City of IF

[Happily Angry]

!WARNING! THIS SG DOES AND WILL CONTAIN STRONG VIOLENCE AND COARSE LANGUAGE. READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED. p.s.-I am soooo not responsible if you learn new curse words.

Prelude
Screaming Dreams

James watched the fire crackle. Sparks shot from the writhing tongues of fire and drifted into the air like small balloons. The moon stared down at the three man group with keen interest. Her glow lit up the camp like headlights, casting shadows against the floor. James shifted in his seat and turned to stare into the forest that surrounded them.

“Surprised you found this clearing,” complimented James. He picked his teeth with a worn nail and flicked the shredded jerky to the side.

Luke smiled nervously and poked the fire with a long branch. “Thanks. Went camping a lot last year. Learned some stuff.”

James laughed and elbowed his smaller friend. “Why didn't you invite us?”

“We were too busy stuffing him and his freshman buddies in garbage cans,” said Ryan matter of factly. The brawny Junior stretched, his muscles formed by long hours of football were taut and ready.

The second Junior nodded. “Good times.” He clapped Ryan on the back. “You're a Sophomore now bud. Nothing to fear.”

Luke laughed softly and glanced at his two friends enviously. They were the jocks, the big men on campus. At least in their grade. Luke longed to have etched features and chiseled muscles but unfortunately he had been stuck with a skinnier gene.

“Are you taking up football this year?” asked Ryan. The husky teenager stood and glanced into the forest.

“Are you kidding?”

“You'd make the cut. I'd make sure of it.”

James glanced at his friend seriously. “You should try for the team, Luke.”

The skinny Sophomore shook his head. “I'd die. Like, during practice.”

“Highly doubting that,” laughed Ryan. He scratched his head and his blue eyes searched the dark woods with concern. “Call me paranoid but I think something's watching us.”

Luke glanced into the forest unconcerned. “Lots of animals out here. It's not a national park here. Pure outdoors.” He grinned. “The wild.”

James began humming Hakuna Matata. All three burst into laughter.

Luke seemed to glow in the firelight. Last year he had been the probably the most picked on out of all the Freshman. This year, now that Ryan was dating his older sister, things seemed to be different. The jocks were more tolerant and James, Ryan's brother, had taken an interest in getting Luke more physically fit.

“You got the face,” he would say. “Now you just need the body. Grab the ten pound dumbbell and follow me.”
As they pulled out the marshmallows and snicker bars, Ryan again glanced into the woods. “Still got that feeling.”

“If it helps any,” said Luke. “It's probably a bear.”

The Junior edged back near the fire. “Shut up man.”

James laughed and stuck his marshmallow into the dancing flames and watched it sizzle. “I wouldn't mind being mauled by Angela Floin.”

Luke whistled.

James chuckled and punched his friend in the shoulder. “That's what I'M saying!”

Ryan smiled. “I'll stick with Chelsea, thank you.”

James nodded appreciatively. “She's got a nice ass.”

“Dude!”

The Junior laughed. “So do you Luke!”

“Stay away from my tent,” growled the younger friend. “Stay far away.”

As the the two joked, Ryan had stood up. “I hear something,” he hissed.

“Maybe it's you breathing.”

“Shut up and listen!”

All three quieted. The fire was the only one that made a sound, its constant cracking and flickering providing the only animation in the camp. The moon watched intently. The light dimmed, as if preparing for a moment. Luke blinked nervously. He felt that anxiety sensation whenever he felt something was going wrong.

Suddenly, a howl burst out of the forest and echoed everywhere. It s wasn't a sound of mourning or sadness. There was nothing sad about it. It was rough, primal, more like snarl then a dramatic cry. It was a howl of hunger.

“There aren't supposed to be wolves here,” hissed James.

“I guess it didn't get the memo.”

Ryan scooted closer to his friends, a large tree limb held in his thick hands. “Luke. The rifle. Please tell me you have the rifle.”

The Sophomore slowly stood up and reached inside a large duffel bag that had been cast by his log seat. His tension relaxed as his fingers wrapped around the cold metal of the long barrel. He pulled out the Marlin M444.

“Wasn't planning on going hunting,” whispered James.

“Which is why I didn't bring any more shells,” growled Luke. “That closest thing to dangerous in these parts is a badger. The wolves are up the mountain.”

Ryan smiled slightly as he glanced at his friend handling the weapon with ease. “Like you said, it didn't get the me-”

The Junior was never able to finish his sentence. The first tent to their right seemed to explode as something behind it barreled into it like a runaway train. James screamed obscenities as whatever hit the tent burst through the opening and leaped at the three.

“Fuck! Run! Run!”

“What is that!

