Chapter 10-Monster

Wh-where am I? Where's the pack? The flames did they do? I just see a dark stone room, which appears to be square with only enough space for six men to stand abreast on each wall. I'm supposed to be with the pack, not here! C'mon, there's got to be a way out of here. Let's see... there's a metal door with a grated window in it, that won't work. There's also a drain for some reason, but it's too small for me to fit through. It seems to have dried blood on it, too. I hate to think what poor soul that came from. No vents on the ceiling, just the door and drain.

I guess I am stuck.

"Greetings, and welcome to cell 99!"

Him! I'd recognize that voice anywhere; it's deep and warm, yet chilling. And his face: oh what it'd give to hit him with an axe or something. Or rather, wouldn't give, to which the answer would be much shorter.

"Here, you are permitted to speak freely, and-"

"I'm gonna kill you someday!"

That wasn't smart, but it was worth it. Especially for his confused expression, though he quickly masks it with anger. Hmm... maybe he's all ways confused? That'd be hilarious, but... what does that make me; he's bested me.

"You wish, mutt. But as I was saying; you can speak freely. You will be used for fight practice. You will be shown no mercy in the fights, as you have shown that you are unsaveable, and must be purged at some point via the only means left. However, you might as well serve the Light at least once in your pathetic life."

"Wait, you're gonna kill me? It was one hurdle!"

"It was more than one hurdle, it was you. You have been a thorn in our side for long enough, it's time to end this. Persuasion, training, aggressive persuasion-"

"You mean torture?!"

"No matter, it has come to this as a result of your actions, namely your existence. Now, who had dibs?!"

Who is he talking to? What does he mean by dibs? Dibs for what? What in flames is going on?!

"Alright, you can head in. Have fun, and remember; pain is the only thing that can redeem it now."

"Not an it!"

Huh, I guess he's not responding, just letting me have it. Well, sort of.

"SCREE!"

What in flames?! Oh, the door. Really hurts my wolf ears, it's so high and sharp! Wait, I don't have the collar on anymore; I can shift! Oh, I haven't felt that glorious feeling since... forever. The tingle of my body morphing, the feeling traveling up my spine and working its magic.

Now, someone had replaced Him. Who's here? It looks like a middle-aged Etiord, no more than 30. He has a tattered brown cloak like Him, a thin black beard, and already has his sword drawn. Oh flames.

"Well, I finally get to see my first shifter. What a vile creature, how could you embrace evil like you do, and deny the help and mercy of the Etiord? I guess there's no fixing a monster. Time to fix this mess, and bring balance to the world."

"Balance? Ha! You have no idea how the world works, or what that word means. You Etiord are just as extreme as your rivals! You are two opposites that can never balance out peacefully, and seek to destroy the only ones who can guide you to true peace!"

"You can't fool me, monster! I know what you and your kind do!"

"Get burned alive by yours?!"

"Ha! I know the truth; you did it to yourselves. Now, stop trying to get in my head and turn me to evil. You will not succeed. For the Light of Anglorre!"

Woah! Already whipping out his sword. A fancy one, with a gold crossbar and leather handle... I guess he is devoted to the Light; I have to fight him. If it's a monster they want, it's a monster they'll get. Oh, how I will enjoy this.

Might as well use my claws and purge this place. But first, this insolent scum. Choking him will be the fastest...

"Hurk!"

"You think that shifters cannot fight too? Well, guess what? I can! And I don't take kindly to being hunted down! Remember; the hunter must always be weary, lest they become the hunted."

Just envision his throat, closing. No... picture it crushing. Crushing into a million tiny fragments! Tearing the flesh out and squeezing it in again, and pouring blood onto the stone. Picture it crushing like a twig beneath my paw, snapping without a care.

"Snkglrgrgrlr!"

There's the snap, and gurgle of blood. How fitting that blood worthy of shedding will now fill this drain. Now time to discard this filth, and liberate the pack. I'll have to go quick, though, just in case the Etiord try to take them out before I get to them. They'll be sitting ducks in the stables.

"All Etiord, to the stables! I repeat, all Etiord, to the stables! Eliminate any creatures and and followers of evil you find!"

They do realize I can hear their loudspeaker, right? No matter, I knew they would stoop this low anyways. Might as well leave. It is nice to not have a collar on anymore. Now I can shift, use the full range of my skills, be free... Ah, freedom. Time to get ready to run with the pack. But for now, I need to focus on the door.

Let's see... I never was good at operating locking mechanisms . Or any other mechanical things, for that matter. Never really had the time to practice, what with the almost dying every day bit. Just simple gears and levers. I need to do this, though. For the pack. For the Alpha.

Envision the simple lock. Just a simple gear mechanism. I just need to turn the foremost gear a few rotations. One click... two clicks... three clicks... four clicks... five! There it is! Now to free the pack. I just need to barge through the door, wait, no. I just need to push the door, taking out anyone in the hallway like a giant knife. I think I have enough energy to do this, and get the pack out of here.

Just push on the side more so than the middle, so the hinges snap.

"Augh!"

"Hagh!"

"Hurk! Splrururglr-ngh!"

Alright, three hits. 2 at least injured, the other sounds like he's been hit in the throat. At least, judging by the gurgling noises. Blood could only enter the throat by hitting near the neck. Might as well just see for myself, though I need to be careful. Very careful. There's no telling how many are in the hallway.