Zolok

Unleashed

Having successfully gained the knowledge about James’ weakness, Danny could finally give the information to Jack and get his mother out. That night he couldn’t sleep, he kept thinking about the happy moments he shared with James. He thought about the times he’s had his back, the numerous times he’s saved his ass in the class tests and embarrassments. In James, he found a brother he never had. He couldn’t get his mind off what could become of him after he gives out the information about his weakness. But again, tied to a chair alone was his lovely mother. She was the only one he had since he never knew his dad nor did he have any other siblings. He was caught in a crossfire. What if he went to the police?

“No, that wouldn’t be a good idea” Danny thought to himself considering the fact that Jack had warned him that the room where his mum was kept was rigged with explosives and he had the detonator. If it went bad, it would mean the end for his mum. He couldn’t sleep all night as he had so many things going on in his mind. He finally decided to give Jack what he wanted and hopefully once he got the information and released his mum, he would then inform James about the situation so he could run or go to the police to report the situation.

The next morning, he went to where Jack held his mum and gave him the information he needed Hoping everything would work as he had imagined. Danny is was far from satisfied because Jack had another task for him.

“A touch from a Banshee?...Do you wanna tell me that silver bullets or wolfsbane are not good enough to bring him down?” Jack asked him in utter disappointment.

“I did what I was asked to do and got the information you wanted, now can I go with my mum?” Danny asked as he moved closer to where his mum was tied.

“Not so fast my friend, I need you to bring him here. Lure him to this place so we can capture him, then you and your mum will be free to go” Jack said with an unwavering voice not willing to consider anything else. He was blinded by rage, desperation and envy. The sooner he took James out if the way, the sooner he reclaimed his spot.

“No way , that was not part of our agreement. The deal was, I get you the information about his weakness and you let my mum go. I am not bringing him here for you to murder.” Danny said with a disappointing look and tried to free his mum by himself.

“You better think twice buddy ....I’m the one with the gun here” Jack said as he pointed the gun on Danny’s mother’s head.

“Wo-wo-wo-wo…. I’ll do as you said, please don’t hurt my mum. I'll bring him to you”. Danny said as he pleaded with Jack.

“Then get to it and you should be back here before nightfall tomorrow or the deal is off. Don't play smart with me or keep me waiting or you can have only yourself to blame” Jack said as Danny dashed out of the house in tears.

He was left devastated and everything seemed crumbling down on him . Why was all this happening to him? The life of his best friend and that of his mum was in Danger. He was about losing either or both of them. If he was going to bring his friend to his death, he felt he owed him at least an explanation of what happened. He didn’t want the guilt to suffocate him all his life and decided to let James know everything and apologize to him for letting his secrets out.

He got to James’ house that night and immediately he saw him, he burst into tears. James was quick to get him and being him inside. Neemah wasn’t around that night as she had gone to make supplies for the house.

“Danny, what’s wrong?. Why are you crying?. Please talk to me.” James asked as he helped Danny sit on the sofa.

“ I’m so sorry Jammy, please forgive me! I have betrayed your trust and everything we built together and would understand if you probably hate me right now or forever. What I have done is unthinkable and nobody should ever do such a thing to a friend” Danny said.

“What have you done, Danny?. please talk to me” James asked Danny who didn’t have enough courage to tell him what he had done.

“I…I…Jack has my mum and he wanted me to get the information about your weaknesses before he could let her go. I told him what you told me the last time and he wants me to lure you to where you could be captured before he lets my mum go. I’m so sorry, I didn’t want to lose my mum. I swear I didn’t mean you any harm, I didn’t know it would get to this point. I thought if I had told him what he wanted, he would let my mum go and we can get to the police to go after him.” Danny said to James.

James who at this time was disappointed that his friend would let the one thing he trusted him with into the hands of his enemies hesitated before actually saying anything. But he understood the pressure he must have passed through and thought that this could probably happen to anyone. He decided to go with him but will make sure to let Jack know he had crossed the lines. He was going to face whatever threat that would present itself out there and rescue his friend’s mum. He was finally ready to accept his fate and take up the responsibility of fighting against evil.

“ Danny, I am so disappointed that you could do such a thing. You should have told me about all this from onset and things wouldn’t have gotten to this point. We live tomorrow before nightfall.” James said as he tapped his friend on the shoulder to console him.

