Amazing what a difference a week can make.
The elevator doors opened again, and Mr. Emerson walked out. Colin could now easily recognize the smell of his aftershave and—
Aftershave. Scent.
The realization hit Colin so hard he thought he might throw up. He began pacing back and forth, trying to put the pieces together.
“Put her next to the dragon,” ordered Mr. Emerson.
Colin was vaguely aware of the guard pushing something on his control panel, and the bars in the empty cell next to the dragon retracted into the ceiling. The old woman shuffled in and turned around to let one of the large guards remove the handcuffs. After her escort exited the cell, the bars slid smoothly back into place.
“Now listen here, Beatrice,” began Mr. Emerson. “I don’t know why you suddenly felt the compulsion to help your grandson when you clearly knew what he was or why you put at least ten of my best men in the hospital last night. The fact is, we still need you to maintain the cover over Elkwood, and I need to know we can still trust you to do so.”
“Don’t you worry about the weather,” said Mrs. Strauss, “I’ll keep us hidden like I always do.”
“I’d like you stay here for a while and cool down. And then we’ll talk about getting you back to Elkwood.”
“That seems reasonable,” said Colin’s grandmother.
Colin noted the slight change in his grandmother’s heartbeat.
She’s lying.
Colin focused back to the task at hand. The werewolf Silas was hunting had been bitten outside of Elkwood and then came back here. Elkwood was too small a town to try to hide in plain sight. But if you’re a werewolf and you want to hide it, especially if you know there’s another werewolf in town, you’d want to keep yourself hidden by disguising yourself. You’d want to keep your head shaved so no one notices the change in your hair. You’d want to wear something that would throw off the scent of the other creatures in town, the vampires, the werewolves—
Mr. Winter is the other werewolf!
It all made sense. He was out of town all the time. Since he got back from his last trip, he had been sick, and his usual butt-hole-esque behavior had gotten worse. He’d threatened Colin in the bathroom and made jokes about Sam Bale’s death. Mr. Winter would also know that there was another werewolf in town because he was in the town hall meeting the night it was interrupted. The same night Silas bit Colin.
And the aftershave! He was using the aftershave to cover his scent so a vampire or werewolf couldn’t recognize him! Mr. Winter killed Sam Bale.
He’s going to kill Becca!
“You have to let me out!” Colin blurted, his face pressed against the bars. “I know who the werewolf is.”
Mr. Emerson turned around. “You’re the werewolf. You and your friend there. I know you don’t want us to know, but one of you killed that boy.”
“It’s not true! Mr. Winter is the killer!”
“Mr. Winter? The biology teacher? Don’t be ridiculous. He’s a member of the town council and a consultant for us. He’s been a part of the Elkwood community since the start. Mr. Winter is more than aware of the town’s true purpose.”
“And he hates it,” said Colin, his mind racing. “That’s why he leaves on vacation all the time. He must have been bitten while on vacation. Silas said the werewolf had killed someone else and he had tracked it here. Mr. Winter went through the same changes I did. He’s acting erratic in class, he’s shaved his head to hide the hair growth, and he wears aftershave to cover his scent. The day Sam Bale was killed, he was away sick! You have to believe me.”
“Colin Strauss, I have absolutely no reason to believe you. All of this sounds ridiculous. You’d say anything to divert attention away from yourself at this point.” Mr. Emerson moved closer to Colin. “The truth is, I don’t know what you’re capable of. But we’re going to find out.”
“Your daughter is in danger! Don’t you care?”
“Becca is under guard and will go to school like normal, and neither you nor your friend can hurt her.”
Colin slammed the bars. He reached for the wolf inside him, but it was still too far away somewhere behind the fog.
“Try and keep that anger in check,” threatened Mr. Emerson, “or we’ll have to put you down.” With that, he turned and walked toward the elevator.
Colin looked over to Silas who was still sleeping and then to his grandmother. An overwhelming sense of helplessness filled his heart.
“Do you know for sure? Are you absolutely certain Winter is the killer?” asked his grandmother.
