literature

A Lycan's Legacy: Chapter 1

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Literature Text

If you’re going to start a story you might as well start it at the beginning.
My name is Callum Wood, your regular lad who lives alone in his small house in Redbank, a cozy little town far out in the countryside of North America.
I was nothing special, just a photographer for the local newsagent who took pride in his work and the people around him. Everyone in Redbank knew each other of course. A small town like that is bound to be cramped with people… and secrets.
I was 21 at the time of this story and I had my whole future ahead of me. A life of ease away from the bustling urban cities and highways. “An easy life” I said. Yeah right. It would have been. That was until ‘it’ happened…

********

I was abruptly woken up by the small sliver of sunlight that crept its way into my bedroom, taunting me out of bed to close the curtains in frustration.
“Just one more hour…” I groan under my breath, still half asleep as I make my way back to bed. That is until I was shocked out of my sleepy trance at the sight of the alarm clock. 8 am. I was late.
“Jon’s going to kill me!” I shout out, struggling to multi-task in between brushing my teeth, rounding up my clothes and preparing breakfast all at the same time.
And indeed, he was going to kill me.

********

“What the hell do you think you’re doing turning up a whole hour late to work?! It’s been the same story every day this week!” The man in the black suit shouts out angrily, his pristine name tag showing off his name with pride for the whole world to see. Jonathan Trapp; Manager of the ‘Redbank Express’… and my boss.
I watch nervously as the dominant force strides from one side of his office to the other, looking at me in disgrace. And the slice of toast still in my mouth.
“I'm sorry Jon. Just give me one last chance.” I beg of him, staring deep into his eyes.
“That’s exactly what you said yesterday! And the day before that, and the day before that, and the day…”
“I get your point boss. But seriously, I think I've got this wolf story all wrapped up.” I interrupt him, dropping the numerous papers and photos on his desk.
“See here? I think I've located the den of this wolf the locals are talking about. If I can just snap a quick pic we’ll be raring to go” I explain, pointing at the cavern in the forest to the outskirts of the town.
“And how do you expect to get these pictures, huh? Hotshot?” Jon asks sarcastically, waving away the papers I was holding out in front of his face.
“If I can just wait until tonight then the darkness should be able to mask my approach. And then ‘SNAP’! I've got my picture!” I watch as Jon makes his way towards his chair, swivelling around in a style that reminds me of a stereotypical Bond villain. After all… He definitely was one.
“OK Mr Wood. You've got this last chance.” He turns to look at his sophisticated calender. “But you’d better be careful. It’s the full moon tomorrow night. You don’t want you be eaten by a big hairy werewolf now do you?” He says sternly before staring at me intently. I try to pick out the sarcasm in his voice but surprisingly, nothing. I knew this guy hated me but I didn't think he wanted me dead.
“Don't worry boss! I’ll get those pictures for you!” I announce loudly, turning on my heel as I make my way out of his office, seeing his weak wave come to an abrupt stop as I curse under my breath.

********

I look out into the forest, scouring the many trees to look for any sense of direction. That’s when I notice the moon in the night sky.
Jon wasn't kidding. The appearance of the almost complete full moon sends a shiver down my spine as I think back to his joke.
“There’s no such thing as werewolves, right? I’ll be fine…” I say nervously, hesitantly walking towards the beginning of the forest. Unaware of the irony behind those very words…

“Come on… where are you?” I say to myself, slowly trudging through the twigs and leafs so it’s not to arouse any suspicion.
Who was I kidding? The wolf was probably staring at me right now, laughing at my failed attempts to ‘blend in’. But it wasn't a laugh that I heard. Instead more of a deep growl emitting from deeper inside the forest… one of a threatened and aggressive tone.
“Come here you big fluff ball. I just need to see that furry face of yours.”
But it was at that very moment that I had wished I had never said that. For standing before me was a wolf, staring me down with its deep yellow eyes, the moonlight glistening off of its thick grey coat. And its pearly white daggers.
“Oh shit…” My hearts skips a beat, struggling to keep it from jumping out of my throat as I slowly move backwards, unaware of the various obstacles scattered across the floor behind me. “Just stay there… good dog”, The fear in my voice becomes obvious as the wolf walks closer towards me. Close enough for me to make out its features.
It wasn't a wolf. It appeared to be one, originally standing hunched forward on all fours. But it was upon further inspection that that soon changed, for now the intimidating beast appeared to be standing on two powerful hind legs, ripped with muscle and covered in thick fur as it quickens its approach. Closing in on its prey.
“Don’t come any closer!” I shout out, backing away even quicker now as I see the look of hunger on the wolf’s face. “I've got a gun and I'm not afraid to use it!” I rummage around in my backpack in search of my pistol; The pistol that I forgot to pack.
“Please! Don’t kill me! I'm too young to die!” I make the brash decision to turn and run, only to have my feet taken out from under me by the conveniently placed rock that was just waiting to trip me over as I abruptly roll over on my back, pushing myself away from the wolf as it continues its slow yet menacing approach before peeling back its lips to reveal an enormous set of canine teeth. And a somewhat sinister sneer.
It was at that moment that my natural instincts kick in as I open my mouth to let out a scream for help, only to have it silenced as the wolf jumps on top of my prone body, opening its massive jaws as it roars in my saliva coated face as I flinch in fright.
I close my eyes, crying softly to myself as the wolf sinks its teeth deep into my neck, sending a huge surge of pain coursing through my body as I feel the flesh and tissue tear and my clothes becoming gradually soaked with the warmth of my own blood, lying paralysed in the crimson painted snow I feel the white hot pain that had taken over me slowly being replaced with the dark embrace of death…

The embrace that never came.
This is the first chapter of my new novel. I really enjoyed writing this... and its only the first chapter! As I've said before I've written novels in the past so I was expecting to be slightly rusty but I have to admit, I've still got my mojo XD

I hope you're looking forward to the rest just as much as I am.
© 2014 - 2024 Woody897
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nothing-creative's avatar
I just read the prologue to this story, and I must say I enjoyed this as much as I did that piece. I can appreciate the effort it takes to write a novel, and I think this is off to a great start. The only thing I would say (and I'm trying not to be too critical, seeing as I can't pull off first person myself) is that trying to mix up the sentence lengths might be a good idea. You seem to have a lot of short, choppy sentences in this piece. That's not a bad thing at all (agh, I'm sorry I'm such a picky person when it comes to writing), I just think that a bit more variety might help.