That Night in the Alley

It was once again nearing the end of the spring semester. I had just turned 20 a month before. Hannah and I were at the Golden Gilt strip club. Not one of my favorite clubs. The name alone made me want to yack. The owner brought thought of torture to my mind. But he payed the best of any club in the area and his crowds were always the best tippers. Hannah could never say no to an offer from the Golden Gilt.
It was the night before the full moon. I remember distinctly because i had been studying about the moon and it's effects lately in one of my preternatural classes. One of my favorite proffesors was the teacher. I had taken every one of his classes I could so far. He was a genuine genuis. He had tutored me when I had slight problems with class. He had worked around my schedule. Once even tutoring me for a test after I got off work from Spray at 2 in the morning. I had once had a vision of him as well. The clearest vision I had ever had. It was of him shapeshifting into a wolf. In a later tutoring session I brought up this vision. He asked me never to mention it again. And I never did. I knew then what he was but we never discused it. I understood his secrecy. I would have done the same thing to save my job.
So anyway there i go again off track.
It was the night before the full moon. As Hannah prepared backstage I sneaked a peek at the house. It was unusually rowdy that night. I was almost prepared to not let Hannah go on. Some of the men were grabbing for the girls. Something expressly forbidden. No on seemed to be holding them back though. I wondered where the bouncers were. As it got closer to Hannah time on stage i became more agitated. Something was wrong. This was not the normal crowd for the Gilt. I hadn't seen many buisness suits in the crowd. That was the usual customer there. Upper class men with money to burn on beautiful ladies.
AS hannah's turn was about to be next i informed her about the situation in the crowd and said I was going to go out into it next to the stage so i could be closer should anything happen. I saw fear flash across her
eyes for a brief moment. I kissed her on the cheek
and rubbed her arms to reassure her. She smiled at
me and mouthed the words I Love You. She did that
often. We were closer then sisters.
I made my way into the crowd finding a seat at a table
at the end of the stage. I looked around the crowd
surveying it trying to pick out who could be the possible
problem. As one of the girls was finishing up i heard a
lone male yell. "Come on baby give us a private show."
Something made me look in the direction the voice
came from. That's when i saw him. The "bastard." He
looked different but I was sure it was him. He seemed
to have cleaned up some in the year since i saw him
last. He didn't appear to be drunk but he had a beer in
his hand. He was flashing a couple of dollar bills trying
to get a girl over to him and his two buddies. I turned
quickly back to the stage as I heard Hannah's music
start. Hannah's strip went rather smoothly. The crowd
was rowdier then usual but they also threw more money
then usual so Hannah was pleased. There was two
incidents of guys trying to grab for her but Hannah
handled it well enough herself and there was really no
need for me out in the audience. As Hannah finished
and began collecting her money from the floor I got up
from my seat to head backstage. As I got up, the
"bastard" looked my way and caught my eye. It
suddenly clicked in his head who I was and he smirked.
Evil suddenly flashed through his eyes and he nodded
slightly. Not to me but to himself.
I turned away and headed backstage. I didn't need the
pass i wore, the security there knew me by name.
Hannah joined me backstage and as she changed I
counted out the money and gave the owner his cut.
Hannah emerged from the dressing room ready to
leave. I grabbed the keys for the car and headed for
the door. Hannah and I had learned from past
experiences that it was better for me to bring the car
around and she would just jump in. Because she was
a headliner and one of the last acts of the evening
many of the patrons drift out after her set. Many infact
come around the back looking for some action. So it's
just easier if i Bring the car around and she can jump
right in. I left for the car as Hannah counted the money
we had left and stood in wait by the door. I took my
time getting to the car scoping out for anything unusual. I brought the car around to the back and shut the
engine off leaving the keys in the ignition. I went to
open the door when a vision hit me. 3 dark figures
standing over me. I see the eyes of one as they flash
an inhuman color.
