The Rogue Werewolf

Chapter 1

Just after several minutes, the sun will start to shine yet again, and it means another day of work for Elam. And today was the start of his job for Doña Domirita. When he got up from his bed, he was a little bit nervous. That was the first time he felt nervous because of a job. Perhaps the fact that Doña Domirita was a big shot was what scared him.

“You can do it, Elam,” he whispered as he stared at himself in the mirror. He then took a deep breath before leaving his small hut.

First, he went to the jeepney station to inform the drivers that he wouldn’t be able to join them for the day. All of them were a little bit curious, so Elam told them. Upon knowing the reason, they gave him smiles and cheers. Elam then went on his way to the mansion, full of confidence and pride.

“Ready for the job, boy?” A man in a white suit suddenly appeared in front of him as the door of the mansion gradually opened. Who is this gentleman? “Fernando. The mansion’s main guard. Pleasure meeting you,” the man gracefully added, stretching his hand at him.

Elam then accepted Fernando’s hand. But after their skins touched, Elam felt a strange feeling. The same feeling he felt somewhere before. He looked at Fernando, and it looked like he felt it too. To avoid the awkwardness, he continued inside the mansion. When he went inside, he looked back at Fernando who was, for an unknown reason, staring at him. Elam ignored it.

The place was full of nothing but silence. It seemed like no one was there. Elam went to the living room for guests and he saw no one. He checked the kitchen, the main living room, and the dining room, but still the same. No one was expecting his arrival. Elam started recalling his conversation with Donya Domirita to gather some information regarding the first day of his job. She should be here, waiting for me.

Elam decided to wait in the living room for guests for a couple of minutes. Maybe Doña Domirita was outside doing some emergency thing, he thought. The sound of the clock was the only sound he could hear, and it calmed him down.

However, half an hour had already passed, but there was still no Doña Domirita. Elam instantly thought of ditching her because he had just wasted his time waiting instead of doing a real job to earn money. When he was about to leave, the screaming voice of a man echoed inside the mansion. It was full of pain and misery. The sound of a person being tortured, if you may. It sounded like it came from the back part of the mansion. What the hell is happening?

Elam gathered his courage to follow where the sound came from. He walked past the kitchen and there, he saw a door. A 6-foot silver steel door. He was so sure the sound came from there. Without a hint of hesitation, he twisted the doorknob as if he were about to enter a forgotten ancient labyrinth. Slowly but steadily. When the door opened, a sudden cold air covered his body. Smoke was also being continuously released through the opening. A 5-foot wide pathway appeared in front of his eyes. He was stunned. What place is this?

The hallway was dark and eerie. Elam couldn’t even see the end of it. There were no windows or lights. Just pure darkness and freezing air, as if the small tunnel was being used as a preservation chamber. It was bizarre. But Elam was determined to go beyond his fears. Upon staring at the seemingly endless hallway, something was persuading him to go.

When he was about to take a single step, a tight grip wrapped around his right arm. It was so tight he even felt his veins reacting. It was obvious that it meant ‘back off’. Elam swallowed deeply before looking behind him to see the person who stopped him. Damn…

“What are you doing, Elam?” It was Doña Domirita. Her voice was not the same as usual. It was monotonous but gelid. Terrifying. Her deadly eyes were piercing Elam’s as if they were saying that he committed a deed worth ending his life.

“I was just… looking for you, madam,” he answered, trying his best to endure the uneasiness he was feeling. But Doña Domirita seemed unsatisfied with his answer. She looked at him, or rather, at his soul.

“Did you hear it?” Doña Domirita asked yet another question. A much tougher one. A question Elam was wishing she wouldn’t ask. Afraid wasn’t enough to describe his emotion.

“I hear nothing, madam,” he answered, looking directly into her eyes even though he was petrified. Fortunately, Doña Domirita smiled at him, accepting his answer this time.

She then closed the silver steel door and said, “Let’s talk in the living room. Follow me.” As Elam looked at Doña Domirita’s back slowly vanishing from his sight, he was breathing heavily. For the last time, he gave the silver steel door a stare. A curious one. Now, he was more eager to know what mystery lies beneath the door.

