I took a second to swallow down the thing. It was trying to rush up my throat. Scrambling for in desperation. The joints in my elbows and knees were getting tight. The monster rammed itself against my chest. Its claws digging into my rib cage. Snapping and snarling in retaliation. It was ready. It was done waiting.

LET ME OUT! LET ME OUT NOW! I WILL RIP HIS FUCKING HEAD OFF!

Lisa leaned back in her chair, enjoying the scene. Adam grew paler as he watched my face react to voice on the phone. Gwen stared at the ground clenching her arms, trying to hold back any fear poking out of her face. Will stared over at the door intensely as his nose twitched. Both of his hands were flexing, warming up. Brew kept his eyes on his project. Taking out a clean needle from a package and drawing in the purple liquid from the bowl into the syringe.

Breathe....breathe. One, two, three, four.

All you can do is breathe and waste time! If I am out I can take action and save our asses!

"I don't know what you're talking about," I said coolly into the phone.

"I'm right here, Grant!" Lisa shouted.

The monster snapped jumping back into my throat. I breathed through the sudden lodge. Shoving it back down with all the muscles flexing around it.

Don't you dare put me down!

If I have to stuff you in the depths of my stomach I will.

"It sounds like you do," Grant said calmly. I could already feel his venom squirming out of the receiver. Burning my skin as it brushed up against my cheeks. "Now, why would you lie like that? I thought we had a good thing going."

"I guess you suck at reading people," I replied slowly. My teeth shaking as they were starting to sharpen themselves.

You are gonna get us all killed cause you're too much of a coward to fight back! If you can't fight then I'll do it!

One slip and it'll be out.

"People, yes. But I do a pretty good job with animals. So, since I'm still feeling kinda nice I'm gonna give you one more chance for you to hand over the pup and my sister."

The sound of a loud pop cracked the air. Jolting everyone except for Lisa. Sitting still in her chair smiling as her lips and neck throbbed. A thin coat of fur was already growing over her skin. Her nails sharpening into claws as they dug into the arm of the chairs. I could already see fangs poking of her lips.

The door was dented by what looked like pellets. The strong order of gun residue slithered underneath my nose. This place can handle a trapped werewolf from the inside. But a battalion of guns outside was a bit of a different story.

"I'll just have to blow the door  down and put you all down." Grant continued the venom bubbling over the phone.

The phone cracked in half from my hand. The knuckles around my hand were white as I clenched the phone underneath my grip. The monster howled rage. Making another slow crawl up back to my throat. Its claws digging into my esophagus with each stride.

Well?

I let the broken phone clatter to the ground as my eyes landed on the door. My hands felt like they were holding magma. Burning as they try to maintain one form. Constantly shifting from one form to the other. No ghost whispering in my ears, none of them whimpering. It was just me and the monster.

"You have a backdoor to this place?" I asked Brew.

"First thing I made after I built this place," Brew said calmly. His eyes remaining on the syringe, flicking the syringe to get rid of the bubbles.

I nodded as I took my steps towards the door. "Kay."

Will forced his eyes down as soon as he saw me walking. His skin turned white as he bit down on his lips. Gwen looked over at me with dread as she stood still. Trying to make herself into a statue, but her face kept changing with overlaying expressions. Her body leaned forward to follow me but Will gently grabbed the back of her shirt.  Making the transformation complete, a statue made from grief.

Adam didn't fall for the spell. He caught up and stood in my way. The guilt digging across his face as he tried to keep himself straight. Pushing up his chest up to make himself bigger. Doing his best to keep his legs and arms from shaking.

Please don't.

"I can go!" Adam said his voice quivering. "They just want me right? I'll go out, and they'll leave you all alone! I'm not even worth it, Bailey. This is all my fault. Just let them kill me. That'll be best for everyone."

No. No, it won't.

I gently gave him a soft smile as I passed him by. His whole body was starting to shake now. His eyes flooding out tears as he slowly turned into stone. Standing still as I walked up to the door. My hand rested on the handle. My heartbeat was still as my fingers wrapped around it.

Not a drop of sweat fell off. Not a panic whisper from the ghosts. The monster rested in my throat as it stretched out to my limbs. Wrapping around them, giving it support. Digging into the bones as the seconds died off. It was impatient. It was ready.

"Brew," I said, tightening my grip on the handle. "As soon as I open this. Give Lisa the wolfsbane and get everyone out."

"Already figured that out." Brew replied plainly.

I let out a laugh. Guess I am that easy to read. "Right. Thanks."

"Is it really worth it, not letting him go?" Lisa spat. "It would be easy if you just put him down already."

