Werewolf.

I rode my bike everywhere. I had done it as long as I can remember. Today, I was looking to get the package that my neighbor had promised me with to someone's house a few towns over. It was up a pretty big hill, and across a few larger highways, but I was sure I could do it. I had ridden that far before, and my neighbor knew he could trust me. I loved riding, and long rides were always better.



I grabbed the small package off of my front step. It was a small package: It looked like it could by a couple of coffee cups wrapped in a small towel. and that's about what it felt like too. It was completely covered in brown wrapping paper, and on the top of it in indelible marker it said "EDDIE" In bold, all caps letters. There was a not beside it.



"Cassie,



This package is very important, and must get to Eddie at his house in New Braytonville. You know where his house is, I've had you bring a few packaged to him before. Take your time, and whatever you do do NOT open the package.



I'll see you for lunch!



Grandpa"



No, he wasn't my Grandpa, but everyone in town called him grandpa, probably because he took care of near everyone who was younger than he was, and that was near everyone in town. He had lived there his entire life, and was that kind of guy who even though he was easily well into his eighties, he still shoved his own driveway, raked his own yard, and even went to the neighbor's house to help them after, too. You start to wonder if the work is keeping him young, or if he's just still so spy because of some inner determination. With Grandpa, you couldn't be sure. He didn't talk much about his younger years, and seemed to have just been this kind old man who lived in this town, and that's how it always was.



I grabbed the package, put it in my backpack, and threw my leg over my bike. The bike was an ancient 1980's Schwin road bike that I had picked up from the dump a few years ago. I always loved the old steel framed bikes, and so this one was perfect. It looked like the previous owner had never ridden it more than a few times: The paint was perfect. The gears all shifted smooth after I put on some new cables, and the brake pads were barely worn, although dry- rotted. I spent a good long weekend cleaning her up and she was just as quick and versatile as any of the newer road bikes I saw the Lawyer's rolling around on after work, struggling to get up hills.




I ripped down the road, toward Eddie's house. I had taken this trip a few times before, and I knew it was a long one so I had made myself a big sandwich for when I got there. The morning Sun was just high enough in the sky now to peek over the tall evergreens shadowing the road and put a nice warm glow on my face and arms. It was very refreshing after the long winter we had.



I turned the corner onto the main drag and continued until the turnoff for the mountain road came which would be the remainder of my trip. It was a 10 mile long dirt road that not many folks lived on. It was murder to modern car suspension thanks to the frost heaves in the winter and the ruts in the spring, but a bike had no problem dealing with it. I kept to the sides where the runoff from the snow melt didn't hurt the road as much and trotted right up the hill with a little bit of panting and heaving.



Then I saw it.



Two pairs of eyes out of the woods, accompanies by two large, dark shapes. Were they bears just coming out of hibernation? No, they were too fast to be bears, because by the time I turned my head to catch a better glimpse of what I had seen, they were completely gone. I looked again. I stopped my bike, and put a foot down keeping silent and listening. No leaves rustling from an animal running away. I looked slowly from left to right, looking for some sign of motion.



"Hello?"



No response came.



I started pedaling again, somewhat concerned about what may be out there. It was probably just a couple of hungry animals, looking for food after a long winter.



Then the smell came.



At first it was as if I had taken a very wrong turn out of the mountains and I was riding along the ocean, and it was just a few feet past the treeline. The smell of salt and dead fish and a little blood. Then that passed as a crested a hill. It was nearly noontime now. my concern about what was following me had made me ride a deal slower than I usually did.



Then I smelt it again.



this time there was no mistaking it. That was fresh, hot blood. And a lot of it. It must be everywhere. I could smell it coming from just around the next bend. I stopped my bike and went completely silent. Then I heard it. A gnawing, growling sound. It must be a wolf, or a feral dog eating its kill just on the other side of this bend. I grabbed my knife out of my backpack, and set my bike to the side of the road. I slowly and silently walked around the corner.



There was no mistaking it. I had read enough stories, and Grandpa had joked and told enough stories about them that I was sure it was a Werewolf. It had a stunted snout, and near human eyes, although right now they were glassed over, enjoying its fresh kill. at his feet were two full sized black bears, their necks town completely apart, by teeth and claw. the werewolf was so intoxicated by the blood and the food that he didn't even look up to see me.



I backed away still holding up my old fishing knife. my eyes were so fixed on that werewolf I couldn’t turn around. I eventually turned the corner of the road, and got to my bike. I picked it up from the ground, and as quietly as I could, mounted her to ride away and find another way to eddy's.



"Hey, Cassie!" Said a familiar voice behind me.



It was Eddie. He was covered in blood, and as naked as a newborn pup.



He Smiled "Can I please have my package now?"



I Screamed. Before I knew what was happening, Eddie was holding me, with his hand over my mouth. "Please don't scream, I don't want to have to end such a good friendship like this" His eyes glistened.



I let him slowly release me, and then took the package out off my pack, and dropped it on the ground.  He stared at the package for a long time, not seemingly caring that he was naked, or covered in blood, or that the package was getting drenched by the spring thaw mud on the dirt road. Eventually he heaved a huge sigh, and picked up the package.



"Thank you" Said Eddie.  and turned around, holding the package in one hand, limply by his side as he walked toward the shack he called his home.



I started to ride off.



"Oh, and Cassie!" he shouted back.



I stopped.



"Our little secret?" he asked, locking eyes with me. I couldn't help but think that his eyes looked as viscous as a wolf's in that moment.



I nodded, and rode home As fast as I could. Grandpa asked me if the package was delivered as he stopped by for our afternoon tea. I nodded, and refused to speak about the ride, or anything else.



"you saw him, didn't you" he asked. it didn't sound like a question.



"What do you mean? Eddie? Yeah of course I saw him" Trying to sound cool.



There was along silence. Grandpa sipped his tea and looked out the window.



"Eddie has been that way a long time. I make him medicine to help keep his urges at bay. I had feared I was going to be too late this time. This damn winter has made it so hard to.."



"YOU KNEW!" I stood up from the table. "YOU KNEW AND YOU SENT ME TO...to that MONSTER!?"



Grandpa kept eye contact with me, taking another sip of his tea.



"Of course I knew, that's a wizard's job." He stood up from the table. grabbing his coat and hat.



"oh no" I said "You're not leaving until I get some answers"



He threw a $100 bill on the table, and an old, leather bound book.  "Take these" he said. "Read the book, and then come to me."
 He shoved his hands in his pickets, jingling the change with his fingers.



"you're one of us now" he said, looking out the window, still jingling his coins.  "I'm sorry it had to be this way"



I looked down at the book, and picked it up and tried to read the cover. It was in some strange language. As I continued to stare at it, though, the characters shifted, and changed into words I could understand.



"THE WEREWOLF: MALADIES AND TREATMENTS"



"The werewolf.... But Grandpa-"



He was gone.