Hair in All The Wrong Places (21 page)

Alarms sounded from every direction making Colin's head ring as he ascended in the elevator. He'd had to tackle seventeen more guards on several different floors as the elevator had stopped a few times already.

The doors slid open at the main floor, and Colin stepped into the hangar and ran for the exit. He burst out into the early-morning air to find it was raining. It felt good to be outside.

Again, he reached for the wolf and tried to bring on the change, but it wouldn't happen. The power was still out of his reach.

He didn't know how he was going to stop Mr. Winter, but he had to try. He had to save Becca.

A dark-green army truck swung into the yard and skidded to a stop. Men began to file out of the back, and
Colin didn't waste any more time. He ran across the yard, picking up speed until he was close to the fence, and jumped, clearing the razor wire and the cliff ledge and plummeted toward the ground. He landed heavily but didn't miss a step. Adrenaline surged through him, and it felt good to be running again, even if it was in human form. He followed his own scent back toward Elkwood.

C
olin didn't know what he was going to do. He didn't have a plan besides hoping he was right that Mr. Winter was the other werewolf.

A deer darted out of his way as Colin raced on through the forest, resisting the urge to chase it. A pang of emptiness hit him as he crossed the stream where he had first changed. He reached for the wolf inside, but the change wouldn't come. Anger made him run faster.

It wouldn't take the goon squad back at the base long to get themselves together and come for him. For all Colin knew, they were already on their way to Elkwood. Colin had to get to the school, find Becca, and make sure she was okay, and then … what? Go up to his biology teacher and accuse him of being a werewolf? How would he ever prove it? Once Mr. Emerson and his small army showed up, it'd all be over.

Colin felt a small stab of regret at having punched Mr. Emerson, but the thought was fleeting. After all, the man had imprisoned him, shot at him, and locked up his grandmother.

Colin wondered how his grandmother was fairing. Knowing what he now did about the little old lady, he immediately followed that thought up with one of extreme pity for all the men, creatures, and dragons locked up with her.

As Colin neared Elkwood School, the scent in the air changed from damp forest to the smell of cut grass on the football field and an ungodly odor emanating from the school cafeteria. Moments later, he emerged from the forest and stood at the edge of the football field.

Colin's heart was beating fast from the run, but he wasn't tired. If anything, he felt invigorated. His inner wolf was getting restless, but he still couldn't reach the creature through the fog. He was going to have to go this alone.

His necromancer girlfriend was in trouble. Colin wasn't sure how the shining armor was going to fit, but he couldn't just let her be killed. He finally had an honest shot at going on a date. With a girl! No demons, no homicidal werewolf biology teachers, no dragons, no secret government organizations, and no vampires were going to stand in his way.

Colin marched across the football field.

As he reached the back double doors of the school, he heard the bell ring twice to signal the start of the first period. The ringing resonated through his wolf hearing, and his head spun a little.

Colin's first priority was to find Becca; luckily he knew exactly which class she'd be in right now. Thinking he also needed to avoid Principal Hebert when he suddenly remembered who the large ex-marine-looking teacher really was. Principal Hebert was a captain in Commander Emerson's little government army.

Crap.

If Hebert was here, then he'd no doubt already been notified about Colin's escape and—

“Mr. Strauss!” said the booming voice of Principal Hebert.

Colin had been so focused on finding Becca he'd ignored his surroundings again. He turned to his left and laid eyes upon the imposing-looking man.

Hebert had removed his usual jacket and tie and had rolled up his shirtsleeves to show muscular forearms that looked like they could bench-press any number of very heavy things. Colin could hear the man's steady heartbeat but could also smell his fear. Hebert wasn't sure what to make of his adversary after watching Colin change last night. Maybe that would give Colin an edge.

It certainly made sense with so many supernatural children in the school to have a caretaker for them all. That was Principal Hebert's real role here.

“I'm sorry, Colin, but you're going to have to come with me.”

