The bar was quiet now, the neon lights casting fractured reflections across the worn wooden floor. Eva, Nora, and Zoe sat close, shoulders brushing, eyes wide with fear and determination.
Eva broke the silence first, voice low but firm:
"We need to tell each other the truth. If we're going back to Ashwood… secrets could get us killed."
Nora swallowed, her hands trembling. Her eyes darted to the window, where the fog outside seemed to curl in on itself.
"There's… something you need to know about me…"
Eva leaned forward. "What is it, Nora?"
Nora's voice dropped almost to a whisper.
"I'm… a werewolf."
For a moment, the world seemed to pause. Eva's jaw tightened. Zoe's hand went to her chest.
"A… werewolf?" Eva asked, trying to keep calm.
Nora nodded, eyes shadowed with worry.
"Not a bad one… not like the stories. I don't hurt people… but the full moon… it's coming in three days. It'll last three hours. And when it hits… I'll change… and it's going to hurt. I'll… I'll scream. I'll cry. It's uncontrollable."
Zoe's eyes widened, but she squeezed Nora's hand.
"We'll be there. We'll help. We know things you don't, Nora. I'm a witch, remember? I can… at least try to ease it."
Eva's lips pressed together.
"You're not alone. None of us are. If Ashwood's darkness is waiting… we'll face it together… full moon, powers, everything."
Nora:
I've hidden this for years. My parents warned me, but I thought I could control it. But Ashwood… Ashwood will test everything. And the full moon… I can feel it coming. Three days. Three hours of agony… will they still trust me when it happens?
Zoe:
I can't let her face it alone. Magic or not, the pain will be unbearable. But if I can help her… if Eva and I can shield her even a little… maybe we can survive Ashwood together.
Eva:
The full moon, Ashwood, Lana's death… everything is stacked against us. But fear won't stop me. We're witches, werewolves, humans… whatever we are, we fight as one.
Day 1: The Revelation
The morning fog hung heavy over Grimsvale, curling around the streets like silver snakes. Birds were silent, and even the wind seemed to hold its breath.
Eva, Zoe, and Nora met at the quiet corner of their favorite bar, a place where neon lights flickered against the glass, shadows dancing like restless spirits.
Eva's eyes were sharp, scanning Nora's hands, which trembled slightly.
"You're hiding something, Nora," Eva said softly.
Nora swallowed, voice trembling.
"I'm… a werewolf. My full moon… it comes in three days. Three hours of pain… uncontrollable change."
Zoe reached out, placing her hands over Nora's.
"We'll get through it. I know some spells, some calming charms… at least to ease it. You won't be alone."
Nora shook her head, tears brimming.
"It's not just pain. I cry, I scream… it's like my own body betrays me. I've hidden this all my life… I didn't want to hurt anyone."
Eva gritted her teeth.
"We'll protect you. You're part of us. Nothing will change that. And Ashwood… we survive or we die together."
The girls shared a tense silence, broken only by the flicker of neon lights and distant foghorns. The shadows outside seemed restless, as if they knew the secret they were now carrying.
Day 2 – The Magic Preparation
The sky above Grimsvale was heavy with dark clouds. The air felt wrong, like the city itself knew something terrible was coming.
Inside the small safe house, candles burned in a circle on the wooden floor. Their flames flickered violently whenever Nora breathed too hard.
Nora sat in the middle of the room, knees pulled to her chest. Her hands were shaking.
"I can feel it…"
Her voice cracked.
"The wolf… it's waking up."
Eva looked at Zoe nervously.
Zoe knelt beside Nora and placed a small black bowl in the center of the candle circle. Inside it were strange ingredients:
crushed sage leaves
black salt
dried lavender
ash from burned oak wood
Zoe whispered,
"This spell won't stop the transformation… but it can calm the pain."
Nora looked terrified.
"Nothing stops the pain…" she whispered.
Eva stepped closer and grabbed Nora's hands tightly.
"Then we face the pain together."
Zoe's Witchcraft Spell
Zoe closed her eyes and began chanting slowly.
