Wicked Hungry

“Screw the sigils. They’ve got my brother’s cat.”

In my pocket my phone buzzes. But out there, in the full dark, they’re rejoicing. Adrenaline fills my veins and for a moment I control the change, channel power into my muscles

. The flashlight is hard and solid in my pocket, and I pull it out.

But I don’t turn it on yet. They’re in for a nasty surprise. They deserve one.

Suddenly Enrique is with us, quiet, dark as night. As sharp as my eyes are, I still can’t see him. But I can smell him, feel his presence. Then he’s touching my shoulder with an outstretched hand.

“Stanley, you all right?”

“Enrique, they have Max.”

“Max?”

“My brother’s kitten.”

“The sacrifice,” Enrique whispers.

“We’ve got to get him,” I say.

“Dude, it’s not a sacrifice. It’s a trap,” Jonathan says.

“It’s my little brother’s kitten,” I say, snarling. “Come on, let’s go.”

“Go where?” Jonathan says. “Can you see anything?”

“Use your senses, not your mind,” Enrique says. “Bring out the animal inside you.”

“What are we, Jedi warriors?” Jonathan asks. “Give me a break.”

“Stop squabbling and let’s get out of here,” I say. I can smell Max’s fear out there, close by. Wait a minute — is it getting closer?

“No need,” Enrique says, looking out at the street. “Because they’re headed this way.”

Shuffling forms approach us in the dark. I try to focus on them, but that doesn’t help — Enrique is right: I need to use my animal senses. The only way to see them in this dim light is to look at them like a wolf. The change begins, but I control it, my hands growing just a little, my nose moving outward into a snout.

It hurts, but I’ve got to get to Max.

The change stops, and I can smell the zombies approaching our chalking. They stop then, and Zach curses. I can just make him out now. And in his arms there is a writhing bundle.

Max.

The cat’s smell hits me like a slap in the face, the smell of his fear and pain. But not just that. He’s wet himself in fear. Rage fills me and my snout moves further out, my canines grow in my mouth as I grind my molars together.

In the dark, Max’s eyes meet mine. For a moment he stops struggling in his captor’s arms and just stares at me. Then he makes this weak, plaintive meow, and my heart breaks.

I’m already moving to leap when Jonathan grabs one of my arms, holding me back. “No,” he says.

I pull away, but Enrique grabs me, too.

What’s going on? Have I been betrayed? Have Jonathan and Enrique joined them?

“Let me go,” I growl. “Now.”

I hear Zach laughing as Max scratches at him. Zach squeezes him, and I want to knock my friends down and jump at him.

“La luz, menso.”