper variety.  He pours two glasses and sips heavily from one, then refills what he just drank. 

Then, a sudden urgent knock on the door. The older man sets down his bottle and casually approaches the door, still humming away. He moves with a little bit of a limp. The passage of time shows in his gait. 

The knocking hits the door again. This time more urgent. The older man calls out "Stai. Vin." [Hold on. I'm coming]. 

The older man gets to the door and unlocks it. Before he can open the door, Genevieve barrels her way in. She slams the door behind her and re-locks it. The older man's eyes widen. He didn't expect Genevieve. "Ce se întâmplă? [what is going on?] he shouts out. 

Genevieve is in a panic. She rattles out as much as she can as quickly as she can. "I need help. Do you have a car? We have to get out of here. It's not safe. There are people out there. Wolves. They are coming!"

The older man doesn't understand English, but he can clearly tell Genevieve is in need of help. He grabs a blanket and attempts to put her around her shoulders. He urges her, "Vă rog. Trebuie să te calmezi [please you need to calm down].

Genevieve swipes away the blanket. "No! Please. We don't have time. We have to go. Now!"

A knock at the door interrupts them. 

Genevieve goes dead quiet. Fear crosses her eyes. The older man eyes Genevieve for a moment, then goes for the door. Genevieve panics. She grabs a hold of the old man and whispers harshly at him "No. Don't open it." 

The older man pulls away from her. Genevieve grabs him again and pulls with all her might. The older man almost falls over but manages to free himself from Genevieve's desperate grip. Genevieve reels back. She crashes to the floor as the older man glares at her.

"Ce s-a întâmplat [what is wrong?]" he asks. 

Genevieve points at the door and shakes her head. "Don't open it."

Another knock at the door. The older man scoffs in disbelief and then moves to the door, muttering "Copii proști [stupid kids] as he goes. 

All is lost for Genevieve. She crawls backward, further into the cabin and away from the door. 

---

The older man unlocks the door and swings it open. "Bine că ești aici. [good thing you are here]" he says. 

"Într-adevăr? De ce asta? [Really. Why's that?]" a voice responds in broken Romanian. That voice belongs to Rob. He enters the cabin. He looks tired and stressed. As if the weight of the world is on his shoulders. However, he still moves with a sense of duty. 

The older man closes the door and follows after him. "Puteți vorbi cu...[you can speak to...]" the older man looks towards the kitchen and then trails off. He looks around the cabin. Rob eyes him, confused. But just for a moment. Then it dawns on him. 

"Cineva aici? [someone here?]" Rob asks. Then the sound of a gun being cocked breaks the air. 

Rob spins around and finds Genevieve behind him. "Don't fucking move" she says, while aiming the gun right between his eyes.