16:00

Moments before the unveiling of the Ilmar Family Tragedy.

"Let's pursue them! They've split up. Now's our opportunity!"

"No, hold back. This might be a calculated move. If they're confident enough to divide, they're likely prepared for pursuit. They might have set traps or even led others into an ambush," she cautioned, turning towards him, her hand gently resting on his shoulder. "And rein in your impulses. The chaos of battle and the unleashed Magick are affecting your Heart and Brain Merger."

He groaned, sinking to his knees. The influence of the mother's brain urged him to think independently, conflicting with his inherent nature, which sought to suppress this foreign desire. This internal struggle was what the Lycander Clan termed "Heart and Brain Merger". The process took place naturally, usually within one to twelve hours after consuming the organ, with the duration depending on the dominant Heavenly Body ruling the sky – shorter under Lunar influence and longer under Solar. Only after this merging could the Lycander Werewolves, or as they better like to refer to themselves, "Lycanthropes", gradually overcome their former selves.

"Let's go. David has exposed himself. Unlike the others, he's a risk worth taking the bait for, and it aligns perfectly with the scent's position."

"David, then…" he composed himself. "Found the bounty."

"The Vamps tracked him before us. Keep following the scent. Ideally, nighttime is the preferred time for confrontation, but-"

"The sooner, the better."

…

16:37

She knew what she was doing, or at least she thought she did. Her level of consciousness wavered. Her senseless urges, her Id, manipulated her like a puppeteer, as though another entity shared the same body, covertly exerting control.

'Rika.'

Amidst the chaos, she vividly envisioned her best friend, but that wasn't all. Behind Rika stood the silhouette of another figure. Her attraction to this hidden presence compelled her in the same direction as her assumed best friend's home.

A peculiar sensation enveloped her, simultaneously both recognizable and alien. It served as the tether that anchored her to awareness – a subtle nudge at the recesses of her mind signaling she wasn't alone. This sensation felt like a vital thread, a lifeline preventing the complete takeover by the relentless force within – the Id that would otherwise seize full control. Devoid of this internal nudge, she would have remained blissfully ignorant of the imminent peril that awaited her if she were to halt.

Yet, despite this underlying awareness, her conscious self seemed shrouded in a pervasive haze. Bringing her movement to a sudden halt.

…

They observed her ingress into the building, shadowing her every move with synchronized precision as she ascended the staircase to the Fourth Floor. Maintaining a discreet distance, they witnessed her forceful entry, the door yielding to her strength and disconnecting from its hinges with a resounding slam. Positioned a few steps back, they lingered, patient sentinels at the threshold of the apartment, aware of their limitations. Permission was a requisite for entry, for crossing that boundary without it carried consequences too severe to be deemed worthy, even if it meant incurring the displeasure of their enigmatic Lord.

And then, a desperate cry shattered the silence, breaking through the tension-laden atmosphere.

…

"MK!"

Rika bolted from her room, propelled by the alarming clamor echoing through the house. To her astonishment, she discovered the source – a scene that featured one of the least likely individuals she'd anticipate causing such a ruckus, especially by upending a door. While she hadn't witnessed the door's airborne trajectory, the expressions etched across her parents' faces served as compelling confirmation. Adding to the revelation was the unmistakably aggressive body language exhibited by her best friend.

"Rika, do you know her?" her father queried, still grappling with the surreal image of his front door careening across the living room as if crafted from flimsy cardboard.

Before Rika could formulate a response, MK was already at her throat, seizing and constricting with a frenzied intensity. Rika struggled to draw breath as her father swiftly intervened, rushing to her aid, while her mother processed the unfolding chaos from the periphery.

"Dad…" Rika managed to choke out the word.

In a decisive move, he forcefully slammed into MK, chastising her audacity for hoisting his adult daughter effortlessly with a single hand. His intervention disrupted MK's hold, causing her to adjust her stance but maintaining an unsettling equilibrium, with Rika still suspended, toes grazing the floor.

As the vice grip on her neck gradually loosened, Rika swiftly wedged her fingers between her throat and MK's palm. "What's wrong with you?! Mom! Dad! Help me! Ah!"

With a forceful toss, MK sent Rika sprawling across the floor. A disconcerting unrest gnawed at her, not just a fleeting whisper of her conscious self, Ego. It was the Id, fixated on the elusive silhouette of the shadow linked to her friend. Desperation compelled her to extract the truth from Rika, but an internal conflict restrained her from embracing violence fully – a remnant of her Super Ego. Yet, the voracious hunger within urged her to break, tear, and consume... Yes! She longed to devour, almost as intensely as she yearned to uncover the person she sought. The hunger gripped her relentlessly, and Rika's neck, hands, thighs, waist, breasts, arms, skull, and every inch beneath the surface ignited a painful craving for the sustenance of flesh and blood.

Rika writhed on the floor until her mother rushed to her aid, and her father quickly followed suit, ushering them into the kitchen while dialing the police on his phone. A voice from the apartment doorway seized their attention, causing MK to instinctively freeze.

