You could say that again.

John looked around in panic, searching for a way out, but the door wasn’t the only exit missing. The storefront windows were gone, replaced by blank walls beyond the displays. The room was brighter now. All of his senses switched into overdrive. He could barely hear Emily’s footsteps as she came around the counter towards him over the thundering of his heart in his ears. Her scent grew stronger, the formerly overpowering incense dissipating into the background as his mind zeroed in on the living target.

He reeled around to face her, afraid of losing control but even more scared of being trapped against a literal wall. Emily took another slow step forward, hands up, palms facing him as if she were being arrested.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” the witch attempted to soothe him, simultaneously taking another step towards the lycan. “I just have some questions.”

John stifled a growl in his chest, half-crouched to attack if he needed to. The sound of warning was enough to make her pause mid-stride and take a step back.

“I’m sorry I scared you. I didn’t mean to.” Emily softened her voice, brows knit together in concern. “You’re the first werewolf I’ve met, well, the first one I’ve known for sure was one. A real one, I mean. Not in some game, like you were saying,” she rambled, pacing side to side without moving closer to him.

John watched, analyzing her every move: the way her hands waved about as she talked, how her eyes sparkled with excitement and curiosity, the swelling of her chest in the minute pauses for breath, the stuttered step of her injured right leg, and the way her hips swayed as she walked. His eyes lingered there for a moment before he shook his head to refocus and listen more closely.

“I mean, there are a couple people. I know they’re Abyssals, but I barely know who they are. They come in for big bulk orders covering a wide range of ailments, so I never got to nail anything down. But you!” She took another step forward, hands out again. “You came in for only the things you needed…” she paused, looking back at her counter as if trying to make a decision, “and I’ll give them to you.” Her emerald eyes focused again on John. “Free of charge! I just want to ask some questions. Please.”

Still tense, the gamer took a deep breath, his voice deeper when he **** himself to speak. “What kind of questions?”

Emily bounced with excitement, and her eyes lit up, shining with a strange glow as if an actual light were behind them. “I have so many… Like, when did you first change? How did you know you were a werewolf? Is there some kind of ritual to it? What does it feel like? And so much more!”

John blinked, flabbergasted, and shook his head again. “I don’t know much… I’m...” He paused, looking to the side as he thought up a way to explain it. “I’m new.”

A soft gasp escaped the witch’s lips, and the windows reappeared, letting the dim light filter back into the room. “You’re a Turned?” She walked right up to him, either no longer afraid, or overcome by her curiosity. “Who bit you? When was it? Were you attacked?”

While she marched forward with her questions, John could only step back, pressing himself to the door that had returned behind him. “I wasn’t attacked,” he half growled in response, making Emily freeze in place again.

“Turned by choice?” She stepped to the side, not getting closer, but as if to circle around him.

His eyes followed her, the limp ever-present in her step. “Not exactly,” he mumbled, unsure why he was trying to explain anything.

Her nod was stilted, unconvinced, and she smiled. “Sorry. I got a little excited.” Her voice was soft and soothing again. “I’m a witch, but my grandmother died before she could teach me much. I have learned spells and things from her books, but the Abyss is largely closed off to me.”

John nodded slowly, his muscles starting to feel sore from staying so tense.

“I just want to learn. There are potions that can help you,” the witch started to plead with him, even going so far as to take a step back so he didn’t feel so pressured. “No charge. I’ll help you for free, just, please. Let me study you?”

That caught him off guard and the gamer blinked, stammering as he clutched at his shirt, “S-study me?” He cleared his throat to sound more sure. “I’m not a biology project.”

“No!” Emily shouted, realizing what she said. “I didn’t mean, like, dissect you. I’m not a monster, no offense.” He raised an eyebrow as she continued, “I just want to ask questions. Maybe we can help each other?”

“I don’t have many answers for you.”

“All the better. If you don’t have a pack, then we can work together to figure out how your stuff works. That’d be good for both of us, I think. Helps you, helps me...”

John watched her as she paced and ranted half to herself. ’I do need to learn, and having a friend that knows my secret may not be a bad idea...’ He idly chewed on his lip as he thought, tasting a hint of blood as his sharp canines nicked the sensitive skin.

The look on Emily’s face changed suddenly and she rushed over to him, producing a white lace handkerchief. “I’m sorry. I probably made you really nervous.” Her sudden movement made the gamer hit the back of his head against the heavy wooden door, but she just gently cleaned the cut on his lip whispering another apology under her breath, the moment stretching in silence. “So,” Emily cleared her throat, “how long have you been a werewolf?”

“Lycan,” He corrected. “I think they prefer lycan.”

She blinked at him and smiled, tucking the stained cloth back into her pocket. “Alright, lycan then. How long have you been a lycan?”

John licked the tender cut, looking down at her freckled face and noticed a pale scar bridging the space between her emerald eyes, somehow compelled to tell her the truth. “Since Monday night…”