"Luna lumen, spiritus ferox,
Bind the rage and calm the force.
Wolf of blood, hear my plea,
Spare the soul inside this beast."
The candle flames suddenly stretched higher.
A faint golden glow formed around Nora.
But Nora suddenly gasped.
"It's burning—!"
She fell to the floor, clutching her stomach.
Her veins darkened under her skin.
Her nails scratched the wooden floor.
"IT HURTS!"
Tears poured down her face.
Eva quickly knelt beside her.
"Nora! Nora look at me!"
But Nora's eyes flickered strangely — for a moment they looked animalistic.
Zoe whispered urgently,
"The wolf is fighting the spell…"
Nora cried harder.
"I don't want to hurt anyone… please… I don't want to become that thing."
Eva hugged her tightly.
"You're not a monster."
Eva's First Real Spell
Eva had never tried a protection spell before.
But seeing Nora in pain awakened something inside her.
Her hands began to glow faintly.
She whispered slowly, unsure if the magic would even work.
"Spirit of light… hear my voice…
Protect the soul that stands with us…
Let no darkness take her mind…
Let her heart remain her own."
A faint silver aura surrounded Nora.
For a moment…
The shaking stopped.
Nora collapsed into Eva's arms, crying softly.
"Thank you…" she whispered weakly.
But Zoe looked worried.
"This only bought us time… tomorrow night the moon rises."
The room went silent.
Day 3 – The Night of the Full Moon
The moon rose slowly over Grimsvale.
Cold silver light leaked through the window.
Nora stood near the wall, breathing heavily.
Her hands were trembling violently now.
"It's starting…"
Her voice was shaking.
Eva quickly shut the curtains while Zoe lit more candles.
This time the spell circle was larger.
Symbols were drawn on the floor with chalk and salt.
Zoe whispered,
"This circle will keep the wolf from escaping."
Nora looked terrified.
"What if it breaks?"
No one answered.
The Transformation Begins
The clock struck midnight.
Nora suddenly screamed.
Her body bent forward violently.
Her bones cracked loudly.
"AAAHHH!"
She fell to her knees.
Tears streamed down her face.
"MAKE IT STOP!"
Zoe began chanting urgently.
"Luna domina, ferox anima,
Hold the beast, preserve her mind!
Blood may shift but soul remains,
Let the girl survive the pain!"
The candle flames burst higher.
But Nora's scream echoed through the house.
Her hands clawed the floor.
Her breathing became deeper… more animal.
Eva grabbed her shoulders.
"Nora! Listen to me!"
Nora looked up.
Her eyes were glowing faintly gold.
"Eva… it hurts… I can't control it…"
Her voice broke into a growl.
Nora began crying harder.
"What if I hurt you… what if I hurt Zoe…"
Eva shook her head fiercely.
"You won't."
Zoe placed a glowing charm necklace around Nora's neck.
"This will anchor your humanity."
Nora clutched Eva's arm desperately.
"Please don't leave me."
Eva whispered,
"Never."
The Three Hours
The next three hours felt endless.
Nora transformed slowly, painfully.
Her body trembled violently.
Her cries turned into low wolf-like growls.
But the magic circle held.
Eva stayed beside her the entire time.
Zoe kept chanting spells, her voice becoming hoarse.
At one point Nora howled in pure agony.
The sound echoed across the night.
But eventually…
The moon moved past its peak.
The magic circle dimmed.
Nora collapsed onto the floor.
Human again.
Weak.
Shaking.
Tears still running down her face.
Eva wrapped her arms around her tightly.
"You did it…"
Zoe collapsed beside them, exhausted.
"You survived."
The Quiet After
The room was silent now.
Only the sound of their breathing remained.
Nora whispered weakly,
"Thank you… for not giving up on me."
Eva looked toward the dark window.
Her voice became serious.
"Next time… the danger won't just be the moon."
Zoe followed her gaze.
Far away in the distance…
The road leading to Ashwood disappeared into thick black fog.
And somehow…
That fog looked like it was watching them.