FANGS:A QUEST FOR PASSION

Chapter 4

Mr. Byers retired to his room some minutes later. After a while, BJ took his leave. Jay was alone once again. What could possibly happen? A gift, as BJ called it. He felt it was more of a curse, his life felt completely different. BJ worked as a vet in Roseville zoo. He had promised to carry out research on what was happening to Jay. He believed the wolf had transferred some genes to Jay through the wound it inflicted on him. He also believed that somehow, something strange was happening in the woods and somehow it was creeping into everyone’s life. Jay thought BJ was being paranoid. What could possibly go wrong in Roseville? He needed answers and he needed them fast. He decided to go into the woods where he was attacked by the wolf. He had a strong feeling that the answers he needed were in the woods. When everyone had retired for the night, Jay quietly left the house and drove down to the ranch. He parked his truck there and decided to go into the woods. He didn’t know what he was expecting to find but he felt a strange urgency, like something was calling out to him. At the ranch he met a few workers still awake, the time was almost 10PM, and almost everyone had closed for the day. He greeted a few workers who were surprised to see him on the ranch so late at night. Once he was sure that no one was looking, he made his way to the woods. Nothing looked out of the ordinary. He was about to head back to the ranch when he heard the bush behind him rustle. He looked back and he saw the same wolf that attacked him. It just stood there looking at him like it wanted to speak. Strangely, Jay could understand the wolf’s thoughts. He faced the wolf directly and stared at it directly in the eye. The wolf gave a light howl and disappeared into the thicker bushes. Jay found it hard to assimilate what happened, he went back to where he parked his truck at the ranch and got in. He sat inside and thought for a while. Why did he feel like he had been summoned by the wolf into the woods? This was no mere coincidence, they showed up at the same place. He had to talk to BJ about this; he might be losing his mind. As he drove back home, his mind drifted to what he had read from the wolf’s thought. He had chosen to fight off an intended evil. He laughed nervously, this was all a joke and he was losing his mind. He got home when it was almost 12AM; luckily for him no one was awake, so he quietly went to his room. It was a long night, he barely slept; he couldn’t wait to get back to the ranch and busy himself with work.

Day finally came and Jay got up early to prepare for the day’s work. He still had his bandage on because it would raise suspicions if there were no marks or traces of the deep cuts. He called BJ and asked him to meet up at the ranch after he closes. Mr. Byers was already downstairs making coffee when he saw Jay dressed and ready to set out. You’re up early, said Mr. Byers, yes dad, if I stayed in bed one more day I would lose my mind, replied Jay. His father handed him a cup of coffee. I see your injury is healing quite well. I might need to redress it soon. Yes, I would do this on my way from the ranch, would drop by at Dr. Frank’s. They talked a bit, then Jay drove off to the ranch. His father had told him to suspend driving at night for now. The sheriff hadn’t believed Jay had been attacked by a wolf. He had promised Mr. Byers to look into the matter but Mr. Byers knew what this meant.

The officers had spent the whole morning talking about a certain man attacked by a wolf some nights ago. Nicole passively listened but suddenly grew interested when a junior officer mentioned Jay Byers as the victim of the attack. When exactly was the attack? Nicole asked. Two nights ago, the junior officer I had seen him the next morning. She thought to herself, he didn’t seem like someone who had been attacked. She checked her wristwatch and realized it was time to go to the Byers’ranch. She knocked on sheriff Halle’s door and entered. The sheriff was going through some files. He looked up from his desk when she entered. Good morning Miss Hopps. He greeted her with a warm smile. Good morning sir, Nicole struggled to return the smile. I’m going to the Byers’ ranch; just thought I called it in. yes sure, go ahead, he said as he returned to the files on his desk. She smiled to herself as she turned to leave; the last thing she wanted was someone interfering in her investigation. When she got to the ranch, she asked one worker if Mr. Byers was in, the worker, a middle-aged man, said he hadn’t seen him yet and his car wasn’t even parked at its usual spot, meaning he wasn’t around.

Nicole was pissed, but she decided she would wait. Just then, a male voice called out behind her. She turned to find Jay; she hadn’t really taken note of how handsome and well-built he was until that morning. He wore blue jeans and a red checkered shirt which was not fully buttoned, showing off his well-chiseled chest. To what do we owe this visit this morning? He asked. She immediately snapped out of her assessments and answered" I’ve to speak with your father. Hope he hadn’t noticed she was drooling over him. How could be so stupid, I hope it wasn’t obvious she thought to herself. Well, you’re in luck, you’ve seen me, you’ve seen my father. She felt her heart leap with joy; it had been ages since she got excited by a man. He smelled of masculine fresh water cologne. Could he get any more attractive than this? Okay, she said, I would need to ask some questions from your workers, mostly the ones that stay overnight. They might have heard something or seen anything that could give a head start to this investigation. Sheriff Halle had already gotten their statements before my arrival, but I feel they might have withheld some useful information unknowingly. Jay listened attentively to every word Nicole said. For a moment, the lump in his chest relieved him. She was wonderful and definitely his type. It is a serious tragedy after search parties have combed the whole of Roseville and still can’t find a trace of any of the missing persons, said Jay; my workers and I would try to cooperate with this investigation. Nothing really happens by the river at night, so I doubt if you will get any new information, but no harm in trying. Thank you Mr. Byers, she said. The workers told her everything they told the police. She spoke to about fifteen in total. She found out from the poultry attendant that they work on shifts so she would get more facts from the workers on duty on both days when the incidents happened. She thanked the attendant and went to Jay’s office for the names of those on duty on both days that the people went missing. Nicole was a bit satisfied that she was into something. Jay offered to drive her back to the police station, but she declined politely. He finally got her number, and he was sure they would be good friends, or something more.