A Mysterious Creature In The Woods

Mathias stopped and turned to look at the principal.

“Anytime you feel like talking, you know where to find me," Mr. Phillips said, then increased the volume of the TV set. Mathias left his office.

Caleb helped Clara search for the creature she described in the books, but all they saw fitting that description were mythical creatures.

“Werewolves? Are you sure about what you saw? Because everyone knows werewolves do not exist... Maybe because you were really scared that's why you imagined the creature to be that big. Maybe it's just a normal-sized wolf you saw," Caleb said, not wanting to believe in the existence of a werewolf. He is more of a science-minded person.

“I know what I saw... I am not saying it's a werewolf or anything, but the creature was really big and large. That was no regular wolf," Clara said, trying to emphasize her point.

“Okay. Maybe it's a bear then? Bears are known to grow really big," Caleb said, trying to find a logical explanation.

“I think I am old enough to know the difference between a wolf and a bear," Clara said, growing frustrated.

“Are you sure you do? Because you are talking crazy here, werewolf really? That's just crazy talk," Anna joined in, really surprised at what Clara was saying.

“I know it sounds crazy, but I wasn't the only one that saw that creature. Steven and his foolish friends saw it also. You can meet them and ask if you don't believe me," Clara said, trying to convince them.

“Maybe we should do that," Anna said, feeling curious.

“You know what, I can't talk to you guys right now," Clara said, feeling upset and leaving the library.

As she left the library, she saw Mathias coming out of the principal's office, and she knew the best person to talk about werewolves or anything about those supernatural beings was Mathias.

“Hey Mathias!..Mathias!" she called as she ran to meet him, feeling relieved.

Mathias slowed down his steps as he heard her calling his name.

“Hey, I need to talk to you if that's okay with you," Clara said as she got to him, eager to share her experience.

“Okay, what's that?" Mathias asked, feeling curious.

“It's about wolves...werewolves," Clara said, feeling a mix of excitement and fear.

Adams kissed his girlfriend, Ella, goodbye, and he left with his best friend Noah to go meet their coach for basketball practice before the actual game in the evening.

Noah's girlfriend, Patricia, also left with Ella for cheerleading practice.

“What were you thinking telling Ella you would quit basketball for her?" Noah said, unimpressed.

Adams chuckled.

“I was only kidding, but things worked out fine, didn't they?" he said, feeling satisfied.

“That's because I kept praying silently. I knew without you in our team, we don't stand a chance. But what if she had said yes? What would you have done?" Noah asked, feeling curious.

“I knew she can't say yes," Adams said in a confident tone.

“And how did you know that?" Noah asked, feeling skeptical.

“Well, I have known Ella for a while now, and I know there is one thing she loves more than me or anything else, and that's fame - being popular. I know she will do anything so she can remain as such, and what's more popular than being the girlfriend of the school hero? So, I know she won't let me give away my status," Adams said, feeling crafty.

Noah smiled also at Adam's crafty ingeniousness, having manipulated Ella to do what he wants her to do.

“I must say that's smart and kinda evil, but I like it,” Noah said.

“What can I say? It's in my nature to be evil,” Adams joked. They laughed as they walked to the ball court.

“...Ok, let me get this straight, you were abducted by Steven and his friends, and they took you into the woods to have their way with you?” Mathias repeated what Clara had just told him in shock, his eyes wide with disbelief.

“Yes, I just said that. Let's move ahead here, please,” Clara said, her voice tense and clipped, wanting Mathias to skip to the wolf part already, as if almost being raped wasn't an important issue to talk about.

“My God, those boys are really dangerous. Someone's got to stop them,” Mathias said, now doubting whether he made the right decision by not reporting Steven to the principal. His brow furrowed in concern.

“Trust me, I will deal with them later. Just leave them to me, but I need your help on this now,” Clara said, her tone urgent and pleading.

Mathias inhaled deeply. "So, you said a giant wolf saved you?" he said as they walked, his tone incredulous.

“Yes, it was very massive in size. Steven and his friends ran away in fear at the sight of it. Those cowards...I am telling you that the wolf was massive!" Clara narrated, her eyes wide and her voice shaking slightly.

