19 Years Ago, 1998
Doug continued with the story he was telling, "So while they were having their first honeymoon sex, the married man thought he was going to EXPLODE, but no, it turned out she EXPLODED first."
The dude with the huge beard Doug was talking to other than James scoffed, "Well damn!"
Doug exclaimed, "I know! I mean the poor guy thought it was the most humiliating thing. That he was supposed to finish first, you know. But as it turned out, the bride ACTUALLY wanted to climax first, so that way they can keep on going with it, and make it last forever."
The dude with the beard laughed wholeheartedly and cried, "Whoah-ho! Jesus!"
James, meanwhile, wasn't exactly interested. Instead of listening to Doug, who was sitting between him and that bearded guy, he was watching a few vehicles with headlights pull on by the diner in the night. He took a sip of his water, while putting what his red haired friend was saying in the back of his mind and have it focused on other things. He was thinking about what he saw that night. The most shocking, and unbelievable thing he has never expected to see before in his entire life. The kind of thing that was supposed to exist in foklore and Hollywood movies.
The werewolf.
When he planted the cup on the counter, he sighed with worry. Werewolves...He can't believe that they're real, and living in the same woods as him. He sorta thought still that this could all be some kind of dream. But it wasn't, and they certainly are real. He can almost feel himself shiver from just thinking about it.
It's been two nights since James encountered the creature. In his frightened self, he had honestly expected to see that thing again, along with its friends, to pay him a visit at the log cabin. To kill him perhaps, for whatever reason. Territorial, or otherwise. He at first thought he should just leave, but then where could he go? To a hotel? Maybe, but that stay probably wouldn't last long. So he gave up on thinking up a place to go. Then he thought he should tell somebody. He didn't have a phone hooked up in his cabin yet, so then he would have to go to the police in town. But how were they supposed to believe him? They wouldn't. Nobody would. Doug and Laurie would never believe him if he tried to tell them too about his surprising discovery. Doug would probably joke that James had met bigfoot.
The joke would be on that guy, if he met the thing instead of him.
James brought his attention to the counter now, his head still lost in his own thoughts. He pretty much just gave up on trying to figure out on what to do with the situation, so he pretended to go on with his day working at the store and head home. But he was cautious, he didn't totally let his guard down. During the first night after the encounter with the monstrous wolf creature, he kept one eye open for any tall trespassers wandering on his yard for a while. But none had shown up. Then yesterday morning arrived and then he went on with the next day, and then kept up his attention during the second night. But last night showed the same result as before. Everything had been quiet.
No howls, no signs of a werewolf on his property. Nothing at all.
The young man had a concentrated look on his face now. That didn't mean it and its furry buddies were not out there. He knows they are. But the question he wondered time and time again is why they have never shown up at his doorstep. Were they just planning something? He let out a quiet breath when that strange conclusion came to him like a couple times already. He sorta thought so, but...That thing wanted to kill him at first, but then it let him live. Maybe it was showing the same thing now. Not showing back up with its pack to help finish him off. Perhaps it was because that thing was grateful that James rescued it from that trap, and decided it didn't want him dead. That was probably why that thing let him live. That's the only thing he can come up with.
His eyes blinked while he mulled it over. Thinking about it, maybe that was another reason why James didn't tell anybody, other than the exact obvious, not believing a single word he would say to them. Maybe it was because there was no point in telling anybody if nothing was going to kill him. He probably owed that thing that much. Even though that sounded crazy from anyone's point of view.
A curious thought popped inside his brain, his brow wrinkled up still. The real question that he'd thought of more than once is...Who was that thing? A werewolf has got to be a human before then, right? Who was it that he rescued?
He doesn't have any idea...
Doug cut through his wandering, swirling thoughts finally, "Hey. City boy."
James glanced at him, "Huh?"
Doug looked disappointed, "Were you listening?"
James noticed the guy with the beard had left. The storytelling was probably now over with. He shook his head, replying, "No. What were you saying?"
Doug shot back his head and moaned, "Aw, damn, man, you weren't! I thought you were better than that!"
James smirked and apologized, "Sorry, Doug. I...Got a lot on my mind."
Doug scoffed, "What, you didn't think about putting your mind on my story?"
Laurie, who was behind the counter with her waitress uniform on, joined in the conversation with a scowl after coming to where they are with a rag, "Doug, I heard it, and it's the same as all the others. What's he missing out on? I don't think he's missing anything."
James concurred, "She's kinda got a point. I don't really care for stuff like that anyway."
Doug took mock offense to that while thrusting his hand at Laurie, "Oh, you'd say that considering she's your girlfriend! She taught you to ignore my shit now! That's a non-bro thing to do, man!"
The waitress told him off as she was folding her arms underneath her breasts, "Shut up. I told you we're not dating."