“You two pipe down,” said the guard from his desk.
“I’m certain,” said Colin. “It has to be. It makes perfect sense.”
“And you can stop him?”
“I have to try.”
“Hey! What’d I just say?” called the guard. “I won’t hesitate to tranquilize you wolf-kid, and you,” said the guard, gesturing to Colin’s grandmother, “that sort of insubordination is what got you thrown in here in the first place.”
Colin’s grandmother gripped the bars of her cell with both hands. Her cloudy eyes staring out toward the guard. “Oh, I didn’t get thrown in here.”
Colin felt the air in the cellblock change.
“I wanted to be here,” said his grandmother.
Electricity shot from her hands and spiralled up the bars of the cell. The control panel in front of the guard began to spark and then exploded, throwing the guard backward. Mr. Emerson turned from the elevator along with the two large guards who had escorted his grandmother. Another shot of electricity flashed across the bars of the old lady’s cell and jumped around the room. Colin stepped back from his own bars as lightning struck them.
“No!” shouted Mr. Emerson.
The bars on every cell began to raise slowly, much to the surprise and joy of the inmates.
“Go get him,” said Colin’s grandmother with a smile.
Colin dived under his bars and stood just as the first large guard reached him.
The guard had at least one hundred pounds on him, but Colin still had his increased strength and sense even if he couldn’t fully turn. The guard made to grab him, but Colin ducked under those large arms and drove his fist hard into his stomach. Colin heard the guard’s lungs deflate as he gasped to catch his breath and crumpled in a heap. Jumping over the body, Colin met the other guard head on, grabbing the big man’s fist and flinging him across the cellblock where he crashed into the wall and slid to the ground.
Other inmates escaped their cells; some were fighting while the ogre was trying to squeeze under his cell bars, getting angrier and angrier.
Turning, Colin came face-to-face with the barrel of Mr. Emerson’s gun.
“Sorry, kid.” Mr. Emerson fired, and time slowed down.
Colin could hear the chaos of the cellblock, the creature’s angry shouts, and his grandmother’s maniacal laughter as lightning zapped around the cells. The tranquilizer dart exited the gun, and he knew that he could dodge it. He shifted his weight and jumped high into the air, over the dart, over Mr. Emerson, and landed lightly. Colin turned, grabbed the key card clipped to Mr. Emerson’s belt, and punched the man square in the jaw. Mr. Emerson folded to the ground.
Colin hated that it felt so good. After all, he just knocked out his new girlfriend’s dad. Not the best way to win him over.
Alarms sounded from every direction making Colin’s head ring as he ascended in the elevator. He’d had to tackle seventeen more guards on several different floors as the elevator had stopped a few times already.
The doors slid open at the main floor, and Colin stepped into the hangar and ran for the exit. He burst out into the early-morning air to find it was raining. It felt good to be outside.
Again, he reached for the wolf and tried to bring on the change, but it wouldn’t happen. The power was still out of his reach.
He didn’t know how he was going to stop Mr. Winter, but he had to try. He had to save Becca.
&n
bsp; A dark-green army truck swung into the yard and skidded to a stop. Men began to file out of the back, and Colin didn’t waste any more time. He ran across the yard, picking up speed until he was close to the fence, and jumped, clearing the razor wire and the cliff ledge and plummeted toward the ground. He landed heavily but didn’t miss a step. Adrenaline surged through him, and it felt good to be running again, even if it was in human form. He followed his own scent back toward Elkwood.
Chapter Nineteen
Dogfight
Colin didn’t know what he was going to do. He didn’t have a plan besides hoping he was right that Mr. Winter was the other werewolf.
A deer darted out of his way as Colin raced on through the forest, resisting the urge to chase it. A pang of emptiness hit him as he crossed the stream where he had first changed. He reached for the wolf inside, but the change wouldn’t come. Anger made him run faster.
