Lycanthropic (Book 2): Wolf Moon (The Rise of the Werewolves)

by Morris, Steve

  The big man was already turning to flee. She landed on his back, sinking fingers like claws into his shoulders, tearing at the meat that covered his bones. He toppled forward and she clung to him as he fell.

  When she rose again her lips were blooded and the man lay dead. She didn’t remember how it had happened. The sweet taste of his flesh overwhelmed her senses.

  More, demanded her teeth. Give us more, said her claws.

  A dark cloud swallowed the moon and Liz’s strength drained away like an electrical plug being pulled from its socket. She crashed to her knees, gasping for breath. Time speeded up again.

  Zoran was running. Kevin crawled across the ground, reaching for the gun. His fingers found it and he rose up, his arm reaching out. He fired a shot, and another. The third shot found its target. Zoran lurched and staggered, then fell, sprawling in the road. He rolled once and lay still. Kevin calmly lowered the gun.

  Chapter Eighty-Seven

  Brixton Village, South London, wolf moon

  Melanie stared out through the open doorway, unable to accept the evidence of her own eyes. She had thought to see just one wolf, James. Instead, two golden-haired beasts faced each other, panting, snarling and clawing the ground. The wolves snorted hot breath like dragons, the nearest with its back turned to her, the other gazing straight at her. Its yellow eyes radiated hate like a wave of cold piercing her skin. Something in its gait or expression told Melanie that this was a she-wolf.

  She had thought she could never feel fear again, and she did not feel it now so much as taste it on her tongue. She opened her mouth to scream, but the scream wouldn’t come. Ben clutched at her arm, pulling her back toward the safety of the house, but she shook him off and stood on the threshold staring back at the yellow-eyed wolf.

  The wolf nearest the house twisted its huge head to look at her. Its eyes glowed yellow too. ‘Run,’ it growled. ‘Flee!’

  This beast was no stranger to her. She had seen it before, and she knew its voice. James. He looked nothing like the other wolf now she looked more closely. His shoulders were broader, his hair thick and sandy-coloured, his body lean but muscular, whereas the she-wolf was slender and its coat was of the finest silvery gold.

  James had rescued her once already in wolf form, saved her from certain death at the hands of a madman. Now he was preparing to fight for her again. He was ready to risk his life for her a second time. She would not allow it. ‘Come on,’ she said to Ben. ‘James needs our help.’

  Jane Hallibury cowered back along the hallway, her face full of terror. Her husband stood before her, seeking to shield her with his own body. But Melanie knew that hiding would do no good. If that other wolf killed James, it would come for them next. It would tear down the solid wooden door as if it were cardboard. It would track their scent wherever they ran, and those hate-filled eyes would follow them relentlessly until hungry jaws closed tight on soft flesh.

  ‘Give me the metal rod,’ she said to Richard Hallibury, holding out her hand for the weapon he had taken off Jack Stewart. When he hesitated, she shouted at him in fury. ‘Give it to me!’ Reluctantly he handed it over.

  She turned to face Ben. ‘Will you stay and fight?’

  He gripped her shoulders and gazed into her eyes, searching for something. She opened herself to him, holding back no secrets, and he must have found whatever it was he sought, because at last he nodded firmly. ‘Yes,’ he said, raising the hunting knife in his right hand. The edge of the steel blade glinted under the bright light of the wolf moon.

  Outside, the she-wolf snarled angrily. James turned back to face it, but too late. It sprang at him, spittle flying from its open muzzle as it locked its jaws around his throat and raked his neck with sharp talons.

  James rose up to meet it, wrenching his head free of the creature’s jaws, and gouging at his opponent with his own long claws.

  The she-wolf hissed and clung on tightly, but James jerked free of her grasp. Her claws left bloody ruts in his cheeks, but he pulled away and dropped to all fours again.

  He stood sentinel in front of the door of the house, blocking the way to her. ‘Run!’ he hissed again at Melanie. ‘I will hold her here.’

  ‘We’re not leaving you,’ Melanie called back. ‘We’ll help you fight.’

  ‘No!’ bellowed James. ‘You mustn’t! She’ll kill you.’ He sprang at the other wolf, his claws outstretched, seeking to drag the she-wolf to the ground.

