The Beasts

Don't Be Afraid

*Cara's POV*
"So if Romeo and Juliet never fell in love, would the feud between the Montagues and Capulets ever end?" Ms. Feller asked the class. Isn't there anything else we could be discussing other than rereading Romeo and Juliet? We learn about it in eighth grade, we don't need to learn about it again.
"Cara would you share your opinion?" I really didn't want to be center of attention but everyone was looking at me so I had to say something
"Well if Romeo and Juliet never fell in love I believe that Romeo would commit suicide since he was still in love with Rosaline and couldn't handle the loss of her. The Montagues grieved the death of Romeo and blamed themselves for paying more attention to defeating the Capulets rather than focusing on their own princes mentality. So the Montagues give up and let the Capulets win the feud."
Ms. Feller was a little surprised at my answer.
"Well, Ms. Beck, I would love to know Juliet's side of the story"
I really didn't know what to say since I could barely answer the question the first time. It took me a second to figure out what to say.
"Well, what happened to Juliet is that she was forced to marry prince" I answered. Ms. Feller didn't seem quite enthused.
"Well ok then, great answer Cara"
    It was the end of the day and I haven't seen Veru all day. It's stupid wanting to see her after what happened but seeing her is more than enough to want me to forgive her. I need to find out why she can't see me anymore. But first i need to know what was in her basement and why she has it. Or maybe it's not even hers. I just need to know.
The first thing I do as I stepped through my front door is dig out the pictures I took in the basement. The pictures were under my bed to hide from my grandparents. I grabbed my laptop and the first thing I searched for was the symbols that were on the walls and the ground. The symbols I saw were an inverted pentagram, a dragon's eye, and a satanic cross. They all have to do with the devil and power. Great, so someone in that house is a satanist? I still wasn't satisfied with any of this. I remembered that Veru's eyes seem to change color sometimes but a lot of people's eyes do that, right? Or maybe how Veru's hands were as warm as fire in her twenty degree freezing car. I looked up what conditions people would have to be able to have warm body temperatures in the freezing cold. There was nothing, only things about vampires. I looked deeper and deeper. Absolutely nothing helpful. I finally searched one last thing. I typed in demonic possession eye changes. I found everything I needed to. Every site I read explained everything I saw in that basement. I went to bed frightened of what I just discovered. I kept asking myself if I am just being delusional. I won't know unless I ask Veru.

*
Its finally the weekend and there's so many things i've been waiting to do, like shopping. Im at Victoria's Secret looking at at the expensive bra's that i wish I had. But soon I got bored and went to the food court. The entire time i've been in the mall I felt like I was being watched. I didn't feel safe in that mall anymore so I left. A different mall seems like a better idea anyway. Even driving I felt like I was being watched. I wanted to go back home but I needed to go shopping for food. The mini mart closest to my house since I was still freaked out by the fact that someone could be watching me. Even being in the mini mart I still felt like I was being watched. I quickly gathered everything I needed and left the mini mart. After putting my groceries in my car I look around to see who could possibly be watching. Nothing, I saw nothing. I went in my car and started to drive out of the parking lot but someone appeared behind me out of nowhere. I freaked out before I saw who it was. It was her.
I got out of my car and saw her just standing there looking at me terrified.
"Veru? What's wrong?"
"Cara, please get back in the car" Veru said sharply
"What's going on?"
"Just get in the car, i'll explain everything"
I hurried back in my car. What was going on with Veru?
"Can you tell what the hell is going on now?" I asked
"Hurry drive to my house"
"I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what is going on!"
The car started by itself.
"What the hell?"
Veru didn't even bother to answer any of my question anymore.
"Cara, drive. Now."
I started driving but apparently not fast enough for Veru because kept telling me to drive faster. We reached her house and Veru didn't say anything she just got out of the car and ran into the woods. I followed but soon I lost her. I kept running further into the woods hoping to find her. After five minutes of running into the woods I gave up. I turn around and saw her standing right behind me.
"Veru, What the fuck are you doing?"
"Promise me you won't be afraid?"
"Obviously i'm scared right now because I have no idea what is happening"
"Cara, i've been lying to you"
"What do you mean?"
"I'm not really who I say I am"
"Well then who are you?"
"You have to promise me you won't be scared"
"Why would I be-"
"Cara" Veru interrupted me
"I promise"
Veru walked away from me until she was a few feet away from me.
"Cara, the things I do it's not safe for you"
"What do you mean?"
"I could hurt you. They could hurt you. But if you know the truth you could be safe because I can protect you"
"Veru, just tell me"
"Don't be afraid"
Veru stood back more and positioned herself as if she were going to jump.
"What are you doing Veru?"
In that moment everything went into fast forward. Veru jumped in front of me, but what was standing in front of me wasn't Veru. I was on the ground terrified of what I just saw. In front of me was an animal. It looked like a tiger, but it had black glowing eyes. I could feel the animals warm breathe on my face. It didn't do anything, it just stared at me. Even though I was scared out of my mind I put my hand out and laid my palm on its head. It made a whimpering sound. It couldn't be her. This kind of stuff only exists in movies. I looked into the tiger's eyes and know it had to be her but I kept telling myself this is all a dream.
"Veru?"
It put its face closer to mine. Close enough that we were touching. I closed my eyes and held it head towards mine. When I opened my eyes Veru lay naked in my arms.
"I couldn't keep this from you anymore Cara"
"It's ok, I'm not scared"
*
We were sitting in the living room at Veru's house neither me or Veru said anything for awhile. I remembered that I wanted to ask Veru about the basement.
"Veru, when you invited me over for dinner, what was in the basement?"
"What were you doing there?"
"Well i was curious, and i saw that the door wasn't locked and i wanted to see what was in it because that was the only room in the house you didn't show me"
"There was a reason i didn't show you"
"I'm sorry"
Veru didn't seem angry at me but she did look disappointed
"Do the signs on the walls and floor have anything to do with you?" I asked
"Yeah, but it's not just me"
"Tyler?"
"And Lilie, Michael, and Jonie"
"So they aren't just your friends, are they?"
"Cara, there's things that I can and can't tell you. I'm sorry but I just don't want you to be scared"
"But i'm not. I'm not scared. You literally just transformed into an animal right in front of me. Most people would be terrified."
"Well you're not most people, but I still can't tell you because some things shouldn't be told"
"So, can't tell me about the dragon's eye or the satanic cross painted on the wall?"
"No"
"Wow, So you can show me that you can become an animal but not tell how and why?"
I stood up from the couch so I could head out the door.
"Cara, please don't do this"
"No Veru, you don't do this! You always tell me that you want to keep me safe but how am I supposed to know what you're keeping me safe from if you don't tell me anything?"
"It's not that simple, Cara. I can't say anything because-"
"Because what, Veru? Because of Tyler? Is he some kind of leader to your pack?"
All I want is answers. Why can't Veru just tell me
"He's not, he's just worried something might happen"
"Like what? Me telling everyone that you guys can turn into large cat's?"
"Cara, stop it please"
"No, i'm leaving I can't deal with this"
I headed to my car hoping Veru wouldn't stop me. To my luck she didn't.
I knew I was speeding but for some reason I just felt like I needed to get away from Veru as fast as possible. I just kept crying the whole ride home. Once I stepped inside the house my grandpa knew I wasn't ok.
"Cara, what happened?"
"Nothing grandpa, um i'm fine" I said running up the stairs fast enough so no one could see me crying.
I set my things down off my bed to make room for myself. For a good ten minutes I managed to cry everything out. Maybe the reason I even wanted to cry is because I was scared. Not because of what Veru can do, but for what that may cause. I was terrified I might lose her.