Howling Sorrows

ht was

damned. Thick fog crept over the forest floor, curling around Faith's ankles like ghostly fingers trying to

like blood.

e sound of her own desperate breath drowned out the symphony of the night-the distant croak of

ignore. Footsteps. Not hurried like h

"Richard!" she gasped, her v

as they scraped against jagged twigs, but she barely noticed. Her eyes darted to the trees a

" she choked out, pushing herself up onto shaky arms. "I know you can hear me. Don't do this

ou're only making this harder for yourself." A shiver ran down her spine. She coul

him. The faint outline of a staff rested in his grip. But the most terrifying thing- The only thing she could

st her ribs like a frantic bird trapped in a cage. Her body scream

es still as striking as she remembered. Dark, tousled hair. Sharp cheekbones. A mouth cu

The kind of man who could make you laugh on your worst days. The kind o

n her heart, forbidden words, deep within the confines of a space locked away. But the man before her now was somethin

he body that wasn't its. His fingers reached out, brushing a stray lock of hair from

hat there was still something of him left beneath whatever monster he had become. Just a may wish, no h

arp. She flinched, jerking away from his grasp. Richard exhaled heavily, shaking his head like

ongating into fangs. And somewhere deep within his chest, a terrible sound began to rise-low

thening, his nails turning into claws. His cloak billowed as his muscles expanded, his very form distorting under the pale light o

he had once loved, a man who had made several promis

ed to the darkness just as the sound of a long, bone-chilling howl shattered the night., wishing that when

ul who heard it. Loud as the sound of thunder rumbling in the sky, shaking every household. Mothers scrambling t

arn

rom

urs

ing begins, s