Jessica's heart raced as she pushed open the heavy metal door, revealing the secret laboratory hidden beneath the island. The stale air hit her like a wall, carrying the sharp tang of chemicals and something darker—the lingering scent of death and decay. She wrinkled her nose, fighting back a wave of nausea.

"Well, this is cheerful," Salina muttered, her voice echoing in the cavernous space.

Kevin fumbled for a light switch, flooding the room with harsh fluorescent light. Jessica blinked, her eyes adjusting to reveal a scene straight out of a horror movie. Stainless steel tables lined the walls, their surfaces stained with unspeakable substances. Shattered beakers and twisted machinery littered the floor, evidence of a hasty evacuation.

"Holy crap," Damon whispered, his usual bravado faltering. "What the hell went down in here?"

Frankie moved cautiously into the room, her vampire senses on high alert. "Nothing good, that's for sure."

Jessica forced herself to take a deep breath, pushing aside the fear threatening to overwhelm her. This was the place—where Ivan Stone had been resurrected. Where her nightmares took shape once more.

"Guys, check this out," Kevin called from across the room. He stood in front of a large cork board covered in papers and photos. "I think I found something about how they... brought him back."

The group huddled around Kevin as he carefully removed a crumpled document from the board. His eyes widened as he scanned the contents.

"According to this, Ivan was their only successful test subject," Kevin explained, his voice tight. "They used some kind of experimental chemical combined with electricity to jumpstart his brain and body."

"Like Frankenstein's monster," Salina said with a grimace.

Kevin nodded. "Pretty much. It says here they were trying to create some kind of super soldier, but..."

"But what?" Jessica prompted, dreading the answer.

"But Ivan went berserk," Kevin finished. "He killed three scientists before they managed to contain him again. After that… Their superiors decided to close down this lab and keep it hidden from the rest of the world.”

A chill ran down Jessica's spine. She could picture it all too clearly—Ivan's rage, his inhuman strength, the terror of those who had foolishly thought they could control him.

"If they locked him up, how did he get out?" she asked, voicing the question that had been nagging at her since they entered the lab.

Salina, who had been exploring the far corner of the room, called out, "I think I found our answer."

The group hurried over to where Salina stood, her face pale in the harsh lighting. She pointed to a heavy metal door, its surface warped and blackened. Beside it lay two bodies, their flesh charred beyond recognition.

"Oh god," Frankie whispered, turning away from the gruesome sight.

"Looks like some unlucky couple stumbled onto this place," Salina said, her voice tight. "Must have opened the door without realizing what was inside."

Jessica stared at the bodies, her stomach churning. More innocent lives lost because of Ivan. Because she hadn't been able to stop him before.

"This isn't your fault, Jessica," Kevin said softly, sensing her thoughts.

She shook her head, unable to tear her eyes away from the scene. "I should have tried to kill him and burn his body to ash when he-”

"Stop it," Frankie interrupted, her voice firm. "You were too young when he broke into your house. And nobody else knew about this place before we arrived. The only one to blame is Ivan."

Jessica nodded, but the guilt still gnawed at her. She turned away from the bodies, desperate for a distraction. "We need to find a way to stop him. There has to be something in this lab we can use."

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

As if on cue, Damon called out from across the room. "Hey, I think I found something!"

The group hurried over to where Damon stood in front of a reinforced glass case. Inside was a sleek, gun-like device, its surface covered in blinking lights and dials.

"What is it?" Jessica asked, peering at the strange weapon.

Kevin leaned in, examining a note attached to the case. "According to this, it's some kind of prototype weapon designed specifically to take down Ivan. The scientists must have created it as a failsafe in case he ever escaped."

“And they never used it on him when he went berserk?” Salina rolled her eyes. “How stupid is our government?”

Franke shrugged. “Maybe some dangerous things are worth keeping than destroying I guess.”

Hope fluttered in Jessica's chest for the first time since arriving on the island. "How does it work?"

Kevin scanned the note, his brow furrowed in concentration. "It says here that it disrupts the chemical bonds that are keeping Ivan's reanimated cells together. One direct hit should be enough to, uh, 'terminate the subject permanently.'"

"You mean kill him for good," Salina translated bluntly.

Kevin nodded. "Basically, yeah."

Jessica stared at the weapon, a mix of emotions swirling inside her. This was it—the key to finally ending Ivan's reign of terror. To avenging her mother and all the other lives he had taken. So why did she feel so conflicted?

"Jessica?" Frankie's voice pulled her from her thoughts. "You okay?"

Jessica took a deep breath, squaring her shoulders. "Yeah. I'm good. Let's figure out how to use this thing and get out of here."

As Kevin carefully removed the weapon from its case, explaining its functions to the group, Jessica's enhanced hearing picked up a faint sound. She cocked her head, straining to identify it.

