Darkened

Who would have thought such a beautiful day that felt so surreal could quickly turn into one filled with terror and so many horrendous memories? It was a warm night in Brexton, a small town located on the outskirts of New York City. The full moon could be seen in all its glory, peering from in between the trees. Keith stood by the waters looking over the horizon, the stars were shining so brightly and the full moon lit up the calm surface of the waters. Keith felt so peaceful watching the stars, a young boy in his teenage years.

He had just stormed out of the house after a hot argument with his mom. She insisted on him cutting his brown long curly hair but he just wouldn't listen and left the house after refusing to do as his mother had instructed.

As the night set in deeper, the full and bright moon remained hanging in the sky and the only audible sound was the chirping of crickets and the humming from Keith as he kept his eyes fixated on the starry sky. Suddenly, a scream rented the air. Keith looked around but saw nothing. He turned back to continue admiring the beautiful scenery but the screams came again, this time, louder and clearer. It was a woman's voice and immediately it was followed by the scream of a child and another. A loud howl came afterward that shook the entire town and sent shivers down their spines.

The night that started with the allure of a serene atmosphere quickly unraveled into a nightmarish ordeal for the town of Brexton. As Keith stood by the waters, the tranquility was shattered by otherworldly chaos that descended upon them.

A group of vicious werewolves had made their way to Brexton under the full moon, unbeknownst to the villagers. These once-human creatures were cursed to shift into terrifying beasts when the moon reached its full phase. Nothing like this had ever happened in town before, and the residents were entirely unprepared for what was about to happen.

The first frightening howls resonated through the night as the stars continued to shine overhead, and the residents of Brexton, unaware of the impending threat, were caught off guard by the terrifying sounds. Panic spread like wildfire as the chilling realization of the situation took hold. The piercing howls were followed by a series of snarls and growling, this got the whole town on high alert.

"What was that?!" exclaimed one horrified mother, clutching her baby close to her chest.

"I don't know, but we need to get out of here!" screamed a man as he rallied his family to accompany him.

The streets were now filled with terrified screams as the townspeople desperately tried to flee the wrath of the marauding werewolves. Houses were being pulled apart, and the lovely night had turned into a horror.

Keith, still reeling from his earlier argument with his mother, found himself caught in the heart of the mayhem. Noises of pain were heard all over. The town was under attack and Keith was shocked about how everything suddenly happened. While he was on his knees, witnessing the horrible sight of the killings, he heard what sounded like his mother calling out his name. It was at the moment it rang in Keith'shead that he actually has a home to run to, his family to save. As he tried to make his way back home, he came face to face with the monstrous creatures. His heart pounded in his chest as he witnessed their sheer ferocity. Keith's thoughts of defiance were replaced by a primal instinct for survival.

He ran for his life but the werewolves were relentless in their pursuit. With each step, Keith's fear escalated and he felt the hot breath of the beasts closing in on him. In a desperate bid to flee, he dashed down an alley, expecting to evade them in the maze of shadows, but fate had other plans for Keith. As he stumbled through the dimly lit alley, one of the werewolves pounced on him, plunging its sharp fangs deep into his shoulder. Keith screamed in agony as he fell to the ground. He hoped the creature would consume him, but he was left to perish on the floor, defenseless. Keith struggled to move. He became paralyzed and his arms were stiff and could hear the sound of the blood gushing out from his neck.

Meanwhile, the once vibrant town of Brexton was now engulfed in a nightmarish tableau of destruction. Houses were in rubble, and the streets were bloodstained. The werewolves had unleashed their wrath on the unwary residents, leaving a path of destruction in their wake. Keith's parents were not spared the tragedy amid the mayhem. Their lives were tragically cut short by the savage onslaught. After the town was wiped off every mortal being, the werewolves retreated into the woods. The departure of the werewolves did not bring relief to Keith.

As he lay on the ground, his body wracked with pain, he could feel an unsettling transformation taking place. The bite he had received had consequences far beyond his imagination. Sharp aches pierced his neck, and his entire body felt as if it were on fire. His bones seemed to crackle and shift as if attempting to realign themselves. Keith whimpered in anguish, unable to fathom the horror of what was happening to him. A sudden darkness hovered around him and he became unconscious.

Silence swept through the night that fateful day and just in a split second, the scene presented Keith opened his eyes, he found himself surrounded by a sorrowful forest. The moonlight streamed through the dense forest canopy, throwing strange shadows on the ground. As he fought to make sense of his surroundings, fear and uncertainty engulfed him. "Where am I?" his mind spoke softly as he stared at the moon above.

Attempting to sit up, Keith realized that something was vastly different about his body. His movements were unnatural and disjointed. When he tried to speak, all that escaped his mouth were guttural sounds, akin to an animal's growls. Panic washed over him as he brought his hands to his face, only to discover elongated claws where his fingernails once were.

"Aaarghhhhhh!" he screamed.