  His opponent was ready for him and dodged aside, biting his back as he flew past. Then the creature turned its cold gaze to Melanie and started to run.

  It came at her like a whirlwind, and it was all Melanie could do to strike at it with the metal bar as it rushed into the house. Ben slashed at the beast with his knife, but the wolf powered past him and flew at the others.

  Melanie spun round to see the wolf’s jaws locked around Richard’s throat. He had put himself directly in its path to protect his wife. Jane screamed, but Richard had no breath to scream or shout. His body shook limply from side to side as the wolf’s teeth cut into him, and slumped to the floor, lying still in a pool of blood.

  His wife screamed again.

  ‘No!’ shouted Ben. He stabbed at the wolf with the long blade of the hunting knife, but the beast twisted and turned in the narrow space, dodging his thrusts.

  Jane Hallibury stood stock still, unable to lift her eyes from the bloody mess of her husband. The wolf turned to face her, its tongue dripping red on the hallway rug. It seemed to smile.

  Melanie ran at the monster, the steel rod held high. She opened her mouth as she ran, a long battle scream pouring out before her. When she reached the wolf she finally found the word she had been looking for. ‘Bitch!’ she screamed, and brought the rod down along the creature’s back with all her strength.

  The wolf buckled under the blow, screeching in pain. It rolled over, jaws snapping in fury, deadly claws flying in all directions. One claw caught Jane’s leg and she toppled over, falling next to the still body of her husband. The wolf sprang back to its feet in a second. It sank its teeth into Jane’s soft flesh and ripped her open, from her pale throat to her breastbone. She gulped for air, but her lungs filled instead with her own blood. The monster roared with fury, thrashing its victim from side to side as it took its kill.

  Ben rushed at it again, blade slashing and thrusting. He nicked its side, but the beast was filled with a wild rage and seemed to feel no pain. Instead it charged at Melanie, yellow eyes burning for vengeance.

  Melanie clutched the metal rod tightly. She had no time to swing it, but brought it up to meet the headlong dash of the wolf. It met the wolf full-on in the chest, but the beast was too strong for her. She felt her legs go from under her as the full force of the creature knocked her backward, sweeping the rod from her hand as if it were a straw. The wolf landed on top of her, jaws snapping, talons reaching to tear at her limbs. Helpless, she lay pinned to the floor, the wolf’s face just inches from her own, its teeth like bloody daggers. ‘Now you die, pretty one,’ snarled the wolf.

  Suddenly James was on her, biting at the other wolf with all his strength. His jaws closed on her neck but came away with just fur. He butted her face with his own head, forcing her back. The she-wolf rose up to meet him and their muzzles locked together as the two wolves spun in a vicious pirouette.

  The she-wolf fought savagely but James was stronger. Slowly he forced her backward, away from Melanie. He grappled her with front and rear legs, scratching skin and fur with sharp talons. The two wolves snarled and roared as their teeth clashed together once, twice, three times.

  Then, in a flash of pale fur, it was over. The she-wolf bolted for the door, running like the wind. It rushed from the house, leaping the iron gate easily and vanishing down the street. Melanie collapsed with relief, lying breathlessly on the floor of the hall. The smooth wood felt reassuringly real and solid against her back.

  Ben came to her and held his palm tenderly to her face. ‘Melanie, are you all right?’<
br />
  She nodded. Miraculously she had survived. She rubbed her back. ‘A little bruised, that’s all. And you?’

  ‘Not a scratch,’ he said. He wrapped his arms around her then and lifted her up. A second later his lips were on hers.

  She kissed him passionately but briefly, then pulled back. ‘What about James?’

  The sandy-haired wolf stood on the doorstep, looking out into the dark street. Up above, the clouds were already regathering, blocking the light of moon and stars. James began to change once more, from wolf to human. His cloak of fur shrank away as his muscles writhed beneath his skin. Melanie had seen it happen before, but she watched in fascination as creature became boy again. He was no longer a boy though, but a man, bearded, with eyes aged beyond his years. He stood naked and hunched in the doorway, leaning against the door frame for support, panting breathlessly. He looked back mournfully at Melanie.

  She pushed away from Ben and ran to him. ‘You’re hurt,’ she cried. ‘How badly?’

