Better off Undead

Chapter 40: Full Moon Rise

"Carl!"

Red was the first to recognize the blood soaked figure in the doorway. His sudden outburst was full of so much shock that Eli couldn't be entirely sure if it was a shout of recognition or a cry of terror.

"Carl!" Red called out again. "What the hell happened?"

The newcomer simply stood in the doorway for a long moment, breathing heavily, eyes darting about frantically, and then finally seemed to snap to his senses. He hurried into the room and slammed the door shut behind himself. He threw the lock and then turned around.

"We have to run!" he said, not looking at anyone in particular. "We have to run. We have to hide!"

"Run?" Bob repeated, doubtfully. "From what? The yellow eyes?"

"Yellow eyes? This wasn't no damn yellow eye! This was wolves! Wolves the size of men!"

"There ain't no such thing," said Red, dismissively.

"I tell ya, I saw it with my own eyes. They tore Peterson and Mayburn apart like wet paper. I barely got out of there with my life."

Red walked over and grabbed Carl by the arms and shook him. "Listen to me, son! Listen to me. You have to get a grip. You just saw some yellow eyes. There ain't no such thing as man-sized wolves."

"I'm telling you, they're real!" protested Carl.

As if to accentuate his point, another howl split the night, followed by more screaming and gunfire.

"That's why they didn't sound like no wolves!" exclaimed Danny, finally rising from the couch. "They're man-wolves!"

Red's face turned hot with his namesake color. "Danny, if I've told you once I've told you a million..."

"He's right!" interrupted Eli, stepping forward next to Red.

Red's hands balled into fists and he glared at Eli with a look that could have lit dry wood on fire. "Boy, I swear to the lord above if you speak another word..."

"No, I'm serious," Eli continued, ignoring the man's warning. "You have to listen to me. There are more things out there than just zombies."

"What the hell are you going on about, boy?"

"It's true," said Amber, stepping up next to Eli. "We've already seen vampires. From there it's just a hop, skip, and a jump to werewolves."

"Werewolves!" exclaimed Danny. "Dad, you hear what they say? They said 'werewolves.'"

"Danny, would you shut. UP? They're just trying to rile you up, boy."

"No," protested Eli, "no we're not. We're trying to warn you. We're trying to help you survive."

"And how the hell could you help me survive against werewolves? You don't exactly look fit for a fight."

"No," agreed Eli, "but I know their weaknesses! I know how to fight them. I am the lore expert of the group. Just ask any of them. I know all about these things."

Red looked at Amber, who bit her lip, unable to trust herself with speaking right at that moment.

"It's true," Aliyah said, speaking up for her. "He's our resident nerd."

"Yes," Amber agreed, nodding her head. "He's definitely our nerd."

Another howl sounded, and the four men grew visibly nervous. "Listen to him, Dad," urged Danny. "I think he's telling the truth."

Red scowled, but caved. "Fine!" he said, throwing his hands up in the air in defeat. "Just, fine. Then, tell us what we need to do. Tell us how we fight these bastards!"