I shake my head and clear the vision. I look around
the back alley before exiting the car. I can feel
something there but I cannot see it. I Close the car
door behind me and slowly start walking toward the back
door. Hannah, seeing me through a window, starts to
emerge from the door I frantically motion for her to go
back in. She looks confused but does so. Just as the
door closes something bashes me in the neck from
behind. I go down to the ground but am not knocked
out. I scream for Hannah to lock the door. I can see
her through the window panicked. I dont get much of a
glimpse before something is on my back and flips me
over.
"Guess who?" He says
"Well hello Bastard." I say. I get a slap across the face
for that one. My lip splits and i began to bleed. I see
his two friends come up behind him.
"Jerry," The one says to the "bastard," "What are you
doing?"
"A year ago this bitch..." He didn't get to finish his
sentence. As he turned to respond to his buddies he
left himself open a stupid mistake. He was straddling
me over my legs. The strongest part of my body. I
quickly lifted them catching him in the nuts then
proceeded to lift and toss him slightly to my left.
He rolled on the ground then turned to me on all fours.
I began to see his eyes change. I suddenly realized
what he was. Or rather what he had become. A
lycanthrope. I quickly got to my feet. I kept Jerry in
the corner of my eye as I did so. He had lost control. I
could see it in his eyes. I saw his hands change to
claws. The fur on them beggining to grow, his eyes had
changed as well, he grinned bearing his fangs.
I had made the stupid mistake then. I had paused to
long. I quickly ran to the car hoping I could open the
door in time. I couldn't. Jerry was on me in a flash.
No playing around this time. With his claws he swung
at my back the light spring jacket I wore did nothing.
Neither did the tank top. His claws dug deep into my
back. I fell to the ground right in front of the car. I
heard Hannah scream so loud from within the door she
probably scared the whole club. In a matter of seconds
this had all happend.In less then a half an hour I would
bleed to death. Jerry was again on my back flipping
me over. He seemed to be losing more of his human
form. His two friends pulled him off me ina whirl. They
carried him and ran. As they ran of I heard one of the buddies say to Jerry, "Paolo is going to torture you for this on Jerry." I heard Hannah running from the door.
"Paige? Oh God, God Paige?"
I started to get up and open the door.
"Paige sit down. What are you doing?"
"YOu screamed so loud the cops will be here any
minute. I've got to get out of here."
I was already crawling into the car the wound on my
back stung everytime i moved.
"Let then come you need to go to the hospital."
I turned to face her. The serious look on my face
stopped her dead.
"Hannah. If the police come I might as well die. There
is nothing they can do for me. They might even let me
die because...I dont have time to explain this now
Hannah i need you to drive I don't think I can."
I crawled to the passenger side. Blood had stained the
leather seats.
Hannah climbed into the driver seat. She was in shock she didn't even sqeek about her white clothes and the blood covering them from the leather seats.
"To the hospital then?" She asked
I was feeling rather weak. "No, to 2 Chancelor Ave. Just
outside the campus. Mr. Ryme is the only one I can
think of to help me."
"Mr. Ryme? Your tutor?" Hannah asked.
"Just go before I bleed to death Hannah." I yelled I
didn't mean to scare her so. But i needed her to move
fast before I bled all over her new car. It was the only
way i could think of. I leaned as hard as I could against
the seat trying to slow the bleeding down if i could.
I passed out on the way to Mr. Rymes. I woke up
sometime the next day. At least I thought I did. Hannah was beside me. Her face was red from tears. I
sqeezed her hand.
She looked up.
"Paige.. I..." She tried to find words
"Shut-up Hannah." I was lying on my stomach. I tried
rolling over then suddenly remembered why I was on
my stomach. I cried in pain. The door flew open. Mr.
Ryme stood there, a look of concern on his face. He
was young for a professor only about 30 years old. He
looked like a god right then. I smiled but he didn't. He
came into the room.
"Paige just stay on your stomach right now." It was then
that I realized i was naked with nothing but a sheet barely covering my ass. I suddenly became very shy.
I turned my head away from Mr. Ryme.
"Paige you've been out for two days. You've started to
heal but it will still take a little while. Paige?"