“I apologize for being late. Something came up, so I needed to go. How long have you been waiting for me?” Doña Domirita asked with her usual tone as they sat on the sofa. The ten bodyguards from before were also there. So that’s why they were also away. They had been with Doña Domirita earlier.

“For an hour, madam. But don’t worry, I’m used to waiting,” Elam replied with a genuine smile on his face. He wasn’t lying. Back then, when he still had no stable jobs, he took a delivery sideline, and most of the time he had to wait for about three to five hours because the places he was always assigned to were in rural places. That’s why customers were late to pick up the goods.

“Anyway, let’s move on. Ramon, give him the letters.” The man who gave Elam an orange juice the other day gave Doña Domirita a pile of papers. They were approximately fifteen to twenty. Quite many, but Elam, were used to tough and heavy jobs. He was working three jobs seven days a week. What would you expect?

“Wait, are you going now?” Doña Domirita asked with her brows furrowed while she was handing Elam the letters. Elam looked at her with the same confusion as hers.

“Yes, madam. Is there a problem?”

“How about your other jobs? Did you finish them already?” She asked with amazement in her eyes. Doña Domirita was fascinated by how hard-working Elam was, and that’s also the reason why she gave this job to him even though she could’ve just made her men do the work.

“Not yet, madam. I decided to take a day off so that I can focus on this job and familiarize myself with it,” Elam answered, then chuckled.

“Are you going to take a day off any time? Or today only?”

“Just for this day, madam.”

“Well, that’s good to hear. All right, you can go now. Call me when you finish sending the letters or if you’re having a problem. Here. My numb—”

“I… don’t have a phone, sorry,” Elam cut her off, scratching the top of his head because of embarrassment. Doña Domirita might think that I’m a man from the Middle Ages, he thought.

“Really?”

“Yes, madam. I figured it’d be a waste of money since phones are unnecessary for my jobs,” Elam answered, it was almost a whisper. Doña Domirita chuckled upon hearing his reason. A practical guy, indeed, she thought.

“That's fine. Here.” She then handed Elam a phone, an iPhone to be specific. It was the same model her bodyguards were also using.

“It already has my number in it. But wait, do you know how to use a phone?”

Donya Domirita’s voice didn’t sound like she was mocking his innocence but rather worried about it. Elam then nodded in answer. He learned how to use a phone because of the drivers in the jeepney station. They taught him every time they had spare time. They said that everyone should know how to use one, or else you won’t be considered a living human being. Elam couldn’t refuse because they kept on insisting. But today, he was grateful he learned how to.

“I’ll be going now, madam.” Elam stood up and gave her a bow. Doña Domirita also stood up and smiled at him. She was happy that she managed to help Elam. That was the first time he helped someone who was not close to her. At first, she was afraid, but she was happy that she offered him the job.

“Take care. Don't forget to call me,” Doña Domirita reminded him. Elam nodded and smiled at her before opening the huge door of the mansion. However, as soon as he opened the door, a tall and big man appeared in front of him.

The 7-foot man was staring at Elam for a couple of seconds, thinking if he had seen him before, and why he was inside the mansion. The man was an African-American, and he had a great figure. You would think he was a living giant. He had a dark skin tone, a bald head, a bulky body, and a menacing aura surrounding him. Just by looking at him, you would drop to your knees.

“Honey, welcome home. How did the meeting go?” Doña Domirita merrily welcomed the man and hugged him. The man looked back at Elam and Doña Domirita saw it. “Oh, right. He’s our new employee. He will be the one sending the letters from now on. Sorry, I forgot to tell you about him.”

The man was still looking at Elam as if he was going to do something to him. It was evident on his face that he was furious for some reason. After looking at Elam for another couple of seconds, he looked away, still wearing his hearse facial expression. Doña Domirita already knew that something bad had happened at the meeting.

“I’m going to sleep,” the man said before leaving the two of them. Doña Domirita sighed because of embarrassment. She was worried that Elam might quit because of the behavior of her husband. But hopefully, Elam didn’t mind at all.

“Something probably bad might have happened in our business. Anyway, you can leave now. Be careful on your way.” Elam then gave her a thankful smile before leaving the mansion.

When Elam reached the gate, he remembered the image of Doña Domirita’s husband. It seemed like he had already seen his face before. Somewhere. Maybe I’m just imagining things. Better focus on the job, he whispered in his mind.