Luke wasn't even able to flick the safety off as something protected by the shadows arced over him and smashed into his friend. James let out a gasp at the huge form crushed him to the ground and proceeded to drag him off towards the forest. Screams tore from his throat as he thrashed wildly, flailing his arms and legs as he fought.

“James! Shit! Shoot it Luke!”

“I'm trying to fucking load it!”

The thing snarled and a ripping sound echoed in the darkness. James screamed and the sound made Ryan's blood curdle.

“You fucker! Get off him!”

Luke was close to tears now as he fumbled with the long round. Ryan threw his limb at the creature and watched it bounce off. He scooped up another wooden weapon. This one thicker and longer. His muscles bulged and strained with the effort it took to wield it. His brother would not die. Not like this.

Ryan was screaming and praying. He ran at the huge figure, swinging his limb in a arcing blow. The tree limb shattered and the creature barely noticed. It turned and snarled and the wild fire briefly lit up the face before the moon's absence protected it again.

The Sophomore's brain connected it to a wolf. But it was like no wolf he had ever seen. It was something out of story books. Fucked up story books. Luke finally brought his rifle to bear, his whole body shaking as James thrashed around and Ryan trying to fend off the creature.

“Shoot it! Dammit! Shoot!”

The Marlin kicked hard against his shoulder at the first shot. There was a meat thudding sound and the wolf thing snarled as blood spurted from its new hole. It spun around, the huge forearms knocked Ryan aside like he was made of feathers. Its two golden eyes narrowed as it faced Luke.

“Oh shit! Oh shit!” screamed the youngest. He fired again and another bullet punctured its shoulder. Black blood sprayed randomly in all directions. The beast didn't flinch.

He backpedaled as the thing tossed the strangely still James and slowly turned around completely, facing Luke. He glanced at his two friends. James was curled up in a ball, deep red gashes flooding with blood. Ryan was completely still in the remains of their tent, his neck twisted at an awkward angle.

Time slowed as Luke stared into the creature's eyes. “Jesus Christ,” muttered Luke.

The beast reared up to full height on its hind legs, making Shaquille O'neal look like Gary Coloeman. It stood like a man, its thick long arms hanging on its side like still weapons. Long shaggy fur covered its whole body and the moonlight shined behind it, favoring the beast with its glow. One word came unbidden in Luke's mind. Something impossible, improbable, madness.

“Werewolf,” he whispered.

The once mythical monster snarled. A deep rumbling its throat that sounded like coughing. Laughing. The two eyes pierced through his own and seemed to burrow into his brain. Into his consciousness. His heart slowed. It stopped beating. The dull constant rhythm in his ears ceased to exist. Something clicked inside his brain and his eyes rolled into the back of his head. Pain set his body on fire and he stood rigid as agony raped his body over and over.

Luke screamed.

There is no DP as of yet due to the fact that this is just a prelude. So, the first chapter, which be long, will definitely have a DP, and it shall be coming shortly. Hope you guys enjoyed this part. Try and avoid tearing it to peaces on pointing out the flaws. D-Lotus, that means you. You scare me.

[Crossfire]

These are minor grammatical flaws. I hope this doesn't count as "tearing it to peaces".

Happily Angry wrote: Luke longed to have etched features and chiseled muscles but unfortunately he had been stuck with a more skinnier gene.

That's a double... something-or-other.

Happily Angry wrote: “Call me paranoid but I think somethings watching us.”

Should be 'something's'.

Other than that, an entertaining read... I really hope that isn't a werewolf though, because that would be horribly clichèd.

[Chinaren]

Welcome to IF Hangry!

I'm not a fan of WWolf stories, but this is off to a good start! :D

[Traveller]

Nice start!!! Welcome to IF...

You have the best Simile ever in your story

"...made Shaquille O'neil look like Gary Coleman..."

I nearly fell off my chair laughing...

Looking forward to reading more...will be keeping an eye on you...T.

[shy_blu_eyes]

Actually, that was the only part I didn't like. To me it completely broke the mood. You come close to cliche without ever crossing the line, which is good because it gives the reader the fun of knowing what to expect without becoming boring. I look forward to more.

[Black Hawk]

:tu: great read can't wait fo chap 1

[FatHairyApe]

This was so much fun to read. Pretty realistic characters, exciting plot, and just altogether well done.

Props to you!

[Dean]

Well done. I like the frantic pace you set. Keep up with the frenzied feeling, and you should have a good storygame.

Like Shy-Blue-Eyes, I didn't like the Shaq/Coleman reference however. It was funny, but it completely broke the mood. If you are staring at a werewolf, the last thing you will do is to compare it to a basketball player or an 80's TV star in your mind -- you will compare it to terrifying things and then run.

[Muaddib]

It's like a werewolf movie on print. But that doesn't take anything away from it. I thought it was fluid and fun to read. Looking forward to a chapter with a DP.