Fangs in the Fog

ARIANA'S POV

The growl lingered in my ears, low and guttural, as I bolted from the oaks, my sneakers pounding the muddy grass. Tears streaked my face, the cold wind biting at them, and my chest burned with every ragged breath. I'd seen it—a shadow between the trees, tall and hulking, its yellow eyes glinting like twin flames. My dream flashed back: claws slashing, a sneer in the dark. It wasn't just my imagination, not after last night, not after Logan's cryptic warnings. Something was out here, and it wanted me.

I ran faster, the dorms a hazy outline ahead, their brick walls my only hope. My heart slammed against my ribs, shame and fear tangling into a knot that choked me. Logan—his touch, his groans, the way I'd given myself to him—haunted every step. Had he set this up too? Was this his game, chasing me down to twist the knife deeper? The thought fueled my legs, pushing me through the damp lawns, my soggy socks squelching with every stride.

The campus blurred past—students milling near the quad, their Sunday chatter fading as I tore by. A girl in a bright sundress turned, her brow furrowing, and a guy with a backpack paused, his mouth opening like he might call out. Their eyes followed me, soft with pity, and I hated it, I wanted to collapse, to let someone wrap me in a hug and tell me I wasn't a fool for last night, but I couldn't stop. Not with that growl echoing in my skull, not with the weight of those yellow eyes pressing on my back.

The hostel gates loomed ahead, iron bars glinting in the pale morning sun. I stumbled through, my shoulder clipping the edge, and darted toward my block—a squat, red-brick building nestled between others. The corridor between them stretched out, a narrow tunnel of concrete and flickering lights. I slowed, chest heaving, and wiped my face with my sleeve, smearing tears and sweat.

Students brushed past—girls in flowy skirts, guys in pressed shirts, all headed somewhere brighter. Their laughter grated against my raw nerves, their smiles a stark contrast to the mess I was. I forced my lips into a tight grin, nodding at a passing glance, but my hands trembled, clutching my elbows.

The lights overhead buzzed and flickered, a sharp stutter that made me flinch. I glanced up, scowling as they pulsed—on, off, on again. The sky outside darkened, clouds rolling in thick and fast, swallowing the sun. Another storm? My stomach twisted, memories crashing in: the gym's eerie shadows, the rain trapping me with Logan, his hands peeling off my clothes. I squeezed my eyes shut, shoving the images down, but the corridor's light dimmed further, plunging into a murky gray. My breath hitched. I'd been walking too long—this wasn't right. My dorm was steps from the gate, not this endless stretch.

A scrape cut through the quiet—metal on concrete, slow and deliberate. My spine stiffened, a chill racing up it like ice water. That sound—I'd heard it in the gym, felt it in my bones. I spun around, peering into the gloom, but saw only shadows shifting a foot ahead. "Logan," I snapped, my voice trembling with anger. "Cut it out. Leave me alone."

The scraping stopped. My shoulders sagged, a shaky breath escaping me. Maybe it *was* him, pulling another stupid prank. I straightened, hands on my hips, and shouted into the dark. "I told you I'm done. Take the hint, asshole!"

The lights flared back on, blinding me, and I gasped, blinking fast. In that split second of brightness, I saw it—tall, cloaked in black, its yellow eyes blazing like molten gold. Not Logan. Not human. It stared, unblinking, then charged, a blur of claws and snarling teeth. My scream shattered the air, and I turned, sprinting down the corridor, my sneakers slipping on the slick floor.

Its footsteps pounded behind me, heavy and relentless, shaking the ground. A growl rumbled, deep and feral, and the metallic screech of claws raking concrete pierced my ears. I ran blind, the corridor stretching impossibly long, walls closing in. My lungs burned, my sobs choking me as I pumped my arms. "Logan, stop!" I yelled, desperation cracking my voice. It had to be him—some twisted game to punish me for running, for calling him out. Who else would chase me like this?

I risked a glance back, and my blood froze. A clawed hand swiped, inches from my neck, its fingers long and gnarled, black as coal. I ducked low, veering around a corner, but my foot twisted, a jolt of pain shooting through my ankle. I cried out, crashing to the floor, my palms scraping raw against the concrete. The thing roared past me, a gust of rancid wind, and I scrambled up, adrenaline spiking. My ankle buckled, sharp and hot, and I stumbled back down, gasping.

It turned, slow and deliberate, its yellow eyes narrowing as it loomed over me. I crawled backward, my hands slipping in sweat and grime, my chest heaving. "Logan, please," I sobbed, my voice breaking. "Stop this. I'm sorry, okay? Just stop." Those eyes blinked, flickering like it understood, and for a heartbeat, I thought it might—thought he might—back off.

Then it roared, a sound that rattled my bones, and lunged, claws slashing through the dark. I froze, every muscle locking, my scream trapped in my throat. My mind shrieked at me to move, to fight, but my body wouldn't obey—paralyzed, pinned by terror. I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for the end, when a heavy thud shook the floor. A grunt, a snarl, and the air shifted, thick with tension.

I peeked through my lashes, breath hitching. A figure stood between me and the shadow—broad-shouldered, blonde hair shaggy and wild, his back to me. He growled, low and primal, a sound that vibrated through the corridor. My heart stuttered—Logan? He turned, just enough for me to catch his golden eyes, wide with worry. "Stay with me, Ariana," he said, his voice steady, urgent, before facing the thing again.

The shadow leapt, claws outstretched, a bolt of black lightning. I flinched, expecting Logan to dodge, but he didn't. He stood firm, unnaturally calm, and as the creature descended, he roared—a sound too big, too wild for a man. His fist shot out, faster than I could track, and slammed into the shadow's chest. The impact echoed, a crack like thunder, and the thing flew back, crashing into the wall with a sickening crunch.

Darkness bled into my vision, edges blurring. Pain throbbed in my ankle, sharp and relentless, and my head spun, heavy with exhaustion. Logan turned to me, his silhouette wavering, those golden eyes the last anchor in the haze. "Ariana—" he started, stepping closer, but my eyelids drooped, too heavy to lift. The corridor faded, his voice a distant hum, and I slumped to the cold floor, consciousness slipping away like water through my fingers.