Howl under the Moon Prologue

Prologue1

The sky was grey as thunderous clouds stretched across the land. Up in the north of Fontana, the winds were blowing rapidly and swiftly. Nothing but dried and dead grass, scrubs and dirt followed the rhythm of the wind. Rain soon began to follow as well, then BOOM, lighting stroked down against the moist dirt of the earth. Someone was running.2

Running through the blistery cold, running against the wind, running against the whole world it was a young man not to close in his twenties that ran helplessly through and across the storm, panting so deeply in his throat that his mouth was dry. He turned his head slightly over his shoulders, eyes widen afraid of something or rather someone without even looking tripping himself over a rock landing horribly smack against the mud.3

“Why” He sobbed. “Why’d it happen to me?” Slamming his fist against the dirt, choking on his words before he was able to lift himself off the ground. A loud gunshot burst through the sky.4

“There he is!”5

“There’s the monster!”6

“Kill it! Kill it!”7

An angry crowd ran towards him not with their pitch-forks or rakes but with their guns, knives and any other deadly weapons; the victim tried to escape scrambling to his feet but it was a far pointless effort. He was grabbed by a handful of his hair and pulled back, “Please spare me! I meant no harm—!” He pleaded but someone struck him in the stomach, a blow with a barrel of the gun.8

“Shut up!!” He spat striking him again but across the face. Spitting blood, the victim looked down at the soil watching the blood drops being washed away by the rain; tainting the soil.9

“Pa! Pa! Wait, what’re you doing isn’t right!” The crowd turned their heads to see who disrupted their hunt, Why if it isn’t Shirley, tall and feminine feature a bit gawkiest girl with her red curls hanging down and wildly dancing against the wind while her navy blue dress were soaked under the pouring rain, “Please Pa reconsidered this!” She yelled across.10

The wind blew even more rapidly as Shirley tried to convince her father to release the struggling man. “Shirley, go back home I’m putting an end to this” He warned her. 11

“Pa—“ Lightening boomed again cutting off Shirley’s objection, “Please can’t we resolve this?!”12

“I Agree with her, Mr. A.B Miller” Shouted the victim. 13

The founder in 1913 by A.B. Miller, Fontana was originally an agricultural town of Citrus orchards, vineyards and chicken ranches astride U.S Route 66 (Now known as Foothill Boulevard) and criss-crossed by numerous rail lines. Fontana was radically transformed during World War II. Henry J. Kaiser’s steel mill in Fontana was the only steel mill west of the Mississippi River. The routing of San Bernardino Freeway through the section of the town was followed by explosive growth, with area becoming a prominent industrial suburb of San Bernardino.14

“Shut up!” he barked at the scruffy man, he was on his knees, his arms dangling and as his head looks down at the ground his eyes were focus on Miller, his body to weak move remember that he used his energy dodging and escaping the bullets, none the less the town folks that transformed into a mob. “I’ll not have my daughter….15

My Shirley, my sweet innocent daughter eloping with this….” Anger was in his tone. Mr. Miller let a tiresome sigh trying to control his tempter. “This mangy flea-bitten poor excuse of a man.” He pointed his finger at him not even looking at him. Nearing in his sixties with his beer belly tucked underneath his oversize old jeans. Old but like a stubborn ass he hoped—no prayed that Shirley would find a suitable man to settle down with to raise a family and live through the family name, perhaps he was wrong.16

“Umm….Mr. Miller not to be rude and all but I think in the matter in my opinion we should settle this like reasonable men.” Patting the old man on the shoulder like some good gesture would do. The old man jumped and startled stepped away a few feet from him and so did the crowd. 17

“How’d you-“18

“How’d I escape Joseph grasp, quite simple really.” He finished Mr. Miller’s sentence with a gleam in his smile, giving him a thumbs up, “I whacked him on the head. That boy is so easily distracted” Pinpointing the direction back with his thumb; Joseph wasn’t one of the brightest of men. His dirty brown hair blending with the earth lying face down against the mud unconscious though seeing mud bubbles, thankfully still alive, “You see Mr. Miller, I’m not the bad guy that you or everyone thinks I am neither am I a murder thankfully.”19

