The next day nearly everyone at school was asking me what happened. Does anything in this town stay a secret? I went to all my classes and by the end of the day, I just wanted to be left alone. I walked to my jeep in the parking lot, my mom had driven me to the hospital in the next town to get it back. I told her that my friend drove me home and I had forgotten it there. I got in and was about to start it up, when a piece of paper floated into my gaze. I grabbed it and flipped it over. It was the address to Dylan's studio. I sighed remembering that I was suppose to talk with him. I started the jeep and started driving to East Wood.
When I got there, I found the studio. It was a two story building with large glass windows on the first floor. Looking through the windows, you could see a wide variety of instruments such as guitars, drums, pianos, violins and trombones. I walked in and was amazed by the size of the store. I found Dylan at the back polishing a trumpet. “Julie, you made it.”
“Ya, so what did you want to talk about?”
“Follow me upstairs. It will be more comfortable.” I followed him to his apartment upstairs.
“Please have a seat.” He gestured at a leather couch in the large living room. I sat down while he went to get drinks. Looking around the room, I noticed a lot of expensive looking paintings and vases. Dylan came in with two glasses of fancy water. “Now, down to business.” He said, sitting across from me in an armchair. “Julie, have you always lived in your house beside the forest?” It seemed like an easy enough question.
“Yes.”
“Have you ever seen anything, strange in those woods?” Ok, strange question.
“No, not really.” I couldn't tell him that there were shape-shifters in there.
“I see.” He looked lost in thought. “Do you know anyone named Rowan?” I shook my head no. “What about Heidi? Or Thaddeus?” The answer must have been clear on my face. “Oh, so you have meet them. Which ones?”
“I...I don't know what you're talking about.” I lied.
“Oh, come now Julie. I know you've met some of the pack.”
“How do you know about them?” I was scared to know the answer.
“I know them because I created most of them.” I nearly fell off the couch.
“You what?!”
“Don't look so surprised. Yes, I created them. I took the DNA of a wolf and mixed it with the DNA of a few, volunteers.” I gasped. He was smiling at me in a weird way. “I'll be right back. Don't go anywhere.” He got up and when down the hall and into another room. I waited until he was gone before I pulled out my phone. I dialed Brett's number. There was no answer. I left a message, “Text me as soon as possible. It's an emergency.” I put my phone away just as Dylan came out of the other room. He was carrying some files. “These are the records of the experiments.” He handed them to me. Flipping through, I saw a few names I recognized such as Thaddeus, Emmaline, Altar, Piper, Dalla and Brett. The clock on the wall chimed. “Well, would you look at the time. I really must let you go, I have other business to attend to.” He opened the door and let me out. I was calm until I got outside, running to my jeep I slammed the door shut and put th metal to the pedal. Racing through town, I was amazed the police hadn't come after me. I got to a heavily wooded area before I stopped. I stopped the jeep and took the files out of my bag. I had taken them when Dylan wasn't looking. How could someone who seemed so nice be so horrible? I read through the files,
October 7, 1983
Volunteer is currently unconscious. Wolf DNA has attacked his heart and brain. If this works, he should be half wolf and half human.
October 18, 1983
Experiment failed. Volunteer has passed on. Blood killed his brain and stopped his heart.
I gasped. How could he do this to an innocent person! I read on,
February 23, 1984
Volunteer has stayed conscious but is in terrible pain. Blood has reached heart.
March 3, 1984
Volunteer has been unconscious. Breathing but is very pale.
Most of the files were like this. Each had a few entries. One was different then the others though,
November 13, 1721
Volunteer has been given blood. Nearly died.
November 25, 1721
Volunteer opened eyes, yellow. Craves human flesh. Have to put down.
This file was from almost 300 year ago, and there was blood on the bottom of it.
When I got there, I found the studio. It was a two story building with large glass windows on the first floor. Looking through the windows, you could see a wide variety of instruments such as guitars, drums, pianos, violins and trombones. I walked in and was amazed by the size of the store. I found Dylan at the back polishing a trumpet. “Julie, you made it.”
“Ya, so what did you want to talk about?”
“Follow me upstairs. It will be more comfortable.” I followed him to his apartment upstairs.
“Please have a seat.” He gestured at a leather couch in the large living room. I sat down while he went to get drinks. Looking around the room, I noticed a lot of expensive looking paintings and vases. Dylan came in with two glasses of fancy water. “Now, down to business.” He said, sitting across from me in an armchair. “Julie, have you always lived in your house beside the forest?” It seemed like an easy enough question.
“Yes.”
“Have you ever seen anything, strange in those woods?” Ok, strange question.
“No, not really.” I couldn't tell him that there were shape-shifters in there.
“I see.” He looked lost in thought. “Do you know anyone named Rowan?” I shook my head no. “What about Heidi? Or Thaddeus?” The answer must have been clear on my face. “Oh, so you have meet them. Which ones?”
“I...I don't know what you're talking about.” I lied.
“Oh, come now Julie. I know you've met some of the pack.”
“How do you know about them?” I was scared to know the answer.
“I know them because I created most of them.” I nearly fell off the couch.
“You what?!”
“Don't look so surprised. Yes, I created them. I took the DNA of a wolf and mixed it with the DNA of a few, volunteers.” I gasped. He was smiling at me in a weird way. “I'll be right back. Don't go anywhere.” He got up and when down the hall and into another room. I waited until he was gone before I pulled out my phone. I dialed Brett's number. There was no answer. I left a message, “Text me as soon as possible. It's an emergency.” I put my phone away just as Dylan came out of the other room. He was carrying some files. “These are the records of the experiments.” He handed them to me. Flipping through, I saw a few names I recognized such as Thaddeus, Emmaline, Altar, Piper, Dalla and Brett. The clock on the wall chimed. “Well, would you look at the time. I really must let you go, I have other business to attend to.” He opened the door and let me out. I was calm until I got outside, running to my jeep I slammed the door shut and put th metal to the pedal. Racing through town, I was amazed the police hadn't come after me. I got to a heavily wooded area before I stopped. I stopped the jeep and took the files out of my bag. I had taken them when Dylan wasn't looking. How could someone who seemed so nice be so horrible? I read through the files,
October 7, 1983
Volunteer is currently unconscious. Wolf DNA has attacked his heart and brain. If this works, he should be half wolf and half human.
October 18, 1983
Experiment failed. Volunteer has passed on. Blood killed his brain and stopped his heart.
I gasped. How could he do this to an innocent person! I read on,
February 23, 1984
Volunteer has stayed conscious but is in terrible pain. Blood has reached heart.
March 3, 1984
Volunteer has been unconscious. Breathing but is very pale.
Most of the files were like this. Each had a few entries. One was different then the others though,
November 13, 1721
Volunteer has been given blood. Nearly died.
November 25, 1721
Volunteer opened eyes, yellow. Craves human flesh. Have to put down.
This file was from almost 300 year ago, and there was blood on the bottom of it.
but now its over
and i am not going back
had my heart broken
had my dreams blown away
it only took you a second
to rearrange my whole day
I use to know you
but now its over
and i see that now
you blew me away
far from here
and i couldnt make it back
but i bet you knew that
I use to know
someone like you
he was friendly
but i left him behind
in the rain
in the cold
where i couldnt see him
i hope you're different
it would help
if you werent exactly like him
nice to know you
but i must go
and protect my soul
how nice of you to stop by
but please go home now
I use to know you
but now im long gone
and it feels great'
to leave that burden behind
i wont see you again
i wont be there when you fall
just know that i
wont pick you up again
