Chapter 5: The Beast Awakens Part 2
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Morning came and Hunter awakens, feeling groggy from his lack of sleep. He wonders about Dylan’s horrific change last night, and that caused him to worry about his dalmatian friend. The boy wonders if the dog has made it back home yet and got up quickly while trying to ignore his vertigo to head out into the hallway towards the window to peer out the window to see a familiar spotted form lying prone in the backyard.
“What the? Dylan!” Hunter called out as he rushes downstairs and out the backdoor to the prone dog. “Hey! Rise and shine, Sir Bhargest!” The human joked towards the still hound.
“Wha… Sir wha-? Name’s Dylan… Not Bar-whatever you called me…” Dylan droned tiredly.
“Well, considering your violent actions last night, I just assumed that you were one. Or a Shuck, if you prefer.” The human boy explained.
“Shucks, and as well as Barghests, are black dogs from what I read from books pertaining to the folklore.” The dalmatian slowly stood up with a glare. “I am a dalmatian, a white dog with black spots…” He emphasized.
“Well, I think they might need to invent a new folklore creature name for you.” Hunter stated as he took out his phone. “Because you may be more terrifying than ol’ Jack.” He said, as he showed the teen dog a photo, which made the dalmatian’s eyes widen like plates.
“Who’s...that?” The tired dalmatian inquired.
“Look closer, mate. Familiar?” The boy enhances the photo on his phone for the dog to see.
Dylan is horrified at the image as he sees himself in the photo in the alley, looking uncouth, savage, and bloodthirsty with piercing red eyes filled with bloodlust, pinning a helpless stray who’s on the verge of death at his paws.
“That… That can’t be... Is this some sort of joke?!” The dalmatian bellowed.
“If it was, we’d be laughing, but I’m a terrible at them.” The boy remarked.
“I’m...not a monster…” The dalmatian whispered lowly.
“Huh?” The boy inquired.
“I’M NOT A MONSTER!!!” The teen dog screamed as he buried his face in his paws.
“Woah, chill! I never said you were!” Hunter defended with his hands raised.
“You did… Calling me a Shuck or a Barghest or whatever…” The dalmatian stated.
“Right, sorry… But I don’t think you would go out of your way to kill…” The De Vil trailed before continuing. “At least I don’t think.” The human muttered, but unfortunately, his response did go unheard.
“What do you mean by that?!” Dylan snarled as he uncovered his face.
Hunter was hoping to tell him while he’s in one of his better moods, but goes through his phone to find something; another photo he took yesterday.
“So, you know the stray from the other day, the one who you threatened to kill?” The boy asked the teen pup, who raised a brow. “He’s dead. Brutally.” The boy said bluntly as he showed the photo of the crime scene.
Dylan has gone dead silent as he remembers the stray in the photo, but the dog is fully deceased with deep wounds on the body.
“H-Hunter… Where...did…” Dylan breathed out slowly but couldn’t get the words out.
“A block away from this house. I got curious and decided to take a closer look while the police and pest control were investigating the area.” The boy explained.
“How can I… That couldn’t be my doing!” The teen dog exclaimed. “Though I did have this weird metallic taste in my mouth...” The dalmatian trailed off.
“Uh… Not just a weird taste, but you also reek of something metallic as well.” Hunter said as he took a step back.
“What…?” Dylan stated as started sniffing himself as recognizes that it’s the smell of blood on his fur and taste of blood in his mouth.
Dylan goes silent from the realization and fell over with a catatonic look etched onto his face. Hunter walks over and waves a hand in the dog’s face to see that he’s fainted from the shock.
“Cripes, he keeled over.” Hunter exclaimed as he picks up the catatonic pup to take inside the house.
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Inside the dalmatian home, the De Vil swiftly and quietly took Dylan upstairs and into the bathroom to place the teen dalmatian in the tub, where he turned the shower on with its cold setting. The shower gushes out an icy shower onto the pup, who yelped back into consciousness.
“Hey, welcome back to the waking world.” Hunter joked with a wry grin.