I turn head around to face Lisa's stern venom. She still looked relaxed under her restraints. The faint coat of fur on her skin was getting thicker. Shades of brown and red were becoming bright. Her nails grew sharper. Digging scratches on the arm of her chair. Only a matter of minutes until the next phase starts.

The monster glared behind my eyes as I kept the soft smile on my face. "Just because we're monsters doesn't mean we've lost our humanity."

Lisa's face soften once those words were out. She tried to keep it hardness on, but some parts were falling off. She lowered her head as I slid the deadbolt off the door. My heart remained steady as my hand rested on the doorknob. The monster tightened itself around me for support. Holding up my legs so I wouldn't fall.

One, two, three, four.

Ready?

My hand turned the knob and open the door. A wave of cold air slinked over my face and lead me outside. Biting against my skin as I stood outside, standing tall as I closed it behind me. Sparks of electricity jumped through my bones as I stared across the monsters that were ready for their pound of flesh.

None of them will get by me.

Grant stood about ten feet away from me. His smile was littered with tiny cuts from the window. The flat of his brow was forming a small bump where I slammed on the counter. Behind him were his five friends and a large car. They all held their guns in position. The ends of barrels followed me as I rooted my feet to the ground. Grant had his revolver in his left hand. Tapping the barrel against his leg. The dark cool venom glowed behind his eyes as he faced me.

The floodlights from their car washed over the area. Killing off any shadows that can be used to hide in. The night sky bled some of its darkness above us. Stars were scattered around the sky like dust. Framing the full moon that eclipsed the heavens.

The monster was smiling as it gripped my heart. Letting its claws dig in as it felt the light from the moon soak into my skin.

It's my turn! My turn! I wanna rip them! I want to make them pay! I can do that for you! You don't have to get your hands dirty. Just let me loose and I'll settle all of this for you! It's my turn!

Did I say you could speak?

The monster shrank back letting go of my heart. Just remember. One slip is all that it takes for me to take control.

"See," Grant sighed. "When I said hand over my sister and the pup. I didn't mean you."

"Sorry." I smiled back, cracking my fingers. "I'm not good at listening."

Grant shrugged as the others took steps forward to form a formation. Circling around me, leaving no space to escape. Holding their aim. Grant stayed in the middle of the circle, continuing the tapping his revolver. His playful venom was beginning to lose its spark. Now pumping out a black bubbling ooze, dripping off his lips.

I wonder how many people he'd kill with that look. All those that got eaten by that venom before getting shot. Just for living. Trying to make the most of what was left of their life after getting a chunk ripped off them. And innocent people that tried to help those in the venom.

Kill him first. Better yet, just-

Not one more word.

"So let's try this one more time," Grant said in a low tone. The tapping against his leg stopped. His thumb rested on top of the hammer as his eyes froze over. "Give me my sister back. Hand over the son of a bitch that bit her. Or I will make you watch everyone you love die in front of you while you slowly bleed out like a pig."

"She's not gonna turn back to normal if you kill him," I replied, taking a step forward. The monster tightened my leg as I step onto venom sputtered on the ground. Making me tall. Keeping me from sinking into pitch-black tar underneath my feet.

That sentence punched a hole through Grant's face. A fire blazed through his eyes thawing out the cold gaze. A loud click cut the air as he pulled down the hammer. A couple of the hunters traded looks as they saw their friend's face slowly started to erupt.

"You wanna say that again?" he hissed through clenched teeth.

"If you kill the werewolf that bit you before you turn under a full moon you'll break the curse and stay human," I quoted, biting down on the words.

"That's how the legend goes."

The monster growled in my throat as I took another step closer. My hands clenching as my claws grew. Digging into my palm, puncturing the skin. Droplets of blood slowly fell out as they pooled out of my hands.

"It's nothing but a fucking myth!" I spat, my fangs flashing against the moon as I stepped face to face with him. "It was made up by people that were desperate to become human again. So they thought of stupid shit to keep them in denial in what they became."

"You don't know that," Grant growled under his breath, the other hunters watching us closely.

"Trust me I've seen that happen a lot more than you've killed people like me." I fired back,  black fur began to grow out of my skin. The monster spread its fingers over mine. Lining up its mouth with mine as I snapped. "There's always people that think it will cure them. And it leaves someone dead and their humanity is murdered after it. And if you think I'm gonna let you murder someone from my pack who's clinging to the only shred of humanity he has left from the bastard that bit him. I will tear out your spine and ram it through your fucking heart."

Grant managed to swallow down the eruption that was cracking through his face. Letting the venom cool down. He hardened his face back up as the other hunter's eyes shifted back onto me. My joints cracking and jolting from shifting of growth. My bones ready to change into the hunch over monster. To be towering over him with my grown thick legs, tear him to shreds in blood-stained claws and teeth.

