WEREWOLF SYSTEM

Kyle's POV

The woods seemed alive with secrets, each shadow holding its breath, waiting for the right moment to pounce. My flashlight trembled in my grip as I struggled to keep the beam steady. The figure stood just beyond the light's reach, its form blending seamlessly with the darkness.

It didn't move like a person. Its movements were deliberate, slow, as though savoring my fear. I swallowed hard, my throat dry, and shouted, "Stay back!" My voice cracked, betraying the terror clawing at my chest.

The figure didn't stop.

I turned and ran, my sneakers slipping on the damp forest floor. The cold air stung my face, and my breaths came in ragged gasps. Behind me, heavy footsteps pounded the ground, relentless and unyielding.

It was faster than me—stronger too.

My heart slammed against my ribs, adrenaline pumping through my veins like wildfire. The flashlight bobbed wildly in my hand, casting frantic beams of light that only made the shadows seem darker.

The footsteps grew louder, closer.

I risked a glance over my shoulder, and my stomach dropped. The figure was gaining on me, its pale, twisted face barely visible in the moonlight. Its glowing yellow eyes locked onto mine, and I felt a primal terror I couldn't explain.

It wasn't just chasing me—it was hunting me.

I pushed harder, my lungs burning, my legs screaming for relief. But no matter how fast I ran, I couldn't shake it.

That's when I felt it.

A strange tingling started in my fingertips, spreading like wildfire through my body. My vision blurred—not from exhaustion, but from something else. Something unfamiliar.

I stumbled, clutching my chest as a sharp, searing heat exploded within me. I fell to my knees, gasping for air, the flashlight slipping from my grasp. The world around me sharpened. I could hear everything—the rustling of leaves, the distant chirp of crickets, even the soft crackle of twigs under the figure's feet.

I looked down at my hands and froze.

My fingers were changing, twisting. Claws ripped through the fabric of my gloves, gleaming in the pale moonlight. My skin felt like it was on fire, my muscles tightening and shifting in ways that didn't feel human.

"What… what's happening to me?" I whispered, my voice barely audible over the pounding in my ears.

The figure emerged from the shadows, its grotesque face illuminated by the flashlight's weak beam. It wasn't human. Its features were warped, unnatural, and its jagged teeth glinted as it snarled.

Something inside me snapped.

A low growl escaped my throat, deep and guttural. It wasn't my voice. It was something else entirely, something primal.

The figure hesitated, its glowing eyes narrowing as though it recognized what I was becoming.

I didn't give it a chance to attack.

Before I knew what I was doing, I lunged. My movements were fast, too fast, and entirely out of my control. My vision was tinged with red, my senses overwhelmed by the flood of information. I could smell the damp earth, the musk of the figure's sweat, the faint metallic tang of blood in the air.

The figure dodged, snarling in frustration, but I didn't stop. I couldn't. A force I didn't understand had taken over, driving me forward with an intensity that terrified me.

I slashed at it, my claws grazing its arm. It hissed in pain, retreating a few steps before glaring at me with pure hatred. For a moment, we stared at each other, neither of us moving.

I charged towards it in anger and let out a very loud growl while shifting back and maintaining my territory.

And then it turned and fled, disappearing into the shadows as quickly as it had appeared.

The red haze lifted, and I collapsed onto the forest floor, gasping for air. My body felt like it had been set on fire and then extinguished, leaving behind nothing but ash. My hands were trembling as I stared at them. The claws were gone, replaced by my normal, shaking fingers.

"What… am I?" Why are my naked? And where are my clothes?" I whispered, my voice breaking.

The forest was eerily silent now, as though holding its breath. The figure was gone, but its presence lingered, a weight pressing down on me.

I forced myself to stand, every muscle protesting as I staggered to my feet. My flashlight lay a few feet away, its beam flickering weakly. I picked it up, my hands unsteady, and began the long, painful walk back to campus.

The journey felt endless, the shadows pressing in on me from all sides. Every snap of a branch, every rustle of leaves, made me jump. My mind raced, replaying what had just happened over and over again.

By the time I reached my dorm, the first hints of dawn were creeping over the horizon. The sky was painted in soft hues of orange and pink, a stark contrast to the darkness I felt inside.

I locked the door behind me, leaning against it as I tried to catch my breath. My heart was still racing, my hands still trembling.

And then my phone buzzed.

The sound made me jump, and I fumbled to pull it from my pocket. My stomach sank as I read the notification on the screen from a private number.

Private Number: "Curiosity is a dangerous thing"

The words blurred before my eyes, the weight of everything crashing down on me at once.

Same words Mr Holloway said to me in the library. Could he have anything to do with this?

I sank to the floor, my back against the door, and stared at the message.

Who could've sent this message? Who or what was that figure i encountered in the woods? Could this be Aaron, the guy i met earlier? And why did it feel like this was all a trap?

But the question that haunted me most wasn't about the alert or the figure that was after me.

It was about me.

What the hell was happening to me?