The Full Moon Encounter
The midnight air was aglow with the brightness of the full moon. The park was quiet, serene, save for the hum of crickets and the occasional whizzing of a distant car. Marcus Lane was 16 years old and had already lived a lifetime. He was 6'1" tall, long-legged and wide-shouldered, and he looked like a sports hero, but as he made his way through the gates of Daehan High School every morning, he felt shorter than everyone else. Especially when Logan Lee was around.
Logan Lee — the guy was a monster. 190 cm tall, with a chunky-but-muscular build that gave him the look of a bear with an attitude issue. His hair was standing on end like some savage beast, and the scowl on his face was deadly. In Marcus's opinion, that scowl spelled trouble every time.
This day had been another nasty one. Logan had shoved him into a locker and glared at him like he was nothing.
Logan: "Watch where you're going, Lane. Or do I have to teach you a lesson every day?"
Marcus: (talking softly) "I didn't bump into you, man…"
Logan: (leaning forward, voice laced with disdain) "Doesn't matter. Stay out of my way, or next time, I'll make sure that you don't make it out alive."
Tonight, though, he was safe. Or so he thought for an instant. He and his mom had taken a walk to the park to breathe some fresh air. The air was crisp, and tension from the day seemed to be washing off.
Mom: (smiling) "I'm proud of you, Marcus. Getting your license? Helping when I have evening work shifts? You're such a responsible young man now."
Marcus: (smirks, sweeps his hand across the back of his neck) "Just trying to help, Mom. Least I can do."
Mom: "I know it's tough here. New country. New school. New people. But I promise, things will get better."
Marcus: "Yeah, I suppose… Just hard working with guys like Logan Lee every day."
Mom: (raising an eyebrow) "That boy is a bully. Hold on to yourself, okay? You deserve better than that."
Marcus: "I do try. But sometimes."
Before he was able to go on, a low, monster growl cut through the air. The stillness of the park was broken by a sound that sent shivers running down the back of Marcus' neck. A figure emerged from out of the darkness.
A cadaverous, wolf-man beast, with a mangy grey and black-patched fur, rose up onto its hind legs. Its yellow eyes burned with an intense, glowing light that did not falter. The beast was clad in tattered, human clothing, which indicated it was more than a mere wild animal.
Mom: (gasping) "M–Marcus… what is that?!"
Marcus: (wide-eyed, instinctively moving in front of her) "I–I don't know…"
The wolf growled, its white teeth bared and sharp, the sound growing up like thunder from the bottom of its chest.
Marcus: (tears trembling) "Stay back, Mom. Just… just be quiet."
Mom: (holding onto his shirt) "Marcus."
And then the monster inclined its long, dreadful head to one side, a low, sonorous snarl welling up in its throat. Its eyes, shining like lanterns, fixed on the boy and his mother like an animal about to leap.
Marcus: (slowly lifting his hands) "Easy… don't want any trouble…"
The wolf's ears jerked violently. Its yellow eyes became narrower, and it suddenly crouched down on its haunches, ready to spring.
Mom: (whispering) "Marcus… what do we do?"
Marcus: (eyebrows furrowing, voice shaking) "I don't know, Mom… I don't know…"
With a thunderous bellow, the beast charged ahead, and the rumble of the charge echoed through the night.
TO BE CONTINUED…