"She will leave after you tell her where he is."

Their gaze fixed on the handsome stranger standing tall at the entrance.

"I can make her leave, or you can tell her. Invite me in—"

"NO!" MK screeched, not the wild, famished Id that took control, but the small conscious Ego suddenly triggered by an unfamiliar sensation at the back of her head. Her body tensed and gradually trembled, from mild quivers to violent shakes.

Her determination caught him off guard, and he had to concede that if this quality was what attracted Venessa, he could comprehend the allure.

"No?" He smiled. "Are you concerned for their well-being while you yourself are on the verge of ending them?" She struggled to maintain composure to respond.

"Hello-"

"Disconnect the call immediately, or you'll face dire consequences before any chance of rescue arrives," he warned sternly. "I'll reiterate once more. You," he pointed at Rika, "reveal the whereabouts of the individual who left an indelible mark on you last night. That's the person she's searching for."

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Rika quivered in her mother's embrace, struggling to articulate her thoughts. Fear and bewilderment gripped her – fear from the ominous stranger, confusion stemming from her friend's unusual behavior, and the disconcerting realization that her anticipated day at the mall with friends had taken an unexpected turn. What had gone awry in her life?!

"Last night…" She stammered, attempting to piece together fragmented memories. As vivid scenes played in her mind, a name slipped from her lips. "Mi... chael?"

"Michael?" He turned his gaze to MK. "Is that the individual Novak glimpsed when he bit you?"

MK remained unresponsive. The image of Rika in her mind began to blur, gradually replaced by the visage of a man she had only known for a fleeting couple of hours. However, in this moment, both her Id and Ego yearned to encounter him. Strangely, the physical tension began to dissipate, and a semblance of peace crept into the semi-wakeful state of her Ego.

"Where does this Michael live?" he inquired of Rika.

"I-I don't know," she stammered, her mind too consumed by fear to contemplate the potential consequences for Michael if these people, along with MK in her distressed state, were to descend upon his home. In a sudden burst of anxiety, she snatched the phone from her father's hands, swiftly dialing a number and pressing it to her ear.

He noticed that the number she dialed was too long for an emergency call, and he patiently waited for her to complete the call.

"Eric!" Rika exclaimed, tears streaming down her face. "Eric! Eric! What's Michael's address?! No! No! No! I need to know Michael's address! Please! Please! Tell me now!"

"Eric, it's Dad. What's your friend Michael's address? No, I'll explain later. Just answer me now!"

His smile transitioned from intrigue to satisfaction, a subtle transformation that mirrored the fulfillment of a concealed anticipation. The distant voice on the other end of the call reached his ears effortlessly, even in hushed tones. Stepping back, he effortlessly vanished into The Gray.

"Michael! Michael! Michael! Michael!" MK's fervent repetitions echoed in the air, her desperation palpable. Despite hearing Eric's reply, she found herself at a loss, unfamiliar with the city's street mentioned. "Rika!" MK extended a veined arm, fingers splayed like talons, seeking direction.

A comforting hand enclosed MK's, belonging to none other than Rika's father.

"Dad!"

"Chris!"

Mother and daughter both called out, but he brushed past them, narrowing the physical gap with cautious determination.

"I'll take you to Michael," he assured, rendering MK's attempts to disengage futile.

Her lips formed a suppressed groan as his grip remained steadfast. 'Michael… Michael… Michael…' Her Id fixated on his image like a moth drawn to a flame, and her Ego clung to the belief that all would be well once she found him.

…

The call abruptly terminated, leaving Eric sitting on his bed, contemplating the unexpected turn of events. After departing the hospital, he had returned to his apartment and succumbed to a deep slumber, only to be abruptly awakened by the call. He redialed persistently, the underlying tension in his sister's voice instilling a sense of fear in him. As his father took over the call, an unsettling curiosity gripped him, prompting thoughts about what might have unfolded involving Michael.

Swiftly dressing himself, he clutched his cellphone to his ear, simultaneously fumbling for his car keys. Rushing down to his car, he ignited the engine and shifted into drive.

"Rika!" he bellowed as soon as he exited the driveway. She answered promptly amidst audible sobs. "Stop crying! Tell me what's wrong!"

"Eric," his mother's voice replaced his sister's.

"What's happening, Mom?!"

"MK, she broke into our house. There was another man. They were inquiring about Michael's whereabouts. They overheard you when you spoke to your father. We didn't disclose the information. But MK… it appears she didn't know the way, so she took your father," the words spilled out in rapid succession, and immediately after, his mother began to hyperventilate.

"Mom! Put Rika on the phone," Eric compelled himself to remain calm.

"Eric…"

"Is Mom okay? Are you okay?"

"I... I don't know. Mom's panting. I'm okay. MK broke the door. She broke the door, Eric! She strangled and lifted me with one arm! She took dad. She overpowered him, too."

"That's... listen to me, Rika. I need you to relax. Now tell me, do you need me to come home, or can you handle mom?"

"What about dad?"

"I'll go to Michael's if mom and you are fine. But I need you to assure me that both of you don't need me."