Haunted by his new image and bloodthirsty self, Keith raced through the woods with no idea where he was going. As far as he knows, his town was gone, his family is dead and he is in the woods miles from home. How he got there, he had not the slightest idea but what he is battling with at the moment has brought him to the realization that he probably passed out and somehow appeared where a wolf would be, the woods, in the dark!

Moving swiftly with a heightened sense of almost everything, his leg nails made a sound like he had hit something made of metal. He stopped and with his nose, checked for what his body came in contact with it- it was a bunker, an old bunker underground. Without wasting time, Keith opened and went in. The bunker happened to have quite several supplies in it- bottled water, clothes, and medical equipment. It looks as though it was occupied months ago. Keith looked around hoping to see something to feed on. Not only was he bloodthirsty, his hunger could swallow up a whole room. Alas, he came across a shelf with a lot of canned foods which he hurriedly tore open and ate in a sweep.

Minutes later, Keith has finished almost everything on the shelf and was still hungry. He couldn't help it. He explored the bunker and found a tub filled with dirty water. He didn't think about the condition of the water. He dived right into it and surprisingly, he became satisfied for a moment and fell asleep in the tub.

He woke up hours later in his human form unaware of the time of the day. He was naked and the first thing he noticed, his hands were back to normal . He was no longer bloodthirsty but hungry. He went straight to the remaining 2 pieces of canned food and tore them open with his bare hands. Unaware of the time of the day, Keith decided to look outside but the rays of the sun smite him and he rushed back inside the bunker.

"This can't be happening. I thought it was a dream," Keith muttered to himself as he stood in front of a broken mirror that was placed in one corner of the room. While he stood in front of the broken mirror, scars on his chest showed forth and just at his hip side, he saw something like an animal scratch. He had inflicted pain on himself while transforming overnight and he didn't feel the pain until after.

"Ouch, that really hurt," Keith said as he rubbed his hands on those scars and scratches.

Keith began to notice something strange about himself as he spent more time in his underground bunker. He felt stronger, more muscular, and a powerful burst of energy coursing through his veins. He disregarded it at first as a side effect of his transformation, but as the days passed, the alterations became evident. One evening, as the moon began its ascent in the sky, Keith's senses sharpened to an extraordinary degree. He could hear the distant hum of traffic and the faint rustling of leaves outside his bunker but there was something else, a strange and primal craving gnawing at him from within. It was a hunger, unlike anything he had experienced before.

Confused and frightened, Keith fought to maintain control over his newfound wolfish instincts.

The urge for blood was almost overwhelming, and he knew he had to act quickly before he lost himself completely. Keith walked outside the bunker, feeling like a trapped animal, hoping the fresh air would clear his thoughts. As he stepped into the night, the scent of the city flooded his nostrils, blending with the moist earthiness of the neighboring woods. He had raced through the woodlands of Brexton to the city of New York. He took a deep breath and tried to concentrate.

It was at that moment, as he stood there, he heard it - a soft rustling sound emanating from the woods just a few meters away. Keith's superhuman hearing senses picked up the delicate footfalls of a creature. He moved his head, his gaze fixed on a deer grazing happily, oblivious to the predator waiting in the shadows. The deer's heartbeat rang in his ears, louder than anything else he'd ever heard. Keith was carried to the center of his primordial impulses when the aroma of its warm blood filled his senses.

His heart pounded in his chest, torn between his humanity and the beast within. The craving for blood intensified, and he found himself taking a step forward, closer to the unsuspecting prey. It was as if a magnetic force pulled him towards the deer, compelling him to give in to his urges.

In a heartbeat, Keith's inner struggle reached its climax, and he succumbed to the primal call. He leaped towards the deer, claws unsheathed and teeth bared, with a burst of speed and strength. The deer tried to leave at the last moment, feeling danger, but it was too late. The creature had little hope against the werewolf's unrestrained rage.

Keith's change had given him superhuman agility and quickness. He pounced on the deer, dispatching it with a fast and lethal attack.

As the taste of fresh blood filled his mouth, Keith's senses were both heightened and dulled. The world around him blurred into a chaotic whirlwind of sensations, and he found himself giving in to the savage delight of the hunt. The carnage continued as Keith's wolfish hunger demanded more. He prowled the woods, seeking and preying on small creatures to satisfy his insatiable hunger for blood. It had been a night of savagery and brutality, leaving a trail of lifeless bodies in the moonlit shadows.

Hours passed before Keith's insatiable hunger finally began to subside. As the moon started to wane, so did his transformation. He felt the rush of power slowly receding, leaving him exhausted and shaken by the horrors he had unleashed. Whilst he was in that state, his nose caught a strange scent after then came a soft sound like someone was lurking in the shadows but there was nothing in sight.

Keith kept scanning the woods for any sign of life but didn't see a thing. Just as he turned away, he heard a wood snap just meters away from where he was standing. The scent got stronger and it rented the air as his nose extended towards the air as he tried to get where the scent was coming from.