“Quiet you! You may fool everyone else here—but not me, you hear I saw you what you really are!” His gaze cold and flat he continued, the scruffy man merely cocked his head like a dog fully not understanding what Miller meant but he listened, “On one night of the crescent moon, it was like any other day nothing out of the usual. I left my office at around ten and as I walked down the street of Sierra, my house wasn’t as far from my work place. 20

I saw you Eric roaming the street like a ghost, I call to you but you didn’t answer as if you were trying to get away from something, so I followed you all the way out here the same exact spot like this.” he paused and a sudden grin formed, a sly grin, “When I followed you out here in the open grape field and peered, I saw something. Something man nor beast, no what I saw was Lucifer himself!!”21

Mr. Miller remembered that night the clearly night while everybody was either at the saloon or in bed in the comfort of their homes, Mr. Miller was walking from his office from downtown central minding and enjoying the last day of work as the stars were the eyes of god to watch over his creation. Peaceful it was however a figure caught his eyes since they barely adjusted in the dark but he recognized the figure. He called out to Eric but the man mustn’t heard of him and continue to move within the shadows.22

Curiosity got the better of him and automatically his feet followed with no reason but the urge inside wanted to follow was something abnormal but curiosity became determination.23

The figure which moved in a hurried paced as Mr. Miller quietly hurried as he could which to his surprise led to the outskirts of town and to a abandon grape vine field which made no sense on why Eric traveled here the old man thought. He hid while laying low between the bushes. Eric began stripping his clothing and setting them on the ground as the wind gave a smooth breeze prickling his skin suddenly Eric twisted and jerked himself; hugging himself something bizarre was happening, he grew and changed. 24

As Mr. Miller watched like anything he seen before he wanted to turn and run but stayed where he was, squinting his eyes to see as he crept closer, closer and closer until in his expression stunned in disbelief its face as it turned and growled like a berserk animal it yelled at the yellow disc that dominated the sky and vanished into the thicket fields. To that day and on it still haunted his dreams.25

“So shut your mouth dog, you were condemning to take us to hell to do the devils bidding!”26

“Mr. Miller, I assure you I have no intention on doing such things that you say—I mean what proof do you have?” Waving his finger as a sign of a no, no, but Mr. Miller pierce Eric with a glare feeling embarrassed that his face was beginning to redden, Eric was right what proof does he have. 27

The storm continued, the shivering coldness was overwhelming, the group decided to huddle together not knowing what to do next like animals in a corner. Shirley ran toward Eric ignoring her fathers warning, “Eric are you okay?” She asked in concern for the scruffy man named Eric. He smiled at her assuring that there was nothing to worry about.28

“Love and peace will conquer all!” He shouted louder than the thunder laughing as though he cheated death.29

Shirley led out a sigh of relief and smiled warmly at Eric then she turned to face her father, “Pa you can’t kill Eric.”30

“Why shouldn’t I, he’s the devils hound!” 31

Gathering up her courage she said, “Pa there’s something you need to know that I’ve tried to tell you. I’m pregnant!” She blurted out over the wind, now everyone was awestruck and stunned at the news. Mr. Miller tried to speak but no words came from his mouth. “What!” He yelled finally, Shirley nodded in reply.32

“Who’s the father?” He and Eric said in a union Shirley turned to face Eric again gently holding his hand to hers and placed it over her stomach, “Eric…” She paused. “It’s your child.” She looked up with a calm expression. Eric stared at her stomach. Then at her eyes seeing love, happiness, joy, and innocence in which he will never experience. His face turned pale and white as if seeing a ghost in sight, “Wait, what?” acting dumbfounded he was hoping that it was a joke. A sick twisted joke perhaps.33

