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“You know what I am.”
Kane’s words echoed in my mind like a haunting melody, each syllable carrying the weight of a promise and a warning that I couldn’t ignore.
Worse still, another word kept creeping into my thoughts, an absurd notion that I scolded myself for even entertaining.
Werewolf.
It was ridiculous, childish even, to let such fantastical thoughts infiltrate my mind. I was a rational person, and I knew that such creatures didn’t exist in the real world. Yet, despite my best efforts to dismiss it as pure fantasy, the word persisted, insinuating itself into my consciousness like a hushed whisper in the dead of night.
The eerie persistence of the word “werewolf” in my thoughts was abruptly interrupted by a commotion that echoed through the casino. People began to murmur, their voices tinged with fear and disbelief, and I followed their alarmed gazes towards the entrance.
There, right outside the very casino where I worked, chaos had erupted. Shouts and screams filled the air as partygoers and passersby scattered, their panicked footsteps echoing through the night. I felt a knot of dread tighten in my stomach as I looked out the front door, witnessing the aftermath of what appeared to be another vicious animal attack.
The scene was harrowing—a group of men lay on the ground, bloodied and unconscious, surrounded by a small crowd of onlookers. The authorities arrived swiftly, trying to restore order and piece together the puzzle before them, but the chaos that followed was anything but organized.
“What kind of animal could do that?” someone muttered beside me, and I swallowed hard.
You know what kind.
My heart raced as I watched, torn between the urge to flee and the inexplicable draw toward telling the truth of what I knew. A shiver of unease coursed through me.
Casino security personnel acted quickly, ushering patrons toward the exits as an eerie tension hung in the air. The casino’s management, not wanting to risk the safety of their guests and staff, made the decision to shut down the operation for the night.
The announcement came over the intercom, urging everyone to leave calmly. The police needed space to conduct their investigation, and it was clear that the circumstances were far from ordinary. The once-bustling casino quickly became a sea of hurried footsteps and nervous chatter as people filed out, their faces etched with a mixture of fear and curiosity.
As I joined the throng of departing employees and patrons, my mind raced with questions and doubts.
Had Kane done this?
I didn’t really even need to ask. Somewhere, deep down, I knew the answer, and I just wasn’t ready to accept it.
* * *
The next morning, after a fitful night of sleep filled with fragmented dreams and lingering unease, I found myself sitting on my living room couch with a cup of steaming coffee in hand. The television murmured in the background, and I sighed softly.
Suddenly, the news anchor’s voice on the television grew urgent, causing me to spill a little coffee as I set the cup down.
“Breaking news: another gruesome animal attack took place last night, this time outside the Tropicana casino,” the anchor reported. “A known mobster and a couple of his men were found dead at the scene, their bodies showing signs of a savage assault. The survivor, barely clinging to life, mentioned seeing what he described as a massive, wolf-like creature before passing out.”
My heart raced as the anchor continued.
“Authorities are baffled by the incident, and they’ve launched an investigation into what they’re now calling a series of bizarre animal attacks. The motive behind these attacks remains unclear, but residents are urged to exercise caution while outdoors.”
Chills ran down my spine as I listened to the report. Uncertain of what to do next, I stared at the television screen, my mind consumed by a growing sense of dread and unease.
His voice played over and over in my mind.
“You know what I am.”
A knock on my apartment door pulled me away from my thoughts, and my heart leaped into my throat. I wasn’t expecting any visitors at this early hour. With cautious steps, I approached the door and hesitated before unlocking it.
Two uniformed police officers stood in the hallway, their expressions a mix of professionalism and concern. The grizzly-looking older officer spoke first.
“Good morning, ma’am. I’m Officer Rodriguez, and this is Officer Stevens. We’re here to ask you a few questions about last night’s incident near the Tropicana casino.”
I nodded, trying to remain composed even as my heart pounded in my chest. “I was working there late last night and only got home in the early hours of the morning after the casino shut down. I didn’t hear or see anything that would help you, though.”
“We understand, ma’am. We’re investigating a series of unusual incidents, and we’re trying to gather information from anyone who might have witnessed anything, no matter how small. If you would just answer some questions, we’ll be on our way,” Officer Stevens said, nodding with understanding.
