Out of the Woods

Chapter Three-The Possession of Jacob Wilson

When we reached the crime scene, I knew right away that this wasn’t an ordinary murder. The crime scene tape was wrapped around a much larger perimeter. I was sitting in the back of the Ford Explorer with my window rolled down. Jacob and Carlton hopped out. Jacob stopped by my door.

“Stay here,” he instructed. “I don’t think you want to see this one.”

I gave him a puzzled expression but I realized at that moment that he must be picking something up that was not for me to see. I nodded.

I watched them duck under the tape. There were small tarps scattered around the scene crowded around one larger one which I figured must be the body. A gentle breeze ruffled my hair as I exhaled. Out of the corner of my eye, I thought I saw a dark shadow move toward the area where Jacob and Carlton were standing. But when I turned to look toward them directly, whatever it was had simply vanished. Perhaps it was nothing more than my eyes playing tricks on me. Shrugging it off, I popped my ear buds into my ears and began listening to music.

The time seemed to pass and when I felt someone touch my shoulder, I jumped and pulled the ear buds out. It was Jacob.

“Hey!” I exclaimed feeling my heart hammering in my chest and thumping in my ears. “Are you guys done already?”

Carlton had climbed into the passenger seat and closed his door.

“Let’s go Wilson,” he called impatiently. “We’ve got to head down to the morgue and see if the ME picked up anything off the body parts.”

“Body parts?” I asked confused and a bit alarmed. “What on earth happened?”

Jacob’s expression was strange. It was stoic and dull, but also a bit sinister and there was something else mixed in that I couldn’t identify but the look on his face was not something I recognized.

He had his hand still on my arm and I felt him give it a squeeze but what was scaring me was that he wasn’t saying a word. He let my arm go and climbed into the driver’s seat. He started the engine and we pulled away.

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I caught him looking back at me through the rear-view mirror. I saw a flash of black move across his pupils, but vanish in the blink of an eye. I didn’t think Carlton noticed it.

This time, Jacob didn’t protest about me coming into the morgue. Even Carlton frowned at this. The last time at the crime scene he didn’t want me to see it. Now he was allowing me to go into the morgue?

We stood in a large room around a metal examining table. Behind us were lighted panels were a few x-rays were pinned up illuminating them. Across from us, were glass cabinets that were filled with liquids. There was a large sink at the food of the body lying on the slab covered in a sheet. There were embalming instruments at the food as well. The whole room smelled faintly of formaldehyde and it burned my nostrils slightly. We waited for the ME to come in.

Eventually he came in carrying a tan case folder. He was an older gentleman, in his late 40’s with slightly gray dark brown hair and brown eyes. He was slightly tall, but not overly thin or lanky. He exhaled loudly and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

“Okay,” he said slowly. “This one is a whopper, but I did manage to find some DNA.”

“What did it?” Carlton asked.

“Well the DNA we found doesn’t match any known animal here,” he said. “It’s not werewolf DNA, but feline.”

“Feline?” Jacob asked suddenly in a gravelly voice. “You mean like a Felis?”

“Possibly,” the ME said and I realized he must be part of the supernatural community or at the least knows information about them and is working with the police department. “I won’t know until I do more testing.”

“Call us if you find anything else,” Jacob said as his eyes slid onto mine before he lowered his gaze and stepped around Carlton, gently bopping him on the shoulder to cotton on it was time to leave. Carlton nodded and waved for me to follow suit.

Once outside, Carlton slipped into the car closing his door. I reached for the door handle and was about to pull it toward me to open, when I sensed someone behind me. I let out a gasp and whirled around. Jacob stood there with this strange look on is face. His normally handsome face had this trace of something sinister and something else mixed in.

“What’s wrong Jake?” I asked, feeling my heart pound in my chest like a rabbit.

“Nothing,” he said breaking into a smile. “I just wanted to make sure you were alright.”

Even his tone wasn’t sitting right with me. I spied that black mist snake across his iris again and that’s when he raised a hand and gently ran an index finger along my jaw, down to my collar bone and around to under my bare throat just where the collar bones meet.

