Turning Wolf

by Kyrii Rayne

  "Allyson," he whispered.

  Silence.

  She listened for Garrett to sneak out of bed. The small creaks released by the floorboards let her know where he was as he crossed the apartment and left. In a flash, she tore off the covers and threw her sweatpants on. Allyson held her breath and glared out the window. Waiting. Hoping. The fog of her breath blurred her view as Garrett walked down over to his apartment door and let himself in.

  I really am crazy she taunted herself.

  "He was telling the truth."

  Allyson grimaced and turned to her bed. Almost disappointed he was telling the truth. Now, what could she be angry about? That just means there's a whole other reason for all his weird behavior.

  Not a thought that sat well with her.

  Her stomach tightened as she grabbed her tea cup.

  "What the...?" Two small pills lay soaked at the bottom of the cup. "What the hell is he up to?"

  She glanced back out the window. What?

  He was leaving again. Carrying a large duffle bag out to the parking lot.

  Allyson wasted no time. She swiped her keys off the nightstand and tore out of the apartment. Garrett's pickup truck pulled out onto the street. Part of her hoped he'd seen her in his mirror. That he would know he'd been caught and would come back with an explanation. Another part of her hoped he hadn't. If there was a secret, she wanted the chance to find out what it was before having to confront him.

  "Don't give him a chance to lie," she told herself.

  If not for the thinning bushes preparing for fall, she might have lost Garrett's truck around the corner several blocks down. But the bare branches allowed the American flag tint on the back window to beckon to her.

  A short way up the road, he stopped at the next stop sign. The right brake light still flickered as though there was a loose connection. She took a deep breath and glanced at the stop sign in front of her. Her eyes darting between Garrett's truck and the gas station.

  "Last chance to turn around," she told herself. "You can still go home and get back in bed and he never has to know that you're crazy."

  She watched Garrett pull away from the stop sign and shook her head. Allyson dismissed the notion of turning back and instead turned right. For three and a half hours, she tracked and followed Garrett. More than a few times she thought for sure he would have caught her. After all, not a lot of people traveled this far outside of Seattle at one in the morning. Surely he could tell her car, even in the dark? But if he did know she was behind him, he gave no sign. Driving down the highways at a steady speed, he was heading toward the forest around Lake Youngss.

  She watched him turn down a gravel road. Allyson continued down the highway a bit, then shut off her headlights and turned the car around. It worked in that one movie, she thought. Minutes later, she was traveling down the same dirt road. Expecting to have trouble traversing the pitch-black road without headlights, she was surprised and grateful at how well the moon and stars lit the road beneath the trees.

  Finally, at the end of the path, Garrett stopped in front of a small cabin. Allyson backed up and parked behind a large clump of brush and waited. Garrett pulled bags from his pickup truck. Clothes, groceries, blankets. Then took them into the cabin.

  "What the fuck is he doing?" she whispered. Allyson grabbed her smartphone and started snapping pictures. Her heart sank as she zoomed into the pictures. The clothing couldn't be for him. Not unless he had made a very important life decision which he hadn't yet shared with her. "Damn it," she said with a deep breath.

  Ain't no way he can afford to have two separate lives, Theresa's words ran through Allyson's mind.

  "Ha," whispered Allyson. "Just wait until I show you these. I just wish the camera on this phone was clearer. It's all so fuzzy."

  "Who's there?"

  Garrett's voice rang out against the silent night.

  Allyson dropped the phone into her lap and stared out the windshield. Garrett stood in front of the door to the cabin, staring out in her direction.

  She pulled the car backward down the dirt road and glared back at Garrett as he walked back toward her. He doesn't know it's me yet, she smiled. Blind him and get out of here! She followed her orders and turned her headlights onto bright. When he stopped to turn his head and shield his eyes, she stomped on the gas and backed down the dirt road. Her heart thumped in her chest. Again, she was surprised at how well the road behind her seemed lit in the pitch-black.

