Chapter 1. The Hour

"With each skirmish, the hunters would triumph victoriously, relentless in their pursuit, conquering all opposition. Their path of dominance would continue unyielding until there remained no place left for them to conquer.

But beware, for the tides shall turn, and the script of fate shall be rewritten. A different melody shall echo through the air, and our voices shall tremble with a newfound tune.

When that fateful hour arrives, we shall bear witness to the reversal of fortunes, and the hunters shall become the hunted." Mother Terra had prophecied.

In the darkness of the night, with honking cars and terrified shrieks filling the air, I quickened my pace, summoning every ounce of strength as I made my way back to the convent.

"Move it, damn it!" A car swerved, speeding recklessly as the driver attempted to escape the streets and find refuge within the safety of their home, nearly knocking me over in the process.

Since the curfew declaration, the city had been thrown into chaos as citizens hurriedly made their way back home.

The accursed creatures from hell, capable of assuming human forms, had finally infiltrated the city, ruthlessly attacking anyone in their path—the werewolves.

"Out of my way!" Another car honked at me for the third time tonight. The third warning was always the last, and in order to save myself from being run over, I reluctantly took a shortcut through one of the abandoned alleys, against my better judgment.

Terror coursed through my veins like never before. As a child, Mother Terra would regale us with chilling tales of the nocturnal beasts. I had never encountered one, and I fervently prayed to never do so. Now, the mere thought of those creatures rampaging within our city was enough to weaken my legs as I stepped onto the empty street.

But it wasn't just any werewolf; it was their very Alpha.

Sweat trickled down my back, my breaths became shallow gasps, and my footsteps resonated loudly in my ears as I sprinted through the desolate streets of Edinburgh.

"Dear heavenly father," I whispered, crossing my chest in a gesture of protection against the malevolence. Every sound that reached my ears caused me to dart my eyes frantically, gripped by paranoia, as if the demonic beast would lunge at me any second.

"Dear Heavenly Father, in this moment of fear," I gulped, struggling to find my words. "I approach You with a heavy heart—oww!" I cried out, my body convulsing as I tripped over a rock, stubbing my big toe. Tears welled up in my eyes, interrupting my prayer. But it did not deter my pursuit. If anything, it propelled me faster than ever before.

For decades, Edinburgh, our desolate little town on the outskirts of the eerie woods, shared its borders with the werewolves. Reports of missing individuals were a daily occurrence, and anyone who dared venture into the woods was as good as dead.

Our only defense against the beasts resided in the hunters, our heroes who fought tirelessly day and night to keep them confined on the other side of the woods. However, even they could not guarantee our protection indefinitely.

The prophecy of Mother Terra had come to fruition: the hunters had become the hunted.

And now, that day had arrived.

The walkway remained deserted, with only a handful of individuals either closing their shops or hurrying home to seek refuge with their families.

Families...

The thought tugged at my heartstrings. As for me, I had none. Often, I spent sleepless nights contemplating what it would be like to have one. Yet, according to the Reverend Mother who discovered who nursed me since I was young, I was a special gift bestowed upon them from heaven. The convent, the sisters, Mother Terra—those were my family now. I no longer question about my biological parents, no one seems to know anything.

Mother had described my cry as a melodious canary's song, full of peace and joy, thus giving me my name.

"Lara Anselm."

I, being the youngest among the sisters, had endeared myself to everyone in the convent with my dedicated service. The place we called home had many names—a church, a dorm—but one thing remained certain: it welcomed all, and each of us was treated with the respect we deserved. This made me all the more eager to hasten my pace and rejoin my own family.

If it weren't for that fateful invitation, I would have had no reason to venture out at such a late hour of the night.

It all began a few hours ago...

Three nights prior, our convent had received an invitation. Since Mother Terra was unwell with the flu, she entrusted me with the task of representing her. The destination was another town, and I was on my way back from the trip when the taxi I had taken suddenly refused to proceed as soon as it reached the outskirts of our own town. The driver explained that a curfew had been imposed without warning.

"What does that mean?" I inquired, struggling to maintain my composure despite the escalating situation. Our teachings emphasized the importance of remaining calm in the face of adversity, but in that moment, I was failing miserably.

"Didn't you hear what I just said, ma'am? They've announced a curfew on the radio. Weren't you paying attention?" the bald taxi driver responded, his hand adjusting the volume of the radio to make sure I heard the repeated announcement.

"Please, listen. Can't you continue driving? I need to reach the convent immediately," I pleaded, disregarding the radio announcement.

"It's not safe to be out here on foot." I glanced at the eerie woods, which seemed to stare back at me, and I could have sworn I saw movement. "Please, in the name of the Lord. I'm willing to pay you double." My composure wavered as anxiety began to consume me.

"I'm sorry, ma'am, but I can't proceed any further. I have a wife and kids waiting for me at home, and I hope you understand. Besides, you're a nun—eventually, if that monster comes after you, you'll return to paradise," he said in a compassionate yet sorrowful tone.

...

And that was how I found myself braving the streets of Eldermoor, struggling to make my way back to the convent, praying fervently to God that I would reach it unscathed.

"Ha! Return to paradise if the beast comes for me? Too bad, Christ advised us to live!"

The once bustling road transformed into a graveyard of silence, and once again, fear enveloped me.

"I shall not die but live, and declare the works of the Lord." I repeated the verse in my heart, a mantra that fueled my determination as I jogged through the desolate pathways.

"I must warn the sisters; they need to stay safe," I thought urgently, pushing myself to increase my speed despite the cumbersome regalia that weighed me down.

Sweat trickled from my hair, now coursing down my arms and back, while my lungs protested from the relentless sprint without respite.

I paused momentarily, gasping for air that seemed inadequate, each breath intensifying the pain in my chest. I leaned against a street light, desperately taking mouthfuls of deep breaths.

"Dear Lord," I whispered, gazing up at the moonless sky.

"Deliver us from this ordeal." I closed my eyes, tears welling behind my lids.

"No, Lara, now is not the time to cry. It's a time to display faith and conviction," I chided myself, pushing aside my tears and resuming my journey after the brief respite. The distance to the convent still loomed dauntingly before me, seemingly insurmountable in that moment. Thoughts of seeking refuge in nearby houses flitted through my mind, but I knew no one would open their doors for me.

The only alternatives left were unfinished buildings and warehouses. Taking such risks was out of the question. If anything, the werewolf would likely be lurking there, patiently awaiting an easy target.

My feet ached, and my throat felt parched and raspy from dehydration.

...

"Almost there," I croaked, dragging my already exhausted feet towards the convent, which should now be within close proximity.

Finally, I reached the familiar street, and the sight of the towering black gate filled me with overwhelming relief. However, a sense of unease settled in the pit of my stomach, unfamiliar and unsettling.

The street lay in an eerie silence.

Approaching cautiously, my steps slowed as I observed the condition of the gate. It was slightly ajar.

With each step closer to the convent, a deluge of emotions engulfed me—fear, worry, anxiety—threatening to unleash a full-blown panic attack.

Standing before the gate at last, my eyes took in the scene before me. Everything appeared normal at first glance, but upon closer inspection, I noticed the gate was marred with deep carvings, as if a powerful force had forcefully struck it.

"Did one of the reckless drivers crash into this gate?" was my initial thought, but my hands shook uncontrollably as fear coursed through me. Taking a step closer, I noticed a trickle of liquid running down the sharp barbs atop the gate, and almost involuntarily, I reached out to touch it. My trembling hands examined the thick substance, and a shudder ran through me.

"Blood..."