The transformation started subtly, with Mal shifting uncomfortably on the cot, her chains clinking softly. Then, the tremors began, rolling through her body like waves. Her breath hitched, and she clutched at the chains, her fingers curling into claws as her body strained against its human form.
I reached for her hand instinctively, but she yanked it back, her eyes wide and wild. “Stay back,” she rasped, her voice guttural and raw. “It’s starting.”
Liam took a cautious step forward. “Mal, you’re strong-you can fight this.”
She let out a low, humorless laugh, her glowing amber eyes flicking to him. “You don’t… understand,” she said through gritted teeth. Her shoulders hunched as her spine arched unnaturally, and a growl ripped from her throat, reverberating through the basement. “It’s… not… me.”
Logan crossed his arms, his face a mask of grim determination. “We should’ve left when we had the chance,” he muttered. His words weren’t loud, but they cut through the tension like a knife.
“We’re not abandoning her,” I snapped, glaring at him. “If you’re so scared, go upstairs.”
He held my gaze for a long moment before shaking his head. “I’m not scared,” he said, his voice low. “I’m prepared. There’s a difference.”
Liam, ever the peacemaker, stepped between us. “Enough, both of you. This isn’t helping.”
Another growl from Mal drew our attention. Her body convulsed violently, her breaths coming in short, sharp gasps. The faint moonlight streaming through the small window seemed to wrap around her, casting her shadow on the damp walls. Her eyes locked onto me, and for a split second, I saw a flicker of the Mal I knew-terrified but still fighting.
“Please,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “Don’t let me hurt you.”
“You won’t,” I said firmly, though my hands trembled at my sides. “We won’t let it come to that.”
Logan’s sharp exhale made it clear he didn’t share my confidence, but he didn’t argue.
Mal’s transformation accelerated. Her nails elongated into claws, her teeth sharpened, and her muscles bulged against her skin. Her chains groaned under the strain as her body twisted and reshaped itself. The sound of snapping bones and tearing sinew filled the room, making my stomach churn.
“I can’t… stop it…” Mal growled, her voice deeper now, almost unrecognizable. Her head snapped up, and her eyes burned like molten gold. “Run!”
“No one’s running,” Liam said, though his voice wavered. He clutched a length of chain he’d brought as a backup, his knuckles white.
Logan, always the realist, took a step back toward the door. “If she breaks free, it’s over,” he said, his tone flat but urgent. “You can’t reason with her when she’s like this.”
“We’re not giving up on her,” I shot back, keeping my gaze on Mal. “She’s still in there.”
Mal’s lips curled into a snarl, and for a moment, it looked like she might lunge at me. But then she froze, her claws sinking into the cot as she fought against the transformation. “I don’t want to hurt you!” she roared, her voice echoing in the confined space.
“You won’t,” I said softly, though I wasn’t sure I believed it.
The clock struck midnight, and the full moon’s light poured through the window like a floodgate had opened. Mal threw her head back, letting out a bloodcurdling howl that shook the walls. Her body shifted fully now, fur sprouting along her arms and legs, her face elongating into a snout. The chains groaned louder, and I held my breath, praying they would hold.
When the transformation finally stopped, Mal was unrecognizable. She stood on all fours, her massive wolf-like form filling the small room. Her fur was dark as the night, her eyes glowing with an otherworldly intensity that sent chills down my spine. She was enormous, her shoulders nearly brushing the low ceiling, and her breathing was deep and ragged. For a moment, none of us moved. The only sound was the clinking of chains as Mal tested their strength, her massive paws scraping against the concrete floor.
“Mal?” I ventured, my voice barely above a whisper.
Her head snapped in my direction, her glowing eyes narrowing. A low growl rumbled from her throat, vibrating through the air. It was a warning-a reminder that this wasn’t the Mal we knew anymore.
“She doesn’t recognize you,” Logan said, his voice steady but tense. “Back away. Slowly.”
I didn’t move. My feet were rooted to the spot, my heart pounding in my chest. “She’s still in there,” I said, more to myself than anyone else.
“She’s gone, at least for now,” Logan said sharply. “This is why we shouldn’t have stayed down here.”
