Rogue and The Luna

The blaring of a car horn suddenly sound past Grace and reduced slowly as the car sped off. Grace was in shock for a second "Goddamn it, if only I can drive" Grace had tried to take a cab home but no cab is waiting. She looked at her watch and saw that it was just 15 minutes past 6pm. Grace tried to stop the upcoming vehicle but it also sped by her, blowing wind at her face. "God it's 6:15, I can't believe this is happening" It's unlikely Grace will find a cab to take her home. There have been recent issues in the city, people getting attack by some kind of wild animal so the city made it a rule that everyone should be in their house before 7pm. Now everyone is rushing home. Grace only decided to work extra time so she can resume late to work the next day. Since the "animal attacks" started two weeks ago, work have been hell. She is to resume at work by 7am which normally is 8am and finish all her work by 5pm which is supposed to the 7pm. The hours are reduced but not the workload, to make matters worse, there's no break at all. An idea suddenly popped up in Grace's head "Oh, let me call Derek" Derek is her distant cousin. He told her he will be with his girlfriend tonight, Grace was only hoping Derek will be merciful enough to come pick her up. Grace unlock her phone and dialed Derek's number but he didn't pick up. He couldn't be blamed, he already warned Grace of this earlier. Derek is going on a date "at his girlfriend's house" because the curfew wouldn't allow them to go anywhere else so he was hoping he and his girlfriend will have a good time with her family. He swore not to pick up Grace's call because she always ruin his date with one of her 'emergencies'. Last date, he had to rush home leaving his girlfriend because Grace said there's a burglar. Derek got home and found no one only for Grace to say he was being too late outside and that was the only way to bring him in. The scene clearly played in Grace's head, she curled up her left lip and grinned "So what? Is it too much to care for your own cousin?" She muffled out and dialed Derek. But It didn't went through. Derek must have switched off his phone or put it in airplane mode. Her eyes caught the time at the top of her screen "6:35! Does time only flies when you are out of it?" Grace started panicking, she hasten her steps and decide to send a message to Derek hoping he'll see it sooner. "Derek, I'm in trouble and on my way home, no cab. Pick me up, it's almost seven." And she texted the address too She have a lot to say but there's no time. She hastened her steps and start running. The memories of the body left overs of the those attacked by the animals which she watched in the news started playing in her head. There's been 5 casualties in two weeks. People have hypothesis of what the animal is, some say it's a werewolf, some says it's a vampire but hey, those creatures don't exist, do they? The government says it's just a wide animal that goes rouge and everyone should stay put until it's taken care of. Grace couldn't stop looking at the time, she watched as the time slowly drifted away "Damnit! f*****g Derek. Have a good night with your babe and wave goodbye to your cousin tomorrow" Grace's own thoughts scares her, she was wondering how her face will be if it's half-eaten. Grace could hear the sound of a vehicle speeding towards her, she waited for the vehicle to pass by so sge can cross but to her suprise, it's a police car. "Thank God! The patrol car!" Grace exclaimed. The car stopped by Grace and the cop in the car asked Grace "what are you doing out here alone, so late?" "Literally, it's not late it's just.." Grace looked at the time on her phone "it's just 6:50, it's our city that isn't safe anymore" "Hop in miss, I should take you home" Grace didn't waste any more time, they are only a few minutes away from lockdown. "You are really lucky madam, this is my last patrol across the city, if I hadn't find you, God knows what will become of you" The cop said "I don't want to think about it, officer, you are a real life safer" Grace commented. "You might not be so lucky next time, miss. Please be careful and obey the rules" the cop warned as he sped off the road after Grace told him her house. Grade went straight to the kitchen to make herself dinner but found out Derek already cooked, she might just have to warm it up "Awn Derek, such a sweetheart…and a dickhead sometimes. I wonder what he will say if he heard he's only cousin was almost a dinner for some animal tonight" Grace put the food in the microwave and went to shower, with the low temperature, the food should be warm enough by the time she's done showering. But then, her phone rang. She ran to pick it up hoping it is Derek calling but it wasn't, it was 'Cousin Snatcher'. That's what she saved Derek's girlfriend's number as. She smirked and picked the call putting it on speaker "anything wrong?" She asked "Are you guys home yet? Derek isn't picking his calls" the feminine and voice sounded "Uhhh, he said he'll be spending the night at your place, is