The Oldest Dream of Eternal Night
Chapter 49: Ambush

Chapter 49: Ambush

The forest stretched like an ocean of shadows, its gaunt pines clawing at an ink-black sky. A heavy scent of humus and resin saturated the air, punctuated by the distant hooting of an owl. Hugo advanced alone, his boots crunching dead leaves with a sharp crack.

His eyes, an odd gold, glinted in the darkness, scanning every branch, every shadow. He wasn’t here by chance. A message from Alan, received on his phone at exactly midnight, had drawn him here: "Old oak, midnight. We need to talk." Hugo knew it was a trap. He could smell the scam from miles away. But he had to end it.

The icy wind bit his skin, his breath forming white curls. He reached the clearing, dominated by a twisted oak, its gnarled branches like a witch’s fingers. A massive figure emerged from the shadows, followed by others. Ten pairs of yellow eyes, glowing like embers, fixed on him. Low growls broke the silence. Hugo stopped dead, his muscles tensing instinctively.

"Alan," he growled, his raspy voice echoing in the clearing. "You’ve got five seconds to tell me why I’m wasting my time here."

Alan stepped forward, his leather jacket creaking. His yellow eyes gleamed, his claws already out, halfway transformed. Behind him, the Betas—ten werewolves, their massive bodies vibrating with menace—formed a semicircle. Their acrid scent, a mix of wild beast and saliva, stung Hugo’s nostrils.

"You quit, Hugo," Alan spat, his fangs glinting under the moon. "You ran from your responsibilities. You think you can just walk away? Asshole."

Hugo snorted, crossing his arms. "I don’t want this shit. You want to play loyal dogs? Find another master."

A collective growl rose from the Betas. One of them, a scarred wolf, took a step, but Alan raised a hand, stopping him. "You’re pathetic," Alan sneered, his tone dripping with contempt. "You think you can ignore what you are? We gave you a chance. You blew it."

Hugo felt anger surge in his temples. His fists clenched, his joints cracking. "What I am? A guy who doesn’t want your bullshit. You’re pissing me off, Alan. Say what you gotta say, or I’ll make you eat your fangs."

Alan chuckled, a deep, threatening sound. "You’re not in a position to get cocky. We’re here to remind you of your place." He snapped his fingers. The Betas advanced, their claws scraping the ground, their growls filling the clearing.

Hugo narrowed his eyes, his heart pounding in his chest. "You want to fight?" he growled, his voice trembling with restrained rage. "Come on."

The first Beta charged, a black-furred mastodon, its claws aimed at Hugo’s throat. He dodged with a swift step, his fist slamming into the wolf’s jaw with enough force to make its teeth crack. The Beta collapsed, dazed, a trickle of blood running from its muzzle. A second leaped, but Hugo grabbed its arm, hurling it against the oak. The bark cracked under the impact, splinters flying.

"Is that all you’ve got?" Hugo roared, his muscles bulging under his shirt. Thick, black veins, like ropes, pulsed on his arms, neck, his skin taking on an almost inhuman hue.

The Betas encircled him, more cautious but still aggressive. A third charged, its claws slicing Hugo’s flank. Blood gushed, hot and red, soaking his shirt. Hugo growled, the pain fueling his rage. He grabbed the Beta by the scruff, lifted it like a puppy, and slammed it to the ground. A bone-cracking sound echoed, followed by a pitiful whine.

Alan, standing back, watched with a cruel smile. "You’re strong, Hugo. But you’re alone. And you’re finished."

Hugo panted, blood dripping from his wounds. A claw sliced his back, another his arm. He kicked a Beta away, but they were too many. Every blow he landed drained him further. His golden eyes scanned the clearing, searching for an escape, but the Betas tightened their circle. He realized, too late, that they didn’t just want to beat him. They wanted to break him.

"Weak," Alan sneered, crossing his arms. "You were never good enough. Just like your father!"

Hugo, breathless, felt a burning heat rise within him. His bones vibrated, his muscles screamed. Not like this, he thought, suppressing the beast.

"Sons of bitches!"

***

Kaiser slumped on a battered couch, a PS5 controller in hand. The screen flickered, Call of Duty raging. Ben, sprawled on a beanbag, hurled insults at every missed kill, while Yuki, sitting cross-legged on the rug, sipped a soda, his glasses sliding down his nose.

"Fuck, Kaiser, you suck!" Ben snickered, dodging a virtual grenade. "You’ve got grandma reflexes."

"Shut up, Dracula," Kaiser grumbled, throwing a cushion. "I wrecked you last round."

Yuki looked up, impassive. "You’re loud. Focus, Kaiser, or I’ll kick you from the lobby."

Suddenly, Kaiser froze, the controller slipping from his hands. A voice, clear and icy, resonated in his skull: "Hugo’s in danger. Lewis Center Forest. Now." He blinked, his heart racing. "You... did you hear that?"

Ben frowned, setting down his controller. "Hear what? You smoking something?"

"No, seriously," Kaiser insisted, his voice trembling. "A voice. In my head. It was about Hugo."

Yuki sat up, his eyes narrowing. "I heard it too." He exchanged a look with Ben, who nodded gravely. "Same. Hugo. Forest. Danger."

Kaiser ran a hand through his hair, panicked. "What the hell? Am I going schizoid or something?"

Yuki sighed, his tone serious. "A witch. Very powerful. She contacted us directly."

Ben chuckled, but his laugh was nervous. "A witch? Fuck, sounds like a horror movie. Who?"

Kaiser jumped up, grabbing his leather jacket. "Doesn’t matter. If Hugo’s in trouble, we’re going." He opened a cabinet, his eyes landing on a box of meds. He grabbed a bottle of L-dopa, swallowed two pills, grimacing. "It’s gonna be a long night."

Ben raised an eyebrow. "You need your pills to pedal, dude?"

"Shut up," Kaiser growled, texting: "Meet us there." He opened the window, straddled the sill, and grabbed his bike. "Move your asses!"

Yuki and Ben exchanged a look. Ben muttered, "He’s serious?" Yuki shrugged, grabbing his blades. "Hugo’s always had a talent for trouble."

Minutes later, they reached the forest’s edge. The air was icy, the trees trembling under a malevolent wind. Yuki tossed a dagger to Kaiser, who caught it clumsily. "You sure about this?" Yuki asked, his tone dry.

Kaiser chuckled nervously. "No, but every day, I feel more criminal. My conscience is starting to complain."

Ben, his eyes glowing slightly, burst into laughter. "You’ve got a conscience? News to me."

Yuki, serious, sliced his palm with a blade, his blood dripping, corrosive. "We’re not criminals. We eliminate monsters." Kaiser stared, uncomfortable, but nodded.

Ben stopped suddenly, his ears lengthening, picking up sounds. "Fight," he growled, his voice guttural. "Over there."