Chapter 2. Moon Symptoms

Rumors had it that Edgewater was overrun by creatures in the woods. Even the radio had confirmed it saying authorities had warned residents to stay indoors and away from the woods.

“You okay, baby?” Stephanie asked not taking her eyes off the road. “You’ve been acting off lately.”

“I’m fine,” Natasha lied.

“I’m your mother. I know when you’re not okay and also when you’re lying,” Stephanie said. “You know you can talk to me about anything right?”

Natasha nodded.

“So tell me what is it?” her mother asked again.

“Erm…” she muttered as she thought of something to say.

“Natasha likes Fabs,” Maeve said from behind.

“What?!” Natasha exclaimed looking back at her sister.

“What’s a Fabs?” their mom asked looking at Maeve from the rearview mirror.

“Fabrizio Raynor, the most popular boy in school,” Maeve explained.

“Since when did you start having a thing for popular boys?” Stephanie questioned.

“I myself don’t even know,” Natasha answered happy that one of Maeve’s unfunny jokes were useful for once as she started answering questions about Fabrizio.

There she was, acting normal like she wasn’t attacked previous nights ago. The wound appeared to have healed sooner than she expected as she packed books into her backpack and slammed the locker shut.

“Oh my God!” she was frightened by Petyr who seemed to have been standing there the entire time. “How long have you stood there?” she asked, her heart slowing down from beating too fast.

“You missed orientation, Miss Atwood,” he said ignoring her question. He looked pale. He always looked pale.

“Umm…” Natasha started looking around thinking of a lie. “I-I… Something came up,” she said finally, silently cursing herself for stuttering.

“You really should stick to telling truth, Miss Atwood,” Petyr said his eyes not blinking behind his glasses. “Anyways, I wanted to inform you firsthand about the game next week Friday,” he switched smiling.

Natasha nodded forcing a smile.

“Be sure to be there, Miss Atwood,” he walked away.

“Hey,” someone called almost immediately. She turned around to see who it was. “I see you’ve met Petyr.”

Fabrizio Raynor.

He wasn’t always alone as his teammates always flocked round him. He was much bigger and more handsome up close.

“Yes,” she nodded anxiously. She didn’t know how exactly to reply.

“Fabs bear!” a girl shouted with excitement jumping on him for an embrace. He squeezed her in his arm and swirled her. “I missed you,” she said after her feet touched the floor attacking his face with a hot kiss leaving Natasha to take her eyes off as she caressed his face he grabbed her waist.

“Who’s she?” the blonde girl with a very symmetrical face asked breathlessly.

“She’s the new girl from New Orleans,” he answered making Natasha raise her eyebrows as she wondered how the most popular boy in school knew her.

“What’s her name?” she asked not taking her eyes off Natasha.

“Sorry what’s the name?” Fabrizio turned to Natasha.

“Natasha. Natasha Atwood.”

“Cara Viglianco,” the girl replied her arms round Fabrizio leaning on his shoulder.

Natasha nodded.

“You’ll be there for the game, yeah?” Fabrizio asked.

“Yeah,” she answered looking at Cara then back at him.

“Okay then, Natasha,” he said putting his arms round Cara. “See you around.”

Natasha nodded as she watched him leave alongside everyone who was with him.

***

She knew something was wrong with her as she excused herself from class to the bathroom. She bent over at the sink pouring water on her sweaty face with her hands. All of a sudden, it was as though her lungs weren’t capable of holding air anymore as she began panting. She looked at herself in the mirror, her eyes fluctuated from normal to golden yellow.

She was in pain and panic as it felt her head spun. Her vision was distorted as everything appeared grey and black. She wanted to scream and pull out every single hair out of her hair as she staggered all over the bathroom bumping into things that stood in the way until she passed out.

***

After what seemed to be hours, she became conscious. She sat up trying to remember what had happened.

“You passed out,” someone said.

“Where am I?” Natasha asked holding her head not bothering to know who was that.

“The school clinic,” the voice answered approaching her. “I managed to get you here when I saw you lying on the bathroom floor.”

“Who are you?” Natasha asked still holding her head.

“Jessa,” the person replied revealing herself sitting at Natasha’s bedside.

With green eyes and a well-proportioned nose and lips, she was prettier than her voice.

“What happened?” Jessa asked.

Natasha glanced at her to see if she could trust her.

“Nothing,” she answered nodding.

“Are you sure?” Jessa asked again smiling this time like she knew what exactly went down.

“Yes,” Natasha said avoiding her eyes.

“Okay then,” she rose from where she sat smiling. “Let me know when you need anything. I’ll be happy to help.”

***

It was a full moon as Natasha tossed round her bed. She sat up panting, her eyes glowing. She stood up from where she laid unable to get her stance. With much struggle, she gave up. She lifted her window open and without hesitation she jumped down feet high from the ground. Her head tilted uncontrollably as she tried to hold it in place until she heard a howl.

She paused and looked at the moon and ran deep into the woods. She stopped when the pain became unbearable as she could hear her bones cracking. She wanted it to be over as she hit her head against trees and rocks. She wanted it to end, everything. Losing her human form, she ripped off her pajamas as they couldn’t contain her anymore.

She fell to the ground, her skeleton looking shapeless. She was taking the form of a wolf as hair began growing fast and excessively on her body. Her fingernails grew into claws, her teeth into fangs. She screamed in excruciating torment and shortly after, her labored breathing turned into growls.

She growled savagely breathing heavily as another werewolf prowled out of the trees into the brightness of the moon that showed its smooth black fur. It was quite bigger than her. Its eyes shining bright red, its fangs and claws longer.

She assaulted it but it overturned her effortlessly. She attacked it again rabidly but this time it pinned her to the floor as it growled to her face displaying sheer power, then it took one clean swipe at her face blacking her out.