Moonlit Flames

The moon rose from its slumber casting a silvery and ethereal glow on the forest. A lone wolf burst out into the clearing and howled. She ran again, her padded feet pounding softly on the leaves and grasses. Her white fur rippled with corded muscles, taking every single step gracefully but she was hungry and needed to hunt. Under the full moon, she could hardly control her primal instincts. She stopped running as soon as she got a whiff of an antelope. Creeping forward, and as soon as she got within fifty yards the antelope stopped eating the small patch of grass on the forest floor, it turned to her direction but she was well hidden and as soon as the antelope turned back to its meal, she charged. Before the poor creature could make a run for its life, she leaped, sank her fangs into its neck, and ripped a chunk out. The antelope twitched weakly and fell to the ground. The wolf howled in victory and started to devour the near-dead antelope. Sona woke gasping for air. These dreams again, they were coming more frequently. She powered on her old modeled phone and stared at the screen to check the time - It was just past three in the morning. Mia, her cute little sister, mumbled something beside her, and Sona weakly smiled as she tucked her up. Getting out of bed, she went to the bathroom to wash her face and blonde-white hair. Afterward, she went to the bedroom, picked up her phone, and texted a number given to her by a neighbor who claimed they were employing ladies at a restaurant. Then, Sona went to the bathroom again, but now, to take her bath. Once done, she put on a gray shirt on black hiker pants before waking up Mia. “Hey kiddo, time for school," Sona said. “Go away” Mia groaned, covering her head with a pillow. Sona gently pried it off and kissed her forehead, “ Come on, Mia, prepare early so we can chat on the way to school” Sona tried again. “Alright, I'm up” Mia finally relented, staring at her older sister, “It’s way too early, Sona. Is something bothering you?” She asked, concerned. “No! I'm okay,” Sona said, standing. “I'm waiting, sis." * * * After dropping Mia off at the local public school, Sona boarded the train and headed to her destination, looking around for Ethan, her best friend for a long time. The two had a long history together and had finally become friends. Sona scanned the bus but couldn’t find Ethan at first. Just when she was about to give up, a hand landed on her shoulder, making her jump. She whirled to face the person who startled her. “Jeez! Ethan, don’t scare me like that,” Sona said, playfully punching him. “Really? What of those times you nearly gave me heart attacks?” Ethan reminded her, smiling mischievously. His smile suddenly dropped as he asked if she had found a job yet, and Sona scowled, her frustration evident. “Not yet, i***t. Must you remind me?” Sona retorted, gazing out the window, anguish written on her features. Ethan placed a massive hand on hers, “See Sona I understand, I do, I wish I could help but I only work at the studio, it's just an upcoming studio, honest” Ethan explained. Sona looked at him with a small cute smile, ruffled his hair, and he responded with a playful murderous look. “Next stop” the driver called and Sona got down and waved, she thought she heard him say ‘It is all gonna be alright’ but she couldn't be so sure. She walked the street leading to the restaurant where she was going to be working, getting to the building, she grinned. It looked very big and customers seemed to be streaming in and out. She mustered her courage and walked in. The restaurant was even better inside than on the outside, and Sona's smile widened. She accidentally bumped into a smaller woman who initially frowned but then lit up when she saw Sona. “You're the new person who's going to work here, right?” she beamed. “I am your supervisor, I will be the one in charge of monitoring, though you look like someone who doesn't need monitoring” she continued, and Sona smiled and shook the lady's hand. “You should probably check your email, your routine and shift have been sent” the lady continued and pouted, “Sorry where are my manners, Jane is the name." “Nice to meet Jane, I should check my email now,” Sona said, pulling out her phone and opening the email app to check her routine and shift. Satisfied, she put her phone back in her pocket and looked at Jane. “I should be going now my email says that I should start tomorrow at five,” Sona said. Jane nodded “Sure, see you tomorrow.” Now, Sona nodded, walked outside, and started her long trek home. She slipped out her phone accompanied by