  Leanna had carved bloody furrows in the boy’s cheek, and his neck was scratched with red lines. His fingernails dripped blood, and when he turned she saw a raw bite mark on his shoulder. He lifted his wet fingernails to the light. ‘That’s Leanna’s blood,’ he said in a weak voice. ‘I think she came off worse than me.’ Then his gaze came to rest on the two corpses lying in a tangle of limbs. ‘Who are they?’ he asked with tears in his eyes.

  Ben answered him. ‘Richard and Jane,’ he said. ‘They were friends of mine.’

  ‘I’m sorry,’ said James. ‘I tried to stop Leanna.’

  ‘You did your best,’ said Melanie. ‘You protected me and Ben.’

  Ben seemed unable to look away from the bodies of the husband and wife. ‘I know their children,’ he said. ‘I have to go to them. They don’t live far from here. I need to make sure they’re safe, and tell them …’ He stared down at the twisted remains and tears ran down his cheeks.

  Melanie gripped his hand hard. ‘We’ll go together,’ she said. ‘And then you’ll come back to Richmond with us.’

  Ben looked dazed, as if he barely understood the horror of the night’s events. ‘Richmond? But my house is just across the road,’ he said.

  ‘You can’t stay there, not after everything these people have done to you. You’d be lynched for sure.’ She drew him to her and kissed him once more, holding him tight against her breast. ‘Your home is with me now, Ben. I should never have let you go.’

  Chapter Eighty-Eight

  King’s College Hospital, Lambeth, South London, wolf moon

  Chris Crohn was rushing for the exit of the hospital ward when he felt a hand grab him from behind. An all-too familiar voice rasped in his ear.

  ‘Well, that was very clever of you,’ said Mr Canning. ‘I didn’t even see you set off the fire alarm.’

  ‘I didn’t,’ said Chris. ‘I was getting ready to, but it just went off by itself.’

  ‘I know,’ sneered Mr Canning sarcastically. ‘So I’m really under no obligation to keep my part of the bargain, am I?’

  ‘You can’t eat us,’ spluttered Seth. ‘You mustn’t.’

  ‘Really?’ said Mr Canning in a puzzled voice. ‘Can’t I? Why ever not?’

  ‘Because … because …,’ burbled Seth. ‘Because I don’t want you to.’

  ‘Quite,’ said the headmaster. ‘But you’ll have to come up with a more compelling reason than that.’

  ‘Because we can still help you,’ said Chris desperately. ‘We’re not out of the building yet. Anything could happen.’

  ‘Wise words,’ agreed Mr Canning. ‘Come on, then. Let’s go. But stay where I can see you and don’t try anything funny.’

  They followed the rushing crowd out of the ward and down the main hospital staircase. The exits from wards on other floors were opening and hundreds of people forced their way into the crowded stairwell, all hurrying to escape the fire.

  ‘Where do you think the fire is exactly?’ enquired Mr Canning. ‘I heard two explosions from above and more from below. They sounded like bombs. Who do you think can be attacking the hospital?’

  ‘I’ve no idea,’ said Chris. ‘And I don’t really care. Let’s just get downstairs as quickly as we can.’

  When they arrived in the ground floor entrance hall, soldiers were organizing an evacuation. The main doors had been opened wide and patients and staff were being ushered through into the parking area immediately in front of the hospital.

  A broad smile spread over Mr Canning’s face. ‘I smell freedom,’ he said. ‘But stay close. I might still need you yet.’

  Chris and Seth followed him out through the doorway and into the open air beyond. The night was freezing cold, but it was the first time Chris had stepped outdoors in weeks. Mr Canning was right. Freedom wasn’t far away.

  The army had sealed off the area and were lining the patients up in a zone a short distance from the main hospital building. Bright floodlighting bathed the whole area with white light. The burning wreck of a helicopter had crashed onto the ground nearby, and fires raged at each corner of the main hospital block, quickly filling the night air with choking smoke. Chris covered his face with his hand to keep out the stench of burning. The area immediately around the exit was clear of fire however. It was as if the attackers had deliberately left a safe route so that the hospital could be easily evacuated.

  A clipped military voice was booming over a loudspeaker. Chris recognized Colonel Griffin, the man in charge of the hospital. ‘Please remain calm,’ said the Colonel. ‘An orderly evacuation is underway. Patients will be taken away from the hospital in batches of a dozen. Please form into lines and await your turn. No harm will come to any of you as long as you remain calm. There is no immediate danger from the fire.’

