Bark (The Werewolf Journal's Book 1)

                          Moonlight Mill

Prologue

October 29, 1975

The hungry beast stood in the doorway breathing heavily, blood dripping down its black fur.  The young Indian aimed his rifle at the creature, tears streaming down his face.

“Tim, it’s me. You killed them, Tim. They’re all dead!”

The beast continued through the door making its way toward the old Indian paying no attention to the grieving man in front of him.  The Indian pulled the trigger sending silver slugs deep into the creature’s chest.  The beast howled in pain as its body tumbled to the floor.  Blood spurted from the beast’s mouth as the angry Indian walked over to the creatures dying body.

“You took them from me, Tim! They’re never coming back,” the Indian yelled, placing the barrel of his rifle over the creatures head.

The beast’s black hair began to withdraw from its body into its pores revealing soft tanned skin.  Its bones began to reset themselves popping and cracking back into its human form.  Finally the change was over and all that was left was a dying man.

“I’m sorry, Tim,” the Indian said sadly.

“It’s okay.  You should have done this a long time ago,” the man said gasping for breath, tears and blood sliding down his face.

“Finish it,” the man told the Indian holding the gun’s barrel to his head.

“I love you, Timmy,” the Indian said pulling the trigger, sending chunks of brain and flesh against his wooden floor. 

The young Indian stood lifelessly for a moment looking at his brother.  Brief images of the two of them as children flashed through his mind causing him to hurt so deeply for what he had just done, but then the images of his wife and two children ripped apart within him and took away all the feelings he might have once had for the creature lying on the floor.

The first night his brother changed into that awful creature was the last time he ever saw his brother, Timothy.  Sure, when the moon was not full there were glimpses of him, but the man walking around was just the beast hiding inside his brother’s body.  If he had killed Tim when he first had the chance, his family would still be alive.  If he had ended it then, things would have never had gotten so out of hand, he thought as he threw the gun to the floor in anger and regret. 

The young Indian made his way outside of his house and to his barn.  He would have to get his shovel and bury the bodies.  He’d have to cover up the whole thing.  Otherwise, his family’s murders and the town murders would be pinned on him.  No one would believe what happened.  How could they?  How could anyone?  “Things like this just don’t happen.” is what they would say.  He knows, because when Tim told him what was happening and pleaded for him to help, he didn’t believe it.  But then his eyes where opened to the horrors of the world as the bloodline’s curse took control of his brother.

CHAPTER 1

The Junior Prom was finally over, Arnie thought while walking his girlfriend Sarah to her house.  His suit was drenched in sweat from all the dancing he had done.  Sarah and he must have danced to every song the band played.  When it came to dancing, Sarah never got tired.

Sarah and he had been dating for a long time and had become close over the last couple of years.  Arnie was so embarrassed that he couldn’t get a limo like the other kids.  He wanted to make the night as special as he could, but he was not working, and twenty bucks a week only went so far.  He really had not planned to go to the prom.  He always figured it was more for seniors, so he didn’t even try to save money.  It was Sarah that wanted to go, and she could be really convincing when she wanted to be.  He couldn’t help but admire how beautiful she looked in her pink dress.  He was used to seeing her in jeans.  When he first saw her tonight all dressed up, it was like seeing her for the first time all over again.

“So what does it feel like being one more year away from graduation?” Sarah asked as they stopped at her front door.  Sarah adjusted Arnie’s tie as he softly kissed Sarah’s lips, flashing a crooked smile.

“I don’t know.  It’s all happening so fast,” Arnie replied.  “I’m not even sure what I want to do after high school.”  Sarah looked up at him, placing her hands on his chest.  “I’m sorry I couldn’t drive you home or get you a limo like those other guys,”

Arnie said, regretfully.

“It’s okay, Arnie.  I had fun,” Sarah replied.

“So did I.  Next year, I promise I’ll drive you to the prom,” Arnie said looking into Sarah’s beautiful, hazel eyes.

“It doesn’t matter to me that you don’t have a car.  I don’t care about stuff like that,” Sarah said.

“Well, I do,” Arnie said with a sigh. “I want to give you more; you deserve it.  You’ve been with me since eighth grade.  You’ve put up with all my crazy antics and still you’re here.” Arnie held Sarah’s hands noticing her dad peeking through the window.  “It’s getting late.  I had better get going,” Arnie said giving Sarah a kiss checking to see if her dad was still looking.

“Do me favor and don’t take that shortcut through the woods,” Sarah said.

“Oh c’mon, Sarah, I’ll get home faster,” Arnie said.

“I know, but it’s late right now.  It’s dangerous walking out there by yourself.  Besides,

didn’t you hear about that little boy that was killed at Camargo Park?” Sarah asked.

“I heard about it, but that’s on the other side of town.”

“Please, Arnie, there’s just a lot of weird things going on around here lately.  Please go the long way… for me?” she pleaded, blinking her eyes.

“Trust me, Sarah, I’ll be fine.  Those woods are nothing compared to Danny and

Jay,” Arnie said, referring to his best friends, their laughs echoing down the street.

