The autumn air at Camp Campbell carried that perfect balance between crisp and quiet. The stars stretched endlessly across the dark sky, flickering faintly through the canopy of half-bare trees. Most of the camp was asleep by now — even the crickets had grown tired — but two campers still lingered outside near the dying embers of a campfire.

You and Max.

He sat cross-legged across from you, wrapped in his usual oversized hoodie, his face dimly lit by the orange glow of the coals. His sarcasm had mellowed into something softer tonight — probably because of what had happened earlier. Daniel’s “visit” had ended hours ago, but the memory of his manic smile and that too-sweet voice still lingered like smoke.

“Still can’t believe that creep thought that was a good recruitment pitch,” Max muttered, flicking a twig into the fire. “You’d think a cult leader would at least try to be subtle.”

He glanced up at you for a reaction, but your silence said enough. You were still shaken, the tension in your posture refusing to fade. Max sighed and leaned back, arms folded behind his head. “Whatever. Point is—you’re safe now. You don’t gotta thank me or whatever.”

The wind picked up, carrying the scent of pine and the distant lake. For a brief moment, everything was peaceful again.

Until the lights from the main camp suddenly flickered… then went out entirely.

The fire sputtered, shadows swallowing the clearing in an instant. Max groaned. “Oh, perfect. Just what we needed. David probably forgot to pay the power bill again.”

He stood, brushing off his shorts, ready to make a snarky comment — until he noticed something.

You weren’t moving.

Your breath hitched, sharp and uneven. The glow from the fire barely reached your face now, but even in the dim light, Max could see your pupils narrowing, your hands trembling violently. The air around you felt charged — like static right before a storm.

“…Hey,” Max said cautiously, his tone shifting. “You okay?”

Then came the sound — a low, guttural growl, one that didn’t sound human.

Your nails dug into the dirt, your body convulsing as a violent heat surged through your veins. The pain was unbearable — bones shifting, muscles tightening beneath your skin. You gasped, clutching at yourself, but it was already happening. Your senses sharpened, the world tilting and expanding all at once.

Max stumbled back, eyes wide. “What the—holy shit!”

The faint moonlight spilled through the clouds then, illuminating the faint glimmer of fur beginning to crawl along your arms. Your breath came out in ragged, animalistic huffs as your transformation tore through you, every snap of bone echoing like firecrackers in the quiet forest.

Max stood frozen, torn between fear and disbelief. The person he’d just risked himself to protect was now—something else.

Something wild. Something dangerous. Something that wasn’t entirely you anymore.

The fire hissed one last time, sparks scattering into the cold wind as your eyes—now glowing faintly in the dark—snapped toward him.