I stared, paralyzed, as my father crumpled to the ground, his life extinguished by a creature that had once been my little brother. Tom my brother now a towering wolf with crimson eyes and teeth bared, had just ended the life of Mr. Bernard, the man who had taught me everything I knew about courage, responsibility, and love.
The forest around our house seemed to hold its breath, and the moonlight glinted off the alpha's fur, painting him in silver and shadow.
I wanted to scream, to run, to do anything but my body refused. All I could do was stare, trying desperately to see the boy I knew beneath the wolf, hoping against hope that somewhere inside, Tom was still there!!!!.
The moment stretched. And then my mind betrayed me, dragging me back into memories I had buried, memories of a life before this nightmare.
Memories of Childhood!!!!!.
I remembered Tom's birth like it was yesterday. I had been seven years old, a little older and protective by nature. I peered through the hospital curtains at the tiny bundle in my mother's arms. His tiny fingers curled around mine, and in that instant, I swore I would always keep him safe. Our father, Mr. Bernard, had smiled at me with that calm, easy smile that made the weight of life seem lighter.
"You'll need to protect him, Mike," he said. "He's going to need someone like you."
At the time, I had laughed nervously, imagining myself a hero in some storybook. Little did I know that one day, my brother's life would cause the death of my father's.
Growing up, Tom had been mischievous, clever, and determined, always with a glimmer of curiosity in his dark eyes. He loved baking, often sneaking into the kitchen to experiment with pastries while I watched, sometimes laughing, sometimes scolding him for making a mess. Father had always encouraged his dreams, insisting that Raleigh village,our residing town no matter how remote, shouldn't limit what we could achieve.
I remembered the argument about his schooling vividly. Tom wanted to drop day school to work full-time at Crescent Bakery in Hull Village, attending night school instead. I had been furious.
"You can't just abandon your education! You'll regret this!" I had shouted, frustration mingling with fear and care .
Banchy, his oldest friend, had stood beside me, nodding in agreement. "Mike's right, Tom. You need both—school and the bakery. You can't risk everything for a dream that might never come true."
But Tom's stubbornness was unyielding. "I can do it! I have to do this!"
Father had intervened, as he always did, calm yet firm. He had placed a hand on Tom's shoulder. "Your dreams are valid, Tom. But never abandon responsibility. Night school and the bakery—both can coexist. I trust you." That moment had silenced Tom, and I had felt stupid and more angry for Dad to support Tom's idea . But yet I had no say in this, all I could do was just watch. I was brought out of the flashback by his growling teeth and the high pitched voice of the lady in bangs " kill him! kill quick."she screamed.
I blinked back tears as I watched Tom's massive form approach. The alpha snarled, but I recognized him—saw flashes of the boy who had begged me to help him stay in school, who had flourished under Father's guidance, who had trusted me and Banchy. I swallowed, my throat tight, and spoke, my voice shaking.
"Tom… it's me… Mike. Remember us. Remember what we've shared!"
His paw lifted, claws scraping the floor, and the growl beneath his words shook the air. Behind him, a voice screamed, sharp and commanding—the lady with bangs. "Kill him, Tom! Kill him now!"
I shook my head, tears streaming down my face. "No! Don't listen! You're my brother! I love you, Tom , please don't do this I know you're still there" I said as tears cascaded down my eyes . Not tears of fear but tears of sadness , but tears of disbelief ."I know you're still there Tom , this isn't you don't listen to that bitch" I said summoning courage.
For a fleeting moment, his eyes flash. The wolf within him growled, but I saw the boy I knew the boy who had learned to bake, who had resisted giving up his . And then, with a terrified glance at me, he bolted through the window. The lady with bangs followed, her shadow dissolving into the clouds that masked the full moon.
I fell to my knees, sobbing, my body trembling with grief and disbelief. My father,my protector, my guide was gone. And my brother, the boy I had sworn to protect, had become a monster.
The sound of voices drew me back to the present. Villagers had arrived, drawn by the commotion, I tried to explain, but my words were choked by tears.
Then Uncle Nelson appeared out of the crowd, his face twisted in fury. "Mike !
You too?" he spat, narrowing his eyes. "I should have known. Late bloomer, yes… following your brother's path. A werewolf just like him!"