I turned my head back. "I hear you. I'm just still in
slight shock is all. I mean. 2 days ago I knew what i
was gonna do with my life. Now I don't even know what
I am. Or rather I know what I am just not what flavor."
I added sarcastically. Hannah withdrew her hand. I
could sense her confusion. She was never much for
preternatural things.
"Paige I don't think right now or right here is the place
to discuss this. Hannah has been very worried about
you..."
"Mr. Ryme if your trying to protect Hannah don't even
try. We are closer then you imagine. I won't be hiding
this from her. I believe she loves me enough to handle
this."
I looked at her and see her starting to understand but she has to be told.
Mr. Ryme shifts uncomfortably in his shoes.
"Paige, I don't know if she can handle this.."
"Trust me Mr. Ryme she can. Hannah you remember
when you were helping my study for that exam on
Lycanthropes.?" She nodded her head. Remember
how were's are made?"
"When close to the full moon if a human is scratched or
bitten by a were it tends to infect the blood with the
"disease" Hanah suddenly realized. "The full moon
was yesterday. And he, that guy, was a were.."
"Yes, only problem is what kind of a were?" I joke again
some one has to lighten the mood. "I hate not
knowing what flavor I am."
"I took the liberty of doing some searching. Hannah
was kind enough to offer me the name of your assailant
and conviently the friends he was with were smart
enough to report the act to their nimir-raj."
I was unfamiliar with the last word. "So you know what I
am? What kind of were I mean? Well that's
comforting. So what am I? A were chia-pet?"
At that moment the most beautiful man Paige had ever
seen walked into the room. She was once again was
alarmingly aware of her nakedness.
The stranger spoke, "That would make you a
wereleopard. Well you will be one in about a month
anyway." The stranger then dropped his eyes to the
floor.
Hannah whistled. I knew she would be able to handle
it. SHe loved me no matter what and I loved her no
matter what.
Hannah had to break the silence even further. "So does
that mean your gonna be moody more then once a
month now. Cause I have a hard enough time now as
it is."
The men stared at Hannah. I bit the pillow to keep
from laughing.
"What you try living with her and see how you handle
her PMS."
I couldn't help it . I broke out into laughter and it hurt.

That was just the beggining there is still so much yet to tell.


That Night in the Alley It was once again nearing the end of the spring semester. I had just turned 20 a month before. Hannah and I were at the Golden Gilt strip club. Not one of my favorite clubs. The name alone made me want to yack. The owner brought thought of torture to my mind. But he payed the best of any club in the area and his crowds were always the best tippers. Hannah could never say no to an offer from the Golden Gilt. It was the night before the full moon. I remember distinctly because i had been studying about the moon and it's effects lately in one of my preternatural classes. One of my favorite proffesors was the teacher. I had taken every one of his classes I could so far. He was a genuine genuis. He had tutored me when I had slight problems with class. He had worked around my schedule. Once even tutoring me for a test after I got off work from Spray at 2 in the morning. I had once had a vision of him as well. The clearest vision I had ever had. It was of him shapeshifting into a wolf. In a later tutoring session I brought up this vision. He asked me never to mention it again. And I never did. I knew then what he was but we never discused it. I understood his secrecy. I would have done the same thing to save my job. So anyway there i go again off track. It was the night before the full moon. As Hannah prepared backstage I sneaked a peek at the house. It was unusually rowdy that night. I was almost prepared to not let Hannah go on. Some of the men were grabbing for the girls. Something expressly forbidden. No on seemed to be holding them back though. I wondered where the bouncers were. As it got closer to Hannah time on stage i became more agitated. Something was wrong. This was not the normal crowd for the Gilt. I hadn't seen many buisness suits in the crowd. That was the usual customer there. Upper class men with money to burn on beautiful ladies. AS hannah's turn was about to be next i informed her about the situation in the crowd and said I was going to go out into it next to the stage so i could be closer should anything happen. I saw fear flash across her eyes for a brief moment. I kissed her on the cheek and rubbed her arms to reassure her. She smiled at me and mouthed the words I Love You. She did that often. We were