4

Morte la bête, mort le venin “Dead dogs don’t bite”

--French Proverb

I had spent most of the day in the local library, researching the murders and others like it, that I know I hadn’t committed, and more importantly, the Garou.

The library was small, hidden behind a strip mall, which explained why it was so empty. A frustratingly helpful librarian kept coming to me every few minutes, asking if she could assist me. I told her she couldn’t.

A few things about my victims never changed. First, I only targeted males. Secondly, they had to be responsible for a violent crime within the time I’m in town. The other killer seemed to be targeting randomly, killing women, and in three instances, teenagers. It just so happened that most of the victims had criminal records. And lastly, I limited my ‘work’ whenever I came to a new city in order not to bring attention to myself. Out of the 22 victims mentioned in the paper, I’ve only killed 6.

According to many of the sites of local papers, the killings that matched my MO started within a month before I had even reached this town.

I sighed and leaned back in my chair, rubbing the bridge of my nose. There were a few explanations that I could come up with. One, the person, whoever they were, had no idea what they were doing when they were doing it. Two, the person enjoyed attacking humans, and that was the most frightening prospect. Or three, it was only a sick, sadistic murderer who enjoyed mutilation. The Garou only had to be involved because the word “werewolf” was being tossed around.

When I was satisfied with what I had learned concerning that, I moved on to my next search. I went wikipedia.org and searched the term “The Garou”. A few directories showed, including the French “loup-garou”, meaning werewolf, and the Japanese word “Garou”, meaning starving/hungry wolf. I noted the similarities, but it wasn’t exactly what I was looking for. I continued searching on other websites, but still nothing, just games and books whose titles were also similar.

I heard footsteps approaching and I minimized the screen. Right on cue, a few seconds later, the librarian popped her out from between two bookshelves.

“Are you finding what you’re looking for?”

I nodded without looking away from the screen, “I’m doing fine, thank you.”

“Are you sure? I mean, if there is anything that I can do, just let me know.”

I noticed her tone of voice and raised my head to look at her. She smiled flirtatiously, playing with her hair. I looked her up and down.

She had unbuttoned the top two buttons of her green blouse and her matching skirt stopped just below her knees. I noticed that her clothing also matched her eyes, and her shoes, which sported 3 inch heels. She was about 30 or 40, but far from too old.

I smiled back, “Well maybe there is something…”

The moon, bright and full, shone brightly as I walked out the library an hour and a half later. It felt good, releasing some steam, and I felt slightly euphoric. Usually, during a full moon, its extra hard to maintain my control, to be in command of my anger and thoughts, but I just found a new outlet for my stress. Forget fast bikes, fast women seemed to work much better.

I laughed at my own joke as the wind harshly changed direction. I watched a couple across the street shiver and pull their jackets tighter against themselves.

So frail, so fragile.

They got into their car and drove off, and then I was alone again. Diane, the librarian, had offered me coffee at her place, but I was afraid of the night’s effect on my behavior and I didn’t want to put her in danger. Now I regretted my decision, wishing I had taken her up on her offer.

I decided to walk around and come back for my bike at another time. I headed west, in the opposite direction of the library and against the wind, heading down the dark deserted street. It wasn’t that late, but it was already dark, the only light coming from the bright moon and stars.

Maybe if I had walked in the other direction, I would’ve seen them coming. I heard them, much too late, the strong wind nearly deafening me. 

The first blow came from behind, the powerful fist connecting with the back of my skull. The second, attacked my ribs as I glanced behind me. The last, a solid kick to my jaw. My body flew into the air and I crashed into trash bins on the curb. I quickly bounded onto my feet. I couldn’t tell how many were there, and I couldn’t afford to pause and use my second sight. So instead I used my only option: I ran.

I turned on my heel, abandoning my motorcycle and sprinting down the street. I reached the corner and leaped onto the traffic light, scaling it and jumping onto a low roof. I ran across it, spotting three men behind me. They split up attacking from different directions and bared their teeth into a horrific grin.

I recognized the men, one was the one I had attacked, and the others were the men blocking my bike that day. Though, I wasn’t used to fighting people with similar speed and strength, I was sure I could take these guys on one at a time, but at once? Suddenly I felt weak, how was I supposed to get out of this mess?

