Banner by Me
Banner by Me
Prologue
Dr. Angleman surveyed the destruction in the lab room with disgust. Professor Walsh had become too fixated on the boy – a Mr. Xander Lavelle Harris, construction worker, lifelong resident of Sunnydale – to take the necessary precautions that were a must in their line of work. Without fully understanding what he – it, Angleman reminded himself – was capable of, its strengths, weaknesses, and ability to adapt to a given situation, Walsh had underestimated the thing and it had resulted in her death and the deaths of several good soldiers.
Thankfully, Agent Finn’s squad had been spared since they’d been off duty at the time of the two hostiles’ escape. He was going to need Finn once his other project was completed.
“Get this cleaned up,” he snapped to the soldier beside him.
“Yes, sir!” The lieutenant spoke into a portable comm and arranged to have the bodies disposed of and the room set to rights.
“Do we have a location on the missing hostiles?” Angleman asked after a moment.
“Not yet, sir. They’re not in the immediate vicinity. We’re expanding our search now. We may have to go mobile because the trackers only have a 50-mile radius.”
“Do it. Assemble four teams. Cover each road out of Sunnydale. Start with the major cities.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Lieutenant?”
“Yes, sir?”
“I want frequent updates. And I want those hostiles recovered alive. Is that clear?”
“Yes, sir!”
~*~*~*~*~
Oz woke with a start when the sunlight hit his face. He sat up and looked around in confusion at the bushes surrounding him. A moan sounded to his left, and he turned in that direction to see Veruca, the singer from the Bronze, stretched out next to him.
He scrambled to his feet, trying to remember the previous night. He caught tiny snatches of images. Of him and another wolf taking to the streets. An encounter with a few humans before heading towards the forest, and the hunt. Feeding on a deer.
“I’ve got to go,” Oz said, and he didn’t wait around to see if Veruca heard him or not. He darted through the bushes and escaped into an alley behind a Laundromat. Thankfully the place was deserted; people had dropped off their laundry and skipped out to the coffee shop across the street to wait rather than linger in the stifling shop. After stealing a shirt and a pair of pants out of a dryer, he returned to his room to think.
He had a lot on his mind and some decisions to make.
Several hours passed, the phone rang and went unanswered. Probably Willow, he thought. More time passed and he still had no idea what he was going to do. He did know that he couldn’t return to his cage. Somehow he’d managed to get loose and it wasn’t safe for him, or the citizens of Sunnydale, if he got free again.
Which was why he wound up at Giles’ house an hour before sunset.
“Oz?”
“Giles.”
“What— that is, can I help you?”
“Do you still have your tranquilizer gun?”
“Of course.”
“I need you to shoot me.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“My cage isn’t safe. I got out last night somehow. I don’t have time to look for another place to stay. It’s just for tonight. Last day of the cycle.”
“Oh.”
“I hate to impose, but—”
“No! Come in. Come in.”
“Thanks.”
Giles gestured to the couch. “Please. Have a seat. Tea?”
“Sure. Uh… thanks.”
Giles came back into the room with a tray setting complete with tea and cookies, and Oz smothered a smile. He appreciated the watcher’s thoughtfulness, this quiet repast before night fell and the werewolf took over.
“I’m leaving, Giles,” he said suddenly. And he knew. Knew he couldn’t stay in Sunnydale. Knew he had to leave and attempt to get control of the beast inside him.
“Are you sure? I mean, do you think that’s for the best?”
“I got out last night, Giles. Who knows who may have been hurt.” Killed, he didn’t say. “I’ve got to find a way to get control of this thing inside me. When I change, I don’t remember. I hate… not remembering.”
“Where will you go?”
“I don’t know, but I’ll have a month to figure it out.”
“Very well. I do wish you the best of luck.”
Oz appreciated that about Giles. How he listened, how he offered advice if asked, abstaining if not. Such could not be said of his well-meaning friends. And he decided then that he wouldn’t say anything. Tomorrow, after he changed back, he’d leave. Just gather his few belongings and go.
Before anyone could change his mind.
Want to leave a review?