closer then sisters. I made my way into the crowd finding a seat at a table at the end of the stage. I looked around the crowd surveying it trying to pick out who could be the possible problem. As one of the girls was finishing up i heard a lone male yell. "Come on baby give us a private show." Something made me look in the direction the voice came from. That's when i saw him. The "bastard." He looked different but I was sure it was him. He seemed to have cleaned up some in the year since i saw him last. He didn't appear to be drunk but he had a beer in his hand. He was flashing a couple of dollar bills trying to get a girl over to him and his two buddies. I turned quickly back to the stage as I heard Hannah's music start. Hannah's strip went rather smoothly. The crowd was rowdier then usual but they also threw more money then usual so Hannah was pleased. There was two incidents of guys trying to grab for her but Hannah handled it well enough herself and there was really no need for me out in the audience. As Hannah finished and began collecting her money from the floor I got up from my seat to head backstage. As I got up, the "bastard" looked my way and caught my eye. It suddenly clicked in his head who I was and he smirked. Evil suddenly flashed through his eyes and he nodded slightly. Not to me but to himself. I turned away and headed backstage. I didn't need the pass i wore, the security there knew me by name. Hannah joined me backstage and as she changed I counted out the money and gave the owner his cut. Hannah emerged from the dressing room ready to leave. I grabbed the keys for the car and headed for the door. Hannah and I had learned from past experiences that it was better for me to bring the car around and she would just jump in. Because she was a headliner and one of the last acts of the evening many of the patrons drift out after her set. Many infact come around the back looking for some action. So it's just easier if i Bring the car around and she can jump right in. I left for the car as Hannah counted the money we had left and stood in wait by the door. I took my time getting to the car scoping out for anything unusual. I brought the car around to the back and shut the engine off leaving the keys in the ignition. I went to open the door when a vision hit me. 3 dark figures standing over me. I see the eyes of one as they flash an inhuman color. I shake my head and clear the vision. I look around the back alley before exiting the car. I can feel something there but I cannot see it. I Close the car door behind me and slowly start walking toward the back door. Hannah, seeing me through a window, starts to emerge from the door I frantically motion for her to go back in. She looks confused but does so. Just as the door closes something bashes me in the neck from behind. I go down to the ground but am not knocked out. I scream for Hannah to lock the door. I can see her through the window panicked. I dont get much of a glimpse before something is on my back and flips me over. "Guess who?" He says "Well hello Bastard." I say. I get a slap across the face for that one. My lip splits and i began to bleed. I see his two friends come up behind him. "Jerry," The one says to the "bastard," "What are you doing?" "A year ago this bitch..." He didn't get to finish his sentence. As he turned to respond to his buddies he left himself open a stupid mistake. He was straddling me over my legs. The strongest part of my body. I quickly lifted them catching him in the nuts then proceeded to lift and toss him slightly to my left. He rolled on the ground then turned to me on all fours. I began to see his eyes change. I suddenly realized what he was. Or rather what he had become. A lycanthrope. I quickly got to my feet. I kept Jerry in the corner of my eye as I did so. He had lost control. I could see it in his eyes. I saw his hands change to claws. The fur on them beggining to grow, his eyes had changed as well, he grinned bearing his fangs. I had made the stupid mistake then. I had paused to long. I quickly ran to the car hoping I could open the door in time. I couldn't. Jerry was on me in a flash. No playing around this time. With his claws he swung at my back the light spring jacket I wore did nothing. Neither did the tank top. His claws dug deep into my back. I fell to the ground right in front of the car. I heard Hannah scream so loud from within the door she probably scared the whole club. In a matter of seconds this had all happend.In less then a half an hour I would bleed to death. Jerry was again on my back flipping me over. He seemed to be losing more of his human form. His two friends pulled him off me ina whirl. They carried him and ran. As they ran of I heard