Chapter 8 - Glowed

Detective White after dropping off Alicia decided to investigate on Route 9, the very place his son was attacked by what he believed was a wild bear that also killed his beloved wife. He pulled over by the roadside and slowly walked out of his car. It was still dark and very soon the day would dawn. His police department still considered the place as an act of crime scene. They rounded the whole area with police tape. Detective White didn’t have any source of light with him. He crossed over the police tape and headed towards the oak tree where Jack’s truck ran into.

As he was observing the scene, he heard a pitched howl which was followed by many more as the moon peeped through the oak tree leaves and faintly lit up the dark path ahead. Detective White hastily draws out his service revolver. His best guess was the howling came from wolves. The howls were replaced by ferocious barking which made him tremble with fear. Being alone in the woods at this odd hour isn’t the best thing to do. As he flicked around to head to his car, he caught a glimpse of glowing blue eyes. He couldn’t see the figure of the creature’s glowing eyes. He didn’t want to fire any shot without getting a clear shot.

With haste, he headed back to his car. Looking back to know if he was followed, he made a sigh of relief when he noticed he wasn’t being followed by what he believed were the wolves. As he turned towards his car, he exclaimed on seeing a young man standing by the trunk of his car. “Oh shit, you scared the crap out of me boy!” he cried out.

He draws back his service revolver and makes his way to the young man. He narrowed his gaze at the young man who hasn’t said a word but only stare at the Detective. The young man looks older than his son Lucas and should be in his twenties. “What are you doing here son? It’s not safe here,” said Detective White. He expresses his concern as a cop. After all, that’s his job to keep people out of danger.

The young man said no word to him but to stare. He was putting on a blown tunic which made Detective White curious. ‘What type of man still dresses in a tunic in this 21 century?’ he pondered in his heart and then opened his mouth to speak again. “Look son, you have to say something. Are you lost or what? What the hell are you doing in this place all by yourself?”

For the very first time, the young man opens his mouth to speak. He cast his gaze on Detective White. “What happened here shouldn’t be investigated. Tell your precinct to take off these police tapes as soon as possible.” After he had said this, his eyes glowed blue as he move at an accelerated speed. He moved faster than Detective White’s naked eye could see.

“What the hell!” exclaimed Detective White. He just received the shock of his life. A young man with glowing eyes and with a speed faster than the theoretical maximum speed of any human. He couldn’t make any sense of what he just witnessed. He started looking around to see if he could still see the young man but disappointedly, he was nowhere to be found. He vowed to get to the root of this incident and make sure he finds out what attacked his son as well.

ST LEO’S HOSPITAL

The just risen sun shone through the window of Lucas’ ward as Detective White opens the door. His heart skipped at first when he realized his son wasn’t lying on the hospital bed. The monitors are still beeping and he thought his son didn’t make it and has been carried to the morgue. He fell to his knees and cried out. He can’t lose his wife and only son. He can’t be left alone in this world. As his thoughts were traveling around down his memory lane, he heard a soft sobbing coming from the toilet. He quickly rose to his feet and rushed to see who it was only to see Lucas sitting at the corner of the wall with his head buried in between his legs.

“Son, are you alright?” he asked.

“I’m a monster, stay away from me dad,” Lucas cried out still hiding his face in between his legs.

“What are you talking about son?” Detective White approaches. He bends facing his son as he slowly grabs him.

“Stay away dad. I’m a monster. You don’t have to see me this way, you don’t deserve it.”

Detective White didn’t understand what Lucas was talking about. “Son, you’re not a monster. I think you should get to your feet, let me help you to the bed. You are not strong enough to be left alone. Please come with me.”

“Now I have seen what attacked mom and the same thing has attacked me changing my look. I can’t even look at the mirror without getting scared of myself.” Lucas after he noticed the changes in him, has been looking at the mirror every ten minutes to stare at his new look and curse himself. His glowing blue eyes, fangs, and claws made him have a rethink. Perhaps this is what he is and not a smart dude everyone wants to be around.

Detective White gently pulls up Lucas’ head. “Son, you need to rest and not blame yourself for anything.”