Chapter 3

That morning, Ava didn't have time to look for Lucas or get any extra sleep. She mumbled her way through the morning meal and the hike. She could hardly keep her eyes open as she made her way through the lunch buffet. She ignored Anabelle as she came to stand by her side.

"Can you see it?" Asked Anabelle.

What exactly?  Inquired Ava.

“Tofu. I asked for something specific to be done for you." A tiny jar of tofu was present, as promised, next to the salad. It appeared to have been untouched by anyone else. 

"I also wrote a letter to your parents to let them know what happened with your stuff. You got a care box from mom. Back at the cabin, I placed it on your bed." Anabelle replied and left.

Once Anabelle went, Ava grabbed a few pieces of tofu for her meal. She seemed a little giddy. She had been feeling a building hunger for days, and the availability of vegetarian cuisine gave her hope that she may finally be able to put an end to it. It didn't seem like anything else would help, though.

She left the main dishes on the buffet and looked for a quiet table instead. Ava's attention was drawn to folds of roast beef intended for sandwiches, and she hesitated.

It looked really good.

Ava sat down, revolving in her seat, but not taking any. What on earth was she thinking? The last time she ate meat was years ago.

She got dressed in her own clothes and went to the recreation hall, where Ava would be doing arts and crafts under the watchful eye of a counsellor who didn't know her games. She claimed to be ill and was given a seat at the back. This time, it wasn't even a lie. Her eyes were closed as she rested her head on the table.

The back entrance of the recreation hall creaked open, and a head with shaggy black hair peered in to take a look around. With a wave of his hand, he motioned for Ava to follow him outdoors.

Again, it was Lucas.

Ava scurried to the door and quietly left. "What are you doing here?"

I wanted to speak with you," Lucas said. "Are you all right? "You have a horrible appearance."

She fought against the want to be hurt by his remark. Even if she was worn out, Ava thought she looked great because she wasn't wearing old clothes. I was awake all night. Where have you been?

"I've been around."

Are you the one who wrote in my diary? Inquired Ava. She continued after receiving a little smile from Lucas. I'm confused. "Why am I in danger?"

"You still don't get it? "Do you remember what happened last night?"

She hesitated. "I didn't lie to you; I didn't sleep."

“Yeah? And yesterday, how did you feel?

Ava forged ahead with her fabrications. She really wanted to reassure him that the day had gone normally. But there was knowledge in Lucas's eyes. There was no way he couldn't see right through her.

I was really mad," she admitted.

"Exactly my concerns!" He removed his backpack from his shoulder to sort through it.

"What do you mean? Can you tell me what's going on?

Have a look at this," Lucas replied, pulling a book out of his bag and handing it to her. "This is from the counsellor library over on my side of camp, where I discovered it."

Ava flipped to the bookmarked page. On the left page was a picture of a monster that looked like it had human and wolf parts. 

It had human hands and feet but long claws, a mane of shaggy hair, and a snout full of pointy teeth. Over its head, the moon was bright and full. A dark new moon was depicted at the bottom of the page after the phases had been drawn around the page's margins.

There were no indigenous people in the area when Europeans first tried to settle  Lunacrest Mountain. Instead, they were attacked by woodland animals who actively resisted human presence. For the mortals who so mercilessly massacred the forest spirits over many years, the forest spirits have bestowed a curse: the uncontrollable capacity to transform into a monster wolf at the peak and base of the moon.

Despite the sunny weather, Ava couldn't help but feel cold. “Is this real?”

It's a book full of myths and legends," Lucas remarked.

"It means it's not true." She turned it over to look at the cover, which was basic green with a gold border. It seemed like a serious matter.

"Whoever stated myths can't be true was obviously wrong. The animal spirits worship this peak as much as the Greek gods worshipped Mount Olympus. You are cursed. You must have gone into the wild during the full moon.”

"That's insane," Ava exclaimed. "I am not a werewolf."

"Not yet," he rebutted. “Haven’t you been feeling strange? As if you have heightened sensitivity? Do predators fear you more than you do them?"

She responded, "No," but she was beginning to think about what Lucas had proposed. If so, that could explain the animals. Also, that would explain why she had such a craving for red meat. 

"Why should I believe you? She looked at him curiously.

"Because I'm the only one who knows what's going on," Lucas declared. "I knew you were in danger since incidents like this had happened before."

"Really?" "And what gives you that assurance?"

"I was reading, like I mentioned. The initial purpose of these camps, I believe, was to protect Lunacrest. Children were never intended to be present here."

"Then we should inform someone," Ava replied. The camps need to be cleared out.

"Who would believe us?" The remark of laughter came from Lucas. "Not even you do,"

She chewed on her bottom lip nervously. "No, I really think that. Have a look at this!"

Ava pulled aside the neck of her shirt to show him the scars while she looked around to make sure they were hidden from view behind the building. "They appeared after the full moon."

He stopped laughing. "It doesn't look good."

"Yeah, I get it. "But why do you care?"