one of the buddies say to Jerry, "Paolo is going to torture you for this on Jerry." I heard Hannah running from the door. "Paige? Oh God, God Paige?" I started to get up and open the door. "Paige sit down. What are you doing?" "YOu screamed so loud the cops will be here any minute. I've got to get out of here." I was already crawling into the car the wound on my back stung everytime i moved. "Let then come you need to go to the hospital." I turned to face her. The serious look on my face stopped her dead. "Hannah. If the police come I might as well die. There is nothing they can do for me. They might even let me die because...I dont have time to explain this now Hannah i need you to drive I don't think I can." I crawled to the passenger side. Blood had stained the leather seats. Hannah climbed into the driver seat. She was in shock she didn't even sqeek about her white clothes and the blood covering them from the leather seats. "To the hospital then?" She asked I was feeling rather weak. "No, to 2 Chancelor Ave. Just outside the campus. Mr. Ryme is the only one I can think of to help me." "Mr. Ryme? Your tutor?" Hannah asked. "Just go before I bleed to death Hannah." I yelled I didn't mean to scare her so. But i needed her to move fast before I bled all over her new car. It was the only way i could think of. I leaned as hard as I could against the seat trying to slow the bleeding down if i could. I passed out on the way to Mr. Rymes. I woke up sometime the next day. At least I thought I did. Hannah was beside me. Her face was red from tears. I sqeezed her hand. She looked up. "Paige.. I..." She tried to find words "Shut-up Hannah." I was lying on my stomach. I tried rolling over then suddenly remembered why I was on my stomach. I cried in pain. The door flew open. Mr. Ryme stood there, a look of concern on his face. He was young for a professor only about 30 years old. He looked like a god right then. I smiled but he didn't. He came into the room. "Paige just stay on your stomach right now." It was then that I realized i was naked with nothing but a sheet barely covering my ass. I suddenly became very shy. I turned my head away from Mr. Ryme. "Paige you've been out for two days. You've started to heal but it will still take a little while. Paige?" I turned my head back. "I hear you. I'm just still in slight shock is all. I mean. 2 days ago I knew what i was gonna do with my life. Now I don't even know what I am. Or rather I know what I am just not what flavor." I added sarcastically. Hannah withdrew her hand. I could sense her confusion. She was never much for preternatural things. "Paige I don't think right now or right here is the place to discuss this. Hannah has been very worried about you..." "Mr. Ryme if your trying to protect Hannah don't even try. We are closer then you imagine. I won't be hiding this from her. I believe she loves me enough to handle this." I looked at her and see her starting to understand but she has to be told. Mr. Ryme shifts uncomfortably in his shoes. "Paige, I don't know if she can handle this.." "Trust me Mr. Ryme she can. Hannah you remember when you were helping my study for that exam on Lycanthropes.?" She nodded her head. Remember how were's are made?" "When close to the full moon if a human is scratched or bitten by a were it tends to infect the blood with the "disease" Hanah suddenly realized. "The full moon was yesterday. And he, that guy, was a were.." "Yes, only problem is what kind of a were?" I joke again some one has to lighten the mood. "I hate not knowing what flavor I am." "I took the liberty of doing some searching. Hannah was kind enough to offer me the name of your assailant and conviently the friends he was with were smart enough to report the act to their nimir-raj." I was unfamiliar with the last word. "So you know what I am? What kind of were I mean? Well that's comforting. So what am I? A were chia-pet?" At that moment the most beautiful man Paige had ever seen walked into the room. She was once again was alarmingly aware of her nakedness. The stranger spoke, "That would make you a wereleopard. Well you will be one in about a month anyway." The stranger then dropped his eyes to the floor. Hannah whistled. I knew she would be able to handle it. SHe loved me no matter what and I loved her no matter what. Hannah had to break the silence even further. "So does that mean your gonna be moody more then once a month now. Cause I have a hard enough time now as it is." The men stared at Hannah. I bit the pillow to keep from laughing. "What you try living with her and see how you handle her PMS." I couldn't help it . I broke out into laughter and it hurt. That was just the beggining there is still so much yet to tell.