"Guys," she said, cutting through the chatter. "Do you hear that?"

The others fell silent, listening intently. After a moment, Frankie nodded. "Water. I think I hear waves."

"There must be another way out," Damon said excitedly. "Maybe to a dock or something."

A quick search revealed a narrow passageway leading away from the main lab. The group followed it, the sound of crashing waves growing louder with each step. Finally, they emerged onto a small, dilapidated dock jutting out into the churning ocean.

The storm that had been threatening all day had finally broken. Rain lashed down in heavy sheets, driven by howling winds that whipped Jessica's hair around her face. Lightning crackled across the sky, illuminating the turbulent waters below.

"Well, this is atmospheric," Salina quipped, raising her voice to be heard over the storm.

Jessica scanned the area, her werewolf senses on high alert. Something felt off, a prickle of unease crawling up her spine. She opened her mouth to warn the others when a booming voice cut through the howling wind.

"Welcome, pudding. I've been waiting for you."

Jessica whirled around, her heart stopping as she came face to face with her worst nightmare. Ivan Stone stood at the entrance to the dock, his massive frame blocking their escape. His pale, decaying skin seemed to glow in the darkness, and his eyes burned with an unholy blue fire.

"No," Jessica whispered, stumbling backward. "Not again…”

Ivan's twisted grin widened, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth. "Oh, but it is, Jessica. Did you really think you could hide from me? That I wouldn't find you?"

The others moved to flank Jessica, Frankie's eyes glowing red as she bared her fangs. Kevin clutched the experimental weapon, his knuckles white around its grip.

"Stay back," Damon warned, his voice surprisingly steady. "We know how to stop you."

Ivan threw back his head and laughed, the sound sending chills down Jessica's spine. "You have no idea what I'm capable of now, boy. Your pitiful weapons are nothing against me."

With inhuman speed, Ivan lunged forward, electricity crackling around his massive form. Frankie confronted her adversary directly, her vampiric strength enabling her to briefly match the monster in combat.

"Jessica!" Kevin yelled, tossing her the weapon. "Use it!"

Jessica caught the device, its weight unfamiliar in her hands. She raised it, trying to aim at Ivan as he grappled with Frankie, but her hands shook uncontrollably.

"I-I can't," she choked out, memories of that terrible night flooding back. Her mother's screams, the helplessness, the overwhelming fear.

"Yes, you can!" Salina shouted, her eyes blazing with determination. "You're stronger than him, Jessica. You always have been."

Before Jessica could respond, a pained cry cut through the air. Frankie went flying, her body slamming into one of the dock's support posts with a sickening crack. Damon rushed to her side as Ivan turned his attention back to Jessica.

"You should have runaway, pudding," Ivan growled, advancing on her with slow, menacing steps. "But I guess you are stupid like your mother.”

Something snapped inside Jessica at his words. Rage coursed through her veins, momentarily drowning out the fear. She raised the weapon, her hands steady now as she took aim.

"Don’t you dare call my mother stupid," Jessica snarled, her finger tightening on the trigger.

But before she could fire, Ivan closed the distance between them with lightning speed. His massive hand closed around her throat, lifting her off her feet. Jessica gasped, the weapon slipping from her grasp as she clawed desperately at Ivan's iron grip.

"Foolish girl," Ivan hissed, his face inches from hers. "Did you really think you could defeat me? I am beyond death now. Beyond anything you could imagine."

Jessica struggled to breathe, black spots dancing at the edges of her vision. She could feel Ivan's deadly touch beginning to take hold, a creeping numbness spreading from where his skin met hers.

"Jessica!" Kevin's panicked voice seemed to come from far away. "Fight him!"

But as Ivan's grip tightened, Jessica felt her strength ebbing away. Her limbs grew heavy, her struggles to weaken. Was this how it would end? Had she come all this way just to fail?

As darkness closed in, Jessica's thoughts turned to her friends, to her father, to all the people counting on her. She couldn't give up. Not now. Never.

With the last of her strength, Jessica reached deep inside herself, calling upon the wolf that lived within her very bones. She felt the familiar surge of power, the burning in her blood as her body changed.

Ivan's eyes widened in surprise as Jessica's form shifted beneath his grasp. Fur sprouted along her skin, her muscles swelling and reshaping. With a feral growl, she sank newly elongated fangs into Ivan's wrist.

The monster howled in pain and fury, his grip loosening just enough for Jessica to wrench herself free. She dropped to the ground, her transformation complete, and faced Ivan with blazing golden eyes.

For a moment, predator and prey stood locked in a silent standoff, the storm raging around them. Then, with a roar that shook the very planks beneath their feet, Ivan lunged forward once more.

Jessica braced herself for the impact, knowing that this battle would determine not just her fate, but the fate of everyone she loved. As Ivan's massive form bore down upon her, she silently vowed that this time, she would not fail.