Overcoming Bloodlust Part 2

“W-What? How?”

I staggered back falling into a chair. Now the possessed me walked up to me and spoke.

    “You’ll never get rid of me Max I’m always going to be by your side whether you like it or not.”

I screamed for help as my eyes went black again.

    I awoke back into the real world.  I was foaming at the mouth and growling at Mr. Kent. I had no control over my body.

    “Max? Max gets control! This isn’t you! Fight it! Come on!”

I began to open my jaw, copious amounts of salvia fell from my tongue onto the rubber mats. I was struggling to regain control. I stood and Mr. Kent copied. I began barking and howling at Mr. Kent. I lunged for the Instructor’s throat with vicious intent.

“Max no!”

 I regained control mid-jump and threw my arms to change my course of trajectory into the wall instead of Mr. Kent. I slammed my nose into the wall with a loud whimper.

    “I-It’s me, Mr. Kent! I’m so sorry. I- I didn’t mean to-”

The lizard cut me off with a tight hug. I hugged him back and my eyes began to swell with tears.

    “It’s alright son, I know you didn’t have any control. It’s alright I gotcha. I gotcha son.”

Said the lizard still hugging me tightly. My eyes are now overflowing with tears.

    “I-I don’t want to hurt anyone. I don’t. Why am I like this?

Mr. Kent pulled himself away and looked me in the eyes.

    “Son this isn’t your fault. I know you’re a sweet kid. I don’t know the reason why but I can tell you this, I am going to help you. You’re never going to have to take that blasted medicine. Not if I have any say in it.”

I sobbed into Mr. Kent. Letting out all my frustrations.

    “Would you be comfortable doing this again tomorrow? Only if you want to.”

Said Mr. Kent. I looked at him wiping my tears.

    “Yeah, I would. Thank you so much, Mr. Kent.”

I rubbed my now bleeding nose. Having probably broken it.

    “Here, let’s get you back to your mom, and also get you a bag of ice for that nose alright?”

I nodded and followed Mr. Kent out into his office and out into the lobby of the gym, It was now barren. Not a single person in the workout area. They all must have left for work. I saw my mother smiling sitting in a chair looking at me happily as if nothing had gone wrong. As Mr. Kent split from my side to go and get my ice for my now throbbing nose, I approached my mother and her face shifted from joy to extreme worry. She got up almost knocking the chair over. She ran up to me and put her hands on my face rubbing the hardened blood off the tip of my nose. 

    “Max! Max, what happened? Are you ok?”

Said my mother. As if she was about to burst from worry Mr. Kent strolled up beside me and gave me the ice pack. Its cool ice cubes make the plastic sweat heavily with condensation. I applied the ice pack to my snout. I Recoiled in pain. My nose still was very sore, so I applied it more gently this time. A wave of relief rushed over me as the pain began to numb from the bitter cold. I looked up at Mr. Kent and my mother.

    “This is a risk that comes with the procedure Violet, If you want, I’d be willing to have him back here tomorrow as well. No sort of bloodlust is going to stop me from helping him. I can promise you that.”

Mr. Kent said confidently. My mother shifted her gaze from Mr. Kent to me having put the oversized ice bag on my snout.

    “Would you like to come back, Max? I don't want to force you if you don't want to.”

My mother said in an understanding voice. I lifted the ice pack carefully off my nose.

    “Yes, I would. If I want to get rid of it I can't give up after the first day. Please, mommy.”

I said begging my mother. My mother had a joyous look in her eyes as she shifted her gaze once again to face Mr. Kent.

    “Well be back at your earliest convenience. If I may enquire when that is?”

Said my mother curiously. Mr. Kent put his hand on his chin and then back down at his sides again.

    “Hey, I’ve got a great idea. Why not come down here? After, we close at nine so that way we have at least an hour or two to utilize! We could also use the giant meditation and yoga section if you wanted?”

Said Mr. Kent with youthful excitement in his voice. I looked up at him.

    “Yes please Mr. Kent I would like that.”

I jutted in.

    “Alright then. Meet back here at nine! Also if you could Max. I’ve found that bringing something that carries good memories with it also greatly helps the process. I'll also put on some relaxing music and some incense if it helps.

I nodded my head. Mr. Kent outstretched his scale-covered hand for a formal shake. I disregarded the hand before me and wrapped my arms tightly around Mr. Kent.

    “Thank you for everything, Mr. Kent. Thank you so much.”

I said my eyes swelling up with tears. Mr. Kent's arms wrapped around me.

    “Anything for you son. I just want to help ya.”

We parted from our hug and waved our goodbyes. My mother and I grabbed our coats from the coat hanger and we proceeded out the door into the winter chill. Despite the chill. I was still holding the ice pack to my nose, even though my nose was already completely numb.

