âIâll tell you why!â he screamed. âTomorrow night is a full moon â¦and I am a werewolf! â
Jillian laughed before she could stop herself.
The young man was breathing rapidly now, his chest heaving up and down. âIâm trying to save your life,â he said. âIâm a werewolf. Every month, before the night of the full moon, I leave my family and hide here in this inn. I lock myself in this room--to make sure I donât hurt anyone.â
Jillian felt her throat tighten. Heâs serious, she realized. He really believes what heâs telling me.
âI--I become a raging animal,â James said, turning his eyes to the moonlight pouring in through the window. âAnd then I could tear you to bits. I canât help it.â
Swallowing hard, Jillian stared wide-eyed at him.
He let out a long, sad sigh. Then he pushed Jillian to the door. Startled, she jerked away from him.
âJust go,â James said. âFor your own safety. At ten oâclock tomorrow night the moon will be at its peak--and I will change into a roaring beast.â
âIâm leaving,â Jillian told him. âYou donât have to worry. Tomorrow weâll be long gone by ten. Mom and I are leaving this horrible place first thing in the morning.â
âGood,â he said. His red-rimmed eyes burned into hers. âPlease go. I really donât want to hurt you.â
She spun away from him and ran, her shoes thudding loudly over the ragged carpet. Breathing hard, she turned acorner and then another, and finally found her room. She burst into the room, slammed the door behind her, and with a frightened cry threw herself onto the bed.
Â
âYou fell asleep early?â Mrs. Warnerâs voice floated into Jillianâs mind. Jillian sat up in bed, feeling dazed, not sure where she was.
Her mother frowned as she pulled off her gloves. âIâm sorry you were bored, Jillian. Iâm afraid I have bad news.â
Blinking herself alert, Jillian raised her head.
âHuh? Bad news?â
âI couldnât finish the purchase today,â Mrs. Warner said with a sigh. âSome other people are making bids too. So we canât go home. We have to stay one more night.â
âNOOOO!â Jillian yelled. âWe canât! We canât stay! I promised!â
Mrs. Warner sat beside Jillian and took her hand. âJilly! Whatâs wrong?â
âA werewolf,â Jillian said. âThereâs a man hiding here, Mom. He says heâs a werewolf. I promised him--â
Mrs. Warner squeezed Jillianâs hand lightly. âAnother nightmare? Iâm so sorry, honey. Do you want me to call Dr. Meyer?â
âNo!â Jillian jumped to her feet. âI didnât dream it. Heâs here. Heâs dangerous, Mom. We have to go. Right now!â
Her mother sighed. âYour nightmares always seem so real.â She stood up and moved to the door. âShow me. Come on. Show me the room. Show me where he is hiding.â She reached out to Jillian.
Jillian pulled back. Then she changed her mind. âOkay. I will.â
Her legs trembled as she led the way through the long, twisting halls. She stopped in front of the door at the end of the hall. âI think this is it. I--I think heâs in there.â
Mrs. Warner stared at Jillian. Then, biting her bottom lip tensely, she stepped up and knocked on the door.
No reply.
She turned the doorknob--and pushed open the door.
The room was dark. Mrs. Warner fumbled for a light switch. She clicked on a ceiling light.
Holding her breath, Jillian peered into the room. Empty. A bare mattress hanging over the bed frame. One broken dresser drawer on the floor.
No one here. No sign that anyone had been in the room.
Jillian shut her eyes. She felt her motherâs hand on her shoulder. âIt was a dream,â Jillian moaned. âIt was just a dream.â
Mrs. Warner
Learning to Kill: Stories