Beast in the Night

Chapter 5: Sweet Dream

Another day in the office and another coffee break that Rhys wished he could take alone. But his ‘circle of friends’ would not let him take his break in silence. He wished that the day would end as soon as possible.

He got himself a free muffin from the basket next to the box of assorted biscuits. He smiled at the muffin in his hand. Suddenly, his mind wandered off to his next-door neighbor.

“So, are you guys excited for tomorrow night? It’s bubble bath party time!” Ryan announced noisily as he, Yohan, and Robbie joined Rhys in the pantry.

“I heard the chemicals used for the bubbles could irritate my skin,” Yohan said as he carefully took one muffin from the basket.

Ryan rolled his eyes. “Nothing can irritate your skin, Yohan. Your skin’s made of leather. Hey, Rhys, you’ll be there tomorrow, Right? And Robbie, you’re coming, dude!”

“I’m not sure yet, Ryan,” Robbie replied and helped himself with a cup of coffee. He had curly thick hair, hazel brown eyes, and medium build, and he would never be seen without the usual bored expression he always wore on his handsome face.

“You guys have to come. Booze would be unlimited.”

“For $250! That’s just not worth it,” Yohan shook his head.

“But imagine flirting with drunk, hot girls in bikinis, Yohan. Could you just imagine that, for a sec, please?” Ryan shot him a scornful look before looking at Rhys and Robbie. “Look, tomorrow night is going to be the night for me to get my groove on again. After that disaster with Darla, we all have to go.”

“Darla ... that girl from Hot Plate Cafe a couple of blocks from here?” Yohan asked.

Ryan nodded. “Yeah, the smoking hot girl who thought that bars and clubs were the total opposite of the church.” He scoffed.

“I think you should tell her to tell their manager that they ought to fix their air conditioner. I go there every day, and they really should be doing something about the place’s poor ventilation. It makes me uncomfortable.” Yohan whined.

“Who cares about the poor ventilation, Yohan? They have the prettiest female employees, and that’s all that matters to me,” Ryan replied.

Rhys munched on his muffin and added, “The coffee they serve matters to me.” He was, surprisingly, starting to like muffins now.

“It’s alright, Rhys, we got you.” Ryan looked at his two other friends. “You guys are coming with me tomorrow, and we will all drink, score some hot chicks.” He grabbed a muffin, adjusted his thick-rimmed glasses, and walked out.

Yohan sighed. “I guess we’re all going then,” he said before following Ryan, leaving Robbie and Rhys at the pantry.

“So, are you going too?” Robbie asked.

Rhys shrugged and finished the muffin in his hand. “Yeah.  It sounds like a lot of fun.” But his face didn’t show even the slightest bit of interest.

“I’m not sure, Rhys. I mean, I’m sure that the only person who will be enjoying the party the most will be Ryan. But for me, it’s going to be very boring.”

It had been evident to Rhys that he made friends with such diverse people. While all Ryan could think of was hooking up with girls, Robbie was the total opposite – he couldn’t care less about girls and drinking. Yohan was another unique friend who could only focus on the flaws in the world and complain about them.

“Really? How come? We―well, men, in general, are designed and supposed to enjoy stuff like that, right?” Rhys wasn’t ambiguous about the whole concept of the true meaning of male happiness. However, he has his definition of fun. Something that his friends wouldn’t understand. None could unless they’re just like him.

“Not all, Rhys. There has to be more to life than beers and female anatomy,” Robbie said, referring to Ryan’s own classification of fun.

You got a point there, Toby. I have to agree with you on that one, Rhys thought.

“We know what will happen if we go there,” Robbie went on with his ranting. “We drink, flirt, make out, and get laid. And then what? Suffer from the world’s most brutal hangover the next day? Where’s the thrill and excitement in that?”

Rhys just looked at him with a blank expression in his eyes. “I don’t know. But Ryan still enjoys it.”

“That’s because he’s a meat brain. Nothing else,” Robbie said and put down his cup, half empty, on the small coffee table. “Let’s go.”

Rhys glanced at his watch. He still had five minutes to enjoy his muffin in peace. “You go ahead. I’ll just finish this.”

“Okay.” Robbie left.

Alone at last. Rhys smiled. An alone time would give him a chance to plan his next project in his mind. He was always the kind of person who valued time and did not waste a second. Although he had to admit, time with his friends was wasted time for him, but there was nothing he could do about it.

He needed them. Not their friendship, but to blend in. He needed them to keep himself and his true self concealed.

*          *          *

The shop was a bit smaller than the rest of the shops in the block, brown bricks making up a portion of the outside. One half of the wall facing the street was a lengthy window with the name Sanson Road plastered in the middle in bold yellow.