“Yes Eric, it’s yours, you and only you are the father of our child. So you can’t kill him Pa.” She yelled back at the old man.34

“But we didn’t....Didn’t do it.” Whispering to her feeling fluster and embarrassed nudging her a hint that he didn’t put his seed in her, though she shook her head wildly. Soon the storm was beginning to stop but the thunderous storm stood hovering over them and the wet land looked like a blanket set on the floor.35

“Eric, please your making this harder than it is already is.”36

“But Shirley we didn’t do it—“ Hugging him tightly seeing Eric as his mouth was foaming saliva sooner or later his eyes were going to bulge out. Mr. Miller didn’t seem too please about the news. The crowd merely read his expression like an open book. It was an unpredictable situation.37

“We didn’t do it!”38

“Yes we did!”39

“No!” He shouted back.40

“We were drunk!”41

“You were drunk!” He pointed at her now the two bickering at ach other.42

“Thanks a lot Eric. I thought we had something special between us!” Sneezed catching a cold after the storm. Shirley wiped her nose with the back of her hand. She sniffled then looked up at the soon to be father.43

“How’d you know you’re pregnant?” Eric asked trying to find an explanation.44

“My period stopped two months ago.” She responded.45

“Okay there’s that.” He shifted his eyes sideways trying not to look directly at her.46

“I can answer that question.” A masculine voice broke between them and grabbed the audience’s attention. Joseph sitting on the nearest rock he kept wiping mud off himself with his sleeves. Showing his face smeared with earth across his fair skin and brown eyes catching their attention, “I’m the one who is going to be the father, Shirley. Not Eric, I didn’t mean too.”47

“No! Eric’s the father Joseph not you!” She yelled at him with disagreement. Even since knowing that Eric had no interest in her since the beginning.48

“Shirley, you and I—hell even Eric got drunk but he didn’t take you home that night. I—we did things that I can’t say for sure if I can remember it a bit of a blur for me.” 49

“Oh my God!” Eric sounded disgusted in the background. Joseph felt embarrass six years older than Shirley, a grape farmer plowing and collecting then turning to wine and grape flavor juice however now deciding to study and become a priest which he feels is honorable that the Lord almighty has chosen him mere farmer to help the Lords work but impregnating a fifth-teen year old child probably won’t help anyhow. 50

Eric taking the chance to escape while the crowd was distracted, quietly side walking like a crab he makes his move, considering that human beings are such meek and easily side track beings. Unless creatures, watching everybody before he made his escape.51

Don’t let them see me, don’t let them see me. Don’t let them see me.52

Repeating those quotes quietly when he thought he could make a run for it. He turned with a gleaming smile but stopped. In front, blocking his escape Mr. Miller held his Hamilton 22 Caliber Rifle Gun between Eric’s brows.53

“Thought leaving the wedding, demon?” The wind began blowing again but sadly the old man had long gone lost his hair. “Hands up!” He ordered but Eric refused, “Hands up damn it.” He spat.54

“Pa, stop this now!” 55

“Mr. Miller your being delusional right here.” Eric looked at the others circling his finger beside his head giving them a sign of a lunatic. Still focusing on him while shifting his eyes, a moment of utter silence. Mr. Miller was feeling the villager’s eyes staring at him, waiting for his next movement. Feeling his hair stand on its end, cold sweat streaming between his brow while his heart beat drummed, long and loud as if the others could hear it.56

“Pa, are you alright!? Remember the doctor said about your blood pressure—“57

“Shut up!” He pulled the trigger and the gun exploded accidently shooting at his daughter only three centimeters from actually hitting her heart. Shirley screamed in pain and fell, Joseph manage to catch her before she hit the ground, distracting the old-fool a few of the men held Mr. Miller down against the dirt. They kicked the gun out of his reach. Eric ran toward Shirley, who was desperately in need of a doctor but unfortunate the previous doctor moved on to the next world.58