“Uh… Th-Thanks….” Dylan shuddered as he switched off the water. “Just what happened to me… Wait. Y-You don’t think the blood moon is responsible for this, right.” The dalmatian deduced.
Later in the guest room, Dylan, who recently cleaned the scent off his body, is with Hunter, and they’re reading the strange book of myths and legends that shows the section of the lunar eclipse, aka the blood moon.
“Let’s see… ‘The blood moon is a mystical phenomenal that occurs roughly 2 to 3 years, but not all blood moons are total as some are partial, elliptical, etc…’” Hunter droned on.
“Didn’t that book say something about how it affects animals, mostly canines in particular?” Dylan asked.
“I’m just getting to that part.” Hunter responded as he continues. “Oh? Here’s a passage. ‘The blood moon can often be a sign for the calamity, doomsday and other worldly premonitions.’” The boy read more.
“Sounds like Dante would love that section.” Dylan groaned, earning a chuckle from the human.
“Yeah, he would.” Hunter laughed before calming down. “Anyway, moving on… Ah, here it is. ‘While, the blood moon may be a celestial phenomenon, the moon has the power to trigger beasts in a certain way.’” The human read the passage which perks the teen dog’s ears at this information as the human continued. “‘Any animal, canines in the most sense, can be triggered by the red moon’s light. The light will awaken their dormant primal instincts, and they’ll be consumed in their dark insatiable desires.’” Hunter finished reading.
Primal instincts? Dark insatiable desires? These thoughts ran through Dylan’s brain.
“Huh? It also reads that not all dogs will be afflicted, however, as those who reject their ‘inner beast’ will be likely to be.” The boy read a bit more.
“What does it say about dreams?” The dalmatian inquired about his premonition nightmares.
“Uh...nothing… It doesn’t say anything about dreams in here.” Hunter scanned the pages, but looks at a particular passage about symptoms and transformation. “But it does tell about the telltale signs of someone afflicted by the blood moon such as: rising body temperature, headaches, craving meat, shifting mood swings, sudden increase in strength and heightened senses, and so on…” The De Vil read on.
“I... I think… I need to lie down…” Dylan trailed off, feeling despondent as he turns towards the door.
“Don’t you want to eat breakfast?” Hunter asked as he closed the book.
“I’m not hungry…” The dalmatian said as he walks out the room and get swarmed by a tidal wave of pups as they breezed past him, while the teen dog just stood still and watched his younger siblings be chaotic downstairs. “Hmm…” The elder pup mused as he went into the bathroom once to take a look in the mirror again.
Dylan took a careful look at himself as he remembered the last time that he saw a creepy, evil version of himself in the reflection. He opened his maw and noticed that his canines are a bit sharper than before as he touched one of them with his paw and felt a sharp prick and wondered if he’s really changing along with other thoughts in running in his head.
“Yo, Sir Grouch-a-lot, time for breakfast!” Dolly called from the downstairs, snapping the dog out of his thoughts.
Dylan said nothing as he left the bathroom and heads into one of the rooms to lie on the floor as he covers his head with a pillow. Unknown to the pup, his parents walking past the room until one of them, Doug, notices his stepson and approaches him.
“Dylan? Are you alright, son?” Doug asked the pup, only to be met with silence. “Dylan?” He tries to get a response, which prompts Delilah to enter the room as well.
“Dylan, is everything alright?” Delilah also asked in concern, again the parents are met with silence. “Dylan?” She again gets no response.
“I’m not going… Let me rest…” The pup groaned.
“Dylan, what’s wrong?” The mother inquired.
“Nothing… I need to be alone…” Dylan said, feeling even worse.
“Dylan…” The mother tries to reason but is startled by his outburst.
“GO AWAY!!!” The teen dog shouted at his parents.
“Dylan Dyne Dalmatian!” Delilah scolds her son for his outburst. “What’s come over you? Your behavior’s been off-the-wall these last few days.” She demanded.
“Mum, tell me… If I were some sort of monster, would you still consider me your pup?” Dylan inquired, not looking at his parents.
“Now where is this coming from?” The mother asked.