everything okay?" Grace sounded worried. "No. He got your text around fifteen minutes and he left to pick you up" the lady replied. "WHAT!" Grace's hanged the call immediately, took off the robe age was putting and wore back her work clothes. She grabbed her car key, she hesitated at first but decided to go with her car. Grace did have a car but she only has a vague idea of driving. Plus, she gets to spend more time with Derek when he drives her to work everyday. She sped off to the address she sent Derek earlier. Somehow, an adrenaline kicked in and helped Grace keep the car steady despite the speed she was going in. After 10 minutes drive, Grace suddenly hit the break as she can see Derek's car before her. She got out of the car and ran towards Derek's car shouting his name. She checked in the car, it was unlocked and Derek wasn't in it. She saw his footsteps that led into the woods by the roadside "Derek!" She whispered. She followed the steps into the woods screaming Derek's name but soon enough, she saw another set of footsteps overlapping Derek's own. These ones are way bigger with inhuman shape. Fear gripped her but her love for her cousin is stronger. As she took one more step forward, she heard a low growl. Sweat broke out of her back and went down her spine maiing her shiver. Her legs were shaking on their own. She scanned the surroundings to see if there's any danger but there was Derek. Broken legs, body pried open and an half eaten face, Derek is Dead. Grace couldn't stand the sight and unknowingly whimpered. She quickly covered her mouth with her palms but she's too late. She saw the beast coming toward her. Grey fur, yellow eyes, just before she could feel bad out more features, the beast jumped at her, opening his large jaws to prey on her skin but something pushed her out of its way. Or someone. "Run miss, before it catches up with us" A sweet deep masculine voice sounded. "Wow, you're up" The bulb light shone over Grace's face as she opened her eyes, she felt a sharp pain in them, groaned and closed them back. The nurse beside her did notice the faint sound and excitedly rushed out of the ward to call on the doctor. "Where am I?" Grace asked when she felt someone inside the room "why is it painful to open my eyes? That light…it hurts" Grace complained "Put the light out" The doctor ordered. "Calm down young lady, you've been in the hospital for three weeks now" "What!" Grace suddenly got so high on adrenaline that she jumped off the bed and sat on it "three weeks?" She asked in shock "Ah-Ah" Grace groaned when she felt a sudden headache, she touched bandaged head and laid back down. "You should calm down and rest, lady, you should be ready for discharge in three days" The doctor said. "Three days? That's a lot! I must be owing you a lot of money after spending three weeks here" "Oh, You don't have to worry about that, an anonymous donor took care of your bills" "Really? What happened then?" Grace asked "You were found in the woods, along with a dead man and a dead Wolf" "Derek" Grace whispered "You being alive is a grace of God" the doctor answered and left Grace in care of the nurse after telling her what to do. *** "Yes Boss, I'll make sure I'm here early tomorrow to finish my left over work" Grace affirmed "Good. Do know that you are given this privileged to close one hour before others because of the tragedy that just befell you" Mrs Lane said "I understand Mrs Lane, thank you" Grace appreciated and hit the road. She just stopped a cab when her phone rang and it was a private number "Hello" "Hello, am I speaking to Miss Grace Gibbons?" "Yes, how can I help you? "I'm calling from the police department to tell you that we and some health officials will be coming to your place in a few minutes to ask some questions about the recent incident that happened to you. We would like to know if you'll be available there or if you have a different location in mind?" "Yes my house will be okay but what is this all about?" Grace questioned "Thanks madam for the confirmation, see you then" the voice said and hung up. Grace sighs and enters the cab that's waiting for her. When she got home, there were a few heavy armed policemen and doctors too. All of them were fully clothed. The cops had nose masks on while the doctors had full face masks. The moment she stepped out of the car, people started making way for her until she got to her doorpost. "You cannot enter yet madam, you are Miss Grace, right?" "Yes I am" "Miss Grace Gibbons, my name in Doctor West, after studying the beast that died on the day you were attacked, we found out that their teeth have a contagious infection" "What does that mean? You think I have some infection in me?" "Well, it's not entirely an infection. It's just that if you get bitten by that beast, two things can happen. You either die or become one of them so it is important for us to get you tested." Grace took a deep breath and said "Ok, get on with it" "There are symptoms of becoming one of them, but the first ones are sleepwalking, daydreaming, nightmares