Doug formed a mischievious smirk and said, "You wish you were." James just rolled his eyes at that.
Laurie simply stated, "If I were, it's none of your business. Now shut up about it...Chucky."
James laughed a bit, even though he didn't really understand the joke. Doug only quirked a brow as a response. Then shortly he said, "Chucky? Who the hell is Chucky?"
Laurie smiled now, "You figure it out."
Doug eyed at James for an answer. Then he flat out gave him one by shaking his head and waving the man off, "Don't look at me."
The red haired dude complained, "Man, whatever." James chuckled. It almost made him feel bad seeing his friend like this. He REALLY didn't know who Chucky is. Then the man beside him coughed, and he pressed, "Well, anyways...What's going on with you?"
James frowned, "What do you mean?"
"I mean you said you had a lot of things on your mind, so spill them, what's going on?"
Laurie curiously asked as well while she began cleaning up the spot on the counter where that beared guy sat with the rag, "Yeah, James, what is going on with you? You haven't really spoke much ever since you came here."
He honestly wanted to tell them what was on his mind, but he shouldn't. They won't believe him. He can see the bigfoot joke coming from Doug a mile away. James responded, picking up the cup of water and slowly bringing it to his lips, "There's not much to say. I'm just...Thinking about things." He took a sip.
Doug pressed again, "Like what?"
Don't think that guy was going to take 'nothing' as an answer. He'd better come up with something and quick. Then James sorta did after bringing the cup back down, "I'm just thinking about how weird the woods are at night. Cause I've heard some strange shit going on in them lately. I'm a little freaked out about it." That was part of the truth he wanted to tell, but at least it didn't give away the fact about werewolves living in them.
"Really?" Doug shrugged with his shoulders with a grin, "Well I don't live in them all the time so I wouldn't really know."
James stated, dipping his gaze down on the counter, "That's what I thought."
Laurie said with a worried tone while her hand made circular motions on the counter, "Hope you're not regretting living in your sister's cabin. Maybe you haven't got used to them yet. I mean, sometimes I think I hear them make strange noises cause my house in town lives so close to them. That's probably normal."
Doug added, "Yeah, and I don't think your sister complained about them. You're probably worrying yourself to death over nothing."
"...Maybe." That's when James shot his attention at him, making a crack, "Or maybe it's because of your stupid, kinky, horror story the other night that's making me overreact to stuff."
Doug exclaimed right when Laurie got done with her small chore, "What?" He let out a laugh, "I thought you said you didn't believe in it."
James shrugged his shoulders, "Guess it creeped inside my head. I kinda think some crazy, deformed maniac is stalking me now."
Laurie held a smirk as she looked at him and playfully shook her head at this, "James...It's just a dumb story made by a dumbass."
He remarked, "Tell me something I don't know."
Doug glared, "You know what? I resent that."
James teasingly shot him down, "Do I look like I care?"
"Yeah well, I don't anymore." He hopped off his seat, leaving Laurie a five dollar tip, "Here, keep the change, sweet cakes. I'm done for tonight."
Laurie's eyes formed daggers when she spoke, "First of all, don't call me that again. Second, alright, I'll be with you in a sec." They both left James for a moment. Shortly thereafter, at the register located near the entrance, Doug paid Laurie the amount he owed to the diner and left the building. James nodded to himself, thinking about leaving as well. He's had enough for tonight. He's been sitting in this diner throughout almost the entire afternoon ever since he got off work. Gotta get home sometime. Hope no werewolves are waiting to eat him. When the friendly waitress came back, she looked straight at him and said, "Hey, James."
He looked back at her after pushing himself off his seat, "Yeah?"
She had this look of concern posted on her face, and her tone of voice showed too when she demanded, "What's really going on with you? I don't think you're acting like yourself right now. Is something wrong?"
James stared back at her, not showing much for concern. He did want to tell her the truth this time without Doug around. But he instead denied it, "Nothing's wrong, Laurie. Other than what I just told you, I'm fine."
"Are you sure? You know you can tell me anything. I know we don't know each other that much, but still."
James shortly fibbed again with his eyes giving her sincerity, "Of course I do. But I'm telling you, I'm alright. There is nothing going on besides the woods. Positive."
Laurie gaped at him for a long time, till she finally smiled a bit and apparently accepted the story, "Ok. I'll quit doing that now. Sorry."
James waved her off with a shake of his head and a tiny chuckle, "It's fine."
She explained, "It's just ever since you came here you kinda had that look on your face. It's like you were REALLY worried about something. Like there is something else besides the woods, you know, like you're not telling me something."
She's a bit more observant than Doug, he'll give her that. James once again asserted his story, "Now who's being worried over nothing. I'm serious, I'm alright. I just need to stop thinking about how weird the woods are at night."
