These Lights

Twenty-Two: More Questions

"Okay... last question." I muttered, it was Seven AM and we just came back from work, we were both exhausted, but too stubborn to fall asleep.

"Can you like turn someone into a fuzzy?" My mind was just gone, and I'm pretty sure my soul had already left my body to find a more responsible vessel.

"A fuzzy? You mean a werewolf? Yes... I can... I've never tried though." His tail curled around me as we were fighting sleep on the bed.

"You are fuzzy tho...." I heard him chuckle and kiss my forehead I could barely keep my eyes open.

"Sleep Pup. We still have to look at those files." His voice was enough, I dove headfirst into the dreams of my subconscious.

I awoke with my face planted in the dirt, the smell permeating my nostrils as a breathed in a clean and fresh air, I rose up from my position.

I didn't recognize the place, but somehow it seemed familiar, a dirt road was a good distance away in front of me, and I was in a clearing before a vast expanse of dark forest.

I immediately felt the dread fill my bones, the trees felt unnatural, the buzz of insects and the brushing of weeds gave this false sensation of calm.

My heart was beating too fast, I couldn't see anything but I knew something was there stalking me through the trees.

I saw movement and froze in terror, a horrible beast with claws and teeth and all manner of things emerged from the underbrush, it's teeth gnarled and eyes a glowing red.

I screamed, or at least I wanted to, I was frozen completely in place, as the beast grew closer, I felt it's hot breath wash over me.

I snarl began to emit from the creatures muzzle and It was nearly on top of me now, if it didn't kill me, I would likely have a heart attack.

It stopped an inch from my face.

Then a snap and a scream, and it all went black once more.

I awoke with a start, Aaron was still asleep next to me, his ears and tail still poking out from his human body.

They scared me for a moment, but I sat up and breathed deeply to try and calm myself down.

That Dream... It felt so real.... I could feel everything, I could smell, touch. I even..." I held my neck gently where the creature bit, it was still throbbing in pain slightly.

Feel that bite.

Aaron began to stir, his ears twitching and tail starting to wag lazily, he looked over I guess expecting to see my sleeping face, but he slowly looked up at me with a curios look on his face.

"Why are you already awake, is everything okay?" I smiled and tangled my fingers with his ears.

"Just, Night Terror." He nodded and sat up, his ears started to disappear and his tail started to shrink.

"I see, well, I'm gonna fix breakfast, the files are in my desk, give them a look over." His kissed my forehead and slowly rose, rubbing the back of his head.

I slid out of bed as well, approaching the desk with hesitancy.

What if I found out something I didn't want to know, or what if there was nothing there, what if it was all for nothing?

I shook it off and opened the blank folder full of files, to my surprise, Aaron's face greeted me.

Or, a younger him, he looked about middle school age, smiling, with a few teeth missing and a bandaid across his nose, he looked like quite the trouble-maker.

I turned to page to a file pertaining all about him.

Name: Aaron Dominic Lycan.

Age: 12

Occupation: N/A

Notes: Behavior is consistent with observations in lab 18, further experimentation required.

I quickly turned to the next page, a sinking feeling in my chest, something told me these files had nothing to do with me.

The next page was worse, It read:

Behavior is turning aggressive, parental figure is starting to get suspicious, we can't let Mr. Lycan know.

I read faster, not believing what I was reading.

Failure, Test subject reacted poorly to the medication, he's experiencing complete memory failure. And Mr Lycan is taking the subject out of the program, there goes my breakthrough.

I looked over where Aaron was cooking, looking happy and content, I took the first few pages and slipped them under the desks legs.

I know he deserved to know, but he was so happy, I didn't know what reading those files would do to him, if things took a wrong turn, then I'd show him, but only then.

I turned to the next cluster of files and sighed in both relief and horrid dread as the next few were not about him. And looked much more recent.

Name: Aphmau, Last name Unknown.

Age: 26

Occupation: Security Guard.

Notes: Short, And will likely be easy to manipulate, don't know what my son sees in her, I feel almost bad for doing them like this, but he mustn't be put through that again, I will not let them take him again, not after last time.

A curious feeling made it to the back of my mind as I turned to the final file.

Nope. Not as easy to crack as she looks, but one of my agents can help with that, as long as he does his job professionally, I won't have to worry.

Somehow, I knew exactly who he was talking about.

She wasn't there, and wants worse, he's forced her to live with my son, he's done the exact opposite of what I wanted.

Their onto me, they are on their way into my office as I type, I'm leaving, I'm giving Ein one more chance to do his job right, let's just hope his past with her doesn't get in the way...

I sat in Aaron's chair as he came in looking chipper, he glanced at me and his face fell.

"What did you find?" He took the files from me and skimmed them, his eyes getting wider with each page.

"And now we have proof, let's go."