“Just… I’m not feeling myself right now…” The teen dog responded.
“Are you ill?” Delilah asked once more as she moves to check her son’s body temperature. “You seem unusually warm, but no fever.” She checked carefully.
“Overall, Dylan, you’re still our son. We love you regardless of what happening.” Doug reassured the teen pup.
“Thanks, Dad. Sorry for snapping.” He apologizes to his parents.
“You’re probably just under stress. Why not take it easy, son?” The father nuzzled his stepson.
“Well, I’ll let your outburst slide for now. But for now, just rest, deary.” The mother said as she nuzzles her son as well.
Dylan said nothing else as his parents left him alone in the room. Hunter walks into the doorway to check on his distraught spotted pal.
“So, do you need anything, or you wished to be alone?” Hunter asked, only to be with a low groan. “I’ll take that as a sign of the latter.” The human said as he left the dalmatian alone.
Hunter heads downstairs to find the pups are not eating their kibble which Delilah and Doug took notice of.
“Is something wrong, pups?” Doug asks everyone.
“Where’s Dylan?” Some of the pups asked.
“Yeah, where’s Captain Stuckup?” Dolly inquired.
“Uh… He’s...not feeling well at the moment.” The human replied as he looked upstairs.
“Your brother just needs to rest, dears.” Delilah tells the pups. “Now eat up. We don’t want the food going to waste.” She urged them.
The pups are eating except for one, Da Vinci, who barely touched hers as this concerns her siblings nearby.
“Hey, Da Vinci.” Dizzy piped up.
“Why aren’t you eating?” Dee Dee chimed as well.
“I’m...not hungry…” The artist drawled while staring at her bowl of food.
“Then can I have yours?” Diesel begged as the artist shoved her bowl his way.
“What’s wrong, Da Vinci? You barely touched your food.” Dawkins asked, concerned of his sister.
“I’m just not feeling well.” The artist drawled.
“Jeez. You’re more of a Debbie Downer like Dylan.” Dolly remarked.
“I don’t care… I just don’t feel like myself right now.” The artist stated as she walks away from the table.
“Is everyone hit with the gloom bug today?” The tomboyish pup asked incredulously.
“First Dylan, now Da Vinci. I’m sensing negative auras all around.” Deepak exclaimed.
Seeing their art-driven daughter leave the table, Doug and Delilah exchanged worried glances of what going with their pups. Hunter looks on with worry, but mostly worried about Dylan.
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Hours later, Dolly is busy with her antics and decides that it’s time to bring the pups to the park.
“PARK!” Dolly screamed as she opens the door wide, but no answer. “PARK!!!” She screams again as no pups answered again as she began to feel irritated.
The tomboyish dog heads upstairs to find a crowd of pups in the hall, huddling around the quarantine room where their eldest brother is. As Dolly rolled her eyes and walked up to the pups.
“Is he ok?/Is he sick?/He’s probably faking it./Or maybe hurt.” The pups chimed in cacophony of barks.
“Uh, hello, pups? Why don’t we all go to the park, and forget the Gloomy Gus.” Dolly quipped, which the got the pups to glare incredulously at their eldest sister.
“Isn’t the curfew still in effect?” Hunter asked as he steps out of the guest room.
“So? It’s just an hour of park time.” The tomboyish teen dog stated.
“Pretty sure they said after a certain period, no human nor animals are allowed out.” The human started as he looked to see the slightly orange hue of the sky. “Which is too late right now.” He finished.
“Mind keeping it down out there?” Dylan demanded from inside the room. “I’m trying to sleep...” He stated from the room.
“It’s too early for bed.” One of the pups said.
“Like I said, let’s go to park.” The teen dog tries to rouse her siblings, but saw that they aren’t budging, which Hunter snickers at.
“Worry = 1, Park = 0.” Hunter remarked in mutter. “Alright, everyone, why don’t you all go entertain yourselves while I deal with your brother.” The human stated.