her old earphones, grinning as The kid Laroi’s “Stay” boomed in her ears. However, an uncomfortable feeling grew within her, and she couldn't shake off the sense of being watched. She turned and thought she caught a glimpse of yellow eyes, which made her increase her pace. Removing her earphones, she entered an alley and caught sight of yellow eyes accompanied by a low growl. Fear took over, and she broke into a run. As she sprinted she heard feet following her, turned, and there was nothing. Sona ran faster until she got to her abode, pulled open the door, and bolted it hastily. “Mia” she yelled but there was no answer. Worried, she screamed her sister's name again, and Mia poked her head out of the bathroom door. “What is it big sis, everything alright?” she came out wearing a blue robe, “ You're acting weird lately." “When did you come back home,” Sona asked, Mia raised a brow and tilted her head to the side, her posture reminded Sona of their mother when she was not sure what Sona wanted. “I came the usual time stop acting paranoid, Sona” Mia chided. “Maybe you should eat something. I made peanut butter, it's good.” Sona nodded wearily, went to the kitchen, and wolfed down whatever she could find, but wasn't full. She felt an insatiable primal hunger, like she wasn't just content with peanut butter but the feeling quickly subsided as soon as it started, and she didn't notice the white tuft of fur that appeared on her arms which disappeared in a flash. * * * Sona picked up her phone and texted Ethan, who replied immediately, telling her to meet him outside. On getting out, she found Ethan standing there, six feet tall and handsome. She once had a thing for him. “Hey Sona, watcha doing” Ethan called, and she smiled, that was Ethan always trying to make her smile. She jogged up to him, hugged him and he grinned. “Miss me?” he drawled and she punched him making him yell. “I wanted to talk to you about something, Ethan” Sona deadpanned and Ethan became serious. “Sure, shoot” he encouraged and She nodded and sat down, “I have been having these weird dreams,” Sona said. “In my dreams, I am a wolf hunting down animals. Hold on! Hold on! Ethan, I know it sounds lame but just hear me out, Sona said noticing her friend's mixed thoughts. Sona continued, I have this heightened sense of smell, hearing, and sight and this wolf feels more like...me, I don't understand.” Ethan's blue eyes regarded me for a moment and I knew he was trying to judge if I was joking. “I don't know what to say Sona, but you heard about werewolves? There are these myths about men who could transform into wolves and had higher and supernatural abilities, but the thing is, these are all myths” he said. “Sona wondered for a while, then broke the silence, wh…. what if they weren't a myth, Ethan? This afternoon as I was coming home I had this feeling I was being watched, as I increased my pace, I felt someone following me, but when I turned around it was blank. I then decided to take a run out of fear, and I heard footsteps behind me running too, what the hell was that?” Ethan was quiet, then his eyes lit up, “Can we go visit that alley” he said. “We might get some clues, though I don't believe in werewolves, like how can a human turn to a wolf, it is impossible.” Sona laughed at his comment and they walked down to the alley. The alley was dark and reeked of a year's cabbage, Ethan's height was the only thing giving Sona comfort, Sona scooted close to him and he grinned, “Scared?” he taunted and Sona had to clench her fist to keep herself from punching his face, he just kept smiling like an i***t until they heard a low growl and a black thing scuttled past, Ethan smile vanished and he grabbed a stick, “Stay behind me Sona” he hefted the stick and stalked towards the sound of the growl and two yellow eyes came out of the dark, “There I told you” Sona cried, Ethan only grunted and swung the stick, which hit something, yelp… a mangy dog limped out and ran off, Ethan looked at Sona, barely holding back his laughter. “Don’t you dare laugh, Ethan, " she said with gritted teeth, Ethan backed away with his hands raised, “Sorry Sona but you are so funny, seriously? Werewolves? Has it gotten to that? Hell! I almost fell for it, I…….” he stopped as his phone rang, he stared at the screen and he frowned, “Jeez! I am hungry and they are saying I should come for a late-night record, well my answer is no. Turning to Sona, got anything to eat at home Sona,” he asked. Sona scowled at him but he grinned and dragged her along. “Come along Sona and let's get something to eat, it's on me don't worry.”