    I walked into my house, everyone still asleep. My mother led me to the couch. We both lazily and exhaustively laid down on the couch. Me leaning against her.

“So, if you don't mind me asking Max what did you see when you had the meditation?”

My mother asked submissively, knowing that she shouldn't be asking. I enlightened her to the horrors of which I came across. My mother cuddled my head making sure to avoid my still throbbing snout.

“Oh Maxy, I’m so sorry. Is there anything I can do to help?”

Asked my mother tenderly. I untucked my snout from her arms and looked at her with an answer swirling around in my eyes.

    “Well, Mr. Kent said to bring an item that carried good memories with it. So, could I have your scarf? Just for the meditation classes?”

I asked politely. My mother smiled and stood up from the couch. She walked over to the coat hanger and removed her scarf which was tied around the highest pole. She walked back over to me falling into the couch’s soft cushion and wrapping her tail around me. She leaned over and plopped the scarf in my lap, its sweet fragrance was that of my mother’s. A soft and subtle aroma, a combination of flowers. I looked up at her.

    “If you ever need it for whatever reason, whether it be the cold or just a bad dream it will always be there for you. Keep it, I have plenty.”

My mother said with a sweet smile. I looked back up at her and replied

    “Thank you, mommy. I’ll never lose it I swear.”

My mother yawned heavily, her eyes now filled with fatigue.

    “Why don’t we head back to bed? It’s still only six in the morning.”

My mother said tiredly. I nodded and stood. My mother followed and we both started towards our rooms. I gave my mother one last hug before entering my room. I walked into my room, it’s still air barely moving through my fur. I looked at my TV, my reflection staring back at me, it shifted into the figure I had seen in my meditation. I recoiled and looked back at the black screen, it was once again myself and only myself. I turned and faced a cage in my room. A tiny rat crawled out of a little plastic castle onto the dry bedding and looked up at me, sniffing the air as It did so.

    “Hey Hercules, how ya doing?”

I said softly as I opened the cage door and picked him up, plopping him down on my shoulder, his tiny clawed feet stepping over my thick fur to reach a higher vantage point on my head. I walked over to my gaming chair and slotted in a video game cartridge.

 

    I walked out into the living room, getting my shoes on as I went almost falling over. My mother’s scarf dangled from my neck as I finally got my shoes on. I looked up at my mother who was waiting at the door. She patted my head ruffling the already unkempt fur that sat on top.

    “You look adorable in that scarf. C’mon, let’s go.”

Said my mother opening the rickety door and stepping out onto the freshly fallen snow. I stepped into my mother’s footprint. I giggled and continued to do so. My mother looked behind herself and smiled. I hopped into the minivan once again and shifted myself better into my seat. Dusting off the snow that had managed to find its way on top of my head. My mother started the engine and she turned the steering wheel back out of the driveway.

    My hand knocked on the glass door of the gym and meditation place, getting the attention of Mr. Kent who had his back turned organizing papers on the check-in desk. He whipped around and immediately had a smile on his face. He swiftly walked up to the door and unlocked it for us.

    “Hey, Max! Sorry to keep yall waiting out in the freezing cold. Come in, come in I’m just tidying up getting it ready for opening tomorrow. You can go ahead and get settled in the main meditation room. I'll be just a minute. And violet you can join us this time if you want.”

    With Mr. Kent's instructions, my mother and I headed to the main meditation room. Walking through the main gym room and all of the workout equipment reeking of a high concentrated sanitizer mixture. I reached the meditation room and opened the door for my mother. I walked in on the few feet of hardwood flooring and took my shoes off, then proceeding on the soft gym mats. I sat down in a criss-cross position and my mother sat next to me. I looked over at her. She put her hand on my back.

    “I hope I won't prove too much of a distraction.”
I looked forward and started slowing my breathing, I heard the door open behind me, and there stood Mr. Kent. He walked over in front of me and copied my position.

    “Alright, Max, Same thing as last time okay? And Violet you can meditate if you wish or keep an eye on Max with me, it’s your choice.”

Following Mr. Kent's instructions once more I fell into a deep state of bliss.

    The air around me was full of the smell of pine trees. I opened my eyes and saw an endless forest surrounding my every direction. I started walking and looking for any sort of landmark. The entire time I felt eyes on my back. I knew it was here somewhere.

    “Hello? Are you there? It’s me again.”

As I finished my sentence I heard rustling through the tops of the trees as if something was jumping from them individually. I turned around swiftly trying to catch something in the act. I turned back around to find a totem. Made from sticks and a few rocks, multiple talismans dangling from the main attraction on top. My friend Zack’s head, severed and heavily coated in crimson blood. Startled I swiped at the totem knocking it over. As it fell to the floor it transformed into a heavy mist once it hit the ground. I backed up from the mist and backed into the chest of someone. I winced in fear and turned around to find it staring at me once again.