"No! I'm not like him! I swear! , there's some one controlling him a lady " I pleaded, my voice cracking, my body trembling.
He sneered, unmoved. " lies ! lies ! lies ! , Don't lie to me. Your father hunted to protect this village from creatures like this. Your mother… she was a werewolf, killed by him to keep you safe. And now… you're next your brother must have killed Bernard and you are in cooperation with him . you begged your father not to go ware wolf hunting today and then you killed him , and besides how will Tom kill your Father and spare you !!! ." he shouted aloud me
"because it wasn't him he was being Controlled" I said helplessly .
" you liar" uncle Nelson said slapping me in the face .
And then I remembered subtle signs from Uncle Nelson—his envy of Father's skill, his obsession with wealth, the whispers about inheritance. Betrayal had never felt so sharp, so personal.
especially by my own kin now I felt what it meant , it hurt so badly . was I going mad?, my humanity was fading away my heart had a hole and now Nelson had made the hole bigger . That crook , that snake , that chameleon, smiling with us every morning ,but he failed to take care of me the time I needed him .
The crowd mummured for some minutes and eventually everyone agreed a bad agreement.
"Bind him!" he shouted. "Crucify him in the town square. Let everyone see what he really is!"
"You bastard Nelson screw you all ! " I screamed as I was taken from my house to town square. I struggled against the ropes as Nelson leaned close, voice cold and venomous,he was stinking of beer. "This is for the fortune, the property. Your life ends tonight, and I claim what's rightfully mine , all the wealth " he laughed walking away.
I cursed him aloud. "May your soul rest in peace tonight , you'll die worse than my father."
Suddenly, the clouds parted. The full moon shone brilliantly, casting silver light across the village. From the shadows emerged a pack of wolves, their glowing eyes hungry and predatory. Chaos erupted! . " finally Justice to these barbarians"
Banchy appeared as if from nowhere, her eyes fierce, slicing through the ropes with her pocket knife . "Mike! Come on!, let's get out of here "she said dragging my hands as we ran into the cold night.
I watched how the pack of wolves descended upon the villagers feeling no iota of remorse. They all deserve it go too hell !! I screamed at the top of my voice . I smiled seeing each one of my prosecutors get their body ripped in shreds. A prosecution of a 21year old turned into a masacare. Wicked!! I thought silently. Uncle Nelson wasn't so good at ware wolf hunting , he was rather a constipator to the team, and severally , many efforts have been made to kick him out of the association, but I guess due to my dad's position he was pardoned . Basically uncle Nelson wasn't good at anything, his wife and children left because of his poverty, he lost his job because he was a drunkard. And that particular night he decided not to follow the hunters association hunting ware wolves .
We finally reached the veranda of my house. I collapsed, gasping and shaking, the sounds of death and destruction echoed ,the cries of humans, the howls of wolves, peril and commotion filled the air , I couldn't think, couldn't breathe my head went blank for a second. But Banchy, calm as ever, grabbed my arm and pulled me towards the shadows. "We can't just sit here. Come on!"
Before I could protest, we heard the unmistakable growl of another wolf. It had found us. It was closing in.
I was frozen with fear, my legs refusing to carry me further. But Banchy didn't hesitate. She grabbed a fallen branch from the ground, its jagged end sharp as a spear. Without a word, she thrust it towards the wolf, aiming for its throat.
The wolf snarled, its eyes glowing in the dark. The attack came fast, but Banchy was faster. She dodged and struck again, pushing the wolf back with force. It growled, but this time, there was no hesitation in her eyes.
With one final, desperate push, the creature collapsed, its body crumpling into a heap of fur and blood. The silence that followed felt deafening.
"We need to move," Banchy said urgently, dragging me away from the lifeless wolf.
I nodded, too shaken to speak. The wolves were still out there, and survival was our priority my dumb yell must have sold us away to those monsters. She pulled me toward the door of my house. We couldn't risk staying outside. Inside was safer—at least for now.
We slammed the door behind us, and Banchy led me into the basement, the cold stone walls surrounding us like a tomb. The air was thick with the smell of earth and dust, and the faint moonlight filtered through cracks in the ceiling. We sank to the floor, my chest moving faster than ever , "calm down "she said. "We have to get nittwitt and slap him about five times , and asking him what the hell he's got himself into . But first we survive this horrid scenery "she added.