Takeover

The moon peered behind the embrace of the clouds. Murders squawked hauntingly behind the comfort of leaves, screaming terrors of the night. I know it is them, it must be them!

My heart ran a quarter mile away from me, but my legs failed to reach the distance. I stopped when I saw my only escape. I dropped below the depths of the once reflection of the sky, only for it to become the sister of Nyx under the shining moon.

I held my breath. Shadowed footsteps walked over the reflection. Howls of the night reached the shallow depths of my ears—they sounded like drowning lions. I quivered, and the water moved with me. In the dead of silence, I resurfaced with a few breaths to spare.

I lived by myself in the cabin obscured by towering branches. I am in my legal age now, so I left home to find another one suitable for me. Nature expunged the toxic air I inhaled back in the city. The sound of wind echoing behind the trees was my sole consort.

I would go hunting wolves for sport from time to time. After all, they never whine when they are dead. Gunshots from my trusty revolver would always echo throughout the forest. Ah, music to my ears. Now, I shall feast with them. A dinner fit for a king, I must say.

I was not quite sure how these all happened. All I knew was that I was sitting comfortably on the steps. The stars twinkled brightly outside my wooden cabin. Then the leaves rustled behind the dried trees. It must have been the wind. Soon, the sounds multiplied—low snarls were followed by heavy metal.

I stood up and grabbed my light. Flames illuminated the narrow paths trees could allow. As I walked deeper into the darkness, sets of red eyes reflected ahead of me. My heart wanted to escape my chest and my mind screamed for me to run.

Suddenly, I felt something burning within my veins. I looked at my arm. Three ragged lines snagged some of my flesh. Air pushed against the wall of my lungs. My skin itched, especially on the scratched area, but I could not resist it—the itch was maddening.

My clothes stretched out every fiber until they could not bear the pressure any longer. I instinctively ripped the remaining piece of cloth restraining my body. I roared up to the limit of my lungs. I could have sworn it was not mine. What is happening to me?

My nose burned at the beating flesh concealed by the looming trees. The wind whispered me their approach. Hairs on my back stood stiff as stick and my body convulsed uncontrollably. I pushed away my urges, but they strongly pushed back.

A tall, dark shadow appeared before me. It smelled like aging onions fermented in blood. I held my nose from the intense stench. Its stare flared with ice. I felt my eyes twitch as I awaited its approach.

“You must embrace your true nature,” a husky voice surfaced from the darkness.

“I do not know who you are. Leave this place at once before I regret it!” My claws barely snatched his throat.

“I have come to warn you. Resistance is futile. You must give in to the calling,” he stomped his iron rod.

“What did I do to deserve this? How shall I undo this? Please tell me! I would do anything.”

“You should have stayed in the city. Accept your true nature or else it will consume your entirety.”

“I refuse to accept this,” I pulled at my overly extended hair as I scowled at him. “This is not who I am! Change me back, you bearded old man.”

“If that is your choice then I must take my leave.”

“Wait! Come back here! Change me back! I cannot live like this.”

No reply returned from him. My head became heavy after a few moments of silence. It was worse than waking up from a morning hang. I gritted my teeth until the bitter taste of liquid filled my mouth. I could not bear this any longer.

He pulled back into the darkness. Iron clanking against the loamy earth replaced his presence. A sudden glint of light flashed a millimeter away from my ear. Then a man in royal brown armor emerged and pointed its weapon towards my chest.

I snarled at the wafting smell of premium meat. Water flowed out of my mouth like an open faucet. He glared at me with quivering eyes. Still, he had the stature of a man with honor. I envisioned sinking my teeth into those lean arms.

“Beast! Your foul mouth reeks worse than the air you breathe. Surrender yourself at once!” the man howled louder than his hounds.

“I can smell through your soul. It is far too foul than the sewers of the city,” I retorted with my fully broadened chest.

“Such are the words befitting of the beast. I shall end you with my spear!”

He brandished his titanium rod through my chest. An electric surge reached my eyes. The vision of his meat dangling in my teeth magnified the sound of my growling stomach. His sweat tasted like the most expensive perfume that I could not afford with my current allowance.

My blood boiled, and I bent the piercing instrument around his neck. That was all I remembered before my consciousness left me. Sharp screams sounded so close, but I was not sure where they came from. Somebody, please help me! I cannot stop myself. Then a demonic laugh accompanied the screams.

Finally, the red that clouded my vision dissipated. What have I done? The smell of fresh kill lingered on my chest. Bones and flesh dangled all over my body. When I looked at my bloody hands, I howled. My voice was not mine anymore.

The old man’s words resonated in my ears like a broken record. The salty, sweet taste of blood stung into the deepest core of my memory. The wolves tasted pale in comparison to that man. That warrior flesh is what I need, I must have it once more! No human food tastes like it. I want more, more of it, I say!

My nerves jumped at the sight of the moon. My other consciousness attempted to reemerge like a human clawing his way to the surface from his earthen grave. I do not know how much longer I could hold on. Soon, my instincts took over me.

I looked for the remainder of its troop—maybe then will I be fully satisfied. My human senses faded as if they never existed inside this body. What have I become?

Like a man forcefully sat on the front row of a theatre, I saw the monstrosity of that demon. The screams and the howls felt so real. Finally, the curtains closed, and I was left inside this dark room. All was silent except from the rustling leaves.

I awakened on a crimson morning. Red filled the lens of my eyes. My mouth tasted bitter, like I drank a gallon of strong liquor, and the rancid aftertaste threatened to emerge.