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"I froze with fright at the sight of it as it came closer, closer! I couldn't scream...my throat was paralyzed!"
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ELLEN MAYFIELD WAS A STRIKINGLY BEAUTIFUL WOMAN, TALL, BRIGHT RED HAIR, DELICATE FEATURES, SLIM. ONE MOONLIT NIGHT, WALKING HOME, SHE FELT UNEASY, AS IF STALKED, BY AN UNSEEN ANIMAL...AND SHE WAS!
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In one agonizing moment I felt his breath on my face...his sharp claws came up slowly, and his long, white fangs came near to my throat! It took all my strength to turn and run. I ran until I thought my lungs would burst, along the deserted streets...and all the time I could hear his footsteps behind me!
I fell from sheer exhaustion...I couldn't go on!
A hand grasped me by my shoulder...
"Please...have mercy! Why me?" I pleaded. But as I looked up...I saw a rather handsome gentleman, dressed in a business suit, striped tie, and neatly combed brown hair, bright, light brown eyes.
"Well, what's this all about?" he said softly as he helped me to my feet. "I heard you yell for help several blocks back!" He smiled in reassurance.
"Ohh!...then it was you who was running after me. I thought it was that hideous werewolf!"
The stranger gave me a long, hard look. "I can see you don't believe me!" I said rather perturbed at the whole affair. I noticed the streets around me were not empty anymore. There were a scant few people curiously looking on. I hesitated saying the next words and looked about me to make sure no one was in earshot, "There was a werewolf...but he vanished!"
"Young lady, it's a long walk back to my car, but you'd better come with me. I'll drive you home." he smiled. His name was Mark Sheldon.
I had forgotten about the werewolf by the time we reached his car - a sporty Karmann Ghia - "A pretty girl like you shouldn't be out so late."
"I went to a party, Mark. I love parties! Why, they're my life's blood, as a matter of fact!"
My house was on the outskirts of the city, an old nineteenth century Victorian. By the time we reached my house, I realized that Mark Sheldon was the kind of person I was very attracted towards.
"You know, Ellen," Mark said with a romantic gleam in his eye, "Im not sure I blame that werewolf. You're really a beautiful woman!"
"Don't joke about it please...the thought of being eaten alive is enough to drain the blood out of me!"
"I want to be around to protect you. If you don't mind, I'd like to call on you soon!" I nodded in agreement and really looked forward to seeing him again. I said goodnight and he drove away.
Mark took me out regularly after that. He told me that he loved me, and I was extremely happy. But he always seemed worried, pensive, and ill at ease. Over a candlelight dinner, one evening, I asked him about it...
"Ellen, you know I love you and want you to marry me, but, there's something I must tell you..."
"Nothing could possibly make any difference, dearest," I reassured him.
"Ellen, I know that, indeed, a werewolf was after you the night we met...because I WAS THAT WEREWOLF!" His eyes narrowed and his face turned dark, as his lips tightened, expecting a horrifying reaction from me.
"I don't believe you. That's impossible Mark!" I said with a bit of trepidation.
"Why do you think I've never kept you out past midnight?" he continued, "That's when this awful curse effects me. That's when I change...then towards dawn, I become myself again!"
"Oh, Mark..it was towards dawn when you caught up with me!"
I was frightened...but I still cared enough for him...more than I could say.
"Ellen, I'm sure we can work it out somehow." We left the restaurant.
"Please, Mark...I've got to think! Maybe mother and dad could help us figure a way out of this terrible dilemma."
My folks were very understanding...and as dad made a suggestion, our hearts swelled with new hope!
ELLEN'S FATHER WAS A DISTINGUISHED LOOKING GENTLEMAN, ALTHOUGH BALDING, HE WAS VERY AUSTERE, WITH A FULL MUSTACHE. HE WAS DRESSED IN A SMOKING JACKET AND BOW TIE THE EVENING ELLEN AND MARK APPROACHED THEM. HER MOTHER WAS A VERY ATTRACTIVE ELDERLY LADY, CHARMING, GRACIOUS AND STATELY IN APPEARANCE. SHE WAS AS TALL AS ELLEN, WITH SPECKLED GRAY HAIR SHE WORE UP. BOTH ELLEN'S PARENTS WERE WELL EDUCATED, ARTICULATE AND WELL MANNERED. THEY SAT ON THE SOFA AS THE FOUR DISCUSSED THE SITUATION.