Let me out now!

"If that's the case," Grant sighed, raising his gun next to my face. The barrel leaving only an inch of air between my cheek. "What would happen if I kill their alpha instead?"

"The same when I kill all of you. Nothing."

The air went cold as I held my stare against his glare. The hunters around us cautiously held their stance. The smell of sweat reeking off of them. It smelled foul as fear caked underneath it. A sweet, rank smell that rolled into my nose. My ears were roaring with the sounds of their hearts beating fast.

Grant was the only one that was still. The venom that coated around his body became an armor to support him. His hand holding his gun remained still, wrapping his forefinger around the trigger.

Go ahead, pretend. They all show a blip of fear once they see it.

You ready?

I will protect my family from these monsters.

What if you die?

I will gladly die for them if it means they live safe for another day. That's what it means being a pack leader.

"Hey!" A voice shouted, cutting through the air.

Please no.

I snapped my head back to see Adam a distance away from the greenhouse. His whole body trembling as he stared down Grant and the hunters. His eyes burning with determination as he vibrated.

"Looking for me?"

My throat tightened seeing him there. Sweat drenched my face, fear clamping down on my legs. My heart thudding out of my chest.

Grant's smile only showed for a second. The stabbing fear only lasted for a second on my face. All of the hunter's guns switched over to Adam for a second.

Until something worse came.

The door busted open. The door swung open, flying over to a couple of hunters as they moved out of the way. A blur of brown and red fur came charging out and pinned me to the ground. A wave of hot air crashed into my face as my body slammed against the ground. A sharp pain was clasped around my throat as it grew tighter with each second. The sound of animalistic growl erupted against my ears along with shouting from Grant.

"Don't shoot! Don't shoot! Don't you dare shoot her!"

Lisa was hunched over me. Dark brown fur covering her entire body. Her arms and legs had grown lanky to inhuman proportions. Thin but thick with veins throbbing against her skin. Her torso had become the width of a door. What was once her face was a contortion of wolfish features clashing against what was left of a human. Her brow and cheeks had grown out, giving room for a gaping mouth of sharp canine teeth. Glistening against the floodlights as saliva coated them.

She had finally become the monster. A werewolf.

"Lisa!" Grant shouted, putting his gun away. "It's me! Grant!"

Lisa's head shot up looking up at her brother. The instinctual rage froze as she stared at him. Sparks of some humanity showing. Grant made a smile as his eyes tried to conceal a horror only a human can make. The sight of a freakish creature.

Lisa's nose suddenly twitched and her humanity was ripped away again. A snarl came out as she whipped her head behind her. Locked onto Adam, as a pale guilt cracked his forced confidence.

"Come get me!" Adam shouted at the top of his lungs. His voice cracking as he made his declaration.

Lisa growled and let go of my throat. Running after Adam in a blur. Both of them dashing into the forest in unattainable speed. I gasped in the air as my lungs fought back against the sudden rush. The impression of her hand burned against my throat as I tried to get a breathing rhythm established again.

DO SOMETHING!

"Go after them!" Grant shouted, jabbing his finger in the direction of the forest. "Go! Follow Lisa! If you see the runt shoot him on sight!"

He leaned down to my face,  showing off a sickening smile up close. Coated in primal rage as the venom vomited out of his mouth. "I'll make sure to shoot him enough so you don't recognize him."

I tried to reach out for his skarny little legs but he had already run away, following the others his revolver in hand.

"Bailey!" Gwen shouted, rushing out of the greenhouse with Brew and Will.

A dark frown was coated around Brew's face along with a gash around his nose. Will was no longer shut down. He was trying to remain calm as other dark expressions twitched across his face. His left eye was already swelling from what hit him. Gwen's face was in full panic as she helped me up.

"You okay?"

"What...happened?" I coughed, wiping off the imprint of Lisa's hand clenching my throat.

"Adam didn't want you to go out so he went out the back to be a distraction for us," Will answered slowly. His voice quivering with a quiet anger boiling anger underneath the words.

"And while we tried to tell him how much of an idiot he was," Brew grumbled, wincing from the small touch of his wound. "Your new friend started to change and she busted out before I could inject her."

Of course. Any time there's a moment something good will happen. Something that will make things better. Giving us a break. Or at least all of us feeling like a human for a brief moment. It gets shit on. Eaten away by the monster and everything that came after it.

"What do you want us to do?" Gwen asked.

My eyes glared at the forest. The monster shooting thunder against my spine. "We're ending this now."