Chapter 19: I thought it was over

What’s happening to me?”

Damien’s voice was barely a whisper as he opened his eyes. The room was dark, but the walls seemed to have eyes. His chest burned, his eyes widened when he looked down.

The black mark, the bite that the Alpha has given him had turn black and it was spreading across his chest, it felt as if it was alive. His heart thudded, his face became confused.

No… no, this can’t be happening,” he muttered, fumbling to his feet.

He ran to the mirror and stared at his reflection. His golden eyes were dull, almost shadowed, and the black mark seemed to crawl over his skin, panic surged through his chest.

He got up and dressed, he ran out of the house and headed towards the school, his legs pumping hard. Every step felt heavy, like the air itself was against him. He stopped in front of the school doors, gasping.

Jack was sitting on the front steps, his backpack slung over one shoulder. “Damien! What’s wrong?” he called as Damien stumbled toward him.

“It’s my chest....look!” Damien ripped open his shirt just enough to show Jack the dark, spreading mark. His hands shook, and he struggled to catch his breath.

Jack’s eyes widened. “What… what is that?”

Lyra arrived behind Damien, her ponytail swinging as she jogged up, she saw the mark on Damien's chest. “Damien… calm down,” she said quickly, placing a hand on his shoulder. Her eyes scanned the mark. “I think… I think it might be normal. I mean, after everything that’s happened…”

Damien’s chest heaved, and he took a shaky step back. “Normal? Lyra, this is not normal!”

Suddenly, he coughed violently. Blood splattered onto the steps, and he staggered, nearly collapsing.

Damien!” Jack shouted, grabbing his friend before he fell.

Lyra’s eyes widened in alarm. “That’s not normal!” she hissed, her hands trembling as she steadied him.

Damien coughed again, harder this time. The taste of blood filled his mouth. He pressed a hand to his chest, his eyes darting around the schoolyard and then… darkness.

His vision went black, completely black. He stumbled, clutching his head, panic rising. “I… I can’t see!” he gasped.

They both grabbed him, holding him upright. “We need to get him somewhere safe. Now,” Lyra said firmly.

“Lets go to Maya, she’ll know what to do,” Jack said, his voice shaking.

They ran as fast as they could, carrying Damien to the old abandoned house. His breathing was ragged, each cough wracking his body.

Maya opened the door before they could knock. “What’s happening?!” she demanded, her sharp eyes immediately scanning Damien.

“He… he’s sick,” Lyra panted. “Something’s wrong with him, he started coughing up blood and he can’t see!”

Maya’s expression darkened. “Bring him inside, quickly.”

They laid Damien on the floor, and he whimpered as the black mark spread further across his chest. His golden eyes were now shadowed completely.

Maya kneeled beside him, opening the ancient book they had carried with them for months. The pages were filled with symbols, strange drawings, and notes about illnesses and curses affecting Alphas.

Damien groaned, clutching his chest. “I feel… weak… so weak…”

Maya’s fingers raced over the book’s pages. “There it is… right here.” Her voice was tight, serious. “The symptoms match exactly. The black mark… the blood… the blindness…”

Lyra knelt beside Damien, gripping his hand. “What is it, Maya? Tell us!”

Maya’s eyes were wide and grave. She took a deep breath, her lips pressed together. “Damien… you’ve caught the Devil Flu.”

Damien’s body shivered violently. “The… Devil Flu? What does that mean?”

Maya’s hand rested on his shoulder. “It’s… deadly. It attacks werewolves, it's a very deadly disease. If we don’t find a cure quickly… you could die."

Damien’s breath hitched, panic surged through him. “Die…? I… I can’t…”

Jack clenched his fists, anger and fear mixing. “No. We’re not letting that happen. There has to be a way.”

Lyra’s voice shook but was determined. “We’ll find it. We’ll figure this out, Damien. You’re not dying...not while we’re here.”

Damien coughed again, blood splattered on the floor. His body trembled, and the black mark throbbed as if it was alive. His golden eyes now dim flickered faintly as his wolf instincts tried to fight the sickness.

Maya flipped through the ancient book, scanning for remedies. “This is going to be hard,” she muttered. “The Devil Flu… it’s not like anything else, most Alphas who get this… don’t survive.”

Damien’s hands shook. “I… I don’t want to die… not now, not after everything.”

Jack knelt beside him, gripping his arm. “You’re not going anywhere. We’ll fix this, Damien. We have to.”

Lyra rested her hand on Damien’s forehead. “Hold on… just hold on, we’ll figure this out together.”

Damien’s chest rose and fell rapidly. His breaths were shallow, but he tried to nod. “I… trust you…”

Maya’s eyes darted across the pages again, stopping at a symbol she had never seen before. “There’s… a mention here. Something about a rare cure but it’s dangerous, and I’m not sure if it’ll work in time.”

Damien’s jaw clenched, his body trembling. “Do it… whatever it takes.”

Lyra’s hands shook slightly as she nodded. “We will. Don’t worry, Damien, Maya do something....”

Jack’s fists were tight at his sides. “How did he get the flu, nothing will happen to you Damien, you just need to breathe "

Maya turned to them, her eyes narrowed. “This… this is serious. I don't know what to do, how did this suddenly show up, is it an illusion.”

The room fell silent, except for Damien’s ragged breathing and the occasional cough.

Damien’s golden eyes, now barely glowing, stared at Maya. “I… I thought everything was over… that we could be safe… but now… I don’t know.”

Lyra gripped his hand tightly. “We’ll fight this, you’re not alone.”

Jack leaned over, placing a hand on Damien’s shoulder. “We’re here. You’ll be okay… we’ll make sure of it.”

But even as they spoke, the black mark on Damien’s chest got worst, spreading slowly. His eyes were cloudy and his breath was shallow.

Maya’s voice dropped to a whisper, fear and seriousness clear in her tone. “Damien… this is going to be the hardest fight of your life. The Devil Flu… it has no cure and it might already be too late.”

Damien’s body shook violently, coughing again, blood coated his lips. His golden eyes dimmed further, and the wolf within him growled weakly.