All the Devils are Here

Werewolf in the Lot

Fallon

What am I doing? That's the question that rings in my head as I drive as cautiously as I can back to Holiday. What are you doing, Fallon? What are you doing here? What are you doing in this outfit? What are you doing driving home drunk and sobbing in your car. Running. That's what I'm doing. In all 24 years of my life, I have never felt so utterly alone as I do in this moment. I've been in the center for about two weeks now and I still have no idea what I'm doing. The only opportunity I've gotten to get a job which was tonight, the manager never showed up. I can't afford to stay at Holiday much longer and I can't afford to fuel my car much longer. I've made no friends except this Sammy guy from high school whom I've seen only twice but yet, is the closest thing I have to a friend. Mina the receptionist at Holiday is the one face of consistency since I've been here and she's in her own world. A friend...... when was the last time I had one?

I think back to a year ago before the incident that has driven me into the rabbit hole that I'm in now. I think I had friends then. I had Rainer, I had Elaine and I had Luca. All the other girls in the compound often referred to me as a snob and those that didn't were terrified of me for one reason or the other. All but, Elaine. She and I stopped talking after what happened to Luca. It's not strange for siblings to be best friends but, I always thought that my relationship with him was exceptional. In the whole world, he was the one who got me the most. Despite our separate interests, we defied the odds and were inseparable. He never wanted to lead or to even be a Hunter. My brother wanted to leave. He never could though. He never did. The one time he tried, he got bitten. He got turned.

"Watch what your driving lady!", I'm startled out of my thoughts by a taxi driver that I just almost collided with. I panic and swerve to the left where I almost hit another car but, luckily the driver tactfully avoids me and we're all safe no thanks to me. 

I arrive at Holiday in one piece and as I park my car, I have this striking feeling that someone is watching me. I look around and I'm alone in the parking lot. I can see other people further down the street getting on with their own business, paying no attention to me and cars zoom by the street. I can't believe I went outside today without my gun although I have a swiss knife tucked away in my boots for emergencies. 

Unsurprisingly, as I step out of my car, I see a group of three guys walking up to me. I knew someone was watching. They look like bad news;

"Hello Princess", one of them smirks at me as the other whistles and sizes me up. I forgot I still look like a harmless Uptown city girl;

"I don't have any money so save yourselves the trouble", I shut the door of my car. The one talking to me laughs;

"We're not here to rob you princess, just collecting dues", he opens his palm in front of me like I'm supposed to give him something. 

"The keys, b***h", sidekick number two says. I've spent my life fighting werewolves and training against hunters but, I suddenly realize I don't know what the normal response is to a bunch of low-budget hooligans. Am I supposed to scream? or whip out my knife? 

Before I can decide between option A and B, sidekick number two speaks again;

"Are you deaf or something? Is she deaf or something?", as he speaks this time he makes an attempt to shove me. A failed attempt. It all happens so fast. A figure from nowhere goes past me and throws sidekick number two so hard that he flies into the wall. 

"What the f**k", one of them yells and before either one of us knows what is happening, his throat is slit and he's gargling his own blood as he goes to the ground. The third guy starts running away but the figure only takes a second to reach up to him and grab him by his ankles. He's screaming. I want to help him but, I'm unable to will myself to move. His screams become muffled until it's nothing and I can see that his guts are spilled open on the street. I know what the figure is. Almost human like but much larger and hunched, hairy as a beast, canines and claws that make my knives look like a joke and a frightening pair of glowing eyes. A werewolf. 

It looks up at me after it's done ripping the third guy to shreds. It's whole face is covered in blood and it's hard to believe there's any humanity behind those cold eyes. 

"Fallon!", I look back to see Rainer approaching from the motel. I look away from the werewolf and towards Rainer. When I look back to where it was, it's gone like it was never there. Only the bodies it left behind. 

"Fallon! Are you okay?", I look up to his worried face. He's examining me but, it's clear I haven't been harmed at all. It didn't come here to attack me. 

"What happened? You froze. You could have killed it", I could have. But, when I saw it's eyes, it reminded me of Luca. 

"It wasn't -", I lose trail of what I'm saying and look back to the bodies. Should I call the police? Usually when we made a mess, we cleaned it up but, I'm not sure what to do here. 

"Jesus. You're in shock. Out of practice huh? Go inside. I'd clean this up and be there in a minute okay?", I nod and proceed to go inside. 

Fifteen minutes later, Rainer knocks on my door.