“That's not going to happen.” Colin had never been more certain of anything before in his life. He had to get into that school and rescue Becca. Chances are Mr. Winter had already heard or smelled him. Colin was running out of time.

Principal Hebert pulled a small, rectangular black box from his left pocket. “This is going to hurt, Colin. And I'm sorry.” He slipped his right hand behind his back, unsheathed a long, shiny hunting knife, and held it up. “Silver. We heard from one of our other offices that it's the one thing you creatures can't heal from.”

“It should be me who apologizes to you, Principal Hebert.”

“For what?”

“I just wanted to say sorry before we get started,” said Colin. “You're a good man, and you don't deserve what I'm about to do to you.”

The scent of fear coming from Principal Hebert grew stronger. He held up the black box and pressed a button on the side. A bright blue spark appeared at the end of the box. “Do you know what this is?”

“It's a Taser,” said Colin.

“This isn't just any Taser. This was developed by our R&D department to take down large creatures. This thing packs a shock that would knock an elephant out.”

“I can smell your fear, Hebert. And I can hear your heartbeat. I know you're a trained soldier and you're keeping yourself calm, but I know you're scared. You don't know what I'm capable of, and maybe that makes two of us. I don't fully understand my powers yet. What I do know is that there's another werewolf in your school. And I have to stop him before he kills anyone else.”

“I was told you would say that. It doesn't have to be this way, Colin.”

Before Colin could respond, Hebert dived and jabbed the Taser at Colin who caught Hebert's wrist in one hand
and grabbed him by the neck with the other. Hebert's fear skyrocketed, his eyes growing wide. His fear was all Colin could smell, and he loved it. He wanted to hunt in that moment, craved the thrill to hunt down and devour prey. He wanted to turn into the wolf. It felt closer but still out of reach. Adrenaline surged through him, and he knew he could end this man's life with a twist of his hand.

But this wasn't his prey.

Hebert raised the silver knife in his right hand. In one swift motion, Colin released the large man, snatched the Taser, and jabbed it at the principal's chest. Hebert wasn't lying about the power of the device. It threw the former-Marine back several feet where he crumpled in a disorganized heap; the silver knife skittered across the concrete. Colin crushed the Taser device in one hand and dropped it. He pushed open the doors and entered the school.

The smell of aftershave hit him, and Colin's anger burned inside him.

He must be bathing in the stuff.

Hello, Colin.

It was Mr. Winter's voice in Colin's head.

You're late for class.

I'll be there soon.

I'll be waiting.

Colin crossed the hallway and pushed open the double doors to the gym. The fastest way to the biology classroom was to cut across the gymnasium. The large room was empty except for Jeremy who was shooting hoops.

“Colin!” said Jeremy. “Where have you been? You're getting later and later all the time.”

“What are you doing here, Jer? Shouldn't you be in class?”

“Shouldn't you?”

“Fair point. I've had a rough night.”

“Tell me about it. I ate an entire box of Pop-Tarts before bed. Tossed and turned all night.”

Poor Jeremy. I wonder what he really is?

“So why aren't you in class?” said Colin.

Jeremy shot from the three-point line. Nothing but net. “Winter cancelled class today. Said he was too busy with something and that we were all inconsequential in the grand scheme of things. That's a direct quote.”

“That's it? He just sent everyone away for a spare period?”

“Yup, figured I'd get some extra b-ball practice in. I think Becca stayed behind though. Hey! Rumor has it you two hooked up or something? Way to go, Col!”

“Becca stayed behind? Why?”

“Winter said he wanted to talk to her about a special project or something. So did you kiss her yet?”

“I gotta go, Jer.” Colin started heading for the doors at the opposite end of the gym.

“All right. Don't tell me. See if I care.” Jeremy shot again.
Swish.

Colin reached the doors, then stopped, and turned back to Jeremy. “Jeremy, do you know about Elkwood?”

“What do you mean?”

“Elkwood. The town meetings, the vampires, the witches, the demons?”