“You would go with me to your death?. Do you understand the danger of going to see Jack. These guys have guns and they’re mean. Please I suggest we go to the police” Danny said being surprised James would want to go with him alone.

“you just said the place was rigged to explode and he warned you not to call the police or he detonates the explosives” James said.

“Yes, that could also mean he can kill of us all at once. Please let’s look for a safer alternative.” Danny pleaded.

“For long I have lived in silence and secrecy, it’s high time I stepped up and use my gift to save humanity from these evil that feed in us everyday. Danny, I am the Zolok. You wait and see what the Zolok can do!

Before nightfall James and Danny had already set out to meet with the bandits. Jack and his men saw James from afar and took their positions. They wanted to take him unawares to limit the chances of failure. As James came closer to the isolated house, he was ambushed by heavily armed men. He would have resisted and fought back but for the safety of Danny, he decided to cooperate and follow the men. He was tied with his hands right to his back and pushed into the building. He was tied to a wooden pole with his hand behind his back and legs pushed together. They didn’t want to take any chances and so sedated him to truncate his Powers. He felt weak and pretended to have passed out. Danny was in tears seeing his friend being tortured to that extent. Jack released Danny’s mum as he had promised and ordered Danny to take his mum as he would be blowing up the place with James in it.

“ Tough guy, huh?. Let me watch you survive a blast. A banshee's touch my ass, what do you think I am, 12?. You had the chance to get out while you could but I guess you’re aa stupid as you look.” Jack said as he lifted James head with his head to make sure he was hearing him.

“what are you doing, stop it!. Let him go!” shouted Danny who was being held from interfering by the other boys.

“I have fulfilled my end of the bargain by letting you and your mum go but you’re welcome to go back in and burn with your friend.” Jack said as he brought out the detonator.

James regained consciousness and was hearing Jack’s cry just outside the building. He felt the agony and helplessness in his voice. He tried to break free from the ropes but they were too tight and were hurting him. He tried to change into the beast form but that didn’t help either. He felt powerless and recalled the night his mum told him who he was and how powerful he was. That was the night everything about him changed, the night he accepted his destiny. All that hope of being the savior of the world was about to come to an end.

“ I am the strength to the powerless, the savior of the oppressed, the fear of the evil. I am The Zolok!” Just as he said this to himself and reassured himself he could do better than that, his eyes changed and he transformed into his beast form and broke free from the ropes. Jack detonated the explosives and was rejoicing having accomplished his goal and neutralizing the threat to the life he had. Danny was on the floor weeping and his mum was trying to console him but there was nothing as devastating as leading your friend and brother to his death. The men didn’t even care as they kept jubilating for their success but received the shock of their lives when a burning fire came out of the building. They couldn’t believe their eyes and it was James.

“The f**k is that?” exclaimed one of the guys.

“You just don’t know when to die, what are you staring at? Shoot him!” Jack shouted as he retrieved to the back.

Just as they started shooting him , the fire went out and James howled. This was the first time ever he howled and immediately the impact was felt by Neemah, the vampires and the werewolves. The werewolves and vampires didn’t understand what was happening but Neemah could feel her son was in danger. The howl was so great that some of the guys took to their heels while others attacked. James was so angry that be descended on the bandits taking out each of them with a single strike. They kept shooting at him, the bullets were only moving him steps back but were never hurting him. When Jack noticed that he was gonna take them all out, he ran away and abandoned the boys. When he was done with the boys and everywhere seemed calm, he returned to his human form and was Ultimately weak having shed so much energy all at once for the first time. The fire got him real bad but he healed in minutes and was back to normal.

“Jammie! Jammie!...it’s alright buddy, they’re all gone. You’re fine buddy. I thought I had lost you buddy” Danny said as he moved closer to where James had fallen and helped him up. Danny’s mum was terrified at what she saw and refused to move an inch closer to James after seeing what he did to those men.

Sean didn't understand what he felt but that could only mean one thing, a rival had awoken. The howl was supreme and all other wolves seemed to have succumbed to the howl like it was trying to declare its presence and supremacy. Sean knew that it was time to utilize every available resources within his power to neutralizing the threat or risk losing his place as the leader of the werewolves.