“Quiet,” Liam hissed, his eyes locked on Mal. “You’re not helping.”
Mal’s growl grew louder, her claws scraping against the floor as she pulled against the chains. The metal groaned ominously, and I felt a fresh wave of fear wash over me.
“Logan might be right,” Liam said reluctantly, his voice barely audible. “If those chains don’t hold-”
“They’ll hold,” I said, though I wasn’t sure if I was trying to convince them or myself.
Mal lunged suddenly, her massive form straining against the chains. They held-for now-but the force of her movement made the entire cot skid across the floor. I stumbled backward, my heart hammering as her snarls filled the room.
Logan grabbed my arm, pulling me away. “She’s going to break free. We need to leave. Now.”
“No!” I yanked my arm free, turning back to Mal. “We can’t just leave her like this!”
“She’s not her,” Logan snapped, his voice rising. “She’s a danger to everyone, including you!”
“Stop arguing!” Liam shouted, stepping between us. “Focus! What do we do if she breaks free?”
“We keep her contained,” I said firmly, though I had no idea how we’d manage that.
Mal roared, her powerful jaws snapping at the air as she lunged again. This time, the chains holding her wrists began to splinter the cot’s frame, the wood creaking and cracking under the strain. My stomach dropped. She was too strong.
“We don’t have time for this!” Logan grabbed a length of chain from the table and looped it around his hands. “If she gets loose, we’ll have to restrain her again.”
Liam grabbed another chain, his face pale but determined. “We’ll do it together.”
“No!” I said, stepping in front of them. “You’ll only provoke her. Just… just give her a second.”
“She’s not calming down,” Logan said through gritted teeth. “We can’t wait for her to shred us all!”
Mal lunged again, and this time, one of the chains bolted to the wall snapped free, the anchor groaning as it tore from the concrete. She stumbled, momentarily thrown off balance, but the raw strength in her movements was terrifying.
“She’s loose!” Logan shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.
Before I could think, I stepped toward her, my hands outstretched. “Mal!” I said, my voice trembling but firm. “Listen to me! You’re stronger than this! I know you’re in there!”
Her glowing eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, I thought she might attack. But then she hesitated, her massive frame trembling. The snarl on her lips faltered, replaced by something almost… human. Pain. Fear.
“Mal?” I said softly, taking another step closer.
Logan swore under his breath, but he didn’t stop me. Liam, too, froze, his chain slipping from his hands.
Mal’s massive chest heaved as she panted, her claws digging into the concrete floor. Her glowing eyes flicked between me and the others, uncertainty warring with the primal instincts that had taken hold. I reached out slowly, my heart pounding so hard it felt like it might burst.
“It’s okay,” I whispered. “We’re here. You’re not alone.”
Her growl softened, her ears flattening slightly. The tension in her body lessened, though she still looked ready to pounce at any moment.
“She’s responding,” Liam said, his voice filled with cautious hope. “Keep going.”
But before I could speak again, the faint sound of footsteps from upstairs reached us. Mal’s ears perked up, and she let out a feral snarl, her attention snapping toward the ceiling.
“Someone’s upstairs,” Logan said, his voice tight. “If she hears them-”
“She’ll go after them,” I finished, fear gripping my chest.
Mal lunged again, this time with renewed strength. The final chain snapped, the sound like a gunshot in the confined space. She landed on all fours, her massive form blocking the stairs. Her head turned toward us, and for a moment, I thought she might attack. But then she bolted up the steps, her powerful legs propelling her toward the door.
“Stop her!” Logan shouted, grabbing another chain and chasing after her.
I hesitated for only a second before following, my heart racing. “Mal! Wait!” I shouted, my voice echoing up the stairs.
By the time I reached the top, the door was ajar, the cool night air rushing in. Mal’s massive form was already disappearing into the forest beyond the house, her dark fur blending with the shadows.
Logan caught up, his expression dark. “We have to go after her.”
“She’s faster than us,” Liam said, panting as he joined us. “And stronger. What do we do now?”
I stared into the forest, my chest tight with fear. “We find her,” I said. “Before it’s too late.”