“You are definitely delicious,” he said leaning in and I saw now instead of the black mist, the familiar jaundice/golden arc filling his iris now which meant the wolf was starting to come through. But, as long as I’ve known him, and his wolf (in a matter of speaking), not once, his wolf ever try to hurt me. In fact, his wolf was rather protective over me. This behavior was completely out of the ordinary. “I wonder why he’s never taken you as his mate.” Jacob continued in a thoughtful tone as he pressed his face close to my neck. I shut my eyes and felt my whole body trembling slightly. I must admit, I have wondered the same thing but it was a thought I’d never actually voice out to him. But why was Jacob talking in third person?

I felt a rumble in Jacob’s chest as he pulled his face back.

“I think it’s time he does,” he said with a smirk and then I heard the door opening and then slamming. I jumped startled and opened my eyes. I was alone and I quickly opened the back door to the Explorer and closed it. Jacob was driving and Carlton was in the front seat. I shakily grabbed my seat belt and pulled it across my chest, slipping it into the buckle. As we pulled away, I stared out my window wondering what the hell was going on here.

Jacob dropped me off at home. I said good night to them quickly and hurried into the house. I closed the door behind me and locked it. I let out a breath of air as I pressed my back against it and ran a hand over my face. Something had happened at that last crime scene. Jacob was not himself.

I showered and pulled on a pair of gray leggings and an oversized tee shirt that hung off my shoulder a little. My damp hair hung around one shoulder as I grabbed my laptop, sat on the couch and began searching the internet for what could possibly be going on with him.

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Outside, I could hear thunder booming in the distance and the flash of lightning that lit up the interior of the house. It was around midnight now and then I heard the drumming of rain on the roof and against the windows.

I had found something on the internet that might explain Jacob’s behavior. Something had taken over him and was forcing him and his wolf to behave like this. It wasn’t a demon, but a kind of shapeshifter that is able to influence other supernatural beings. They were rare and frankly thought to be extinct in the community. But all the signs pointed to this. I had to talk to Carlton. Hopefully he would believe me.

At that moment, the doorbell rang. I placed the laptop on the coffee table and got up. I took a few steps toward the front door. It was late, and I was not expecting any visitors.

“Who is it?” I called through the door

“Jacob,”

I froze for a moment. This was my best friend. Why was I so darn scared?

I gingerly unlocked the door and slowly opened it. Jacob stood, soaked from head to toe. His hair was matted to his head and his shirt was drenched. He had rain water rolling off his face.

“Can I come in?” he asked.

I nodded and stepped aside, holding the door as he quickly stepped into the house. I closed the door behind him. He stepped into the living room and ran his hands over his face wiping the excess rain water from his face. He was still in his suit and tie but he didn’t have the jacket on. He placed one hand on his waist and the other he raised to the bridge of his nose.

“Ems, I need to tell you something,” he said sounding frightened and scared. Two emotions I’ve never seen in him.

“Sit,” I said motioning to the couch as I sat and tucked my legs beneath me. He just shook his head and continued to pace. “What is it?” I asked worriedly.

“I-I know…I acted off earlier am I right?” he asked finally lowering his hand away from the bridge of his nose as he stopped pacing and stared at me.

I nodded slowly. “Yes but I thought maybe it was just stress,” I said not really wanting to come out and say ‘Hey I think you’re possessed by something’.

“It’s not,” he said as he hurried over to me and sat down on the coffee table in front of me. He gently placed one hand on my knee and the other on the couch. “Ems I think something is seriously off.” He said nervously. “There are times when I simply can’t help what I’m saying. I remember saying that to you by the car but it was like I was nothing more than a passenger. It’s scaring me because I don’t know what I will do and I do not want to hurt you.” He said, his eyes filled with panic and fear.

The rain had matted his bangs against his forehead. I slowly raised my hand and gently swept his bangs back. I didn’t know why I did that but I cleared my throat and quickly lowered my hand.

“It’s okay,” I said quietly. “I believe you. I actually….” My voice trailed off as I turned and went to grab the laptop when I felt him lean up, gently grab my face between his hands and pressed his lips against mine.

I was taken aback but I kissed him back. When he released me, we were both breathless.

