How Not To Be A Werewolf (Editing)

I Agree To Not Being Neutralised

I had no intention of delaying the inevitable, so I followed Kian out of the small room and into a long and brightly lit hallway.

The walls were stark white with no decoration to break up the colour, except for rows of black metal doors set into the walls every two metres. If Kian wasn't leading our way through the Hub I would have been completely lost. Every time we turned a corner we appeared in an exact copy of the hallway we had just left.

We carried on walking further and further through the hallways until Kian suddenly stopped as we reached a plain-looking black metal door. It looked like all the others we had passed, but it seemed to be the one we were searching for as Kian turned to face me looking incredibly serious.

"Alec, promise me, whatever happens in here now, you need to let me do the talking, okay?" he said, "If he does ask you anything, try to keep it short."

He was cut off as the door suddenly swung open to reveal a dark and intimidating black space within. Kian looked at me and nodded. No words were needed. I knew that this was it. This was going to be the most important meeting of my day. Actually, it was probably the most important meeting of my life.

Shit.

I could feel my hands starting to get sweaty so I tried to wipe them clean inside the pockets of my jeans. It didn't work too well.

"In we go." Kian flashed his fangs in a smile that did nothing to hide his obvious tension.

With Kian leading the way we stepped through into a small office where a thin grey-haired man sat waiting for us behind a large desk. He was reading from a thick bunch of papers and he looked up as we entered. His blood-red eyes focused on me as I followed Kian's lead to sit down in one of two hard-backed chairs.

"Me Alec Colby?" The man asked. His voice sounded as dry as old paper.

"That's me... Sir," I replied quickly, taking on board Kian's words, trying to keep my reply as short as I could.

"And, is your Guide here?" He asked.

"I am here, Councillor Halt." Kian replied, "Kian Richards, Moonstone North Division."

"Very good." the Councillor said relaxing a bit, clearly the formalities were over. "I'll get straight down to business then. After reviewing your case, Mr Colby, and taking into account that nobody was injured as a result of your actions this morning, I am happy to say that we are prepared to let you go home..."

"Boom! Told you!" Kian shouted, cutting off the Councillor and earning himself a reproaching look in response to his outburst.

"But," the Councillor stressed, "There will be certain restrictions on your movements going forwards. Just to prevent any other unfortunate incidents. You are not going to be allowed out at night, and you will be accompanied during the day at all times. As your Guide, Mr Richards will be responsible for making sure you adhere to these rules. I am sure that I need not stress to you both the importance of making sure you do not slip up. If you are found to have broken the Council Law for a second time then there will be no leniency from us. You will be neutralised, Mr Colby. Do I make myself clear?"

Neutralised?

Okay, I had no idea what that entailed, but it did not sound like fun. Councillor Halt's blood-red eyes did not leave mine and he wasn't blinking. It was fucking freaky, and it just served to remind me of the danger I was in.

"I totally understand." I replied seriously, keeping my gaze locked onto his, "Thank you, I won't let you down, Sir."

"Call me Gabe." the Councillor replied with a wink and smile that showed off a set of sharp fangs, "But, it's not me you have to thank, Mr Richards here made a very strong case for you."

After Councillor Halt run through the rest of the details of the conditions imposed on my release, Kian led our way out of his office. He led our way back through the maze until we reached the end of a corridor where an elevator sat on its own in the wall, its chrome doors glinting under the harsh artificial lights above us.

"Well," Kian said pressing the button to call the elevator, "Here you go. This will take you up to the main reception. It'll bring you out right underneath Moonstone High. There'll be a Guard up there waiting to escort you back home."

"A secret paranormal organisation that has its headquarters underneath a school? I've seen it all now." I said utterly mystified, "Anyway, thanks for what you did for me today. I'd be in some pretty deep shit right now if you hadn't been in my corner back there."

Kian smiled, "Well, It's the least that I could do. Really. As I'm your guide it's my job to protect you."

Protect me? Sure...

There was a loud rumbling as the lift finally came to a stop on our floor and the doors opened up. I stepped inside but turned around as Kian called out.

"I'll come and pick you up tomorrow morning." He said, "We'll start moving on with your training. I want to see what you're capable of, Lycan." Kian's red eyes bored into mine.

Damn. Why did he always get to me?

"I guess I'll see you then," I called back to him just as the lift doors closed, leaving me alone in the cold, metal world of the elevator with thoughts of Kian playing through my mind.

I had just gotten away back there by the skin of my teeth, but I couldn't help but feel a huge sense of relief. Nobody had been hurt. That was the main thing. To be honest, after the day I'd just had, all I felt like doing was going straight to my bed and sleeping it all off.

As soon as I got home that's exactly what I planned to do.