I've heard of a Doctor Morris Vallencourt," said father to Mark, "He has performed wonders with cases such as yours Mark. If you agree to undergo treatment, I see no reason why you and Ellen shouldn't marry."
To Mark, it seemed incredibly too easy! Not many parents would have consented to such an arrangement after discovering this terrible secret!
"I'd do anything to rid myself of this curse, Mr. Mayfield." Said a hopeful Mark Sheldon.
Mark and I were happy again. We talked about the future, and forgot about the time of day! Then Mark turned to me in horror...
"Five minutes! For heaven's sake, lock me away somewhere! I'm starting to turn into that hideous creature!"
"Quickly," said father, "Follow me..."
It was a long way to our cellar, and even as we went down I could hear Mark pant with his wolf-like desire for human flesh!
We raced toward the fruit cellar, opened the heavy oak door and Mark ran into the room. The walls were solid stone, no outlet, no windows other than a small one on the oak door. There were three iron bars running vertically through this small window.
"Hurry!" cried Mark, as father led the way. I felt anguish, fear and pity all at the same time...
Mark ran into the far end of the room as father bolted the door shut. The three of us watched the transition take place...
I fell into mother's arms, "There, there dear, everything will be all right." My mother told me in solace.
A morbid fascination forced me to watch Mark change...an agonizing growl came from deep in his throat! I was overcome with revulsion at the sight of a man, the man I loved, turning into a savage beast!
Mark's eyes turned red, his face and hands were slowly covered with dark, bristly hairs! His nose and mouth protruded more and more and took on the shape of a snout! He became a snarling, drooling werewolf, enraged with hunger!
He rushed towards the door with a crash - growling, howling, pounding the stout wood...grabbing at the iron bars. But they held - we backed off instinctually, even though there was no chance of him escaping.
My father grabbed me, "You shouldn't be seeing this Ellen! Come on upstairs..." We turned and went back up the stairs to the parlor.
None of us could sleep that night. And when dawn broke, mother, dad and I went down to release poor Mark. Later, that evening, we went to see Dr. Vallencourt.
After an extensive examination...
"Is there any hope doctor? Mark asked anxiously.
THE DOCTOR WAS A BALDING, ELDERLY MAN, WEARING HEAVY, HORN-RIMMED GLASSES. HE HAD WHITE HAIR AROUND THE TEMPLES, WAS HEAVY-SET AND DONNED A WHITE SURGICAL TUNIC. HE HAD A WISE AND NOBLE VISAGE ABOUT HIM, THAT SHOWED HOW WELL HE CARRIED THE YEARS. THERE WERE MANY PLAQUES AND FRAMED DEGREES HUNG ON HIS OFFICE WALLS.
"I have cured many of lycanthropic disease...it takes time, but in the end you will be a normal, healthy man, Mr. Sheldon."
Treatment started that same evening...injections, blood transfusions, and electric shock therapy.
Slowly, over the next several weeks, an improvement could be seen. We planned our wedding and in three months we got married. It was the happiest moment of my life! And I'll be even happier after the final stages of the cure have passed. We moved into my parent's house so we could monitor the treatments better.
Every night while Mark was undergoing treatment, we locked him in the fruit cellar. We saw a gradual improvement over the next several weeks.
Those long, dreary months finally passed, and one evening, Mark came home to our house very excited! He ran up to all of us...
"Honey, honey, the doctor says I'm completely cured!"
"Are you sure, darling?" I asked hopefully.
"There's one way to find out," dad said casually from his easy chair. "Let's all go down to the cellar."
Dear dad...he always thought of everything! He locked Mark in his cell for one last time, and that last quarter-hour barely seemed to pass.
"...thirty seconds more." Said father as he studied his wristwatch and looked at Mark through the window bars.
Midnight came...and it was true! Mark WAS cured. Mother, dad and I were ecstatic! We unlocked the door. My husband was the picture of health...his cheeks had a warm, pink glow...his jugular vein pulsated with excitement!
"See that," Mark beamed, "A hundred percent cured. I'm human flesh and blood again!"
What a thrill, just to hear that word, BLOOD!
Mark stood staring at father and mother as I approached him. For what he saw was an incredible transformation taking place!
"We've waited so long for you Mark!" I said as I drew nearer to him, "So very long - now you can really join our family - not as a werewolf - but..."
We came towards him, our eyes aflame, and our fangs dripping...
"Vampires!" he shouted, "Y-you're all vampires!"
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THE END
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Gregory J. Christiano
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