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I quickly covered Vivian's body with branches and continued forward, flashlight in hand.
A dense mist crept through the forest, cloaking everything in an ominous, ghostly veil. In the silence, I thought I heard footsteps behind me.
Deliberately, I slowed my pace. But as soon as I stopped, the footsteps stopped too.
Gripping the dagger in my hand tightly, I summoned my courage and spun around. Yet, in the swirling white fog behind me, there was no one.
I let out a sigh of relief, but when I turned back, a shadowy figure suddenly appeared right in front of me.
Startled, I screamed and swung the dagger wildly, but my wrist was caught in a firm grip.
Before I could react, the figure cloaked in black began to speak.
It was Christopher's voice!
He held my hand tightly and pulled me forward.
It took me a moment to regain my composure, and when I did, I noticed Christopher's frame had inexplicably grown-his shoulders were now impossibly broad, and he seemed taller too.
A faint, unpleasant stench wafted from him.
Just as doubt began to creep into my mind, he pulled back his hood, revealing Christopher's familiar face.
"I had to wear the wolf monster's pelt as a disguise," he explained. "Our plans have been leaked. We can't go to the barn anymore. They're all hiding there now, waiting for you. They want to tear you apart!"
I nodded, trusting him, and took a few steps forward. But just then, my phone vibrated twice in my pocket.
It was a message from Christopher's avatar, "Vera, a werewolf is coming for you, disguised as me. Whatever you do, don't go with him!"
A chill ran down my spine, and my palms grew clammy with sweat.
Another message from Christopher followed, "Ask him where is his phone. If he claims he doesn't have it, then he's the monster!"
Christopher, or the creature who looked like him, noticed my hesitation. He squeezed my sweaty palm and looked at me intently, said in a serious tone, "A monster got my phone. Whatever it sends you, don't believe it!"
I scrutinized him closely. He looked exactly like Christopher. How could he possibly be a monster?
Just as I was about to turn off my phone, another message popped up on the screen, "Werewolves are obsessively protective of their fur and hate getting it dirty. If he reacts strongly, run as fast as you can!"
My hands trembled as I glanced at Christopher. Seizing a moment when he wasn't paying attention, I wiped my sweaty palm on his arm.
His expression changed instantly, his face growing tense and serious, "Vera, this wolf pelt can't get wet. If it's damaged, the monsters will find us both."
My heart pounded wildly. As I stood there, frozen and unsure of what to do, my gaze drifted to something behind Christopher.
There was a strange bulge under his cloak, something furry, swaying back and forth.
My throat tightened, and my heart felt like it was lodged in my chest. At the same time, my phone screen lit up again, right in front of Christopher.
"When a wolf monster eats, it reveals its true form. Run!"
I slowly lifted my head, my body trembling.
I saw Christopher's expression grow complicated. Summoning all my courage, I yanked off his black cloak. And in the next second, I gasped in horror.
From the neck down, his body was covered in dark, coarse fur. A long, black tail slithered across the ground behind him. It was unmistakable-this was a monster wearing Christopher's face!
I stumbled backward, step by step. But Christopher, or the creature, seemed to want to say something but was hesitating, extending a clawed hand toward me.