“Um,” I said feeling the heat creep into my cheeks. “I-I think this is what we’re dealing with.” I said keeping my eyes on the laptop as I turned it around to show him the screen. “It must’ve been at the last crime scene.”

“Yes,” he cleared his throat. “It does sound like that’s the culprit. But how do we get rid of it?” he asked as I finally raised my eyes to his. I was about to respond when he cried out and dug the heels of his palms against his temples, and he jumped to his feet.

“Jake?” I asked alarmed as I watched him drop to all fours. His fingers dug into the area rug that was beneath my coffee table.

“Stay back,” he grunted in agony. “I’m changing and I shouldn’t be.”

I’d never seen him change. I glanced outside the window. It was a crescent moon. Not full. So why was the change induced?

I turned my eyes back onto him. I back up against the wall. I could see vertebrae popping up along his spine. His shirt ripped in half and fell off. The sounds of bones popping and stretching filled my ears. It was the most frightening sound I’ve ever heard. Dark fur began sprouting all over his body. His legs bent into haunches and his fingers shrunk into paws with dark claws. I stood horrified as I saw his ears stretch and taper off into points. His spine realigned and compacted as his nose and mouth pulled forward into a snout. Ivory fangs slid down under deep violet lips. Before long, Jacob’s human form was completely gone and a dark brown wolf stood in place. The fur was thick and shiny. The wolf shook itself and stretched each limb out one by one before the eyes opened. A pair of golden orbs stared at me. I froze and began slowly taking a step backwards. The wolf took a step toward me. His head was lowered and his eyes were locked on mine. I could hear a low rumbling in his chest.

It wasn’t an aggressive growl, but something entirely different that I’ve never heard him make before and I’ve seen him as a wolf—just never witnessed him shift. That was a whole other thing to behold. I kept backing up and eventually, feeling frightened, I turned and bolted up the stairs. I ran down the hall and could hear the heavy paws thudding against the hardwood after me. I ran into my room and locked the door behind me.

I grabbed the cell phone off my table and dialed Carlton.

I could hear the wolf throwing its weight against the door and the cracking and splintering of the wood as I saw little spider web cracks forming in the door panel. I threw myself under the bed and felt tears streaming down my cheeks at this point.

After several loud bangs, and the breaking of wood, I saw the four paws from underneath the bed as it slowly walked about. I could hear it sniffing the air. I could feel my body trembling violently as each paw struck the hardwood floor with soft thwumps. Soft but loud breathing hit my ears as the wolf slowly walked around the perimeter of the bed.

“Carlton Weiss,” Carlton’s voice came over the phone line.

“Carlton, it’s me,” I said in a hushed shaky whisper. “Jake just morphed.”

There was a silence on the other end and then:

“Ems, it’s okay,” He said in a calm voice. “He’s not going to hurt you. Trust me. Where are you exactly?”

“Under a bed,”

“It’s okay. You can get out from underneath the bed. Where is Jake now?”

I peered out from beneath the bedframe. I noted the paws near my dresser. I could see he had tucked his haunches into a sitting position; his front forelegs keeping his upper body erect.

“Sitting near my dresser,” I responded still feeling my heart pounding in my chest.

“Okay. Go,” Carlton said.

Slowly, I belly crawled out from beneath the bed. My legs felt like jell-o and were a bit wobbly. I clutched my phone tightly in my left hand as my eyes landed on Jake the wolf. He was enormous at least 300 pounds. His fur was the same color as his hair. The only thing was his eyes were the same color as in human form. A soft rumble could be heard in his chest. His triangular shaped ears were pricked forward as he watched me. I sat on the edge of the bed and raised the phone to my ear again.

“Okay,” I said taking a deep breath. “I’m sitting on the bed now. He’s just sitting watching me.”

“Alright,” Carlton said. “One thing about werewolves is that they will never hurt those they consider family or loved ones. You’re gonna be fine, Ems.” There was another pause and I heard low but urgent voices in the background. “Okay. I must go I just got a call. Relax. It’ll be okay.”

We hung up and I placed the phone on the bed beside me and I looked at Jake, who was still watching me silently.