  "Why the fuck should I feel guilty?" she chastised herself when she got to a spot where she could turn the car around. "I'm not the one lying and cheating."

  Allyson used Garrett's surprise to her advantage. Getting back to the highway before any headlights appeared in her rearview mirror.

  *****

  That's got to be Eddie - who else can it be? I need to catch up with him. He'll be on his way back to Allyson's while I'm stuck here.

  Garrett rubbed his eyes, trying to will the spots away.

  "Shit," he told himself. "How the fuck did he find this place already?"

  Garrett jumped into his pickup truck, cursing himself for being so careless and leading Eddie straight to the cabin. He turned the truck around and started down the dirt road back toward the highway.

  Headlights bounced along the tree line ahead of him. Garrett grunted as he applied pressure to the gas pedal. Greenish yellow dots still blotted out much of the road ahead of him. His truck knocked his body from side to side inside the cab. Forcing him to keep a steady speed.

  Finally, asphalt.

  Garrett turned down the highway. Stomping on the gas to catch up to the headlights ahead of him. The roar of his truck's engine echoed in the silent night. But the headlights stayed out of his reach.

  "Come on, asshole," Garrett said. "Pull over. Come on."

  The light ahead turned red. Garrett smirked, ready to take his prize. He stepped on the brake in time to see the car dart between lanes and run straight through the red light, leaving Garrett and his pickup truck stuck behind several cars and a light.

  "Fuck!"

  Garrett swore as he slammed his fist against the steering wheel. He took a deep breath and glanced around at the other drivers. Hoping for a brief second, he had misplaced his glare and Eddie sat among the cars.

  No such luck.

  "No way I'll be able to finish everything tonight," Garrett said. "I need to get back and check on Allyson before Eddie gets to her."

  Chapter Five

  Allyson beat Garrett back to her apartment by twenty minutes. She ran through the apartment. Where to start? Packing up his things? Throwing them out on the lawn? Her breathing grew deep and sharp. Echoing in her ears between thundering heartbeats. Tears stung at her eyes.

  "I knew it," she yelled to the walls. "I fucking knew it! Why do I always fall for the creeps?"

  She didn't have long to formulate a plan.

  Outside, Garrett crept up the stairs. Until he heard Allyson's commotion drifting out. Damn it. Sedatives must have worn off. He took a deep breath and tried to prepare his story.

  "So, you want to explain this to me?" Allyson held the cup with two soaked pills out to him.

  "Allyson, I know the timing is wrong, but I can explain where I was."

  Garrett closed the door behind him.

  "Oh I know where you were," she said as she held her cellphone out toward him. "I know exactly where you were. What I don't know is why you lied to me about it. Why just a few hours ago you swore you only went home to do research, but I found you out in the woods by Lake Youngss. What? Butterflies only exist out by the lake?"

  "Allyson, I know what you're thinking."

  "Do you? Because I don't. So forgive me if I don't really believe that you know what I'm thinking. What I am wondering is why you're even out at that cabin in the first place? Who are you bringing clothes for? And all those groceries? Do you live there?"

  "Okay, first just, please, calm down. I can explain all of this. It's just not the right ti
me."

  "This is the perfect time, Garrett. You know how I know it's the perfect time? Because I fucking asked you a question."

  Garrett's lips fused together into a straight line. Exhaustion from the lack of sleep stung his eyes and clouded his words. He pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head.

  Before he could muster up an answer, Allyson continued.

  "So, do you live there? Do you have a family there? Is that who the clothes were for? Your wife?"

  "No, Allyson," said Garrett as he tried to lean into her for a hug.

  She backed away from him. Leaving him there with nothing to hold.

  "Allyson, I swear. I'm not married. I don't live there."

  "Then why were you there?"

  "I can't tell you that right now. It's just, it's not the right time."

  "I don't believe you," she lied.

  Allyson had no idea what she believed. She only knew what she wanted. She wanted to be able to question Garrett and for Garrett to give her a straight answer. A believable answer. One to prove he wasn't cheating.

