The Wolf In Me

"Are you ok? I'm sorry sir. I will clean it before you leave to avoid stepping on it."

I cleaned my black trousers off from the few chips and salt that landed on it.

"I'm fine, it's ok. Go tend your wound first. I will wait," I said smiling at her to make her feel better.

She rushed inside and took five minutes to come back out. She has put a stick on the wound and started cleaning the mess.

My eyes gazed at her for the first time. She looked very young, had golden hair tied up in a ponytail exposing her pale skin and small frame. She then lifted her head and looked at me smiling exposing her dimples and her beautiful large brown eyes. I smiled back and nodded to make the awkward silence between us feel even worse. She left and soon returned with the change.

"Keep the change, it's fine," I said as I stood up, wearing my light jacket.

"Thanks for your service," I grinned, trying to look at her badge to see her name.

It was too small for me to read from the distance we were at, so I couldn't make it out.

"Courtney," she answered, returning a grin.

Turning around towards the cash register, she opened it to put the cash in place.

"Yeah, thanks Courtney," I replied and then left in search for the location, hoping I manage to find it before sundown.

It was already dark and I could barely see. I switched on the car engine and thought of finding a motel somewhere nearby. I started driving and I kept looking to my left and my right hoping I would find a place to sleep for the night. Nothing seemed to be close by except for one house here and there.

I then saw a small one floor house made of wood close by and decided to stop there. I knocked at the door twice before a very tall man with a long ginger beard and hair showed up.

"What do you want?" He asked with a very rough, country style tone.

you one of those pranksters I had to

at him and his big

you can help me find a place to stay for the night. I was trying

me there staring at it for a while. I thought he was

to myself, unlocking the

opening the car door I saw something running into the woods. I stared at the trees for a while, then I notice something from deep into the woods. I kept staring straight at the forest and that is when I notice that there was something between the trees staring

at the thought of some adventure, hoping that that thing had to do with the picture I got from my boss.

can only imgine the things we end up in. To get the job you have to have the will to work in dangerous environments as well as curiosity which would help you

feel fear by exposing me to things that looked scary for the age I was back then. He would tell me things like; "keep looking at it. Think of what you can do to stop yourself from being afraid of it." He used to train me to fight, telling me that in case I found a few bullies in the streets, I would know how to protect myself. Training hard made me stronger both in person and in character which made it difficult

make you want to run off like a coward, but me being me I decided to go and get as close as possible to whatever

making the creature clearer, before a panicked voice halted me in

steps," he screamed out, running to my

safe and away from sight, trying to see why he is stopping me to walk any

I took one last glance at the forest, noticing that the creature that inhibits it was gone. As puzzled as I was I could't further track the creature

Trust me I know enough to give you full detailed stories of things I have wittnessed," he said shakily and

I mumbled to myself before he took

you from this area sir?" I asked curiously, thinking that he could lead me to

family lived here for a very long time. Stay away from danger young boy. Trust me, it is not safe for you here unless you know this land well. Anyway, what brought you here? We don't get much tourism in these

the forest again, hoping that I would see that thing once again, I decided to show the picture to this old man and see if I notice

thing. Don't. I won't say its name. It dangerous to

find out more about it. All I know is that this picture was taken somewhere

momentarily to observe his

something about it? Anything... maybe a