“That was the first time I saw you morph,” I said aloud, wondering why I was talking to the wolf as if he could understand me. “Rather frightening I must say.”

Jake let out what I thought was an understanding huff, blowing through his black nostrils. His tail was curled around his back legs. I stared down at my lap and toyed with the ring on my finger.

“I-I’m sorry if I seemed so scared,” I murmured. “I know you’d never hurt me.”

I slowly raised my eyes to Jake’s and I heard that low rumble in his chest again as though he was enforcing my statement. I saw Jake’s ear cock back as though he heard something downstairs. But then, suddenly, he let out an anguished whine and dipped his head. He raised a foreleg and swiped it down the length of his muzzle. I watched, confused. He did this for a few more minutes before he slowly raised his head. His eyes had a reddish tint around the iris. I heard a rumbling in his chest which I didn’t hear before and it sounded much more sinister. His ears pinned back; upper lip raised exposing a white canine as he snarled at me. I froze, my pulse rate picking up again.

What is going on? I wondered in fear.

Jake let out another snarl and rose to his feet. Then, he scrunched up his haunches and launched at me. I screamed and threw my hands up over my face.

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JAKE.

I groaned and when I opened my eyes, I was lying on the floor of Emma’s bedroom. I blinked a few times, clearing away sleep and grogginess…that is until I realized there was blood on my hands, mouth and chin…and I was naked.

Alarm bells shot off in my skull as I frantically looked around for Emma. My heart was beating so rapidly in my chest that it felt like it was going to burst free like the creature in the ‘Alien’ movies.

“Emma?” I demanded panicked as I grabbed a sheet and quickly wound it around me. “Emma where are you?”

I took a few steps toward the door, when my foot caught something heavy and solid sending me sprawling forward. I landed on my hands and knees and when I looked up, I saw her. She was lying on her back. One arm was draped by her ear, the other was stretched out. Her eyes were glassy and almost white and her throat had been torn. Blood puddled around her and collected on the carpet, soaking in. Her throat had been ripped open so that most of the skin was in ragged flaps and pieces. She had a thin trail of blood seeping from the corner of her mouth.

“Oh God no,” I wailed as I quickly hovered over her and pulled her toward me, wrapping my arms around her. Her arms just flopped to her sides, the finger tips brushing the carpet. Her head lolled back, hair dangling over my arm. “Oh God please no….no no no,” I wailed pressing my face into her chest. I’d killed my best friend.

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I quickly called Carlton and told him what happened. He was on the way and told me not to move. I continued to cradle Emma keeping my face pressed into her chest. Hot tears sprang to my eyes and my stomach wrenched so tightly it felt like knives piercing my gut. The immense guilt washed over me like a wet blanket.

“I’m so sorry Emma,” I sobbed. “I never wanted this to happen.”

But then, I heard her let out a strangled gurgle and felt her suck in quick gasps of air.

“Emma?” I asked shocked gently lying her down.

Her body violently twitched as she struggled to suck in air. I knew at once that I’d infected her with the werewolf curse. The guilt was still overwhelming as hell either way. I gently cupped her face with my hands as I saw her eyes briefly flash a golden color before returning to their normal color. The infection is almost always instant as long as the person was close to death. It was about being reborn.

At that moment, I heard Emma’s front door burst open and the pounding of footsteps coming up the stairs. I looked up and spied Carlton standing in the doorway, breathless and staring in shock at the scene before him.

“I-I don’t even remember attacking her,” I said thickly. “What the hell is going on?”

“Okay,” Carlton said holding a hand up, palm facing me as though approaching a feral animal. “Bud, we have to contact the Elders about Emma. They’ll have to deal with her. You know the rules.”

The rules state that any werewolf accidentally or on purpose infects a fellow human with the werewolf virus, that human must be put down immediately due to the unpredictable nature. Most of us were born with it and our parents were able to help us adopt to everything…but a newly changed human, could and would go crazy without proper training.

“I am not doing that,” I spat at Carlton. “They will kill her!”

Carlton took a deep breath.

“I know you love her buddy,” he said in the same calm tone. “But who is going to show her the ‘ropes’ of being a werewolf?”