"Bring dad back," Rika collected herself. "Mom's looking better. She... we just need rest."

"Then wait for me to return with dad."

Eric ended the call, hands shaking. "What happened now, Michael?!" He parked and leaned on the steering wheel, closing and opening his fists before raising his head and dialing his friend's number. "Please pick up."

…

16:17

Everything was in order, right down to stocking his parents' bedroom. Though they required little, expecting a mere day and a half stay, Michael made sure everything was prepared. Not that they'd go hungry, even if they chose not to partake. Moreover, the bedroom boasted a private bathroom with running water – a consideration David included in the sphere of what that… thing was doing to protect them, activated once the bedroom door sealed shut.

Seated alone on a chair in front the apartment door, Michael mused, 'Mom, dad, Dan...' In the living room, the others engaged in their own conversations.

Dan coordinated a muted dialogue, audible enough for when concentrating Michael to discern its contents. Evidently, Dan harbored lingering doubts, attempting to persuade their parents that Michael and the mysterious "David" were orchestrating an elaborate charade – crafted with cunning tricks and perhaps substances inhaled during a moment of agitation, particularly when they encountered "mom".

Michael sighed, contemplating, 'Is it fear? Hatred? Jealousy?' He had believed that his relationship with Dan was, at the very least, on par with the typical bond between an older and younger brother.

His heel tapped the floor with a gentle rhythm, careful not to disturb the tranquility of his home. The last thing he wanted was to alarm his family with any visible signs of worry.

'When is David coming back?' The promise was made to return before sunset, but Michael found himself regretting the enigmatic man – mentor? – departing without leaving behind a meaningful task. Perhaps constructing an additional layer of protection for him and his family, or devising a genuine means of practice beyond the familiar confines of the revolver and his Magick.

The quiet ambiance was shattered by the insistent ringing of his phone in the adjacent room, prompting everyone in the apartment to spring to their feet. Amidst the urgency, Michael immediately recognized his distinctive ringtone. "David?" he hoped, momentarily ignoring the fact that he had never actually shared his number with the short man.

"Eric?" The name flashed on the display, and Michael hesitated before answering, a disquieting thought surfacing. It was a matter David had stressed – the gradual entanglement of actions involving more and more people.

Rolling his tongue within his mouth, Michael grappled with the intense bitterness welling up. It was unclear whether it stemmed from the emotional turmoil he fought to suppress, his heightened senses picking up on unseen tensions, or perhaps a fusion of the two.

"Hello…" he finally responded as he picked up the call.

"Michael!"

From the mere mention of his name, Michael sensed that this was no ordinary call, certainly not one for casual conversation or a post-hospital check-in.

"What's wrong, Eric?" Michael inquired, a tinge of concern coloring his voice.

"Something happened to MK. I was at my place. Rika called, hysterical. Apparently, she…" Eric began narrating, relaying as many details as he could piece together, careful not to let anything slip amidst his own anxieties.

As Michael absorbed the unfolding events, his heart sank. 'They know where I live…' Gripping his phone tightly, he almost succumbed to the urge to break it. "Don't come. I'll handle MK and ensure your father is okay. I'll call you back when I can. Just don't come here, Eric!"

A sharp retort came from Eric, "What do you mean asking me not to come?!"

"If you trust me, Eric, please just listen. I promise to share everything with you later. For now, I implore you, don't come!"

"Michael, if you're in some kind of trouble… if those people from the club-"

"Listen to me, Eric, as I'm emphasizing. The current situation is entirely unrelated to the club. However, I cannot involve you any further than I already have. Your priority should be to check on your mother and sister. I won't respond to any more calls, and if you show up at my house, I won't allow you in. This is the only way I can ensure your father's safety. I need you to agree to this verbally and genuinely."

"Michael, MK has kidnapped my father. I can't pretend everything is okay. I called to alert you because, according to Rika, there's something seriously wrong with MK, and unknown individuals are involved. My next call will be to the police!"

"The person who assaulted me at the club is dead! Both he and his friend were found dead. The detective handling the case had his family kidnapped and presumed dead. All of this unfolded within a day, including a fire near the 98th Precinct. The police seem incapable of handling these individuals-"

"And you think you can?!"

"No, that's precisely why I'm hiding at my home with my family, letting someone who can actually handle these people tell me when it's safe to go out. If MK arrives with your dad, I'll ensure he stays safe here until I receive the green light. Now, as for MK…"

Following a discussion about Werewolves and Vampires with David, Michael found himself perplexed about how to handle these supernatural beings, unsure if they align with their cinematic portrayals and if they are indeed responsible for MK's peculiar behavior and enhanced strength.

"Leave her to me. If she proves to be a genuine threat, I'll use the gun left behind by the person assisting me. Eric, promise me you won't intervene!"

"I… can't agree to that, Michael-"

Michael abruptly ended the call and turned to face his family gathered at the entrance to his room, having overheard the entire conversation. Despite the gravity of the situation, an inexplicable half-smile crossed Michael's face.

"Mom, dad, go to your room!"