    “Nothing can withstand my power, your weak Max.”

The dark crimson figure spoke. I pushed the figure away, vanishing into a bloody mist as it hit a tree.

    “Shut up! I don't want to hurt anyone! I just want to be normal!”

I shouted up at the trees assuming that's where it retreated to. I scanned the treeline but found no trace of it. I tilted my head back down to the forest floor and I continued to tread upon the dead leaves and bark that had found their resting place on the forest floor. The manifestation spoke again like he was above me.

    “The new generation is weak, unworthy of the power I give them. You choose peace over violence and act like violence never even exists!”

    The manifestation voice boomed above me, making me fall to my knees, coughing up blood. I shakily stood back up.

    “No. I'm fighting you. You're not going to win this time.”

    I said barely standing. The manifestation stood before me once again. The figure stretched its hands and put them on my shoulders. I fell down once again, a wave of pain washing over my body from the shoulders outwards.

    “You fool. You do not have the willpower to overcome me. Your fighting is useless.”

I felt weak from the figure's words. Its voice grew raspier and raspier in each sentence it spoke. Its hands still on my shoulders, I struggled to stand back up.

    “Don't fight it, Max, just let it take control.”

I looked at my shoulders in disbelief. They were turning the same pigment as the figures. I brushed off the figure’s hands and had an immediate returning of strength. I stood up my strength recovering with each passing second. I looked at the figures, its eyes now had a hint of worry in them. I viciously clawed at the figure, once again turning to a fine mist. The figure laughed with a sickness residing in it. 

    “You shall fail, I will not let you break tradition.”

The trees around me began to fall and split apart and the ground caught fire, all around was a roaring blaze full of hatred.

    I convulsed back into the meditation room, my chest heaving and my grip around my tail now hurting. The scarf I had worn however was still there for my comfort. My mother leaned over to hug my now shaking body. I hugged her tightly and then looked towards Mr. Kent with hope residing in his eyes.

    “Son I can't tell you how proud I am of you. You’ve made progress I can tell.”

Said Mr. Kent like a proud father. My mother let go of me and we all stood. Mr. Kent came over for a hug and I gave him a tight embrace.

    “Thank you Mr. Kent thank you so much. I don't know where I would be without you.”

I said, my eyes filling with a small number of tears. I released Mr. Kent and a black flash appeared before my eyes and obstructing my view of Mr. Kent. My mother was clinging to him tightly. I looked at Mr. Kent’s orange eyes and they were as wide as the moon. 

    “Thank you so much, Jake, thank you so much”

My mother said sobbing.

    “Ah um, your welcome violet but could you let go you're squishing me.”

Mr. Kent said slowly, running out of breath. My mother quickly let go and Mr. Kent winced as he put his hands on his back.”

    “Wow you werewolves are strong”

Mr. Kent said chuckling. He straightened his back.

    “I’ll see you two tomorrow?”

Mr. Kent said questioning if we could make it tomorrow

    “Yes of course Jake”

Said my mother grabbing her things

    My mother and I said our goodbyes to Mr. Kent and headed out to the deathly quiet streets of our town and headed home.

    As I walked into the house shrugging off my coat and undoing my shoes I was greeted by one of my younger sisters Abby.

    “Hey, Max welcome back! Did you have fun!?”

Abby said her ears still floppy and her fur almost brand new

    “Yeah sure, it was fun”

I said trying to make her go away as soon as possible. My father walked by with a cup of coffee in his hand and his cellphone next to his ear as always, probably doing business stuff. I figured I would try and communicate with him.

    “Hey Dad, how was work?”

I said trying to connect with my father. To my surprise, he opened his lips to speak.

    “Annoying, don't ever get my type of job when you grow up Max. You'll be surrounded by idiots constantly.”

My father said walking away not even shifting his gaze at me to talk to me. I sighed and walked to my room. Being bumped by my rambunctious brothers as I made my way to the dark hallway. I stepped onto the soft carpeting in my room, a sudden and shocking shift to the bottom of my feet from the cold hardwood. I sat on my bed and curled my tail around me. I knew what I was doing wasn't wise since I wasn't with Mr. Kent, but I felt filled with confidence. Due to my first victory, I wanted to continue to push it back and leave it no room to recover its energy. I slowed my breathing and entered my mind once again.

    I was standing in the roaring flame of a wildfire, yet I was unharmed. I walked through the flames having trouble seeing anything other than flames. I kept walking till I reached a beautiful field filled with flowers and a multitude of herbs. I turned around to face the fire from which I had emerged.