“You’re right.  You have more of a chance getting killed being with them than walking in those woods.”

“Let me at least go inside and ask my Dad if he’ll give you a ride,” Sarah said.

“I think I’ll pass,” he said, noticing her father still peeking through the window.

“All right then, but take care,” Sarah said, giving Arnie a kiss. “Oh and I love you,”

she added, opening the glass door to her red and white house.

“Me too,” he answered meaningfully, beginning his journey down the long

dark street.

Ahead was a path that was illuminated only by a nearby house with its porch light on.  Arnie approached the path and without hesitation entered the woods.

What a day!  Arnie thought looking down in contemplation.  The junior-senior prom seemed to be the happiest day of his life.  Arnie’s life appeared to be going right for once.  He had been having a hard time in school, and he had been getting grounded off and on for the last two months because he had been sneaking out of his house to keep his friend, Danny, company.  Danny hated being home.  His parents hated each other and took out all their frustrations on him.  They were so involved with their own problems that they would never stop to notice Danny.  Arnie didn’t mind being grounded, but when he was, he couldn’t see Sarah.  That was probably the worst part, but then again it gave Sarah a reason to sneak into his room.  It was a good night.  Maybe one of the best.  The only thing left for Arnie was to get home safely.

He didn’t like going through the woods, but it saved him a lot of time.  Being prompt was something Arnie was very particular about.  The woods were almost pitch-black, and the scamper of rodents and nocturnal creatures of the woods echoed loudly in his ears.  The light of the moon struggled to break through the trees.  The woods always gave him chills, but they never really bothered him.  Tonight, though, was different.  Something was telling him to go around, but Arnie ignored his feelings, thinking about how all the talk of that little boy getting killed was making him paranoid.  One thing was for sure: his nerves were jumpy. Every little sound caused him to jump, and the trees that had looked so colorful during the day now began to look more horrific; the shadows cast upon them gave Arnie unwanted images in his mind.  The birds, which ruffled their feathers as they slept amongst the branches, seemed to strengthen the forest’s uneasy effect on him while he walked.  His ears caught another sound as he heard a pair of footsteps crunching the leaves on the ground close behind.  Arnie stopped and looked back, but all signs or sounds of anyone behind him vanished.  The only sound he could hear was the birds in the trees and an owl hooting.  Shit, I’ve got to stop imagining things, Arnie told himself continuing to walk until he noticed that the footsteps he had heard earlier had once again begun to follow.

Arnie walked faster, hearing the footsteps nearing. Thoughts of prom night fled

his mind causing Arnie to stop again and turned around, saying, “All right, who the . . . ?”

Arnie said as a large figure stood before him snarling. Arnie froze. Every hair on his body stood up like an electrical jolt had filled his body.

Arnie looked at the creature standing before him. He tried to tell himself it was a bear, but there was no animal Arnie had ever heard of that stood on two feet and had teeth as long as the creature’s before him, not even a bear.  Just then Arnie broke from the shock that was keeping him paralyzed.  He turned around and ran as fast as he could.  He could hear the animal not far behind him.  Arnie ran faster than he had ever had in his life.  Sticks and leaves where snapping under his feet as the path that was once open began to close in on him.  The life of the forest had gone quiet; and just when he thought he had gotten away, he felt the monster’s claws tearing into his back as it ripped through his tux, tearing into his flesh.

Arnie fell to the ground in agony.  He turned and looked into the eyes of the beast in disbelief.  Blood was streaming down his torso, saturating his shirt.  Arnie struggled for his breath.  Memories were racing through his mind of past endeavors.  He believed this wolf like creature would be the last image of his perfect night.  Arnie felt something evil far deeper than anything he had ever imagined as he glared into its crimson eyes.  Fear had numbed every muscle in Arnie’s body, leaving him helpless to the bloodthirsty creature.  Arnie closed his eyes and felt the beast’s hot, rancid breath near his neck.  The beast’s warm drool hit his skin. Arnie opened his eyes, and as he did, the beast sank its teeth deep into Arnie’s shoulder.  He screamed in pain, yelling for help.  The creature then howled, fanatically running off into the dark woods of the night, leaving Arnie surrounded in a pool of blood.  Arnie lay there against the tree, wondering why the beast had spared him. Images of the beast’s red eyes ran repeatedly through his mind as his shoulder continued to slowly spill his life away.  The bright full moon began to spin till finally there was nothing more but an uncomfortable blanket of darkness. 

CHAPTER 2

Arnie’s eyes slowly opened.  The light to the room temporarily blinded him as he blocked his eyes with his hand.  When his eyes adjusted to the light of the room, he saw a familiar face standing in front of him. It was his girlfriend, Sarah, with a look of concern on her face.

“Where am I?” Arnie rasped.

“St. John’s Hospital,” Sarah replied.

“How did I get here?” Arnie asked, confused.

“Your mom called me a couple of hours after you left from my house.  We got worried and went looking for you.  Danny and Jay found you in the woods.  Arnie, I told you not to go through those woods!” Sarah cried.

“It’s all right, Sarah.  I’m fine, a little sore but okay,” Arnie replied, rubbing his wound.