Wolf’s Bane

Once in his room, Jack took out his phone and called Eron.

“Oh, hey bro!” the masculine voice that answered was one that he was already familiar with. Friendly, cheery, even joyful…

Jack could even say he was his friend. After all, his parents had invited him to dinner, and many people around were joking and gossiping about their closeness. Which was why the lumberyard owner was hoping with all his might that his new hire would not be what he hated the most.

Besides, it just wasn’t possible…

“Hey Eron, I just came back from the hospital. I went to visit Max. According to Doc Marc, he’s suffering from a fractured arm and a slight concussion.”

“Oh, so it WAS him? Honestly, I didn’t think he would get a fracture. I just wanted to stop him from creeping and spying on Diwana. Well, he had it coming, anyway, and he deserved it. Who in their right mind would do something like that in the first place?”

“Yeah, who in their right mind indeed?” Jack sneered, remembering how Max was acting back at the hospital. “Of course, he didn’t say where the tree was, or admitted what he was really doing back then. But I saw his clothes on a chair in his room, and noticed it was that weird black bodysuit he used the day after I found someone spying on my house, so I believe it wasn’t the first time he did that, either.”Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

“Damn him, I hope it’s the last time he does because if it ever happens again, I won’t be so forgiving!”

“Say, bro, how did you manage to see him, or even throw a rock at him if he was so high up and far away?”

“Well, after Diwana told me why she felt weird, I went out and checked. I walked around the property and heard something rustling among the branches, and tried to get a clearer view of him noticing. Although I did see something black among those branches, I didn’t make a move immediately. Then I walked away a bit to give him the feeling that I didn’t notice that he was up there. I then spun around and looked again and bingo! I was able to see clearly that it really was a man up in the trees’ branches. I wasn’t completely sure that it was him, but I had no more suspects, you know,” Eron partially lied.

After all, he couldn’t just openly say ‘Oh, I’m a werewolf.’ I just had to smell him,’ Especially not to Jack!

“Wow, you have very sharp senses and good instincts, bro. I’m impressed… again!”

“Don’t be, I needed it for my job as a security guard.”

“Right. For some reason I keep forgetting about your former employment, man… And I still find it hard to believe…”

“Because I’m all sexy and smart? Bro, that’s a bit mean, you know? Are you saying a security guard can’t be all that?”

“Bro, seriously, you and your jokes…”

“Well, I’m just what I am, dude. Don’t hate me for being handsome, ha ha!” Eron guffawed, but still, there was something weird about Jack’s tone. “Hey, what is it, man? I kind of feel that something is bothering you…”

“Why would you say that?”

“Because you’re too serious, even when we just met, you didn’t react that badly to my jokes. I even thought you liked me.”

“WHAAAAT?!”

“It’s true, you looked weird at me then, like you’re too focused or something…”

The youngest Schneider instantly interrupted his rookie worker, “I NEEDED to see you work man, come on! What if you caused an accident, or cut yourself? Or worse, chopped off your leg or something?” Jack retorted while smiling a bit.

“Yeah, yeah… Whatever you say, man. Just remember that you’re not my type, alright, he he he.”

“Whatever, bro,” Jack smiled with amusement.

“Okay, that’s more like yourself now. Great! So what did good old Maxi tell you that’s bothering you so much?”

“Well, he said something about a ‘wolf’ doing all that to him…”

For a while, the other line went silent.

“And what do you think he meant by that?” Eron finally replied, hoping that Jack didn’t notice his hesitation, and then, just as the afterthought showed up in his mind, he said, “I know we’re not besties, and I’m mad at him for spying on Diwana, but honestly, bro, what he said is a bit alarming…”

“I know, right? Even the doctor mentioned that the nurses were talking about strange happenings in his room. If I tell you a story, bro, do you promise to take me seriously on it?” Jack asked indecisively.

“I told you bro, your secret is safe with me. I knew you liked me and it’s about time that you admitted it,” Eron replied jokingly, in an effort to lower the excessively serious tone that their conversation was taking.

“You see? There’s no way to talk about a serious matter with you,” Jack countered, in a half frustrated manner, even if he did have a small smile on his face.

“Okay, okay! I promise I’ll be serious, but then, are you sure you want to talk about it on the phone?”

“Yeah, it’s not exactly a secret, it’s just a… past unforgettable event. I guess you’ve been wondering why I hate werewolves so much.”

“As a matter of fact, yeah, I have to admit that I’ve been curious. Especially because most people wouldn’t believe in something like that in the first place.”

“And you? Do you believe that those monsters exist, Eron?”

“I suppose I do. I mean, I think it’s possible that they do exist.”

“If I told you that one of those beasts took my sister from my house and then jumped through the window, would you think I’m insane?”

“No, I wouldn’t. And that explains why you said something about still looking for her before. But, if a werewolf kidnapped her, why do you think that she survived?”

“Well, first off, my older sister was never the ‘damsel in distress’ type, you know? I’m completely sure that if she saw a chance to stay alive, she took it. Be it escaping, or being a servant of that creature or something? But I’m sure Sorah’s not dead, bro I can feel it within me, somehow.”

“Oh damn, his sister is THE Sorah? Damn you Hero, there are a few things we’ll need to talk about,” Eron said to himself, suddenly realizing many things about his friend, and also knowing that he could never tell Jack the truth about what he really was.

“Hey, bro? Eron? Did you say something?”

Did I say that out loud? The Charmer thought in a panic then increased his volume as he hurriedly explained, “Sorry, dude. I’m just processing what you told me. Heck, we should have talked about this over a beer, at least. But, if you’re so sure, how is it that you never found her?”