“Then how come all of you survived this massive creature you speak of?” Mathias inquired, his voice skeptical.

“I don't know...I guess it spared our lives. I mean, according to the story your grandfather told you, werewolves were created to help humans, right? They only kill vampires. Don't they?" Clara said, her voice rising slightly in confusion.

“First, we ain't sure if it was a werewolf you saw because they mostly hunt in parks. And if it was actually a werewolf you saw, you guys wouldn't be still breathing,” Mathias said, his voice serious and stern.

“What does that mean?” Clara asked, a little bit scared, her voice trembling.

“It means you would be dead if you came face to face with a werewolf,” Mathias said, his voice clear and firm.

“B..But I thought they were the good guys,” she stuttered, her voice barely above a whisper.

“There are no good guys, not anymore. They both are monsters. You see, after the first werewolves Christopher and Love died at the age of 200 and 236 respectively, their children and bloodline cultivated a bad and costly means of having fun. They were fond of turning into wolves and spent almost the whole day in their wolf form than that of humans. But unknown to them, they were gradually losing their humanity and were becoming more like wild wolves - beasts. They started having the urge to feed on flesh and live animals, so they hunted in the park, going after the deers and bulls of the field. The humans then weren't bothered about the wolves' strange behavior until the wolves started tasting for human flesh and blood. The first human death by a werewolf recorded was that of a woman. She was killed by her husband Draco, who happened to be a werewolf. He transformed into a wolf when he and his wife were having a heated argument, and he ate up his wife to the very bones. He loved the taste of human flesh, and in the same week, he killed yet another human, a man who was busy working on his farm. He kept on killing humans, and soon after, he convinced his pack members to add humans to the food menu. The wolves discovered that humans made for easier prey, so they indulged in the hunting of men frequently,” Mathias narrated, his voice low and ominous.

Shivers of cold waves of fear came flowing through Clara's body as Mathias narrated his horrific tale.

“Okay, so no good guys then... But how were people back then able to survive the werewolves?” Clara asked, looking curious.

“Before the killing of humans, werewolves were treated like kings and queens because of how they helped humans in the fight against the vampires," Mathias explained with a thoughtful expression. "So, the people built a massive building for them to live in, and that's where all werewolves in the city lived. But when the killing of humans had become a normal day-to-day thing, the elders of the land called for an emergency meeting, and it was then they decided it was time for the werewolves to be gone for good."

Clara listened attentively, her eyes widening with each detail. "So, what happened then?" she asked.

Mathias sighed heavily, "So, on a fateful day, early morning even before the sun could rise up, the locals gathered, all with lit torches in their hands, surrounded the building, and set it on fire. Almost all of the werewolves died on that day; only a few managed to escape the fire, but they were badly burnt and easy for the locals to kill. However, some did escape the angry mob, but they never returned to the land again."

Clara gasped, covering her mouth with her hands. "That's so cruel," she muttered, her expression becoming sad.

“But I did see a big and frightening creature, and it got so close to me that I thought I would not escape with my life," Clara said, shivering at the memory. "But then it spared me, almost as if it came to save me from Steven and his zombies. I don't know if it was a werewolf. I never believed in mythical creatures, but I did witness something special yesterday."

“Okay, why don't you show me?" Mathias said, his tone laced with curiosity.

Clara hesitated, "I don't know... I don't think it's a good idea going back there," she said, her voice trembling.

“What? Are you scared? I thought the creature was your friend," Mathias teased, trying to lighten the mood.

“Ha-ha, really funny," Clara said sarcastically, but a small smile tugged at the corner of her lips.

“It's a deal then. You take me there after school hours," Mathias said, determinedly.

“I guess, but we have to be quick before my mom comes to pick me up," Clara said, her expression serious.

“Are you sure that's the only reason we need to be quick?" Mathias said, raising an eyebrow mischievously.

Clara rolled her eyes, "What other reason is there?" she said, laughing.

“Nothing, we will catch up later. I want to go watch our basketball team, the Sharks, train," Mathias said with excitement, and they had a friendly hug before departing.