The monsters we became

Chapter Six

"You're not going to believe this," Marcus said, his voice filled with excitement as he leaned into the microphone of his podcast setup.

"What's up, bro?" his co-host, Rachel, replied from the other side of the table. She swiveled her chair around to face him, her eyes lighting up with curiosity.

"Remember that old werewolf legend our grandpa used to tell us?" Marcus's voice grew softer, as if sharing a secret. Rachel nodded, a smile playing on her lips as she recalled their childhood campfire tales. "Well, I think it might be real."

Rachel's laughter filled the room. "Come on, Marcus, you're not seriously buying into that, are you?" she said, shaking her head. But her smile faded as she noticed the unwavering seriousness in his eyes.

Marcus held up a USB drive. "Check out these files I found in Grandpa's attic. There's a whole research journal dedicated to it. Detailed accounts, sketches, the works." Rachel took the drive and plugged it into her laptop, her skepticism giving way to a glimmer of curiosity.

The screen flickered to life, displaying a digital copy of a leather-bound journal filled with handwritten notes and meticulous sketches. The pages were yellowed with age, and the handwriting was barely legible, but the images were clear. There was something eerily convincing about them, something that made Rachel's heart race just a little faster.

"Look at this," Marcus whispered, pointing at a particularly detailed drawing of a creature that was half-man, half-wolf. "This isn't just some random scribble. Grandpa was a scientist, remember? He wouldn't have kept this if he didn't think there was something to it."

Rachel leaned in closer, her eyes scanning the page. The creature in the drawing had piercing eyes that seemed to follow her as she moved, and its fur looked so real she could almost feel it brushing against her skin.

"Okay, okay," she said, taking a deep breath to calm her racing thoughts. "But even if this is true, what does it have to do with us?"

Marcus leaned back in his chair, a smug smile playing on his lips. "What if I told you that the next full moon is in three days?" Rachel's eyes widened as she realized what he was getting at.

"You're not planning on... " she trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.

"Exactly," Marcus said, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "We're going to find out if the legend is true. And if it is, we're going to capture it on camera for the ultimate podcast episode."

Rachel felt a chill run down her spine. She knew Marcus's love for the supernatural was strong, but she had never thought he would take it this far.

"But what if it's dangerous?" Rachel asked, her voice shaking slightly.

Marcus waved his hand dismissively. "We'll be fine. We've got each other's backs, right?"

Rachel nodded, her mind racing with the implications of what they were about to do. Forbidden love and a creature of the night didn't exactly scream 'good idea,' but she couldn't deny the thrill of the chase.

The siblings spent the next three days preparing, their excitement and nerves growing with each passing hour. They studied the journal, mapped out the locations of the sightings, and gathered all the necessary equipment for their nocturnal adventure. As the moon grew fuller, so did their determination to uncover the truth behind the legend.

On the night of the full moon, they drove deep into the woods, their headlights cutting through the darkness. The trees grew denser, the air grew colder, and the silence grew thicker, until it was almost suffocating. Rachel couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched.

They parked at the edge of a clearing, where the moon shone down like a spotlight, illuminating the area in an ethereal glow. Marcus set up the cameras and microphones while Rachel checked the traps they had brought.

"Ready?" Marcus asked, his voice echoing in the stillness.

Rachel nodded, her heart pounding in her chest as she checked the digital recorder strapped to her belt. The anticipation was palpable as they waited for the werewolf to make an appearance. They had chosen this clearing based on Grandpa's journal, which mentioned that the creature had been spotted here numerous times.

The siblings didn't have to wait long. As the moon reached its peak, a low, mournful howl echoed through the woods, sending a shiver down Rachel's spine. The sound grew closer, the hackles on the back of her neck rising in response. Then, from the shadows, a figure emerged.