Keith's uncontrolled hunger and bloodthirst have led to the death of many innocents in the city. The brutal killings had sparked unrest and fear among its residents. The reports of the savage attacks were flooding the police authorities, leading them to believe they were dealing with a cannibal on the loose. Unaware of the existence of werewolves, the police were baffled and terrified, not knowing how to handle the relentless brutality.

"There have been reports of fearsome killings happening downtown. Police authorities are yet to identify the perpetrator of this act. However, there seem to be different speculations among the residents. Some say it's a cannibal, a wild animal on the loose, some go as far as saying this is God's punishment of the sinners in that part of the city. At this, no one seems to know who or what is behind these killings. Stay tuned as we bring you live, a speech from White House Chief of Staff," a newscaster from the TV reported, in a grave tone.

"What the heck is happening down there?" A husky voice lamented from the background. With a cup of coffee in his right hand, Officer Brent walked over to his desk and picked up the telephone, and dialed a number at a quite fast pace. "Hello, I got your mail. I need those files on my desk right away!" he said, slamming the landline on the desk.

While he turned to take another sip of the hot coffee, the phone rang, catching him unaware and causing him to spill the coffee on his neat blue uniform "Oh shit!" "Hello, what?!" he shouted on the phone.

"Sir, there has been another incident at Crest Avenue, downtown. The cannibal seems to have struck again. Your attention is needed here," the voice on the phone called out.

"Crest Avenue? That's just.... You know what, just give me a few minutes, I'll be there shortly. Officer Brent picked up his coat from the hanger beside his desk and without caring so much about his stained uniform stormed out of his office while his car keys juggled after him in his back pocket. Officer Brent's heart raced as he drove through the city's darkened streets toward Crest Avenue. The reports of the savage killings echoed in his mind, and the fear of encountering the relentless brutality consumed him. He clenched his fists around the steering wheel, his knuckles becoming white. The crime site was marked by flashing red and blue lights in the distance, and as he approached closer, he could hear distant sirens wailing.

Upon arrival, Officer Brent parked his cruiser hastily and rushed toward the scene. The night air was filled with tension and the scent of blood. The sight that awaited him chilled him to the bone. An elderly lady's body lay strewn on the ground, torn to pieces, with weird bite marks on her jugular.

"Oh, sweet Jesus!," he whispered under his breath, his breaths becoming heavy with unease. His colleagues were already gathered around the gruesome scene, some taking pictures, others marking evidence. Officer Peterson, a seasoned investigator, approached Brent with a grim expression.

"Looks like we've got ourselves another victim," Peterson said, his voice low and somber. "It's getting worse out here."

Brent nodded, trying to gather himself. "Any witnesses?" "None so far," Peterson replied. "Neighbors heard some commotion, but no one saw anything."

As Officer Brent bent down to examine the body, he noticed the strange markings on the woman's neck. The bite wounds were deep and jagged, not like anything he had seen before.

"Peterson, take a look at these bite marks," Brent said, pointing towards the neck. "This doesn't look like the work of a human."

Peterson squinted, studying the marks closely. "You thinking what I'm thinking?"

"I'm not sure," Brent said, standing up. "But something is off about this whole thing. It's like the attacker had superhuman strength."

Just then, Officer Ramirez, a young and eager recruit, approached the scene, looking visibly shaken. "Officer Brent, Officer Peterson, I saw something strange on my way here."

"What did you see, Ramirez?" Brent asked, intrigued.

"I was driving down Willow Street, and I saw a large figure running through the alleys," Ramirez said, his eyes wide with fear. "It was fast, too fast for any human."

"Do you hallucinate now, Ramirez?" Peterson said, shocked by what he said.

"I am damn serious. I know what I saw. Whatever it is, it looks alien and dangerous," Ramirez added.

Peterson exchanged a glance with Brent, both sharing an unspoken understanding.

The pieces of the puzzle were starting to come together, and the word "werewolf" flashed through their minds.

"We need to be careful here," Brent said, his voice low. "We can't jump to conclusions, but we can't rule out anything either."

As they continued their investigation, more officers arrived at the scene, securing the area and interviewing nearby residents. The tension in the air was palpable as they all knew that a powerful and dangerous force lurked in the shadows.

Officer Brent approached a witness, a middle-aged man named Mr. Jenkins, who lived nearby. Mr. Jenkins was visibly distressed as he recounted what he heard.

"I heard screams and growls," he said, his voice trembling. "It was unlike anything I've ever heard before."

"Did you see anything?" Brent asked, trying to keep the fear from his voice.

"No, I didn't dare to look out my window," Mr. Jenkins replied. "But it sounded like a wild animal, a vicious beast."

Brent thanked Mr. Jenkins for his cooperation and walked away, deep in thought. The pieces of the puzzle were slowly coming together, and he couldn't shake off the feeling that they were dealing with something otherworldly.

The next day, Officer Brent delved into the research, searching for any historical accounts or folklore that could shed light on the mysterious attacks. He discovered old tales of werewolves and how they were known for their insatiable hunger and brutal killings during full moons.

"Could it be?" Brent mumbled to himself, his mind swirling with disbelief. "Werewolves, in our city?"