I quickly ran from rooftop to rooftop, running and jumping with no real destination in mind, just trying to stay as far away as possible from my pursuers. The howls of delight that followed me grew louder, and I could tell they were still close, too close.

One of them landed on a nearby rooftop on my left as I turned to run in that direction. He crouched low, but didn’t advance, only staring and growling. His dark eyes dared me to come near him. I didn’t, of course, by just sitting there he left an open path of escape on my right. I turned on my heel and continued fleeing.

I ran faster, oddly proud of avoiding him. That idiot, why was he just sitting there? I laughed at his stupidity when a grim realization dawned on me.

They don’t want to catch me, yet. They’re herding me!

But I couldn’t change course, it was too late for that. I jumped off of the rooftop and landed on the dark street they had led me to. It was a dead end. I turned around and the men that followed me stood side by side, watching patiently. I turned around and noticed a fourth that I hadn’t seen before, standing on the rooftop above me, blocking my only other escape.

I stood there and looked back and forth, waiting for one of them to approach me, but they just stood there. I realized they were here to capture me, not kill me.

I closed my eyes, using my second sight to survey the area. I stood a few feet in front of a man hole, and I could clearly see the miles of sewer that ran beneath me. I could see the three men before me, the excitement frozen in their eyes. A leaf fell, ever so slowly in front of them, accenting how much time seemed to slow down when I used my skill. Snail-like, they parted, as though making a path for someone to walk through? Was this for me? Suddenly, Jean-Luc’s form appeared, walking calmly. He seemed to be moving at a normal pace, smiling at me as he approached.

It is his speed. How can he be so fast?

I opened my eyes.

“Why are you here this time?”

He smiled, the familiar arrogant smile spreading across his face.

 “You broke the rules, Lucas. We warned you to play nice. You didn’t listen.”

“You don’t understand, it’s not me that’s doing this. There’s another wolf in town.”

Surprise flickered in his eyes for a second, but then it disappeared as the same smug expression replaced it.

“Lies will not save you, Lucas. I expected more from you.”

“Let me find him, a week at most is all I need. I can track him, kill him myself if I need to,” I didn’t have much to loose, but I didn’t plan on dying for someone else.

He seemed to consider it, his eyes narrowing with thought. His men, the Canine-something, shifted restlessly as though they were just as confused.

“Well, that’s surprising, I thought you were a protector of life.”

“I am, whoever is doing this is also killing innocents.”

He laughed and slowly began pacing back and forth looking at his feet, “If there’s one thing I know, it’s that no human is innocent. However, I believe you. And I will allow to live, and to hunt this new threat…,” he stopped walking and closed his eyes, “for a price.”

I grimaced, “And what would that be?”

He raised his index and middle finger without looking at me.

“Two conditions.”

“Being what?”

“First, you only have a week. However, if we find this rouge wolf first,” he finally looked up at me, those gray eyes glowing dimly, “you belong to us.”

I remained silent, watching the faces of his men. They looked annoyed at this new development. I was sure that if Jean-Luc had meant killing me, his pets would be more than excited. And I was also sure that it wasn’t him that wanted me, but the Garou themselves.

“You said ‘we’. It isn’t fair that I’ll be hunting alone.”

Hunting…I never used the word when describing what I do, it made me feel more… animalistic, a trait I wasn’t proud of.

“Well you have an unfair advantage yourself, do you not? Being able to see everything around is hardly an impediment.”

Was he referring to my second sight? How could he know about it?

He grinned at the surprise that must have been plastered on my face. He tapped his temple with two fingers.

“I know more than you think. Do you agree to my first term?”

I didn’t answer for a few seconds, then nodded.

“And your second?”

“Defeat one of my men in combat. I would like to see how powerful your Lycan form is.”

One of his men stepped forward.

I hesitated before shaking my head, “I can’t do that.”

Annoyance clouded their faces, “And why is that?”

I wasn’t sure exactly how to word it, “I… I can’t transform.”

Now confusion struck him, and his eyes narrowed again, “And why is that?”

I shook my head, “It doesn’t matter, now does –.”

My sentence was cut short when his lackey closed the gap, striking my midsection. The air abandoned my lungs, and I feel to my knees, desperately trying to inhale. The pain was excruciating, and it quickly led to anger.