At first, it was just a silhouette, but as it stepped into the moonlight, Rachel could see the unmistakable form of a man morphing into a beast. The transformation was terrifying yet mesmerizing. The creature was massive, its fur a mix of black and silver, and its eyes, a piercing yellow that seemed to see straight through them.

Marcus fumbled with his camera, trying to capture the moment without alerting the creature to their presence. Rachel's hand tightened around her recorder, her knuckles turning white. The werewolf took a step closer, its snout twitching as it scented the air.

Suddenly, it froze. Rachel's heart stopped as she realized it had caught their scent. The werewolf's head swiveled in their direction, its eyes narrowing. It let out a growl that seemed to shake the very earth beneath their feet. Marcus held his breath, the camera now steadily focused on the creature. Rachel's finger hovered over the button to trigger the trap they had set.

The tension was unbearable as the werewolf took another step toward them, its massive paws leaving imprints in the soft grass. Rachel's mind raced, trying to remember everything they had read about the creature. Were they supposed to make eye contact or avoid it? Run or stand their ground?

The creature paused, seemingly deciding whether to attack or flee. Rachel took a deep breath, willing her hand to move. Before she could act, though, the werewolf's ears perked up, and it turned its head sharply to the left. The sound of snapping branches and rustling leaves grew louder, and Rachel realized they weren't the only ones in the clearing.

"What now?" Rachel whispered, her voice shaking. Marcus's eyes darted between her and the creature, his own fear reflected in his gaze.

The werewolf's growl grew louder, and Rachel knew they had to do something. She took a step back, her hand finally pressing the button to set the trap. The creature snarled and lunged, but the net shot out before it could reach them.

The werewolf hit the ground with a thud, roaring in anger and struggling against the thick ropes that now held it down. Rachel and Marcus stared in disbelief at the creature writhing before them. The legend was real, and they had just caught it.

But as Rachel approached the creature, she noticed something strange. Tucked into its fur was a locket, glinting in the moonlight. The werewolf's eyes, now filled with pain and desperation, met hers. Rachel felt a sudden jolt of empathy. This creature was more than just a mythical beast; it had a story, a life, and perhaps... a forbidden love of its own.

Against her better judgment, Rachel reached out to the locket, her trembling hand brushing against the warm fur. The werewolf stilled, its breaths coming in ragged gasps as Rachel carefully untangled the necklace from the ropes. She felt Marcus's gaze on her, a silent question in his eyes, but she couldn't explain her sudden connection to the creature.

Inside the locket was a photo of a beautiful young woman with a gentle smile. Rachel's heart clenched. "Do you know her?" she murmured to the werewolf. The creature's eyes softened, and it let out a whine that sounded eerily human. Rachel realized the woman in the photo was someone it cared for deeply, and the locket was a talisman of sorts, a symbol of its humanity amidst the chaos of its existence.

Marcus stepped forward, his camera lowered. "We don't have to do this," he said quietly. Rachel nodded, understanding dawning on her as well. They had come for a story, but what they had found was so much more. They couldn't just expose this creature to the world, not when it was suffering because of its very nature.

Together, they made a decision. They would free the werewolf and help it find a way to live with its curse. Rachel held the locket tightly in her hand as they worked to release the creature from the net. The werewolf watched them with a mix of suspicion and hope.

As the last rope fell away, the creature looked at them, the gratitude in its eyes unmistakable. Rachel held out the locket, her voice steady despite her racing heart. "Keep this safe," she said. "We'll find a way to help you."

The werewolf took the locket in its mouth and backed away slowly, its gaze never leaving Rachel's. Then, with one final, almost human nod, it turned and disappeared into the woods, leaving the siblings standing in the moonlit clearing, their hearts racing with the weight of what they had just done.

Their podcast would have to wait. They had stumbled upon a tale of love and loss, a story that was far more complex than any legend. As they packed up their gear, Rachel couldn't shake the feeling that their lives had just taken an unexpected turn. The werewolf's plight had become their own, and they were now part of a narrative much larger than they had ever imagined.