Whisper

~Change~

Chapter 5:

Just like that school was over and I was on my way back home with Shelby. "Why do we always have to go through the woods?" Shelby groans. I chuckle, "it's a short cut". I reply. "A dirty and messy and creepy short cut!" she exclaims. "Says the chick who is fascinated by the stars, and moon, and our area's activity at night." I bring up. I watch as her green eyes light up. "How could that not fascinate you!? Knowing the names of the stars? Whenever a full moon will come into view? The crime rates? Any creatures that can roam these very woods? We need to be educated about these kinds of things Whisper. We practically live in the middle of nowhere, therefore it is very important that we prepare ourselves." She rants passionately.

"Have you researched anything about 'the creatures that may roam these very woods'?" I question. She pushes her enormous glasses up to her face with her finger. "I have. I keep records of everything I research." She answers. "Have you found anything?" I ask. "Not anything concrete yet." She replies. I nod slowly. "Do you believe something is out there?" I insist. "I do." She nods. My eyebrows rise in surprise. "Do you?" She questions. "I do." I agree. She smiles.

~*~

"There's a full moon tonight." She informs. I sit up from my laying position, "so?" I ask. "So...that's awesome! Tonight I'm going to do more research, I have a few theories in connections to full moons and late night events/accidents." She explains. "Care to tell me more about these Shelby famous theories?" I ask. "You won't believe me." She chuckles nervously. "I said I believed that there was something out there earlier didn't I?" I remind. "Yes, but this is beyond just believing something is out there." She retorts. "Lay it on me. I'm all ears." I smile. She sighs, "Okay, fine."

"For the past few years in this town there has been odd behavior during upcoming full moons. A lot of people just seem so sketchy, cautious, and paranoid. Others appear suspicious, lonely, even angry. Every full moon in this town, crime rate increases and at least five accidents occur near the woods or late at night. I discovered that this pattern of behavior and activity has been present for over centuries back! And it's present today.

I've sat in public just watching people, and this odd behavior is everywhere! So I know that part is true. Now for my theory. I believe that there is something out there that causes this town to act all wonky and paranoid during full moons. I think there are creatures responsible for this thread of accidents and deaths. Meaning we aren't dealing with just any creatures. These creatures are consistent, smart, vicious. I mean they have to be, nobody has seemed to discover them yet, which is pretty impressive you know?" She expresses.

"Wow." I comment. "Told you." Shelby replies knowingly. "It's just that you place so much passion into this. Here I thought this was a hobby to simply satisfy your imagination." I confess. "So you thought I was crazy?" Her eyebrows rise. I laugh. "Yes, but now I'm realizing that your findings and theories seem pretty concrete to me. The paranoid activity. The crime rates. How did you get all this information?" I ask.

"Newspapers, our town's historical website, stats, anatomy, it's all there, you just have to keep digging and talking to the right people. I've spoken with our eldest teachers, our news-reporters, and certain neighbors." She confidently explains.

"Well it's official. Shelby is a genius." I announce.

She smiles widely. "I'll be searching for clues tonight in the woods." She informs. "No!" I blurt. She stares at me puzzled. "Y-you can't go there tonight." I lower my voice. "It's the only way to prove my theories. It's a full moon out there tonight." She retorts. "Exactly! What if your theories are true? What if you encounter some vicious creature? Don't be like these mad scientists Shelby." I warn. She laughs.

"I'm serious," I sigh. "Whisper I need to know. This is important." She shares. "Okay how about this? I go tonight. On my own, and then I report back to you." I form a solution. "Hmm." She hums. "That could actually work. Great! I'll provide you with equipment and we'll be on the phone the entire night. Make sure to look for clues everywhere." She finally agrees.

"I'm really good at that. I practically live in the woods!" I laugh. "Yeah you do. You're a perfect fit for this kind of stuff. You're attentive, athletic, fast, careful." She describes. "Whisper!" She gasps. "What?" I question looking at her weirdly. "You could be like my lab-rat!" She squeals.

"Remind me why I'm friends with you?" I ask her jokingly. "I'm your best-friend actually." She rephrases shoving me. I offer her an eye roll and smile. "See you tonight!" She pipes collecting her things and leaving my room. "See ya." I wave.

~*~

Later that night I waited for Nana to go to bed so I could sneak out the house. Shelby had supplied me with a camera that was attached to a headband so I could wear it on my head, a flashlight, special headphones, and some cool night-vision goggles.

"Where did you get all this cool stuff?" I ask her. "I told you, I've got connections." She replies through the phone that was connected to my headphones. "Awesome." I comment. "Okay it's almost midnight. Where are you stationed?" She questions.

"Where I usually go to see the full moon clearly." I respond. "Perfect." She states. I walk to my usual spot carefully on the look out for any unfamiliar activity.

"What do you see?" She questions. My eyes roam around the dark space. "Trees, branches, dirt, sticks. Uh-the skies are pretty clear tonight, the breeze is refreshing. All looks normal." I observe.

"Alright good good. You have a few minutes for it to hit midnight. I need you to look more carefully as soon as midnight strikes." She instructs. "Got it." I assure.

"Thirty seconds remaining." She announces. I pray that the wolf does not return tonight.

"It's officially midnight!" She informs. "Remember what I s-", a howl interrupts Shelby's sentence. My eyes widen. Crap!

"Hoooowwwwlll." My head quickly spins around as my heartbeat accelerates. "Did you hear that?" Shelby shrieks. I swallow the lump that had formed in my throat. "Mmmhuh." I hum nervously. "I knew it! Okay stay with me Whisper. Be on the lookout, I'm programming the audio connected to your devices so I can pick up everything that occurs.

My head starts to spin as the memories of my first encounter with the mysterious wolf flood in rapidly. I groan. "Whisper you there?" Shelby questions. "Yeah." I reply softly clutching my head. "I'm here." I state. "Be careful." She warns.

*c***k*

I gasp. "Whisper?" Shelby calls out. I nervously look around. Please don't be out there. "I-Uh Shelby. This is getting really scary, I think I'm going to head home." I confess. I quickly shut off the camera placed on my forehead. "The camera stopped working." I lie. "Yes I see that, I can't see anything. Get out of there Whisper!" She orders. I begin to do as told but halt as my eyes witness the full moon in all its glory. I'm suddenly captivated in awe.

My ankle starts to ache. "Ow!" I whine looking down. "Whisper?" Shelby questions concerned. "It's my ankle." I tell her bending down. "Why are you still there? Run!" She screams. "I don't think I can run with this thing." I confess. "Hop on your good foot, but leave right-" I scream in pain as I feel my ankle snap within my foot, cutting Shelby off.

"Whisper!?" She calls. Another scream escapes my lips as I feel a bone from my arm snap in half. "Whisper!?" She repeats louder. I whine in pain as my body forms into a ball. My nails dig into the dirt. I struggle for air.

"Ahh!" I cry. "Whisper what is going on!? You're scarring me!" I distantly hear her voice. "I'm-fine!" I say in between deep breaths. "Ugh!" I groan loudly feeling more bones cripple inside me. I felt like I was dying. Tears stream down my face as I cry out in pain. "Whisper!"

I see a flash of blue go through my eyes. My gums begins to ache. I whine feeling my gums with my dirty fingers. What the hell is happening to me!?

My teeth transform and cut my fingers. I scream in shock and pain. I witness my hands as my nails turn into claws and white fur begins to appear on my skin.

"No.." I gasp. "No!" I shout not being able to resist the transformation. I couldn't control it anymore. "Whisper!?"

I shout in agony as the transformation consumes me. I feel my eyes roll back and all sensation along with every human part of me give up control. Everything had faded to black.