The pups complied and left the quarantine door, all except for Da Vinci, Dawkins, and Dante as they stayed behind. Hunter noticed the dogs alone and goes to grab them, but Dolly beats him to it and pushes the siblings despite their protests and heads downstairs with them in tow. Seeing this opportunity, Hunter heads into the quarantine room to confront Dylan, who is still the under the pillow.
“Hey, mate. Are you feeling alright?” Hunter asked in concern.
“Just need rest at the treehouse…” Dylan stated as he comes from under the pillow.
“You haven’t even eaten.” The human pointed out.
“Thanks, but I’m not hungry…” The teen dog drawled as shuffles past him.
“Uh…” Hunter tries to find the words but couldn’t.
Dylan goes downstairs while feeling the intense sensation burning in his body as he walks past the living room and towards the kitchen, and then out through the back door. The teen dog felt a sickening surge coursing through his body as he stumbles towards his treehouse and stops at the base of the tree.
“How delightful that one is content without the noise of the ruff raffs next door.” A haughty tone belonging to a certain corgi next door which made the dalmatian growled in annoyance.
“One needs to learn not to be a freaking nuisance.” Dylan retorts in a low mutter.
“Aren’t all prissy types like that?” Another voice chimed, revealing himself as Hunter, who followed with the book in hand.
“Most of the time. What is it, Hunter?” The dalmatian tiredly inquired.
“To help with your predicament and take some necessary precautions.” The human pointed to his net gun strapped on his back.
“Are you sure?” The dalmatian asked with uncertainty.
“Positive. And if you do change, I’ll help you however I can.” Hunter assured the dog.
Dylan is silent for a moment as tears brimmed in the corner of his eyes as his ears drooped. “Thank you…” The dalmatian then swiftly hugged the human in earnest.
“OK. OK. Ease up before you ruffle my shirt.” Hunter petted the dog.
Unknown to the duo, Dante, Dawkins and Da Vinci are watching the scene through the window.
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Later that evening, the pups are wondering what to do, as they’re not as rambunctious as before and are eerily quiet. Hunter is steadily on his phone while sitting on the sofa as the Delilah and Doug walks into the home and wonders.
“Honeys, we’re home!” Doug chimed happily, but saw no usual reaction from the pups. “What’s wrong, pups?” The father asked his pups in bewilderment.
“And where’s Dylan?” Delilah asked about the whereabouts of her son.
“He’s resting in the treehouse. Just needed some time to alone.” Hunter replied.
“I sense something dark and foreboding…” Deepak shivered in fear.
“Duh! That’s because Dylan is not himself. Something’s up, and Hunter knows something.” Dante as he glares at the human with narrowed eyes.
If only you knew what was up with Dylan, you’d be freaking out too. The De Vil retorted in his thoughts and then sighs. “Dylan’s been...off these couple of days. So, I wouldn’t know what’s going on with him.” The human bluntly stated his convincing fib, while trying to keep the dalmatians from hearing the awful truth.
“Ugh! Dylan’s sourpuss attitude is affecting the whole house.” Dolly was exasperated as she walks off to do something to entertain herself.
“Yeah… He’s a poser.” Destiny started.
“And a weirdo.” Dallas added.
“And kooky, maybe wild, or even loopy.” Déjà Vu spouted off.
Hunter goes back to his phone, while concerned for Dylan’s problem, as he’s actually just trying to play it cool while doing word games on it as he ignores the pups’ ramblings.
“I still think we’re doomed from the lunar eclipse the other night.” Dante declared as Dolly and a few others rolled their eyes.
“No one is doomed, so please curb your paranoia, emo pup.” The human chimed to the inverted teen pup, who became insulted.
“Alright, everyone, it’s time for bed anyway.” Delilah ushered everyone.
Almost all the pups obeyed the mother and except for Da Vinci who left the line to head outside to the backyard where her brother is while Hunter is watching the dogs leave.
Outside in the treehouse, Dylan is having trouble trying to sleep as he heard his siblings talk about due to his sudden enhanced hearing, along with hearing other sounds throughout Camden entering his head as he tries to drown it out.
Awaken… Time to awaken, my pup… The same guttural tone echoes in his mind as the pup felt a burning sensation as he tries to drown out the voice.
