Chapter 8 - EVERYTHING TURNS INTO CHAOS

"YINI!" I hear a familiar voice call out to me in desperation, but I can't turn to see who is shouting my name because I'm still focused on the wolf who is getting closer and closer. I have no idea why I am now his target, but at this point I don't think I'm going to find out.

Suddenly, Kaiden appears and starts running in the direction of the beast. But what is he doing?

"Kaiden, no!" Horror settles in every fiber of my being as I see Kaiden running towards the beast that can clearly kill him with a single bite. What is he doing, can't he see that it's dangerous?

From here everything happens so fast.

I can't believe my eyes. Kaiden transforms in front of my eyes into a beast very similar to the one that wants to kill us. The only difference is the color of its fur, which is in golden tones, just like its hair before it transformed. The golden-furred wolf doesn't stop running until it reaches the black wolf and starts a biting fight, both of them digging their fangs into each other's bodies and spinning around on the pavement due to the impact of Kaiden's onslaught.

The golden wolf, which is Kaiden, growls ferociously as he lunges at the black wolf, biting down hard on its neck. The two become entangled in a brutal struggle, snarling and lashing out with their powerful paws. The fury in Kaiden's eyes is evident, his golden fur gleaming under the streetlights as he struggles to subdue the black beast.

At this point, I am sure that I must still be asleep in my room, with the sheets tangled around my body, and that at any moment Kira will come to wake me up so that we can have breakfast together, despite having left my house late the night before. Yes, this must all be a dream.

"Yini, you must get out of here," Kira's voice brings me back from my thoughts. Despite what I thought, I'm still in the middle of the street with a very hurt Kira trying to get up, despite the obvious pain she's in while still holding her ribs. The wolf fight is very close. This is not a dream, and I feel the panic starting to set in. I must do something before it consumes me. "Yini!"

Both wolves fight furiously. The golden wolf lets out a growl into the air, and I end up making a decision: we have to leave now.

I get up from the ground and drape one of Kira's arms over my shoulders to distribute some of her weight on me so I can move her more easily. I try not to touch the part of her ribs so I don't hurt her more. Kira complains but lets herself move. I open the passenger door and feel her inside the car, closing the door when I make sure her whole body is completely inside.

"Hey, what are you doing!" I ignore Kira's complaints, as I'm sure she'll have plenty to say. I round the car and do the same but in the driver's seat. Luckily, the keys are attached, so it takes me no time at all to start it. "Yini!" Kira desperately tries to get my attention.

Meanwhile, Kaiden, in his golden wolf form, continues to fight fiercely against the black wolf. His movements are agile and powerful; he launches quick and accurate bites, deftly dodging his adversary's attacks. In a moment of fury, Kaiden lunges at the black wolf, driving his fangs into the beast's neck, shaking it violently. The black wolf tries to break free, but Kaiden does not give in, keeping it under control.

The fight is intense and brutal, with both wolves emitting deafening growls. Kaiden uses his front paws to strike the black wolf, leaving deep marks in its dark fur. Blood splatters the pavement, and the sound of fangs clashing and bodies slamming together is terrifying.

Finally, the black wolf manages to break free momentarily and retreats, but Kaiden gives it no respite. He lunges at it again, with a mammoth fury, ramming the black wolf and driving it to the ground. The fight continues with more intensity, and Kaiden shows his strength and determination to protect us.

As Kira continues to call out to me, terror urges me to act quickly.

"Isn't it obvious, he got us out of here before those dogs eat us!" I say as I try to calm down. Kira rushes to grab the lever to open the door, but I set the latch before she can do so when I notice her intentions of wanting to get out of the car. "You're leaving with me."

"Of course not, I have to go back and fight!" Kira keeps trying to open the door with both hands until she manages to break the lever, staying with it in her hands. "Damn it!" In her anger, she retaliates by hitting the car's dashboard over and over again. "I can't let that bastard think he beat me!"

"KIRA! We have to go! I won't let you go there again with those hideous beasts-" A sound stops me in my tracks. It's one of the back doors of the car opening. Damn, I should have locked all the car doors. I rush to take the crowbar out of Kira's hands and prepare to throw it at the threat if necessary.

"Auch, Yini, that comment hurt. Of all the things I thought you'd say to me upon seeing my wolf form, the word 'hideous' isn't one of them." Kaiden? What's he doing here? What about the other wolf? And how did he hear me? But I didn't see him nearby. "What are you doing with that crowbar?" asks Kaiden as he points to my hand, and I'm still very confused.

I still have the crowbar in my hands, waiting to be thrown in the most violent and damaging way a plastic crowbar can do. Before I can respond, my gaze darts to where the glass in the back of the car used to be, right behind Kaiden. I notice that in the distance the black wolf is lying on the ground, seemingly defeated. Well, that answers even one of my questions. If the wolf is dead, my worries go down just a little, or at least I thought they did, as the black wolf opens its eyes and begins to rise from the ground as it shakes its head, and it clearly looks much more furious than before.

"Oh no," I feel all the blood leave my face.

"What do you see?" Kaiden turns back and notices the wolf starting to rush towards us again. "Shit..."

This can't get much worse. I turn to look at Kaiden to chastise him for not doing his job right, I thought he got rid of the wolf! But as I go to complain, I notice he has no shirt on. My gaze involuntarily drops much lower, and I notice that he doesn't have any pants on either, let alone underwear. "Shit..."

"Can you tell how much they curse?" Kira also turns to the back seats. "Kaiden, you creep, get off! Don't put your sweaty naked ass in my car!" Kira starts to scold Kaiden, but I guess she notices who's coming at full speed for payback. "Shit..."

"Wait," I start to adjust the rearview mirror and move the gearshift lever so I can get out of here as soon as possible while my hands sweat uncontrollably. I berate myself for always being so careful when driving. If my father hadn't given me the worst driving lesson ever, I wouldn't have been traumatized for life about road safety. But my little ritual, which this time might end my life instead of protecting it, is interrupted when I notice a new visitor right in front of the car.

"Why didn't you finish him off, Kaiden!" Kira shouts angrily, ready to argue with Kaiden despite the situation. "You should have killed him! That's the most basic rule!" Kira turns to me and looks at me, I feel her piercing gaze. "Yini, start."

But even though Kira is talking to me, I can't help but look straight ahead without making a move. I can't take my eyes off him, as his sharp teeth gleam in the artificial light from the street lamps, making them look that much more menacing. "Emm... guys..." My voice comes out too low, as if the slightest startle could trigger the wolf's fury, while still trying to get Kira and Kaiden's attention.

"Guys..." I try to get both of their attention, as they still haven't noticed the new visitor.

"What?!" they both ask in unison, as they now focus all their attention on the new threat standing right in front of us, his breath fogging up the car glass.

For an instant, no one says anything. The silence becomes heavy, interrupted only by the huff of the wolf's breath fogging the front glass. Kira grips my arm tightly, her fingers digging lightly into my skin. Kaiden tenses his muscles, bracing for any sudden movement from the wolf.

The wolf is still there, its yellow eyes fixed on ours through the glass. He lightly taps a foreleg on the ground, kicking up dust and increasing the sense of menace. His breathing is heard as a hoarse, menacing whisper, echoing inside the car.

"Damn it, Yini, start the hell up!" Kaiden exclaims, his voice tense and urgent. Kira's hand clings even tighter to my arm, and I can feel her pulse racing.

I try to control my heaving breathing as my fingers tremble over the gearshift. I close my eyes for a moment, trying to find the calm I need to turn the ignition and start the car.

"What are you waiting for, start!" yells Kaiden, which causes my foot to stomp on the accelerator.