Jeremy laughed. “Too many late night movies there, Col? You need to get more sleep, buddy.”

Smiling, Colin nodded, then pushed his way through the doors. Jeremy was as oblivious as ever and apparently had no idea who or what he was. Colin wondered how many more people were unaware to what Elkwood really was.

Colin ran down the hallway toward the biology classroom. The smell of aftershave was getting stronger. He could hear Mr. Winter's voice through the door. He was talking about predators.

“In the animal kingdom,” said Mr. Winter, “a hierarchy is often established with the alpha predators of the world dominating and ultimately eradicating the lesser of the species.”

A few students walked down the hallway, but other than that, it was empty. Most people would still be in class while the biology students would be busy taking full advantage of the spare period.

This was crazy.

I don't even know the extent or the limits of my powers.

But if he didn't do something, more people would die. Becca would die. That wasn't something he was willing to accept. Silas said he could heal from almost any wound except silver. He still had his strength, his speed, his other gifts.

Colin closed his eyes and tried to focus, to trust his senses. He could hear the general hum of the school. Teachers droning on. The placid rhythm of student's heartbeats. The smell of bad food being prepped in the kitchen.

He pushed his hearing in on the biology classroom, and he could see the room clearly in his mind. Scents and sounds mixing to paint the perfect picture.

Mr. Winter was still talking, his heartbeat racing. Colin could smell his excitement and anticipation. There was a second heartbeat in the room, also racing. A familiar scent also greeted him despite the strong stench of fear and anger surrounding it.

Colin opened his eyes, kicked open the door, and entered the classroom.

Mr. Winter sat smirking with his feet up on his desk. Aftershave burned Colin's nostrils. He could only imagine how bad it must be for the biology teacher. Mr. Winter's hair had grown since last night.

Tied to a chair in the middle of the room, Becca sat gagged with tears streaking down her face. She looked exhausted and afraid, but Colin could smell her relief when she saw him.

“Mr. Strauss. So nice of you to join us. Don't think about freeing our resident teenage witch just yet. We have some talking to do first.”

“I don't think there's much to talk about,” said Colin.

“Oh, but I think there is. Do you know what a rare species we are these days? Werewolves. I think it'd be educational for us to swap our origin stories. We are in a school after all.”

“I was bitten a few days ago by a werewolf who came here looking to kill you.” Colin didn't see the point in hiding it.

Mr. Winter swung his legs down off his desk. “That's right! The hunter,” said Mr. Winter. “The wolf that bit
me was part of a group looking to take over the world. They keep turning people into werewolves in the hope of spreading their bloodline and growing the pack, but this hunter of yours keeps killing them. He seems very motivated.”

“I think he just likes the world the way it is.”

Mr. Winter slammed his fists down on his desk, splintering and denting the wood. “That's not his choice to make!”

Colin could hear Mr. Winter's uneven heartbeat. The biology teacher was having trouble keeping his change at bay, and his erratic emotions weren't helping anything.

Colin reached for his own wolf, but it was still hidden somewhere. He thought he could hear it growling in his head. “Why are you doing this? Why kill Sam or anyone for that matter?”

Mr. Winter laughed. “Do you know what it's like to be a schoolteacher? Or even worse, a schoolteacher in a town full of freaks? It's unbearable. All you snivelling little beasts, showing up late, never doing your homework. Ungrateful little whelps. Half of them powerful beings and taking everything for granted! Whining about this and that. Pitiful!”

Colin took a small quick sidestep toward Becca. “Must be annoying for you.”

“It's infuriating. I found that taking the occasional vacation, swimming in a hot climate, getting a massage on the beach, was all I ever needed to lead a calm, fulfilling life. Of course, then I come back here, and it all starts over again.”

“But on the last trip you were bitten.”

“I was, and then the changes started. By the time I came back to Elkwood, I'd already gone through my first change. You know what it feels like. It's amazing! The raw power! It makes you realize how truly insignificant every single other person on the planet really is.”