The Monster Within

The White Wolf

A lone howl echoed throughout the night, the sound tortured and sorrowful. The wind whipped around a little girl's body, its fury evident in every stinging slap against her skin. It battered against the tall oak trees that blocked its path, the tortured groaning sound threatening to give way to sickening cracks.

Molly was not supposed to be out in the woods. The woods were dangerous at night, especially for an eleven-year-old child. Her Father had always warned her not to venture into the woods alone. She was adamant that she wasn't scared, but she knew she should have listened.

Another tortured call ripped through the air, the wind picking up as if in a battle to drown out the sound. Molly wrapped her arms around her small body, the chill only just beginning to seep into her bones. She hurried forward, a sense of dread filled urgency pushing her to follow the howling sound.

Molly's vision was limited, even with the silvery light of the full moon trickling down. Delicately she picked her way around the treacherous undergrowth of large roots and small shrubbery, her eyes downcast in an effort to prevent herself from tripping. A strong gale of wind slammed into her, urging her to move faster. She picked up the pace until she was running, sprinting through the woods, spindly trees passing by in a dark blur. There was this sense of urgency that Molly could not explain. It was like she was being chased but there wasn't anyone behind her.

A third howl resonated into the night, much closer than the previous two. The soulful sound was excruciating to hear as it tapered out into a high-pitched whine. It was so full of terror and pain that Molly, who prided herself in being the toughest girl at school, wanted to weep in tune to the raw melody of the call.

The sense that something awful was going to happen – or had happened propelled Molly forward. She could feel it like a rock sitting in her gut, a niggling feeling within the depths of her mind that she simply could not ignore.

Someone was going to die.

The thought sent an icy tendril of fear down her spine. She dashed around trees, urging her body to run faster, too shift mid stride. However, in her haste she grew careless with her footing and before she could phase, her foot caught on a root and she crashed to the ground with a yelp. Her knees burned and her hands were scraped raw. Molly didn't need to see them to know that she was bleeding. With a grunt she rolled onto her side, wiping black locks of hair from her eyes. Her eyes darted around, looking for any sign of danger. It was never good to be lying on the ground. She was vulnerable in this position and her instincts roared at her to get up.

There was a rustle in the underbrush, followed by an angry snarl. Molly whipped around, rising to all fours in a low crouch, hackles raised and human teeth bared defensively.

Molly was not sure what to make of the sight before her. She wasn't entirely sure what it was at first. From where she crouched, all she could see was pale flesh and the harsh edge of jagged bones sticking out at unnatural angles. She cocked her head in confusion, but that's when the coppery stench of blood hit her.

She reeled back, finally noticing the pool of blood surrounding the mound of flesh and bones. The metallic scent was overwhelming, hitting the back of her throat and compelling her to dry heave.

She began to rapidly back up, her bum sliding across the forest floor, but then the pile of flesh began to move, effectively freezing her in place. The movement was slow, full of pain and fatigue as the flesh quivered around the shattered bones, causing dark red blood to ooze like hot lava.

A low whine was all that could be mustered this time, the mass of flesh and blood shifting until a pair of icy blue eyes met Molly's.

With horror she realized that the flesh, blood and bones was a boy. A boy that had been torn and mangled into an unrecognizable mess but a boy all the same. A shrill moan of horror tore from Molly's lips as she gaped at him with wide, panicked eyes.