  But he couldn't even do that.

  "Right," she stared at his blank eyes. Refusing to allow the tears to start streaming down her cheeks. "I think you should just leave."

  *****

  "Leave? What do you mean leave? Come on, Allyson. You're making this into something it isn't. I didn't say I wouldn't tell you. Only that I couldn't tell you now."

  He thought for sure his ears betrayed him. Was it possible this woman was kicking him out? How had he not seen this coming?

  "Allyson."

  "I mean it, Garrett. Either start giving me answers or get out."

  Garrett's eyes darted around the room. Bouncing from Allyson to the phone now lying on the table. He took a deep breath.

  "All right. I'll try. But, you aren't going to believe me right now just because circumstances are going to make it all seem outrageous. But that's doesn't make it any less true. Um, and you should probably sit down."

  "I'll stand, thanks," she said.

  "Fine," he said as he shook his head. Trying to wrap his thoughts around where to start. "Just, give me a minute. Okay? I've never said anything like this to anyone before and I don't really know where to start." She leaned back against the recliner without lifting her eyes from him. "Okay, okay" said Garrett with a deep breath. "Have you, that is to say. Do you... No. Okay--."

  "Spit it out, Garrett."

  "Fine, fine." Garrett paced around the room. Beams of sunlight peered in through the windows, signaling the dawn. "The night we met, no after that. Your nausea. No before that. Okay. Have you ever given any thought at all about whether or not werewolves really exist?"

  "What the fuck are you talking about?"

  "I'm sorry." Garrett's thoughts flooded his mind faster than he could filter through them. "I know I'm not making any sense. And you aren't going to believe me because you don't feel sick. Not really. But you are. Kind of. Not really. Not sick like a cold but--"

  "Garrett!"

  "We weren't supposed to meet, Allyson. I was sent here to kill you." His eyes pierced into hers. "Except that when I found you I froze. I couldn't do it."

  Allyson blinked.

  "When you found me?"

  "That was the night I-- I was sent in to kill you but instead I found you unconscious out there in the parking lot. It was a job. I had a job to do. And I knew what might happen if I didn't. But I chose to bring you to the hospital instead."

  "This is your big explanation? You were supposed to kill me, but someone beat you to it so you decided to wait a few months, drug me, and try again? And is that where you were going to do it? Your cabin in the woods that you've been hiding from me? Is that where you were going to kill me? Oh my God. Have you done this before? Those missing people from the news. Did you kill them, too? Are their bodies out by the cabin."

  Her voice grew more hysterical with each word.

  She jumped from one crazy theory or accusation to another faster than Garrett could keep up.

  "No. Allyson. Just stop," he said. "Stop, please. Everything is just coming out wrong and you're freaking out over nothing. Or the wrong thing. I'm not-- I'm not killing people. Those women aren't-- I'm not a serial killer. I'm not kidnapping people. Those missing women have nothing to do with me. I swear. And I don't live in a cabin where I hide the bodies."

  Allyson took in a calming breath and chuckled at her hysteria. Of course he's not killing anyone. Get it together.

  "Right, okay. Go on."

  "Okay. I guess the easiest way to tell you about everything would be to explain how I got introduced to it all. About eight years ago, my wife--."

  "Your wife? So you are married?"

  "No, I'm not married."

  "But you just said--."

  "She died, Allyson. Eight years ago my wife was murdered."

  "You know what. I can't do this. I was right before. You need to get out."

  "Get what? Allyson you haven't let me explain."

  "I tried. And I'm even more scared now than I was when we started. Your wife was murdered and that's what started it all? And then you were sent in to kill me? That's enough, really. How does it sound to you? Honestly. I don't have to let you explain any further. I won't call the police if you just leave now. Just, get out and I don't think I want to see you again."

  Garrett gazed at Allyson. The tears coating her eyelashes begged for him to wipe them away. To wrap his arms around her.

