THE HUNT III

~{INGRID'S POV}~

*

A cold feeling went down my spine as I remained put while staring up at it.

What should I do?

What could I do?

The more I stared at it, the more I noticed it was moving slowly, as if being cautious.

Taking a deep breath, I tried to turn to my wolf self but I couldn't and the closer the creature got, the more afraid and alarmed I became. I was already sweating profusely but that wasn't my concern right now.

The more I tried to shift, the more painful it felt and as if the creature saw my pain, it jumped.

In that moment, it happened so swiftly. Before it could pounce on me, I transformed and caught it in a swift movement before slamming it to the ground.

'Ingrid,' the creature called my name and it was as clear as the day in my head.

It had no eyes but mouth, despite that, its mouth didn't move to speak which made me realize it was speaking through the mind.

And that little distraction made me shift back to my human form and fall pitifully to the ground, causing me to nearly scream out.

When I struggled to look at it, I found it squatted before me at a very dangerous proximity.

My breathing became labored as I waited for it to pounce on me again but something more strange happened.

'You can hear me now can you?'

Its mouth moved as it spoke and I blinked in horror.

When it raised its hand, I became rigid until it pointed at the bite mark on my arm.

'I wanted you to listen,' It said and my lips parted in bewilderment.

Was that why it bit me?

So I could hear it?

'Yes,' It responded.

"Wh-what… what do you want?" I stuttered and instead of giving a direct answer, it moved its head closer to mine as if to register my face in its mind.

'Help me out of here.'

At its request, I blinked in horror.

'I will be of assistance to you if you help me out of here," It bargained.

For a moment I just sat there in wonder. I had believed that it wanted to feast on me but look at the turn of events.

When I didn't respond, it moved back and looked at my legs, making me tense up again.

And without asking, it took hold of my left leg.

"Don't-"

I screamed only for it to swiftly twist it back to normal, making me squirm and turn as I swallowed the scream.

And while I was still in that dilemma, it took my arm and bent it back to its original state, making me scream to a point I heard it echo.

When I felt its fingers touching my chest area, my eyes swiftly opened and I pushed it away.

"Don't touch me!" I snapped at it.

'It's just the last one,' It innocently said and I gave it a look of incredulity.

"Just the last one? JUST!" I became agitated and without saying a word, it swiftly punched the rib that was broken with so much accuracy.

"AHHHHHH!!!!"

********

The next time I opened my eyes, I realized that everywhere was gradually getting dark and for a moment I just sat there as I tried to get myself together.

'Shall we go?'

At the unexpected question, I slowly looked to my right and found the creature seated patiently beside me.

It was still hard to digest that I had let this black being touch and help me.

'When it gets dark, the demons are unleashed and it will possess you,' the creature informed me.

"What?"

'We don't have much time.'

Saying that, it got up and offered its hand towards me.

When I didn't give it my hand, it made an eerie threatening snarl before turning around and squatting while pointing to its back.

"Hell no!" I hurriedly said, causing it to slowly turn around and snarl at me again and I also snarled back.

'We don't have much time,' It warned.

For a moment, I gave it a quick thought.

If I let it help me then how was I going to find my way out?

Besides, I didn't even know how to get out of this cursed forest. It was really cursed for a reason.

And with that in mind, I adjusted myself and climbed onto its back while whimpering.

When it felt that I was ok, it got up and began to walk.

I never would've believed a creature would help me instead of a fellow Lycanthrope all because of a contest.

But at the same time it wasn't an ordinary contest. It was one in a lifetime.

But regardless, I would stop to assist anyone who happened to be injured.

'May I take your form?'

At its unforeseen question, I went rigid.

"Why?"

'That's the only way we can get out. And you seem to fight being like us.'

"How?" I frowned.

'Earlier when I switched places with you, you instantly transformed back to your original state,' it explained and I blinked in horror.

Wait!

Did this mean it wanted to take my form and leave while trapping me here in its form? How vile!

"And you expect me to help you?"

'I helped you.' It simply said and for a moment, I gave it a brief thought. Thinking about the advantages and disadvantages.

"Fine. But just this once," I agreed and it changed to me while I fluctuated a little between its form and mine. It was frightening but fascinating.

And like magic, a path was created which we walked through like a piece of cake.

When I looked back, the cursed forest was no longer there. Strange.

Coming to a stop, it let me down and when I looked at it, I went still.

It had turned into a human being and a very elderly man with grey hair.

"Thank you. I got trapped in there for years," he said and I gasped in awe.

"How are yo-"

"Like this? Human? This is how I am, I just happened to get trapped in that cursed forest and my body was possessed by that black demon," he answered.

"What about those werewolves?" I asked when I remembered the Beta wolves who stole my aid bag.

"They'll figure it out," he simply said and began to walk ahead.

"Where is this place?" I asked while looking around because there was no single tree, it was just… Deserted.

"This is the deserted forest my dear," he responded while walking.