Rhys pushed through the door of the quaint shop, the smell of coffee hitting him hard. He walked in, and the place was cozy, just the way he liked it, and then went straight to the counter, standing in line behind was a preppy-styled man. He looked around. Another guy sat near the corner on a table on his own, sipping at his coffee, keeping himself entertained with whatever he was watching on his phone.

“Salted caramel mocha latte for Amy!” the busy barista shouted at the end of the pick-up counter that was packed with coffee makers and blenders and bottles of flavored syrups.

Then a tall woman in a long black coat stepped out of line to eagerly reach for a beverage; a boxy smile forms on her pretty face as she handed his money to a very familiar face at the register.

Emily.

Rhys was suddenly embarrassed by the fact that he had been thinking about her when he had his muffin that morning. He hardly knew anything about her; he had no idea what she was actually like outside of the fact that she was his next-door neighbor, and she owned a pet rabbit.

He waited in line and tried not to watch her bustle around the small workspace behind the counter as she took orders. He tried not to let his eyes drift to where he could see her smiling face. The smile felt somewhat new to him. His neighbor was never really the smiling type that he knew for sure, but there she was, smiling at every customer she faced.

He was so caught up in his thoughts of his young neighbor, somewhat impressed for no apparent reason, that he barely realized he had been drifting forward and now stood second in line. He rushed to recall what he had even come here to order.

“Emily!” He grinned when it was finally his turn. “I didn’t know you work here.”

Emily grinned. “Rhys, good afternoon to you.”

Rhys looked around. “How are you doing?”

“Good. Having a pretty busy day, but good.”

He looked around. “Actually, it’s almost never like this.”

“Oh, really? Today’s my first day.”

“It can get busy in the mornings and evenings, and especially on weekends, but this time of day it’s usually pretty quiet. A lot of people must be getting a late start today.”

“Must be,” Emily said, her smile never fading.

“Or maybe the shop is just gaining popularity now that there’s a new cashier?” Rhys suggested with a smile.

“That’s just…I don’t think so.”

There’s a pause, and Rhys seemed to be searching for his next words. “So, how’s everything with you so far? Have you explored Everfall?” He scratched at his neck.

“I haven’t really. Maybe soon when I have the extra time. Do you come here often?”

He nodded. “This is my favorite coffee place! Not only is the coffee delicious, but it’s super cheap! Especially the muffins,” he gave a thumbs-up as he spoke.

“Oh, this is where you bought those muffins!”

“Yes.”

“Now I know why the walnut yogurt muffins look familiar.” Emily looked like she had more to say, but just then, three more customers fell in line. “And what can I get for you? Muffins?”

“I had enough muffins this morning at the office. Um-can I have a brewed coffee with two sugars, please? To go.”

“Absolutely!”

He stared at Emily for a moment, still feeling slightly weirded out by her unusually chirpy attitude.

“That’ll be $2.52.”

He nodded and pulled out his wallet as Emily punched his order into the cash register. Taking the money, his fingers lightly brushed with her.

Then Rhys froze.

He blinked, eyes widening in shock.

Emily arched a brow, apparently questioning why he was openly gaping at her. “Are you ok?”

“What?” Rhys’ voice sounded breathless. He glanced around, suddenly remembering the crowded coffee shop and catching the flustered stare of the customer behind him.

“I said, are you okay?”

His eyes widened. “Oh! Yes. Absolutely. I-ah…I am absolutely okay.”

Emily smiled at him. “Okay? Good.”

He jumped back, feeling heat rush to the back of his neck. He smiled again, nodding before taking a seat right by the window. He watched as the barista brewed his coffee and added two sugars, as he requested, before pouring it into a paper cup with his name written on the side in black Sharpie.

What the hell was that? he asked himself, still trying to shake off the sudden shock he felt in every fiber of his being when his fingers grazed with Emily’s.

When he heard his name being called, he quickly walked over to the counted and grabbed the coffee. He turned to his left and saw that Emily was already looking at him, a broad smile still plastered on her face, but this time, her eyes were telling him something else.

“Thanks for the coffee…” he told her as soon as he walked over to her. His eyes brightened as he took a quick sip of the coffee and let out a happy sigh.

“Sharon took a little bit more time brewing your coffee.” Emily eyed the blushing barista, who kept herself busy in a corner.

“Tell her this is amazing,” Rhys said without even glancing at Sharon.

“I will,” Emily said, glancing at the door now and then.

 “See you around, Emily.”

“You too, and thank you for stopping by, Rhys. Have a nice day!”

“Thanks, you too.” He paused to glance and returned her smile with a wider one. His brain was still barely processing what had happened. 

He walked over to the door and stared at Emily for another good couple of seconds before the rush of customers got to her again, and she had to go back to taking their orders.

Rhys exited the small shop, and when he finally got a minute to catch his breath again, a gust of wind bombarded him the moment he turned the corner.

And then he finally felt it inside him…his beast.

