Chapter 3. Night Of Terror

"Mother!'" I exclaimed, bolting into the courtyard, completely disregarding the lingering presence of whatever had caused this havoc.

"Be courageous, Lara. It's likely just a stray," I reassured myself, unable to fathom the possibility of anything dreadful happening to them.

"That could be it," I murmured, examining my stained fingers, my trembling arms propelling me forward into the eerily quiet compound.

The compound's silence was so profound that even the gusts of wind seemed deafening.

The expansive compound served as the sisters' sanctuary, generously bestowed upon us by the government. It sprawled across vast land, featuring a garden, a waterfall, a library, and a grand hall where sisters from all over the state gathered for our annual meetings.

"Christ!" I cried out as fear gripped me, my eyes locked onto a sudden movement to my left—a dark shadow with glowing eyes. "That must have belonged to the injured stray," I whispered, trying to rationalize the unnerving sight.

"I must be hallucinating. Fatigue must be catching up to me," I murmured aloud, the words sounding strange even to my own ears. Deep down, a gut feeling told me that something was gravely amiss. Something dangerous. Yet, I wasn't willing to admit it.

"This is the sacred house of the Lord; He will protect it," my mind attempted to conjure up a comforting thought, one I refused to entertain. Instead, I began fervently reciting prayers, seeking protection and surrendering to God's will.

However, my prayers were abruptly halted by a menacing growl that froze me in my tracks, sending shivers down my spine and an escalating tension surging through my entire being.

"I need to call the police!" I exclaimed, my voice trembling as I fumbled for my phone.

My thoughts raced back to the service, and I made a decision to investigate before contacting the authorities. Deep down, I sensed it was already too late. The logical course of action was to flee and alert the hunters, but my mind was in chaos.

In the distance, I noticed the splintered wooden door of the service hall. Despite my instinctual urge to turn back, I felt compelled to see the scene for myself.

When I arrived, a wave of terror engulfed me. I stood there, trembling, as I stared in disbelief at the lifeless bodies of the sisters strewn on the ground. Blood seeped from their lifeless forms, and the gruesome sight was too much for me to bear—I retched uncontrollably.

"Sisters, Mother!" I sprinted towards Mother Terra's lifeless form.

"La-ra, is that you?" She gasped, her hand gripping mine, causing a surge of fear to jolt through me.

"Mother..." I knelt down to her level, reassured by her faint signs of life.

"Let me get you to the hospital," I urged, her hand still clasping mine tightly.

"No, save... your-self, Lara. You're ..the youn--gest. You have so much ahead of you," she wheezed, choking on her her barely audible voice.

"But, Mother..." Tears streamed down my face, moistening my cheeks as I silently sobbed.

"I'm so-rry ch-ild, don't ...cry. There's so much ...you nee-d *cough* to know yet so little time... Never for-get ...Lara, always takw your drugs on tim...," she broke off into a coughing fit, her grip on my hand suddenly loosening. I understood what it meant—she was gone.

"No... Mother" I whimpered, desperation in my voice. "Don't leave me!" I shook her lifeless body, but it was too late.

These unfamiliar emotions overwhelmed me, and it felt as though a thousand jack knives were stabbing my heart.

'Never forget your drugs'.... Were her last words. The drugs that suppresses the darkness in me, ever surging, threatening to consume the lights of the lord. I must win, I must fight it. But right now, it presence felt stronger than ever.

"Save yourself," Her feeble voice echoed in my ears, a reminder of what I must do.

As I prepared to flee the service hall, a sense of being watched washed over me once again.

"Oh Lord..." I gasped, realizing I had completely forgotten that the source of this horror still lurked nearby. And I hadn't even called the police yet.

A low growl reached my ears, causing me to gulp nervously. I retreated cautiously back into the service hall. The creature had not yet revealed itself, but there remained no doubt in my mind that the rampaging werewolf was the perpetrator behind this gruesome scene.

The service hall boasted three doors—one serving as the entrance and two on the sides. My plan was to make my escape through the side door.

As I cautiously edged backward, I caught a glimpse of the creature responsible for the chaos.

The werewolf. Its fur resembled charcoal, its eyes shimmered like the golden summer sun, and its menacing fangs sent a shiver down my spine. It was undoubtedly a creature straight from the depths of hell.

Upon spotting me, it paused, seemingly assessing my next move.

"Christ," I muttered, feeling a surge of panic that could have made me lose control of my bladder. My body quivered involuntarily, and even the monster could sense the fear emanating from me.

"The police..." A voice, perhaps mine, reminded me, and wasting no time, I darted towards the door on the right side.

Fear blinded my thoughts as I desperately sought a solution. The phone hall of the convent was located nearby, but panic clouded my judgment.

The scent of innocent blood filled the air, a chilling reminder of the merciless murders that had taken place. If I didn't act carefully, I could be the next victim.

Fortunately, each hall in the convent was equipped with dual doors, providing an avenue for the sisters to escape in case of a fire or, in this horrifying scenario, a rampaging wolf.