Unfortunately, Dylan’s resistance is proven futile, as Big Ben then chimed as the clock tower chimes pierces the young dalmatian’s eardrums.
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=Mindscape=
Inside Dylan’s mind, his dream of reaching Mars, his memories of family and friends are slowly being tinted in a deep crimson color as the dog finds himself falling into an abyss into a murky dark crimson water.
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=Reality=
Outside the mind, down below the tree trunk, Da Vinci worries about her elder brother.
“Dylan? A-Are you alright?” Da Vinci nevously asked as hears noises.
Inside the treehouse loft, the chimes rang in his head as Dylan rears back to scream in pain as his pupils glow red, and then lurches forward on all fours and groans in pain with his eyes shut as he felt his claws sharpen on his paws along his with his bones creaking as his body start to expand and grow his fur is becoming disheveled as his tail became bushy. The green spider then stirs in the loft corner and witnesses the transformation and quickly hid. Then, his eyes reopened to reveal his scleras are now black with red pupils as he then growls savagely, but suddenly hears a whimper outside.
“D-Dylan? Wh-What’s going on?!” The nervous artist demanded an answer.
The transformed dalmatian then jumps through the loft’s ceiling and lands in the backyard with a heavy thud, which the scared artist turned around to spot a scruffy-looking dalmatian with his back turned.
“What in the… Who are you?” Da Vinci asked the beast, who then slowly turned towards her as a snap is heard, and the collar fell off his neck, revealing a familiar red collar with a silver star tag that belonged to her eldest brother. “You… What did you do to Dylan?!” The artist got into a defensive position despite her fear, but as the clouds moved along the sky, the moon’s light revealed a very familiar constellation pattern on the beast’s ear as her eyes widen in horror that the monster is her beloved eldest brother, Dylan.
The transformed dalmatian then edged toward his younger sister, but his mind is currently swamped by his primal instincts. Da Vinci tries to speak but couldn’t find her voice as she’s trembling in sheer terror while tears brimmed in her eyes as Dylan is ready to pounce on her, but to the beast’s surprise, the pup artist fainted from shock. And just before he could check on her, Hunter open’s the door with his net gun in hand.
“What’s going on? I heard… What the…” Hunter trailed as he spotted the disheveled dalmatian who then swiftly turns to glare at him, which made the boy go silent for as he then spot the familiar collar on the grass and pieced together the very beast on his phone he took a picture the night before. “No way… Dylan?!” The boy breathed aghast as he’s glaring at his disheveled friend.
Dylan then leapt from the backyard to the house’s roof as Hunter rushes out to spot the transformed dog, who then howled loudly and eerily to the sky before rushing from roof towards the Camden streets. Hunter was in awe and shock at Dylan’s change, but decides to put on hold as he goes to pick up Da Vinci, who is still unconscious from fright of seeing her berserk brother and took her inside.
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Inside the dalmatian household, Hunter places Da Vinci in the guest bedroom as he felt her still trembling as he places her on the bed. Then, Hunter then grabs a wig he got back from the dalmatian parents to place it at the head of the bed and moves the pillows further under the cover to adjust them into an illusion of a body under the covers. But before he can complete the illusion, the De Vil took out his tape recorder and played a snoring noise on repeat and slipped it inside the pillows, completing the illusion of him sleeping.
Hunter took out an extra blanket to place on the unconscious artist, only to sigh deeply and shook his head. The De Vil then goes to grab a few things from the household, such as rope, a bat, a few minor provisions, and readies his net gun as he’s primed for a fight against his transformed friend as stands at the front door to inhale and exhale while steeling himself to take on the primal dalmatian.
“Alright, Dylan… Let’s do this.” Hunter stated in a grim determination as he opens the door slowly to not wake any in house and quietly slips out to find Dylan.
However, unknown to Hunter’s knowledge, two certain pups were awake and watched the human leave, and this prompts them to follow him.
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Dylan’s awakening and transformation has happened. How will Hunter reign in the savage dalmatian? Will he succeed?
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