Laurie giggled a little, "Good, cause I don't want them to scare you away from the cabin. I don't want you to leave Little Valley so soon."
Even though a part of him said he should, he quickly dismissed while pulling out his wallet behind his pocket, "I ain't going away any time soon."
Laurie asked, "You ready to head out too?"
The young man simply answered, "Yup. I'm done here."
Laurie led him from the other side of the counter, "Alrighty then." When they arrived, Laurie crunched up some numbers behind the register and James handed her the cash. Then the brunette haired lady said, "You have a goodnight, James. Stay out of trouble."
Hopefully he will tonight. He nodded and said, "You too. Later." He waved with his other hand shoving the wallet back in his pocket again as he headed out the door. He went for his truck straight away and piled behind the wheel with a loud slam. He turned the ignition, bringing his vehicle to life with headlights on then reversed out of the parking lot in front of the diner. James drove forward on main street, radio silenced with hardly any sound besides the truck engine. Streetlights guided him through town till he was out, everything replaced with darkness.
James sucked in a hesitant breath with eyes literally focused on the road as he was making his drive home, his hands on the steering wheel gripping so tightly they must be white now. This isn't the first time James did this when driving home lately. The thought of werewolves waiting to kill him at home just creeped up on him again. But then he quickly brushed that off when he thought back to the fact that nothing happened to him before tonight, and probably won't happen to him now. He needed to remain calm, and then maybe keep an eye on things again.
James turned on the familiar gravel road, the sounds of crunching rocks below added to the long lingering silence. The truck rolled on and on till its headlights caught sight of the log cabin, shining widely all over the front of the small wooden building. He pulled up close then parked. The headlights went dead the moment he turned the vehicle off. Everything was dark now, but his vision quickly adjusted and he can see little now. He came out the truck, his feet planting on short plain grass, and slammed his door shut. He moved himself to the door leading the inside of the cabin.
Then, when he grabbed the doorknob, something unexpectedly interrupted him, "You know, you really shouldn't wander in the woods at night."
James's form literally jumped at the voice. He quickly put his eyes to where it was from. It sounded like it was coming from the right side of the cabin, around the corner. His face immediately turned suspicious. Who was that? He demanded, "Who are you?"
The voice around the cabin continued, "That could wound you in trouble. There are things that aren't friendly to guys like you. But you are brave. I don't think lots of people would do that...All alone, with nobody by their side."
He determined right away that it sounds like a woman. But it also sounded a bit strange...Less human. James tried this again, "I said who's there!" The guest replied nothing but silence. He sprinted back to his truck, opened up, then reached into the glove box and pulled out a spare flashlight he kept in there. Yanking himself out, he flipped it on and placed the beam out to that corner. He shouted, "Show yourself!"
The strange voice politely asked, "Are you sure? You probably won't like what you see." James didn't say a word, only waited for her to come out of her hiding spot. Then when a moment passed it said, "Have it your way then." Then he can see a tall form coming around the corner to face him from a distance.
James jerked back a bit, gasping quietly. It's a werewolf! And with its fur, he figured it must have been the same one he met a couple nights ago.
Why is it here now? Is this a trap? Are there others around?
To his surprise, the werewolf opened its muzzle, and spoke to him with a plain face, "Good to see you again."
It talked! So, werewolves can talk too just like people. He can't believe it. And apparently it's a girl. He didn't quite expect that. He responded, not taking his eyes off her, "It's you. You're...The one I rescued from that trap."
The female werewolf mentioned, "I haven't got a chance to thank you for that." She took a step towards him.
But James ordered, "Stay back."
She froze. Then, the hairy creature assured, "I won't hurt you. You did rescue me."
James's voice held suspicion, "Funny considering you came close after I set you free."
She explained, "I was afraid you'd run off and tell others of your kind about me after you leave. I was...Thinking I shouldn't take chances."
The only human pressed in confusion, "Then...Why'd you let me go?"
The creature's gaze trailed off to the side as it went on, "Because...I thought maybe I'm wrong about you. That you wouldn't turn against me. That maybe you saw what I was going through and saw what I was...A trapped creature in need of help." Her eyes placed back on him, now showing daggers, "I did take a big risk. Have you told anyone?"
He said, his face firing daggers back, "What if I did?"
The werewolf responded after a pause, throwing glances around the area, "Well, if you did...There'd probably be more than one person here right about now, would there?"
James flat out made a point, "I don't think anyone would believe me if I tried, miss."
"Believe me...You'd be surprised how SOME people would take you seriously."
Paranoid much. Least that's what he thought. He didn't know which was worse. Him or that thing. Who in the world would believe him? He stared at her for a second, then truthfully stated, "To be honest...No, I didn't. I wanted to...But I didn't."
"Really?" She pressed, "Why not?"