It wouldn’t take the goon squad back at the base long to get themselves together and come for him. For all Colin knew, they were already on their way to Elkwood. Colin had to get to the school, find Becca, and make sure she was okay, and then … what? Go up to his biology teacher and accuse him of being a werewolf? How would he ever prove it? Once Mr. Emerson and his small army showed up, it’d all be over.
Colin felt a small stab of regret at having punched Mr. Emerson, but the thought was fleeting. After all, the man had imprisoned him, shot at him, and locked up his grandmother.
Colin wondered how his grandmother was fairing. Knowing what he now did about the little old lady, he immediately followed that thought up with one of extreme pity for all the men, creatures, and dragons locked up with her.
As Colin neared Elkwood School, the scent in the air changed from damp forest to the smell of cut grass on the football field and an ungodly odor emanating from the school cafeteria. Moments later, he emerged from the forest and stood at the edge of the football field.
Colin’s heart was beating fast from the run, but he wasn’t tired. If anything, he felt invigorated. His inner wolf was getting restless, but he still couldn’t reach the creature through the fog. He was going to have to go this alone.
His necromancer girlfriend was in trouble. Colin wasn’t sure how the shining armor was going to fit, but he couldn’t just let her be killed. He finally had an honest shot at going on a date. With a girl! No demons, no homicidal werewolf biology teachers, no dragons, no secret government organizations, and no vampires were going to stand in his way.
Colin marched across the football field.
As he reached the back double doors of the school, he heard the bell ring twice to signal the start of the first period. The ringing resonated through his wolf hearing, and his head spun a little.
Colin’s first priority was to find Becca; luckily he knew exactly which class she’d be in right now. Thinking he also needed to avoid Principal Hebert when he suddenly remembered who the large ex-marine-looking teacher really was. Principal Hebert was a captain in Commander Emerson’s little government army.
Crap.
If Hebert was here, then he’d no doubt already been notified about Colin’s escape and—
“Mr. Strauss!” said the booming voice of Principal Hebert.
Colin had been so focused on finding Becca he’d ignored his surroundings again. He turned to his left and laid eyes upon the imposing-looking man.
Hebert had removed his usual jacket and tie and had rolled up his shirtsleeves to show muscular forearms that looked like they could bench-press any number of very heavy things. Colin could hear the man’s steady heartbeat but could also smell his fear. Hebert wasn’t sure what to make of his adversary after watching Colin change last night. Maybe that would give Colin an edge.
It certainly made sense with so many supernatural children in the school to have a caretaker for them all. That was Principal Hebert’s real role here.
“I’m sorry, Colin, but you’re going to have to come with me.”
“That’s not going to happen.” Colin had never been more certain of anything before in his life. He had to get into that school and rescue Becca. Chances are Mr. Winter had already heard or smelled him. Colin was running out of time.
Principal Hebert pulled a small, rectangular black box from his left pocket. “This is going to hurt, Colin. And I’m sorry.” He slipped his right hand behind his back, unsheathed a long, shiny hunting knife, and held it up. “Silver. We heard from one of our other offices that it’s the one thing you creatures can’t heal from.”
“It should be me who apologizes to you, Principal Hebert.”
“For what?”
“I just wanted to say sorry before we get started,” said Colin. “You’re a good man, and you don’t deserve what I’m about to do to you.”
The scent of fear coming from Principal Hebert grew stronger. He held up the black box and pressed a button on the side. A bright blue spark appeared at the end of the box. “Do you know what this is?”
“It’s a Taser,” said Colin.
“This isn’t just any Taser. This was developed by our R&D department to take down large creatures. This thing packs a shock that would knock an elephant out.”
“I can smell your fear, Hebert. And I can hear your heartbeat. I know you’re a trained soldier and you’re keeping yourself calm, but I know you’re scared. You don’t know what I’m capable of, and maybe that makes two of us. I don’t fully understand my powers yet. What I do know is that there’s another werewolf in your school. And I have to stop him before he kills anyone else.”
“I was told you would say that. It doesn’t have to be this way, Colin.”
