The Hunt

Don't move. Don't make a sound. Their eyes will never spot you in these dark woods.

A gunshot. I get up to run. The bullet whizzes through the air and strikes my shoulder. I collapse with a wimper. I hear shouting and I know they are fast approaching. I force myself to get up and run through the pain but my pace is slowed.

I can hear leaves rustling and voices echo from all directions. Another gunshot and everything goes dark.

I awake in a white room with blinding lights that shine down on me. There's a sharp pain in my shoulder and chest. Straps across all four limbs secure me to a bed. Another strap across my chest presses into a wound where my fur is still matted with blood.

I hear voices talking in a language I vaguely remember speaking once.

"You should've been more careful! I told you I wanted it alive for the examination. You could've killed it."

"My apologies, Doctor. I had meant to only hit its leg but it moves so quickly. It's still alive anyway."

"Yes, but the injury to its chest may effect my tests. Did you take the measurements I asked for?"

"Yes, Doctor. Height is 7 feet 4 inches and although it was difficult to obtain a weight I did manage to get an estimate of approximately 327 pounds. But Doctor, you still haven't told me what kind of animal it is."

"Well, now that we've captured it I'm sure there's no harm in letting the cat out of the bag - as the expression goes. This here is a lycanthrope."

"You mean this creature is a werewolf?"

"Yes, there have been sightings in Germany, the U.K, France and even as close as New Mexico. There's even rumor of one being held at a facility located in Nevada. The D.N.A from the blood I drew tells me this poor soul was once a man named Thomas Little whose wife reported him missing several months ago."

"Will he ever change back?"

"Unfortunately not. This isn't a movie. Once one transforms into one of those things there's no turning back. That's why I need him alive. If I can learn the cause of the transformation - at a cellular level that is - I may be able to find a cure for lycanthropy."

As these men continue speaking they pay me no notice. I begin to shift my body around in an effort to loosen the straps which bind me. As I wiggle back and forth on the bed, the stap across my chest digs further into my injury causing me to let out an involuntary yelp.

"Doctor, he's awake."

"Right, better give him another shot to put him out."

There's a sharp pain followed by a burning in my arm. I let out a soft wimper then - once again - everything goes dark.

-The End-

Jo Resner

© 11-25-2017