*          *          *

“Hello, Rhys…”

He turned around and there, on a beach, was Emily. She was laid on her stomach on a large mattress covered with a red silk sheet, her clothes torn just enough to expose her back and legs.

The sun was up high in the sky, and the sounds of the waves were very soothing in the background.

“Emily,” he whispered her name as he stared out into the ocean.

“What are you doing there, silly? Come and join me.”

He walked up to her and moved to her side. “Emily, I can see your back,” he said, a blush creeping up his cheeks.

“So? Don’t you want to see my back?” Emily sat as she turned to Rhys and patted the space next to her. “Isn’t my back sexy enough for you? How about my legs?”

Rhys sat next to her, not really sure why she was asking all these questions. And would it really matter to her whether he didn’t like her back or legs?

“Of course, I like them. They’re nice. They’re sexy…”

“I’m glad you like them, Rhys. No one really cared or noticed them before.”

“They’re lovely.” He stared at her. “You are too.”

Emily smiled. “Really? Do you want to touch me?”

“What do you mean?” Rhys’ heart quickened.

Emily took his hand and guided it to her exposed leg. She soon gasped when she felt his hands massaging her legs.

Her hands soon roamed over Rhys’ body, light touches that sent shivers down his spine. And without glancing away, she rubbed her thumbs against his n*****s, causing him to gasp. Then he pushed down on the bed and climbed on top of him.

A breath caught in Rhys’ throat when he felt her lips suck at his neck, exciting him even more. A low, sexy chuckle came from Emily above him before kissing him roughly. He moaned into the kiss, kissing his neighbor back with so much need and want.

He knew and felt he needed more of this, it was like torture, and his boxers were becoming uncomfortably tight. He wrapped his arms around Emily’s neck to bring her closer to him, then pulled her against him before he climbed onto her. She giggled when he started biting at the junction between her neck and collarbone.

“Rhys…” Moans spilled from her Emily’s lips at the sucking.

The sound of his name rolling out of her mouth was making the tightness in Rhys’ boxers too much for him.

He looked at her for a moment, the same friendly smile plastered on her face.

“Emily…what are you doing?”

“Shhh…” Another sexy giggle, and then her hand soon trailed over his body and stopped on the bulge in his pants. “You already know why, Rhys.”

Rhys moaned when her hand rubbed him teasingly. “Emily…I’m sorry, but if you keep on doing what you’re doing now, I don’t think I can control myself any longer.”

For a moment, they watched each other, drinking in the sight of their desires, soft breaths against their faces. Then a loud growl echoed from the depth of the sea.

Emily saw a thin blue ring around Rhys’ dilated pupils.

Another guttural sound filled the air, but this sound no longer came from the far off sea.

Rhys woke up.

“Fuck.”

He cast his icy blue eyes at the ceiling of his bedroom. His muscles were firm. He turned to his side and saw the clock on his bedside table flashing 2 AM.

The dream itself was bizarre, but the fact that it had Emily in it was disturbed for Rhys. 

Why did he suddenly dream of her?

He was still feeling hot and looking down at his pajama pants, he knew it would be impossible to calm his nerves now without finding any sort of release.

He needed to run. That was the only way for him to cool off.  

Sitting up from his bed, he reckoned he still had at least about two hours. He changed into his shirt and jeans and hurriedly left his apartment.

His short ride to the nature preserve closest to Everfall was a bit of a struggle because he was now fighting the urge to go back and knock on Emily’s door. The moon painted the forest in grey hues and illuminated his path, and as soon as he made it to his usual spot, he quickly took off his shirt, pants, shoes, and socks. The thoughts of Emily slowly faded away with ever deep breaths he took.

It didn’t take long for the beast inside him to begin to take over.

The increasing stomach cramp and an itch spreading throughout his skin were all the indications he needed that his transformation was about to start. The forest stood quiet, and as soon as his eyes blue eyes changed to pale yellow and his retinas widened, everything around him began to become so much clearer, like everything in his world now was in high definition.

Then the heat he’d felt since leaving his apartment started to surge. His skin began to heat up while the blood in his veins pumped slower, his heart pounding harder in his chest.

And although the sweat dripping off him was his human body’s attempt to cool down, this only radiates more heat and, in turn, warmed the sweat up.

From that point on, the real pain began when everything seemed to happen at all once―his bottom jaw, and the rest of the joints in his body, ripped violently. Every muscle and bone going into spasm. He growled when canine teeth emerged in his mouth, and thick, black claws began to take shape and protrude where his fingernails had been, causing him such searing pain.

Then a beastly growl left his mouth instead of his usual human sound. Thick grey fur now covered his entire body.

Rhys’ wolf had finally taken over.  

His mind emptied his thoughts about Emily and his dream of her as he took off in a bolt into the deep of the forest.