  "Allyson, please don't do this. Not like this. At least let me stay a few more days. In a few days, you'll understand everything, and if you still want me to leave I will and you will never see me again."

  She shook her head.

  "No. I can't. Garrett, please just get out."

  *****

  Allyson leaned against the door following Garrett's departure and sobbed.

  How could I be so stupid? She wondered. I should have known he was crazy. No one is that perfect.

  She reached under the cabinet for some whiskey and poured herself a glass before settling into her chair in front of the computer. The sun climbed higher, glaring off Allyson's monitor. She turned the screen and settled in for a long day of research. Starting with the news of the missing people. Every search made new tears well up in her chest.

  Have you ever given any thought at all about whether or not werewolves really exist? Garrett's words danced in her head.

  "Werewolves? Why would he have asked me about werewolves?"

  She closed several windows and started a new search. Soon her head was swimming with the old movies, urban legends, and myths surrounding the creatures. But still no connection between this information and Garrett's strange behavior. Her mind travelled back to her conversation with Theresa. Disappearing at night. All of a sudden, he drove out to a cabin in the forest preparing for something. Full moon set for the following night. This was the following night. Tonight.

  "Is he really a werewolf?" She wondered. "But he said he was supposed to kill me. Supposed to kill me. Since when are werewolves used as assassins and sent in to kill people? He's full of it," she told her computer. "He's got to be."

  The caged beast within a human heart she read further. Determined to find more information, she started more searches. Tests quizzes. Stories.

  None turned up any useful information. The only thing Garrett seemed to have in common with any of these creatures was his habit of disappearing at night and the importance he seemed to place on watching the moon.

  That was it.

  Silver didn't faze him. His temperament seemed mellow. He wasn't hairier than other men.

  Nothing. Added. Up.

  *****

  Two and a half hours of sleep didn't seem to be enough. It seemed like even less when waking up with an imprint of the keyboard along the side of her face. Allyson played with the notion of calling in sick to work. Her stomach flipped. Her head spun. She glanced over at the bouquet Garrett had given her the night before and clenched
her eyes shut.

  She took a deep breath and stretched. Determined to get through her day.

  "Fuck him," she whispered.

  She closed the internet browsers and shut off the computer.

  Her feet carried her into the bathroom in slow motion. Water splashed on her face. Minutes later she stared at Garrett's coffee mug sitting on the counter next to the coffee machine. Allyson took a deep breath and grabbed the mug.

  "I have to go to work. It's going to be the only thing that keeps me busy enough to forget about him." She left the mug in the sink and elected to stop off for coffee. "I think I deserve a latte."

  Chapter Six

  "Garrett!" Eddie yelled from the driver's seat of his pickup truck. "You look like shit, buddy. Are you okay?"

  Garrett finished pumping gas and replaced the nozzle before walking over to Eddie.

  "What the fuck were you doing last night, Eddie? You think I was just playing around?"

  "What are you talking about? I'm just making friendly conversation."

  Eddie's fake smile worked on Garrett's nerves.

  Garrett glared at Eddie. Waiting for a real answer.

  "All right, fine. You aren't going to like it, though."

  "Why don't you just get out of here, Eddie. Just high tail it out of Seattle and don't come back."

  He knew that wouldn't work. But Garrett still had to try.

  "You had a job, Garrett. We sent you here to do the job. Or perhaps you forgot what we do to people who don't do their fucking job? And do you know why we have to be so strict about people doing their job? This isn't like fucking McDonald's when, if you don't do your job, they can get some other yahoo to start scooping fries. People die. Garrett. People like your wife. Remember her?"

  Garrett shook his head.

  "I can't believe you're bringing Jennifer up."

  "Nevertheless, if Rick had done his job back then, your wife would still be alive now. So do your fucking job before I have to do my job."

  "Try it, Eddie. You know you can't take me down. Not without backup. You might think you're pretty smooth. Showing your face here in the middle of the day where you know I can't do anything about it. But next time you're following me you won't get away that easy. Let's not forget, I know what you are, too."