“Shirley! Shirley!” He called.59

“Eric.” Her tone weak and frail despite the pain and the blood stained dress, Shirley tried to speak but sadly blood replace words, Joseph held on to her afraid of losing her. “Err…ic.” She gurgled; Eric caught the sight of blood that was dripping down her lip the red, rich liquid escaping from her body. He felt something jerk inside him, No. He thought. Not now it’s not even the full—He felt another jerk No! He screamed inside. 60

While everyone assisted Shirley back to town their voices not going through him, not even paying attention he looked upward his eyes slowly widen to see that the clouds were clearing to see the view of the quarter moon shinning over him, “Oh God.” Under his breath. He had completely forgotten about the moon.61

“Eric are you okay?” Walking up behind Eric, Joseph with a concern put his hand on the other man’s shoulder. Eric huddled himself trying to ease the pain inside him while rocking himself gently. 62

“Don’t touch me!” He snarled at Joseph. Joseph stopped and starred at him wondering what have gotten over his friend, “Don’t come any closer Joseph. Please.” His voice began fading. Eric suddenly felt his chest burn, he peered down at his hands seeing them trembling then slowly and painfully his fingernails extended. His fingers and then his hands followed. Eric clenched himself, “It hurts.” He growled under his breath as his breathing pattern heaved. 63

“Eric hey, Eric.” Shaking his friend trying to snap him back to reality. “Eric, talk to me damn it!” Joseph yelled at him, “For the love of god man! Eric, Shirley is going to die if we don’t move-“ 64

Joseph stopped.65

A sudden crackling laughter was coming from Eric, “Oh Joseph, you’re certainly a fool long before I arrived.” He turned his head steadily and slowly though his eyes were hidden by his black hair. Joseph saw his smile but it wasn’t a average smile, the smile was terrifying. Joseph could a sworn that he had seen Eric’s fangs grew canine length-size, in the background Mr. Miller struggle against his spouse trying to keep himself distanced from Shirley while they tend to her wound.66

“Shirley! Let me go-!”67

“Keep him down” One man wrapped an arm around his neck a choke hold. “Old fart has some power” The other boy fought against his right arm. Suddenly there was a yell penetrating the crowd, they all turned to see what all the commotion was about, they say knowing the truth sets you free guess they were wrong.68

The gray sky let out another thunderous roar; the clouds began to gather again and drizzle as if the sky cried at the scene. Standing between six or seven feet tall, its clothes ripped and tattered by its large sharp claws and its legs bent like animals hind legs. Its face was bizarre than anything the villager have ever seen. The beast’s face barring its teeth revealing sharp canine fang gleaming at them as the moon shined over the creature. 69

They were shocked and horrified by what they saw before their eyes.70

“My god…” Gasped Mr. Miller, feeling breathless, pale with sudden gut twisting feeling with the rest of the villagers in horror at the sight. What caught their eyes was seeing a drip of liquid trickling down, escaping its baring smile across its face. Its eyes were like that of a wolf’s, pupil’s small pitch black, the eye color gold that glowed through the darkness. Face disfigured the jaw a bit forward, ears pointing out but below him laid a figure of a corpse.71

“Joseph…….”72

“So it’s true!” The crowd began to panic going berserk realizing the liquid that was dripping was blood, the beast’s golden eyes shifted down at Joseph who was neither half dead but barley alive almost to the brink of death, his throat was bitten exposing the torn muscle, vein and the blood ran down rushing river.73

With his last breath, “Eric….you’re a—“ Hoarsely he gave a gasp looking upon the beast that was no longer a man. Everything resembled Eric was lost from being inside him. The monster opens its jaw wide showing its bare fangs that can crush any bone within Joseph’s body. Then nothing but darkness set in, silent and still.74

The rain turned from drizzled to mad chaos upon those below. Punishing the earth with one good lighting bolt, its roar blended with a cry that echoed throughout the plains. 75