Werewolf Skin

25

I staggered back.

Too frightened to move.

No time to run.

The ground seemed to shake under the thunder of the wolves’ paws.

I opened my mouth to scream-but no sound came out.

The wolves’ jaws snapped. Their red eyes glowed as if on fire.

I raised my arms in front of me, as if to shield myself.

Prepared for the attack.

And the wolves turned away. Turned sharply to the right, running together.

A scrawny brown rabbit scrambled over the path.

The wolves had turned away from me to chase the rabbit!

Snarling furiously, they lowered their heads-and caught the rabbit easily.

The little creature didn’t put up much of a fight.

One wolf snapped its neck. The other bit hungrily into its belly.

Breathing hard, I swung my camera case around. And pulled the camera out with a quick jerk.

My hand trembled as I raised the viewfinder to my eye. But I steadied the camera with both hands.

And clicked off a shot.

And then another.

I snapped a shot of the wolves tugging the rabbit apart. And another shot of the two of them eating side by side.

When the wolves finished, nothing remained of the rabbit. Licking their teeth, they turned and loped off into the trees.

Holding my camera in front of me with both hands, I followed after them.

I guess I was in some kind of shock. I know I wasn’t thinking clearly.

I was barely thinking at all!

I had nearly been caught by the two werewolves. They would have finished me the way they’d finished that poor rabbit.

But I knew I had to follow them. I had to stay in the woods.

I had to warn my aunt and uncle. I had to find them and tell them they were wrong about the Marlings. That Hannah told the truth.

I had to let them know the danger they were in.

And I had to take more photographs.

I’d been through such a horrible scare. My heart pounded, and my arms and legs felt all trembly and weak. I didn’t feel like me. I felt as if I were outside myself, watching myself.

But I knew I couldn’t run back to the house. Not until my aunt and uncle were safe.

I kept pretty far behind the creatures, far enough that I could slip behind a tree or bush if one of them glanced back. And I kept my camera raised, ready to snap off shots.

They loped slowly to the creek. I watched them lower their heads and noisily lap up water.

They didn’t look at all human now. Their bodies had become wolf bodies. I couldn’t see anything human in their faces. Their glowing eyes were animal eyes.

They took a long drink from the creek, washing down their dinner, I guess. I steadied my camera and clicked off several shots.

I wished Hannah had come with me. I wanted someone else to be there with me, to see what I was seeing.

I couldn’t wait to get back and tell her that she was right about the Marlings. That they really were werewolves.

The two wolf creatures suddenly raised their heads from the water, turned, and sniffed the air.

Did they smell me? Or some other prey?

I slid behind a fat tree trunk and held my breath.

When I carefully peered out, they were loping along the creek shore. I waited until they had gone a short distance, then I crept out and followed them.

I followed the two werewolves all night. I finished one roll of film, then popped in another. I shot them rising up on their furry hind legs and howling at the moon. And I clicked off several more horrifying shots of them devouring small animals.

And I searched for my aunt and uncle. Desperate to warn them, to tell them what I had learned.

As I trailed behind the creatures-so frightened and excited-I completely lost track of time. It was as if I were walking through a dream. None of it seemed real.

Finally, a red crack of sunlight appeared along the ground. To my shock, it was nearly daybreak.

The werewolves moved slowly now. Their loping trot had become a stiff-legged walk.

As they stepped out of the trees into their backyard, they rose up onto their hind legs. They staggered awkwardly to the back of their house.

I stayed by the trees, afraid to go too close. The sky was brightening as the sun made its way higher. If the wolf creatures turned around, they could see me easily.

I raised my camera. I had only a few shots left.

The two werewolves staggered on two legs to the side of their house. They stretched their furry forearms and raised their faces to the brightening sun.

“Oh!” I couldn’t help it. I uttered a shocked cry as they began to shed their skins.

The fur appeared to peel back.

The claws slid out of view. And the fur pulled back, revealing their human hands.

As I gaped in amazement, the black wolf fur peeled off their arms and legs, then slid off their bodies.

They had their backs to me.

The fur skins settled into capes again. The two humans reached up and pulled off the heavy capes.

I’m going to see the Marlings for the first time! I realized.

They lowered the wolf skin capes to the ground.

They turned slowly.

And I saw their faces.