“Me,”

“Jake,” Carlton said sighing and letting a hand rub over his face. “This is a bad idea…very bad. If the Elder’s find out about what you’re doing---that’s it. You and Emma will be put down together.”

He looked worried and concerned, which I appreciated immensely.

“I cannot hand her over to them,” I growled through my teeth. “They will murder her for sure. Besides this is my fault…I want to find out what caused me to attack her so I can rectify it and stop it from happening again. Please give me a few days.”

Carlton sighed, resigned and nodded once.

“Ok. Where are you going to keep her though?”

“I have an idea,”

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EMMA

What seemed like hours later, I woke up. I was lying on a soft roll-a-way cot in what appeared to be a basement case. I slowly sat up, blinking. My head felt like someone had slammed a few heavy mallets into it. It throbbed with each heart beat making me wince. I felt around my throat. A soft gauze had been wrapped around my neck like a scarf. I looked around and recognized it as Jacob’s basement.

“Jake?” I called anxiously. “What’s going on? Why am I here?”

Panic settled in. I was definitely in a cage. I slowly got to my feet and grabbed the bars. I heard the basement door opening and footsteps coming down the stairs. I spied Jacob, dressed in a pair of gray sweat pants and a white tee shirt carrying a glass of water and a plate filled with a raw piece of meat. I watched him precariously as he slid the plate through the bars and the glass and then grabbed a chair before straddling it backwards.

“Eat,” he said nodding to the meat on the plate. “Trust me. You’ll feel better.”

“What is going on here?” I demanded ignoring his statement. “Why am I in a cage?”

“Eat first, Emma. Then I will explain everything to you,” he said.

“Jake---” my voice trailed off as he cut me off abruptly.

“Dammit Emma! I said eat and then I will explain things okay?” he said running his fingers along the back of his skull nervously.

I glanced down at the raw meat and wrinkled my nose in disgust at it, but then the more I stared at it the more I felt my mouth water. Eventually I grabbed it and tore into it. In the back of my mind I was freaking out.

Jacob then launched into an explanation that caused my eyes to go wide with each passing moment. I hadn’t even realized I’d finished the meat and was licking my fingers at this point.

The Elders, were a circle of supernatural beings. They ranged from vampires, to werewolves, to shifters. They were the oldest and wisest and kinda kept the supernaturals in check, making sure that they never harmed a human being. So what Jacob was doing, was completely illegal. But I could see the immense guilt on his face.

“I don’t know what caused me to attack you,” he said thickly, swallowing causing his Adams apple to bob. “This should never have happened. I almost always remember when I shift and what happens during the morph.”

I finished licking my fingers and wiped them on my clothes.

“I think it has to do with what I found last night,” I said as I began slowly pacing. “You were possessed.”

“By what?”

“That I don’t know,” I said shaking my head. “But we’ll need to make sure it’s gone and that we might need Carlton’s help. So,” I said tilting my head. “How long have I been in here?”

“A month,” Jacob said watching me carefully. “I had to kinda teach you. You won’t remember any of it being you are a new wolf. It happens to any human who changes. But now things should be in check. But we can’t tell the Elders otherwise they will destroy both of us.”

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THREE MONTHS LATER.

I had to admit, changing for the first time during the full moon with Jacob was odd. Invigorating strangely but somehow thankfully, the Elders never found out about what had happened.

Carlton still thought it was a bad idea, but he kept the secret bless him. I had found a new respect for him.

Apparently what had possessed Jacob was something called a Lockjaw. Lockjaw’s were dark shadows that were not exactly demons but something of a fair asimily there of. They worked on supernaturals worse fears and made them come true. So basically Jake was in no condition to resist. He couldn’t help it. The Lockjaw had vanished, leaving voluntarily once the ‘duty’ was fulfilled. It would move on to the next victim. More bodies began popping up and the police were still at their wits end trying to figure out what was causing this. But this time, the DNA didn’t point to a Felis, but something entirely different. Something that was human, but also several different animals combined into one possibly making the most horrific, lethal monster ever to exist.

Next Chapter: Winter is Coming