His weakness

Chapter 2. Who is he

The sound of a spoon hitting the plate brought me back to reality.

I looked around the table and noticed that everyone was quiet.

Too quiet.

Normally, breakfast was never this quiet. My little sister would always have something to say, and my younger brother would always find a way to annoy her. Dad would laugh while mum pretended to be angry.

But things were different now.

Ever since the werewolves came, silence had become normal in our house.

I looked at my mum. She was eating, but she kept looking towards the window every few seconds.

She always did that.

Checking.

Making sure everything was okay.

“Mom,” I called.

She looked at me.

“Yes?”

“Are we going out today?” Her hand stopped.

Dad looked up.

Even my siblings stopped eating.

“No,” Mum said.

I frowned. “Why?”

“Because I said so, Brie.”

“Mom—”

“Brie.”

Her voice wasn’t angry.

She sounded scared,I looked at Dad.

“Dad?”

He sighed and put his spoon down.

“There’s been another attack.”

My stomach dropped.

“Where?”

“The East side.”

I immediately stopped breathing for a second.

The East side wasn’t far from us.

“How many people?”

Dad didn’t answer immediately.

“Seven.”

My little sister gasped.

Mum reached for her hand.

“Don’t worry. We’re safe here.”

But somehow, the way she said it made me feel even more scared.

Everyone knew the rules in Mador.

You didn’t need anyone to remind you.

We knew them because breaking them could get you killed.

Never go outside after sunset.

Never interfere when the werewolves are hunting.

Never look directly into a werewolf’s eyes.

If you hear them howl, get inside and lock every door and window.

And most importantly…

Never run if a werewolf is chasing you.

They enjoyed the chase.

I knew that one very well.

My brother’s face suddenly came into my mind.

The blood.

His scream.

The way he fell right in front of me.

I quickly looked down at my plate.

I didn’t want to remember.

Not now.

“I don’t feel like eating anymore,” I said.

I stood up.

“Brie—”

“I’m fine, Mom.”

I didn’t wait for her to say anything else.

I went upstairs and entered my room.

As soon as I closed the door, I leaned against it and took a deep breath.

I hated this.

I hated what the werewolves had done to our city.

I hated that we couldn’t go anywhere without being scared.

I hated that even inside our own house, we had to be careful.

Most of all, I hated being afraid.

I walked over to my window and moved the curtain slightly.

The street was almost empty.

There were a few people walking quickly, probably trying to get home before it got dark.

There were also black cars moving around the streets.

The werewolves’ cars.

I was about to close the curtain when I noticed someone standing across the street.

A man.

He wasn’t moving.

He was just standing there.

Looking at my house.

I couldn’t see his face properly because he was too far away.

But something about him felt strange.

I quickly closed the curtain.

Maybe I was imagining things.

Maybe—

A knock came from my door.

“Brie?”I knew the voice.

“Mia?”

The door opened and my little sister walked in holding her teddy bear.

“Mom said I should check on you.”I smiled.

“I’m fine.”She looked at me.

“You’re lying.”I laughed a little.

“Since when did you become so smart?”

“Since you became a bad liar.”

I shook my head and sat on the bed.

She came and sat beside me.

For a while, neither of us said anything.

Then she asked quietly,

“Do you still dream about him?”I knew who she was talking about.

My brother,I looked at my hands.

“Sometimes.”

“I do too.”I looked at her,She was only fifteen,She shouldn’t have to know what it’s like to lose someone,She shouldn’t have to know what a werewolf attack sounds like.

I pulled her into a hug.

“He’s still with us,” I whispered.

She pulled away slightly.

“How?”I touched her chest.

“Here.”She smiled, but her eyes were already filled with tears.

“I miss him.”

“I know.”Before I could say anything else, a loud howl came from outside.

Mia froze,I did too.

Another howl followed.

Then another.

“Brie…”

“Go downstairs.”

“But—”

“Mia, go.”She grabbed my hand.

“What is happening?”

I looked towards the window.

The man I had seen earlier was gone.

“I don’t know.”

But deep down, I already knew something was wrong.

We rushed downstairs.

“EVERYONE DOWN!”

It was Dad.

He was standing near the front door, locking it.

Mum was already pulling my younger brother away from the windows.

“Close the curtains!” she shouted.

I quickly ran towards the window and closed them.

Then—

BANG!

Something hit the front door.

Mia screamed.

Dad stepped in front of us.

“Stay behind me.”Another bang shook the whole house.

“Dad…”

“Quiet.”We all stood there,Waiting.

Then suddenly…

Nothing.

The howling stopped.

Everything became quiet.

Too quiet.

I could hear my own heartbeat.

Then we heard a low growl from outside.

It was close.

Very close.

Dad slowly reached underneath the table and pulled out his gun.

Mum grabbed his arm.

“Don’t.”He looked at her.

“What do you want me to do?”

“Nothing.”

Another growl came from outside.

Then the doorknob started moving.

Slowly.

Mia held onto my arm.

The door opened.

But there was no one there.

Just darkness.

Dad took one step forward.

“Don’t!” Mum whispered.

He stopped.

Then a man’s voice came from outside.

“Interesting.”

Everyone froze.

The voice was deep.

Calm.

Almost like he wasn’t worried about anything.

“They really are hiding here.”

I looked at my dad.

He looked terrified.

And that scared me more than anything.

The stranger laughed softly.

“Come out, human.”

Nobody moved.

“Or…”

His voice became quieter.

“I can come in myself.”

Suddenly, all the lights in the house went off.

Mia screamed.

I reached for her hand.

And then I felt it.

Someone breathing behind me.

I slowly turned around, and everything went blank