Chapter Four

Hale being new to the area, and him being the only person that I could talk to, we inevitably became quite close. Were we friends? Yes I suppose that you could call us that. More than friends? Almost. If life went on the way it had been going, if our time together wasn't cut short, I think that Hale could have been, would have been, my other half.

07/31/1583

The clock struck twelve.

“Hale, you have to go.”

Hale rolls his eyes back, and dramatically sighs. “Already? It's barely been an hour.”

“It’s actually been three. And you weren't even supposed to come today. I told you that I had things to attend to.” I stand up from my chair, and motion for him to do the same.

“Fine, fine. Just let me get what I came to give you.” Hale pulls out a small brown box from his satchel, and hands it to me, before slinging his bag back over his shoulder, and standing up from his seat.

“You got me a gift?” I look at Hale in confusion, before going to open the box. He quickly puts his hand over mine, I look up at his blushing face. “Open it later.”

“Why?” I question.

“Just don't open it till later.” He stangly sounds nervous, but running low on time, I push it to the back of my mind, and push him out of the library.

“F,ine I won't just get out!”

“Wow, you're not even going to walk me out?’

“Why would I walk out an intruder?” I smirk. “And besides you know the way out by now.” I go to shut the door, but Hale stops me.

“Everly I-” He stops himself.

“Actually nevermind...I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“See you tomorrow.” Something in me wanted to stop him, something in me knew how this ended, but I shut the door; and that was the last time I saw my love alive.

Hale 07/31

Everly was acting odd and on today of all days. I had finally worked up the courage to tell her how I felt, and she kicked me out before I got the chance-"Y-You we're coming from the manor, and you survived." A scared mouse-like voice squeaks, interrupting my thoughts and stopping me in my tracks. I turn in the direction of the voice to see a little girl no older than ten or so coming out of the wood to my left. "Th-that means that you must be the beast." She stutters."The beast? What beast?-" I ask, but I’m met with no response. The young girl runs off without another word, leaving me alone, and confused. Worried something may be lurking in the wood, I make my way back to the village with haste.

When I arrive I am met with silence, the villagers do not meet with a friendly greeting as they normally had, and the village is near barren. As I make my way back to my cabin I notice a throng of men outside my door. “Do you Gentlemen need something?” I ask. They turn to me, a mixture of disdain, rage, and fear filling their eyes.

"It's him! The beast. Get em!"

My feet move on their own, I drop my bag, spin round, and run. The horde of men pursue, and quickly catch me. “Release me! I know nothing of any beast. I swear!-” The man, whom I had only known as the baker, punches me in the gut. The one who had been restraining me, let me go, I fell to the ground and the rest began beating me. My eyes fill to black, and by the time I come to I’m being tied to a wooden stake. Chants fill my ears. “Burn the beast! Burn the beast!” The town leader lights the wooden pille resting under me on fire. “Please,” I pleaded. “I know nothing of any beast!” Thick black smoke fills my lungs, as the fire eats away at the wood below my feet, and it soon quickly eats away at me too.

Everly 07/31

I sat in wait all day, but no one came up to the manor. No bride was sacrificed. By the time midnight struk I had hoped that they were just a bit late, and tried to stop what was about to come, but it was too late. The change had already begun. Fur sprouted from my pours, my bones creaked and cracked, and before I knew it, I was no longer human.

When I opened my eyes, I was myself again. The first thing that I had noticed was that I was no longer in the manor. I blinked, focusing my vision. The smell of ash, and blood filled my noistreals. I looked around at the now decrepit town, to my right. “They must’ve forgotten to leave a bite.” I scoff, and get up. I wrap myself in my thick white fur, as I stand.

“Where is the burning smell coming from?” I ask myself. I glanced to my left to see where the smell had been coming from. A charged corpse hung to my left. I fall back, and let out a silent scream in horror. I knew as soon as I saw it, that it had been Hale.

On the bright side. The remaining townspeople never missed my monthly feeding again.

1602

"And well that brings us to you.” I smile, and look up at my shaking guest. I hadn’t gotten time to catch her name, she had silky ebony hair, fair-beige skin, bright blue eyes filled with fear, and dressed all in white; as all the brides had. “You’re shaking like a scared rabbit,” I stood up from my seat, “are you cold? Should I light the fire?” I ask, concern dripping from my voice.

“N-No,” she says, finally speaking up, “I’m comfortable.”

“Is that so,” I walk over to her, “is the food to your liking? You’ve barely touched your meal.”

“T-The meal is perfect. I’m afraid I don’t have much of an appetite at the moment.” She shuffles around in her seat, trying to move farther away from me. I let out a sigh, before walking over to the curtains, I drew them, and the moonlight flooded in, illuminating the room. “Since nothing seems to be the matter I suppose we could start now.” I’ll give you till the count of one.” I turn to her, and can’t help but crack a smile, at the fear in her eyes. “Five, four, hurry, run along now, three.” She jumps up from her seat, knocking down her chair. “Three.” She runs out of the dining room into the hall. Once she’s fully out of sight, my transformation begins to take place.

“Heh, now the real fun begins.”