“Change Lucas, don’t allow him to disgrace you, however easy it may be.”

I shook my head defiantly. He struck me again, with the back of his hand, and I rolled away from him.

“Do it!” he commanded me himself, frustration seemed to dictate his actions now.

I slowly rose to my feet, straining to compose myself. I was close, and I couldn’t risk losing control. I looked into the sky, and it seemed as though I was directly under the full moon. My eyes began to cloud, and I knew it appeared black to the others. They leaned forward in anticipation.

I looked at Jean-Luc, spitting blood onto the ground in front of him, “What are you, deaf? I said no you stupid French son of a --”

What happened next seemed to last forever, but I knew that it only must of taken a few seconds. He grabbed me by my collar and flung me into a nearby wall. I heard the brick crack as the back of my head made contact with it and I slumped to the ground. He roared, and reached towards the moon, his fingers curled and veins pulsating on his neck and arms. In this pose, while bathed in moonlight, he resembled a painting that I had once seen of an angry, vengeful god.

His dark eyes glowed a deep blue as his arms seemed to burst, bluish fur sprouting instantaneously all over his body. His eyes spread across his face, his teeth growing larger. His nose grew into a snout and his hands formed large paws as his tunic shredded around his massive body. Saliva dripped from his great fangs as his eyes found mine. His body fell onto all fours as his legs twisted into the powerful haunches of a large animal. He appeared to be a wolf, but was nearly the size of a full grown bear.

I rose to my feet again, matching his feral glare. I glanced at his men, who leaned forward eagerly, awaiting a fight that would not come. I looked back at the beast that slowly circled me. My back was against the wall I had been thrown against, and I planned to use that to my advantage. He was much faster than me, and now his speed nearly doubled. He paused shortly, waiting.

“I told you I’m not fighting you.”

A low growl escaped him and he took another step toward me. Without meaning to do so, I moved back apprehensively. This beast planned to destroy me, and I had little hope of survival. However, I was far from defenseless.

The legends vary, but few myths hold some truth. Wolves being allergic to silver was close, but not accurate. Quicksilver, or mercury, was actually mistaken as a sort of silver in the past. Most records to this day report ‘silver’ as our weakness.

Our weakness? Since when do I consider myself one of these monsters?

He took another step toward me, ready to charge. I reached into my jacket and pulled the Mark XIX Desert Eagle from my shoulder holster and aimed between his eyes. The surprise on his face was still discernible despite its change, but it was soon gone. He looked at his comrades, and they laughed as though they shared a joke I had missed.

I knew why he was so cocky. We both knew he was far from being faster than a bullet, but being shot wouldn’t slow him down. Their healing abilities would make it nearly impossible to kill them with a gun. I would need an Uzi to take him down.

“Let me leave, and I won’t shoot.”

It was silent for a heartbeat, then laughter again. His tongue hung out of his mouth, making him look like an actually dog for a second. Then the ravenous growl returned as he charged full speed towards me. I pulled the trigger, squeezing off two shots before he reached me, pouncing on me. I tried to move, but dropped my gun as I rolled away.

I could hear the howls and cheers. I knew what they were all thinking. Did u really think that would save you?

Actually, yes I did.

He turned, ready to attack again, when his legs crumpled under him. He fell to the ground with a grunt, his large body nothing more than a huge shivering mound on the floor. His eyes found mine, pleading with the question I knew he wanted answered. How?

“Quicksilver,” I whispered.

The bullets had burst on contact with his flesh, spreading the mercury through his bloodstream. He howled in pain and Jean-Luc ran to his side. The others, astonishment abandoned turned towards me, rage bleeding from their eyes. I rushed to the manhole, lifting the lid and flinging it like a Frisbee. It hit one of them in the neck, blood bursting from his mouth as he fell, and man on the roof leapt onto me. I grabbed him by the neck and threw him towards at the others. I didn’t look back as I dropped into the hole, landing in the grimy water and running as fast as I could through the muck. The stench was horrendous, but I took solace in knowing they wouldn’t find my scent. I ran down what seemed like random tunnels, but I knew where I headed. A pained howl echoed all around me. I could hear the pain in its voice. It desired vengeance. It demanded my death. I ran faster, hoping to escape Jean-Luc’s sorrow.