"Lord, have mercy! Protect me and save my soul," I whispered fervently, ensuring the door was securely closed once I entered the phone room. Without hesitation, I dialed the emergency police line.

"This is 911. Please state your emergency..."

"It's here! The wolf is inside the convent. Please, send backup!" I blurted out, interrupting their usual protocol as the relentless slashes on the door grew louder.

"Ma'am, I'm sorry, but did you say there's a wolf? If so, you've dialed the wrong number. Try contacting the hunters," they explained, and before I could react, the call abruptly ended.

I realized I didn't even know the hunters' contact information, so I quickly dialed 911 once again.

"I'm sorry, this is an emergency. Can you please connect me to the hunters? It's the convent—there's a wolf chasing me," I pleaded, my words rushed as I struggled to catch my breath.

"We are initiating contact with the hunters right now, ma'am," the operator assured me. A brief pause followed, and in a matter of seconds, she spoke again.

"Whatever happens, try to stay safe for the next ten minutes. They should reach you by then," she advised, but I had already tuned out her words, my focus solely on the imminent danger at hand.

My attention snapped back to the present as I witnessed the hungry wolf relentlessly tearing the wooden door apart, my only barrier of safety.

"Go away!" I shouted, sprinting to the other side of the room, aiming for the next exit door.

Just as I passed through the exit door, I heard the deafening crash as the wolf broke through the wooden door I had hastily secured.

"Just ten more minutes," I gasped for breath, pushing my body to keep running towards the cafeteria.

My vision blurred with unshed tears, and my head throbbed with exhaustion from the sleepless nights.

"Lord, my fate is in your hands," I chanted repeatedly, seeking divine protection as I rushed into the cafeteria, swiftly locking the door behind me.

"Holy water!" I abruptly halted, my eyes fixated on the fountain containing the blessed liquid. Remembering Mother Terra's words about werewolves being linked to Satan, I surmised that holy water could potentially repel them. Without hesitation, I seized a bottle and hastily filled it with the sacred water, the gravity of the situation replaying in my mind.

Running away from a wolf was not how I had anticipated spending my day. I never imagined it would be the last time I laid eyes on my sisters. Silently, tears streamed down my face, my hands trembling as I secured my sole weapon.

The final door I had fortified was now under siege by the relentless wolf, its ferocity evident.

Unable to hold back my emotions any longer, I pleaded for mercy from the Lord, my prayers beseeching the swift arrival of His servants—the hunters.

I sprinted once more, but it seemed the wolf effortlessly breached the wooden door. Its determination to kill me was palpable.

With my exhausted legs carrying me onward, I ran as if it was my final chance. If the hunters didn't arrive in time, I knew my fate would be sealed.

Eventually, I reached the convent's clinic. The room was engulfed in darkness, leaving me no time to fumble for the light switch. The doors were left unsecured, as my sole focus had been escaping for my life.

The menacing growl of the creature sent a chill down my spine, and panic consumed me as I braced myself for the inevitable.

"This is it. The moment I reunite with my sisters in paradise," I whispered, closing my eyes and allowing silent sobs to escape me. Clutching the holy water as if it held the power to save me from the approaching monster, I resigned myself to my fate. Yet, at that very moment, a colossal hand snatched me from behind.

"Argh-mph!" I cried out, but my screams were stifled as a hand covered my mouth, forcibly pulling me into the darkest corner of the cramped clinic.

This is the end, I thought, consumed by fear.

In my terror, I failed to register that the entity gripping me possessed human-like hands, devoid of the razor-sharp claws that had mercilessly torn apart my sisters. My mind blanked out, and I succumbed to unconsciousness almost instantly.

...

"Heaven..." I winced as I slowly opened my eyes, greeted by a blinding brightness behind my closed lids. It felt as though something or someone pressed down on my chest, hindering my breath. Yet, I was dead—wasn't I?

"So, this is what it feels like to die," I pondered silently, attempting to alleviate the uncomfortable weight bearing down on me. Despite my efforts, I remained unable to rise due to the immense pressure pinning me in place.

The memory of the recent events flashed through my mind, the recollection of being forcefully yanked and then losing consciousness. With newfound strength, I swiftly pushed the presence off me and retreated, finally able to examine it closely.

"Jesus Christ!" I exclaimed, slapping my hands over my eyes and averting my gaze, determined not to succumb to temptation.

The presence before me was a man.

A completely naked man.

"Lord, forgive me, for I have sinned," I whispered under my breath.

Peeking through the gaps between my fingers, I focused my gaze on his upper body, only to discover numerous scratches covering his torso.

"He's dead..." I uttered solemnly, my stomach churning as I observed his ashen complexion and the crusted gashes. Yet, my attention was drawn to the faint rise and fall of his chest—he was still breathing!

"Oh Lord!" I exclaimed, swiftly rushing towards the first aid box. Despite my own weakness, the aftermath of witnessing my family massacred, I couldn't allow a man to perish.

But how did he end up here? I was certain that my own demise was imminent until... Wait... did he save me?

The stranger, the hunter, with his face concealed by a curtain of his black hair, suddenly whispered before succumbing to unconsciousness once more.

"Mi-ne..."