Before Colin could respond, Hebert dived and jabbed the Taser at Colin who caught Hebert’s wrist in one hand and grabbed him by the neck with the other. Hebert’s fear skyrocketed, his eyes growing wide. His fear was all Colin could smell, and he loved it. He wanted to hunt in that moment, craved the thrill to hunt down and devour prey. He wanted to turn into the wolf. It felt closer but still out of reach. Adrenaline surged through him, and he knew he could end this man’s life with a twist of his hand.
But this wasn’t his prey.
Hebert raised the silver knife in his right hand. In one swift motion, Colin released the large man, snatched the Taser, and jabbed it at the principal’s chest. Hebert wasn’t lying about the power of the device. It threw the former-Marine back several feet where he crumpled in a disorganized heap; the silver knife skittered across the concrete. Colin crushed the Taser device in one hand and dropped it. He pushed open the doors and entered the school.
The smell of aftershave hit him, and Colin’s anger burned inside him.
He must be bathing in the stuff.
Hello, Colin.
It was Mr. Winter’s voice in Colin’s head.
You’re late for class.
I’ll be there soon.
I’ll be waiting.
Colin crossed the hallway and pushed open the double doors to the gym. The fastest way to the biology classroom was to cut across the gymnasium. The large room was empty except for Jeremy who was shooting hoops.
“Colin!” said Jeremy. “Where have you been? You’re getting later and later all the time.”
“What are you doing here, Jer? Shouldn’t you be in class?”
“Shouldn’t you?”
“Fair point. I’ve had a rough night.”
“Tell me about it. I ate an entire box of Pop-Tarts before bed. Tossed and turned all night.”
Poor Jeremy. I wonder what he really is?
“So why aren’t you in class?” said Colin.
Jeremy shot from the three-point line. Nothing but net. “Winter cancelled class today. Said he was too busy with something and that we were all inconsequential in the grand scheme of things. That’s a direct quote.”
“That’s it? He just sent everyone away for a spare period?”
“Yup, figured I’d get some extra b-ball practice in. I think Becca stayed behind though. Hey! Rumor h
as it you two hooked up or something? Way to go, Col!”
“Becca stayed behind? Why?”
“Winter said he wanted to talk to her about a special project or something. So did you kiss her yet?”
“I gotta go, Jer.” Colin started heading for the doors at the opposite end of the gym.
“All right. Don’t tell me. See if I care.” Jeremy shot again. Swish.
Colin reached the doors, then stopped, and turned back to Jeremy. “Jeremy, do you know about Elkwood?”
“What do you mean?”
“Elkwood. The town meetings, the vampires, the witches, the demons?”
Jeremy laughed. “Too many late night movies there, Col? You need to get more sleep, buddy.”
Smiling, Colin nodded, then pushed his way through the doors. Jeremy was as oblivious as ever and apparently had no idea who or what he was. Colin wondered how many more people were unaware to what Elkwood really was.
Colin ran down the hallway toward the biology classroom. The smell of aftershave was getting stronger. He could hear Mr. Winter’s voice through the door. He was talking about predators.
“In the animal kingdom,” said Mr. Winter, “a hierarchy is often established with the alpha predators of the world dominating and ultimately eradicating the lesser of the species.”
A few students walked down the hallway, but other than that, it was empty. Most people would still be in class while the biology students would be busy taking full advantage of the spare period.
This was crazy.
I don’t even know the extent or the limits of my powers.
But if he didn’t do something, more people would die. Becca would die. That wasn’t something he was willing to accept. Silas said he could heal from almost any wound except silver. He still had his strength, his speed, his other gifts.
Colin closed his eyes and tried to focus, to trust his senses. He could hear the general hum of the school. Teachers droning on. The placid rhythm of student’s heartbeats. The smell of bad food being prepped in the kitchen.
He pushed his hearing in on the biology classroom, and he could see the room clearly in his mind. Scents and sounds mixing to paint the perfect picture.
Hair in All The Wrong Places Page 15