He shortly said honestly, "...Maybe it's because you let me go. I didn't see a reason why I should. I guess I figured I owed you one."
Much to his shock, she was forming a smile, with her throat giggling deeply. Apparently amused, she said, her ear flickered, "I'm flattered."
Shortly, James pressed with bit of worry, "So, uh...Since you now know I never spoke a word about you, I guess you can tell your friends that are probably watching us that you're safe."
"Friends?" The female wolf at first seemed surprised, then she pressed after frowning, "You think I have friends?"
"I'm not exactly thinking it...I know you're not the 'lone wolf' here. I know there are others like you."
She cocked her head, "How'd you know I'm not the only one living around here?"
James explained, "Because why else would you be howling that night while you were trapped? Also, I did hear you guys howling all at once several nights ago. It wasn't hard to figure."
The wolfess smirked a little, "I should've guessed. We didn't know anybody heard us as of late"
The young man remarked, "Yeah well, I sure have. Kept me wondering about you."
Then she told him, "Well, since you brought this up, yes, I admit, there are others like me, but don't worry...I never said anything."
James wrinkled his brow, "Huh? You...Never told your 'pack' about me?"
She shook her furry head, "Never. I'm actually all alone with you. No one's watching us."
Then he asked her this, "Then...Why are you here? Why'd you show up like this?"
The werewolf slowly came up to him. James didn't say anything about it. He just stood and waited till she was like two feet from him. She said when she stopped in front of him, "Like I told you...I haven't got a chance to thank you. And...Maybe I wanted to get to know you too. You do look a bit lonely living here...James."
His eyes went wide. Then he demanded, "How do you know my name?"
She said, her tone acting a bit playful, "Lucky guess."
James narrowed his eyes, "Heh, that's too good for a guess. Wanna start explaining?"
She admitted it that time, "I've watched you before you found me that night. You do look friendly...And like the type that doesn't have a lot of friends." He swung his now soft gaze to the woods. His mind pictured her standing behind the trees and watching over him. She actually spied on him. How long? Since after the first night he began living here? The female werewolf broke through his thoughts, "I'm sorry if that frightens you." He looked back at her as she went on, "I know stalking is illegal for your kind, but I couldn't exactly say hello to you. I wanted to see what you were like. I was a bit curious."
James asked the creature, "You curious about me now?"
"More or less."
He let out a giggle finally, relieving some of the tension he had since the beginning of this conversation, "Well honestly I'm curious about you too. You're not what I expected."
She responded, "I really surprised you, huh?"
"....More or less."
The creature said with a serious face, "Well, I can promise you this...I'm not a monster, and neither is my...'Pack'. And I'll also promise you this too...I'm not going to hurt you. I wouldn't put my hand around your neck like I did ever again. We're different than you think. I, like the others, don't hurt humans. We're not even thinking about it...As far as I know. And besides...You've turned out to be somebody...That I can trust. I'm only asking you do the same." She kneeled down, her head reaching to his level. Shortly after, she asked with what apparently are begging eyes, like she was acting like a pup waiting for a treat, "Do you trust me, James?"
James contemplated his response. She doesn't seem to act angry at him. Not even for living in these woods, her home. She seems to be telling the truth. She doesn't want to hurt him. Maybe he can trust her a bit. Then he finally spoke up, "I...I guess so."
Her muzzle made a smile, "That's good enough for me." She stood up straight, turning her body to the woods, and said, "And I suppose...You wouldn't mind if I paid you a visit every now and then? Would that be alright? I really do want to get to know you..."
James watched her for a second. Then he responded with a shrug, "Yeah...I think you can. I think you're alright...So far. You swear you'll never hurt me?"
The werewolf promised with a firm nod, "I swear. Maybe...I'll see you tomorrow night."
"Sounds good." With that, the tall creature slowly strode her way to the forest, intending on heading back to where she lived inside the wooded area. Before she could walk far, James called as curiosity brimmed in his chest, "Hey wait."
The female werewolf turned her body a bit to face him.
"Who are you?" His limb motioned to her, "I never did catch your name."
She gave him another smile, "Perhaps later...When some time passes between us. Have a good night, James." She resumed her casual strides till she disappeared out of the line of sight from his flashlight.
James just stood there for a long time, thinking what he just went through. No way...A werewolf, who apparently had stalked him for who knows how long, is wanting to be friends with him. A girl one at that. Surprisingly he sorta is now with it. He...Never expected this to happen. Curious thoughts swam through his head as he lowered his light a bit. He knows for a fact that it is a girl...But, who is she? What's her name? And what is she really like when she isn't stuck in bear traps?
Heck, what does she look like...When she's human?
His lips made a tiny smile. Guess he'll find that out, sooner or later. Least he won't have to worry about being eaten in the woods anymore.
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