Shadows of the Past

Present Day: Harlan's Call

Harlan sat on the edge of his bed, with his mind racing with thoughts of Crimson Estate. His cellphone rested on the drawer beside him, its screen was dark. His foot tapped nervously against the floor.

After a moment of hesitation, he abruptly picked up the phone, scrolling through his contacts. His finger hovered over a number before he finally pressed "Call."

The line rang once. Twice. No answer.  Then he  tried again, for the last time.

Finally, the other line clicked, and a voice answered, sounding wary. "Hello? Who's this?"

Harlan's breath hitched for a moment as he hesitated. Then he spoke with a low voice. "Remember me, Damien Crimson?"

---

Eight Years Ago: Harlan's Heartbreak

Harlan was just 19, a high school senior. He lived with his Aunt Melina and his 10 year old sister, Kaylor in the city. One night, he was walking home from the movie theater with Heather, his girlfriend. They were hand in hand, laughing as Heather playfully teased him about how terrifying the movie had been.

"I told you," she said between giggles, with a light voice."I don't do horror. I'll have nightmares for like a week!"

Harlan chuckled. "You didn't seem that scared in the theater. You were holding my hand the whole time."

"Because I was terrified!" she shot back with a grin, nudging him playfully. "You're supposed to protect me, right?"

"I will. Always."

They turned down a quiet street, barely lit by streetlights. The city was settling down for the night, and the world felt peaceful. Until it didn't.

Out of nowhere, wind rushed past them, and before Harlan could blink, he felt Heather's hand slip from his grasp. The world seemed to move in slow motion as he turned to see a figure holding Heather by the throat, with her feet dangling inches above the ground.

It was Kai Crimson, the one and only.

His pale skin gleamed under the streetlight and his eyes glowed red with insatiable hunger. Heather gasped for air, her hands clawing at Kai's iron grip, but it was baseless.

"Hey you!" Harlan screamed, charging toward him. "Let her go!"

But Kai only smirked. His fangs gleamed as he leaned closer to Heather's neck. Immediately, he sank his teeth into her flesh, her body convulsing as he drained her life away. Her eyes, wide with fear, locked with Harlan's, silently pleading for help. But Harlan couldn't reach her in time.

"Stop! Please!" Harlan pleaded with desperation.

But Kai showed no mercy. He fed until Heather's body went limp and her head fell back lifelessly. Harlan collapsed to his knees, his heart was shattered as he watched the love of his life die in front of him, helpless to stop it.

With his bloodlust sated, Kai tossed Heather's body aside like a discarded rag doll. He wiped his mouth, looking at Harlan with indifference. "Too easy," he said casually.

Harlan was enraged, blinding him to everything else. He launched himself at Kai with his fists swinging, but he wasn't fast enough. Kai vanished with vampire speed, leaving Harlan to stumble forward—straight into an elderly woman who had been watching the entire scene from across the street. She stood frozen in shock, her hands trembling as she witnessed what had just happened.

Harlan, in his grief-stricken rage, lost control. He couldn't think nor see right and his mind was consumed by the need for vengeance. He charged at the old woman without thinking, and before he realized what he was doing, he snapped her neck. 

The woman crumpled to the ground, and Harlan stood over her, horrified at what he had just done. His body trembled as the realization hit him. He had killed an innocent person. At that moment, his werewolf curse activated. He felt great pain through his body as his bones began to shift. And so, his first transformation into a werewolf began.

---

The First Visit: Damien Crimson Appears

Days later, after Harlan had learnt about Kai Crimson from his pack members, Harlan heard a knock on the door in the middle of the night.

He had been on edge ever since the night he lost Heather and killed that old woman. The guilt, the rage—it was eating him alive. 

He opened the door, expecting one of his pack members or maybe even his Aunt Melina. But instead, standing in the doorway was a man he didn't recognize. He was tall, handsome man with dark hair.

"Who are you?" Harlan demanded.

"I'm Damien. Damien Crimson."

Harlan's heart stopped for a second. Crimson. The name alone made him angry. "Crimson? You're Kai's brother?"

Damien nodded. "Yes. But I'm not here to fight."

"Then what the hell do you want?" Harlan growled with his hands clenched into fists. He could feel his wolf stirring, ready to tear this man apart for what his brother had done.

Damien sighed softly. "I came because I know what you went through… what my brother did."

Harlan's jaw tightened. "You don't know anything about what I went through."

"I do," Damien said quietly, taking a step closer. "I saw the whole thing. I saw what Kai did to your girlfriend… and I saw what happened to you afterward."

Harlan flinched at the reminder. He didn't need to be reminded. It was burned into his memory forever.

"Why didn't you stop him?" Harlan's voice cracked with barely contained fury. "Why didn't you stop your brother from killing her?"

Damien's face was filled with regret. "Kai… when he's in that state, no one can control him. Not even me."

"That's not good enough!" Harlan shouted. "She didn't deserve to die! She didn't—"

"I know," Damien interrupted, with a firm but sorrowful voice. "And I'm not here to make excuses for him. What Kai did was unforgivable. But I want to help you, Harlan."

"Help me?" Harlan spat, with disbelief in his eyes. "Why would I ever want help from you?"

"Because you're walking a dangerous path," Damien replied. "You've already activated your curse. If you let this hatred consume you, it will destroy you."

Harlan glared at him. "I don't care. I'm going to kill Kai if it's the last thing I do."

Damien didn't flinch at the words, but there was a sadness in his eyes as he looked at Harlan. "I don't blame you for wanting that. But revenge won't bring her back."

Harlan stood there in silence, torn between anger and the truth in Damien's words. He hated him. He hated his whole family. But a part of him knew that Damien was right.

Before Harlan could respond, Damien spoke again. "I'll be watching over you. Whether you like it or not. I owe you that much."

Without another word, Damien turned and walked away. While Harlan stood there, staring after him with his fist trembling.