The moonlit night

Chapter3

Bolt from the blue

Hazel's pov

The night was serene and cool. The stars sparkling like Polka Dots against the black night sky. The wind whistled through the tall blades of the surrounding grasses. Knocking the trees into submission. Little petals of pink dropped from some of the trees. At intervals, the hooting of an owl broke the silence.

The crickets weren't as lively today. But faint chirps found their way into the calm night.

It was a cloudless night. The moon floated above in its majestic silver contour. With no clouds to block it, it posed in the middle of the sky. Unchallenged. Unwavered in its gothic beauty.

The walk through the forest was a quiet one. As they weaved through the path leading into the thick growth of greens. The path was not tarred but covered in fine sand, with little debris and flower petals littered from the surrounding flowering trees. Their feet created a crunching echo as they stepped on the partly dried leaves.

They admired the environment like it was their first.

Hazel had a faded pink gown on. The sleeveless dress hung low at her ankles. It swept over the soil and debris on the path. Axel still had his dressing from earlier that day, a striped shirt, and a pair of trousers.

Hazel clutched onto her can of kerosene. They were going to make a fire as usual. Good a thing she came along with them as the weather threatened to get colder as the night progressed.

She took a slight glance at Axel. He was looking down on the path, with a contented look. She thought to herself what the night would turn out to be. She was still inquisitive about the contents of the tiny box. But she had waited this long. Certainly, a few more minutes wouldn't be so bad. But she kept on imagining different items that could fit in the box. Maybe a watch, a bracelet, a ring. NO, the thought of it being a ring made her stomach flutter. She would faint if it was one.

She looked at his face once more, but there was no expression to prove or disprove her speculations. She would just have to wait and find out. But the suspense was killing.

"It's a full moon today," Hazel pointed out. She slipped her hand gently into Axel's.

He looked up at the sky. He stared for some seconds before bringing his attention back to the path.

"It sure is"

It was obvious he was trying hard to act absent-minded so as not to spoil the surprise.

They continued in silence.

They finally got to a small clearing.

Axel pulled her as he sprinted to the center of the clearing, both giggling like children.

He threw himself to the ground pulling her along. And in a quick spin on the descent, she fell on top of him, her hands placed on his chest.

He rolled a bit so they lay there on the ground side by side.

Finally, he reached into his pocket. Her breathing intensified. She decided to take short drawn breaths to stay herself.

The moonlight was the only source of light. It reflected off the shiny body of the box.

She followed the movement of his hands as they tore into the covering.

The box was finally unwrapped. And in a very slow manner, he started pulling the lid backward.

She propped herself on one arm, in anticipation.

Finally, the lid was off, and she could see the necklace. It was beautiful. She smiled inwardly. Waiting to feel this prized jewel on her neck.

Instinctively, she backed him, when he took the necklace out. Tilting her head to the side so that her hair fell.

He carefully put the necklace on her. She could feel the cold metal around her neck, the pearl pendant dropping to her chest.

"There, perfect" he pulled her hair behind her and let it fall on her back.

"Oh my God " she turned to face him " this is so beautiful, I love it "

He smiled constantly.

Then he coughed a very stressed cough. He bent his head over as if to throw up.

"Are you alright?" She held his head in her palms, lifting it to face her. A concerned look on her face.

Then she saw something, a dark mass on the side of his mouth.

She took out a napkin from her bosom. And scrubbed it off. Then she looked at it. It was blood, he was coughing up blood.

"You.....you're bleeding" she stammered showing him the blood-stained napkin.

He jerked backward, pulling away from her and at the same time getting up on his feet.

She stood with him, trying to hold his shoulders.

"Am fine," he said, pushing her hands away.

It was at that split second she noticed something.

His face. It looked hairy. Beards?. No, it was all over his face. His teeth looked longer. And his eyes, yes, his eyes, they had a faint green glow.

"Axel!!" She voiced out loud "What is happening to you?"

He wailed. The wail slowly faded into a howl. A pained howl. Like a wounded wolf.

His limbs, she could see them transform. They were getting elongated and thicker, with growing muscle and vasculature. His body is trans morphing. The hairs all over his body kept on sprouting. He was turning into a hulking creature.

His nails elongated to claws. She watched him pull and tear at his clothes which were already bursting from the pressure of his increasing mass.

His ears stood atop his head pointing upward. Long canid ears. They twitched, almost reacting to the sound of her heartbeat. Hearing it almost burst out of her ribcage.

He howled again, a longer deeper howl, accompanied by a growl. His upper canines drew downwards as if to meet the lower canines which were pulling up.

Hazel stood frozen at the spot. Too scared to run, too scared to scream, and equally too scared to approach. Her body was transfixed by the sight. Whatever could this be, a dream, she hoped hopelessly.

Axel had stopped writhing. He turned to look at her. Towering above her at nine feet.

A gasp escaped her mouth as she quickly pulled her hands over to cover her lips.

"Hazel"

It spoke. She took two steps backward.

"Axel?" She called in between gasps. It seemed the initiative to take air in and out of her lungs was lost to her.

When he tried to approach her she kept back.

Her vision was getting hazy. She was feeling lightheaded, her knees threatening to give way beneath her weight.

She took a few steps in an attempt to run before she came crashing.

The debris-littered ground rose to meet her face in a trancelike movement. It was a fall but it felt like a quick spin.

Her mind is subject to the captivating power of vertigo.

Before her eyes shut into darkness, the last image she saw was of the creature approaching her with outstretched arms in a failed attempt to catch her limp body before it met the ground.