The Beast Within Us

Chapter 7: Thicker Than Blood

I've been driving for hours, maybe even days! I can't really tell anymore, time seems to slow down and speed up as it pleases to the point where I am not sure if it is morning or evening.

I yawn. My eyelids start to droop down but I force myself to stay awake. I don't think I've taken a single rest-stop since my journey, I'm just too determined to get... somewhere...

The engine of the car makes a sudden noise startling me. It soon starts to smoke and groan, making mechanical noises that I don't think should be happening.

"Dammit..."

I look around to find and place to make a stop. My eyes fall on a restaurant near a vast forest. It is very secluded from the neighboring small human town, but it looks friendly enough.

"I guess now I'll be making my first stop."

I pull up into the small crumbling parking lot just before my engine catches on fire. I jump out of the car, nearly falling flat on my face, and rush inside the restaurant. I look around in a panic, pulled the fire extinguisher off from the wall and rushed back outside and put out the flame.

I let the extinguisher slump to my side then clang onto the floor as I run my fingers through my hair and let out a sigh.

"Looks like I'm not going anywhere anytime soon..."

I walk back inside and notice that all eyes were on me. I rub my neck in a nervous manner and make my way towards a seat at the counter.

"Quite the fireworks show you gave us with that heap of junk outside, sugar."

I look up at the waitress that had approached me. Her hand was placed flat on the counter, supporting her, as the other one was on her hip. I look back down and sigh.

"Just not as good at fixing cars like I thought I was." I say.

"Hmh." She chuckles and pulls out a notepad, "What can I get you, honey?"

"Two waffles, please." I pause and subtly sniff the air. I chuckle and turn my attention back to the waitress.

"And a large bowl of syrup if you don't mind." I finish.

"Huh? Odd request but I don't judge." She said.

"It's not for me..."

She shrugged and ripped the paper off of the pad. She walked over to the kitchen window and handed the paper to the cook before going off to serve others.

In a few minutes, my waffles were placed in front of me along with my bowl of syrup and an extra bottle.

"Here you are, love." The waitress says. "Now I don't know what you plan to do with all this syrup but I hope you enjoy the food."

"I'm sure it will sweeten my day." I say.

I grab the bottle of syrup a pour some onto my waffles. I take a bite of the food and smile to myself. I really needed this...

A large presence sat down in the seat right next to me and I roll my eyes, trying my best to ignore them.

"You're a long way from home don't you think?" He said.

I don't respond and continue to eat my food. He was clearly a werewolf by his scent and power that radiated off him. He let out a huff of air from his nose and laughed quietly.

"We're not very fond of rogues here so I suggest you get up and leave, outsider."

I sigh as I finish my last bite of the waffles. I clean my mouth and hands of the stick syrup and place money on the counter to pay for my food. I then grab the bowl of syrup and with full force, I throw it in the face of the man next to me.

"Oops, sorry," I say. "I'm a messy eater."

I pull out an additional set of bills and place it on the counter as a tip for the nice waitress. I step over the man and make my way towards the exit. I walk outside and let the cool breeze wash over me. I take in a deep breath and walk further.

"Guess I have to make this journey on foot now..."

I hear a deep growl and turn around to look at the now syrup covered guy staring angrily back at me.

"Ugh, you again?" I scoff. "Guess we have to do this the hard way."

I close my eyes and start to shift. Feeling the fur grow on my skin and my bones snap and move into place I open my eyes seeing he has transformed as well. I gasp.

His fur. It is the same color as mine.

He runs full sprint into me knocking me back. I shake it off and jump back to my feet. I flash my teeth at him and charge back at him bitting him. He recovers easily and moves towards me.

I am still taken aback. I have never seen another werewolf with dark brown fur like mine... never.

In my distracted state, he rams into me sending me flying through the air and hitting one of the many large trees.

I unshift and struggle to stand on my feet. He lunges at me again and my head makes full contact once again with the bark of the tree.

CRACK!

I collapse onto the ground. My vision blurs as I try to force myself to stay awake and alert. My body goes numb as my attempts to move fail.

"Enough, Jason! Enough!" Another voice yells. "I think you've done enough."

A figure stands over me, too blurry to make out who exactly they are.

"Is she going to be alright?" A more feminine voice questions.

"Look at all this blood..." A third says he sounds as if he is almost gagging at the sight, "It's everywhere, there's so much of it..."

The figures blur even more. My ability to keep my eyes open is weakened as my body grows cold.

"I don't think she's going to make it..."