and partial insanity. We will like to know if you've been going through any of this" "No doctor." Grace answered sharply "Uhm, your neighbors said they do here you scream in the midnight" another man beside the doctor claimed "You have no reason to lie to us young lady, we are trying to help you" Doctor West said "I was a victim of the incident that took my cousin's life, it is a miracle I survived. Us nightmare not supposed to be a PTSD symptom?" Grace questioned "That's the problem young lady, we don't believe in miracles. That is why we have to give you this vaccine" Doctor West said and accepted the injection needle that was passed to him by his subordinates. "This vaccine will bring out the beast part of you only if you have them in you in the first place, after you take the vaccine, my female assistant here will check your body for any bite marks." Grace wanted to protest but she figured it is better to let them have their way. "Don't worry Miss, we won't hurt you, the cops are only here in case you uhm…wolf out" In just a second, the needle pierced through her skin and out. "How do you feel now?" Doctor West asked "I feel fine, nothing different" Grace replied "Good. Mrs Jones…" Doctor West called and nodded. The woman understood the sign and took Grace inside the house, had her take off all her clothes and checked Grace's body for any bite marks. A few minutes later they went out and Mrs Jones declared her clean. "That's all for now, miss, we will be here in a week's time to check you again. If you are one of them, the signs should start showing by then. Have a nice week" Doctor West said and went away with the others. "Just when I thought today was going great" Grace said to herself. Grace is no emotional girl so she didn't let the situation bother her. Before she knew it, she slept off. Three days after the test, Grace was fired from her job. After the test, things haven't been normal for Grace anymore, no one wants to associate with her, she's going through real discrimination and the only place she got little company is her workplace until now. Her boss can't be blamed, customers are reducing in number because of Grace's situation. To make things worse, on the same day, Grace received a letter to evacuate the house in three days and it was signed by the chief of police. That was the end of it "I'm leaving this goddamn city!" Grace concluded. Fortunately or unfortunately for her, she has no friend or boyfriend and the last of her family was Derek. No one will be looking for her so she planned to leave tonight. She waited until nightfall, around 8:30 pm, even the patrol cars won't be out by then. No one will be seeing her, no one will stop her. She packed a few important things of hers in a small bag, she took a bat and a gun and put them in her car and drove off. It was a silent night, and yes, the last time she drove a car made her got the hang of driving so she's okay. After 45 minutes of driving, she is out of the city, all she can see now are tarred roads and forests. No doubt, there will be some beast lurking in the woods. Like her mind was being read, she heard faint growls from the woods, her hands started shaking. ROAR!!! BANG! The car tyres gave a screeching sound as the car drove itself into the woods and hit a tree. A wolf had just jumped out of the forest and hit Grace's car, thanks to the seatbelt, she's okay. Grace wanted to scream but she knew it was safer to be quiet. She quickly removed the seatbelt and grabbed her loaded gun. She could hear the low growl and footsteps of the wolf coming for her so she pointed the gun to the windscreen Bang! The wolf hit the windscreen and it shattered into pieces, Grace fired some shots which made the wolf retreat. "Hoooof" Grace heard a wolf howl loudly and she saw the wounded wolf run away. She was surprised so she came out of the car holding on to her gun. There, a man was standing. He has a strong, defined jawline, and high cheekbones. His eyes are large and almond-shaped, with long, dark lashes. His skin is clear and radiant. And, he was shirtless! Grace was stunned, she lost her breath as she stared at the man's abs to his chest and his muscles, she's sure she lost her breath. "Oh, forgive me, I lost my manners sometimes" The man's voice was deep, clear, smooth, and soothing. The tone of his speech was so calming that Grace feel somewhat safe with the presence of this guy. The guy took a round neck cloth from the ground and wore it. "I hope you're okay?" "I-I-hmm" Grace stammered and then hummed to clear her voice "Yes, I'm okay" Grace answered and put down her gun. But then, she remembered werewolfs. She might not believe it you be true but it's better safe than sorry "Who are you? How did you get here? Why did you have clothes on on a cold night?" Grace questioned and raised her gun at the guy's face "Calm down now, lady" The guy smiled and took a few steps towards Grace, he held her hand and put the gun off his face "I'm no danger to you" The warmth from the guy's hands soothe Grace's which was cold already "My name is Jay"