  A convoy of military vehicles was waiting at a checkpoint beyond the sealed-off area. Soldiers ushered the first batch of patients through the checkpoint and into the vehicle, which then drove off. A second vehicle immediately took its place.

  Mr Canning groaned. ‘They’re going to take us to another hospital. I haven’t come this close to freedom just to let some self-appointed autocrat whisk me away to a different prison. Come with me,’ he snapped at Chris. ‘I need you to create another diversion. And try to do it properly this time.’

  He grabbed hold of Chris and marched him over to where the head nurse, Chanita, was helping to organize patients into lines ready for evacuation. Two soldiers were standing next to her, making sure the patients did what they were told.

  ‘I need you to distract those soldiers,’ said Mr Canning.

  ‘How do you want me to do it?’ asked Chris. He eyed the tall burly men with their assault rifles with trepidation.

  ‘Like this,’ said Mr Canning. He grabbed Chris with both hands and shoved him toward the soldiers.

  Chris crashed into the back of them, knocking one of the men to the ground and landing on top of him. ‘I’m sorry,’ wailed Chris. ‘Someone pushed me. Please don’t shoot.’

  The soldier struggled to get back to his feet, but before he could, Mr Canning flew at him, jerking the assault rifle out of the man’s hands and pushing him back down. The headmaster stomped down hard on the soldier’s face and swung the butt of the rifle at the second soldier, knocking him flying. Before Chris knew what had happened, the headmaster had the soldier’s assault rifle in his hands and was pointing it at Chanita’s head.

  ‘Everyone stop what they’re doing right now,’ bellowed Mr Canning over the noise of the crowd. ‘Nobody move, or the nurse dies.’

  All evacuation activity ceased abruptly. The other patients backed slowly away from the headmaster and his hostage. Soldiers advanced cautiously, their rifles trained on Mr Canning.

  The headmaster didn’t flinch. He pushed the rifle barrel against Chanita’s neck. ‘Lower your weapons, or I’ll kill her,’ he said calmly. ‘Don’t doubt for an instant that I will do what I say. I have nothing to lose.’

  ‘Do as he says,’ ordered Colon
el Griffin over his loudspeaker. ‘Let him leave through the checkpoint.’

  ‘No!’ shouted Chanita. ‘You can’t allow him to go free. Not after everything we’ve done to try to contain the infection.’

  But the soldiers fell back as instructed, lowering their weapons.

  Chris watched horrified as Mr Canning forced Chanita forward with the barrel of the gun and followed her toward the exit. He gave Chris a broad smile as he walked past. ‘Thank you, Mr Crohn,’ he said. ‘Your assistance is much appreciated.’

  Chris felt his neck turn red and hot. ‘No,’ he said. ‘I’m not your assistant.’ The idea that he had somehow helped this monster to escape was too much. Without thinking he rushed at the headmaster and grabbed at the rifle. There was a series of deafening roars as the gun went off, firing rounds into the air. Chris pushed at the rifle with all his strength, hoping to knock the headmaster off balance. For a second or two he thought he might wrestle it free, but his opponent was far too strong. Mr Canning wrenched the weapon from Chris’ grasp and shoved him aside.

  The butt of the rifle struck Chris in the jaw and he toppled backward into Seth’s arms. The two of them collapsed in a heap on the ground.

  Chris’ eardrums were ringing from the gunshots, but he could hear voices screaming and shouting all around. He looked up and saw that Chanita had managed to break free from the headmaster. But Mr Canning still had his gun and was making a dash for it. More gunshots followed, but whether it was Mr Canning or the soldiers firing he couldn’t tell amidst the chaos.

  But now something else was happening. The night sky had cleared at last and the moon made a bright circle above the burning hospital building. All around him the patients were changing.

  Hair sprouted from skin. Muscles rippled beneath tight clothing. Jaws parted to reveal sharp white teeth and fangs. The night was suddenly filled with bestial grunts, growls and wails. Chris stood dumbfounded, watching in amazement.

  An arm grabbed his and pulled him out of his daze. ‘Come on,’ yelled Seth. ‘Quick, before they eat us!’