Doctor Victor Bruns paced the big sterile room that had been hastily installed in this

part of the university. From now and then he would throw a look at the iron door with its small hatch. Behind it sat the puzzle he wanted so desperately to solve. His colleagues wouldn’t really believe him and the office of internal affairs was on his heels for results.

He had no clues were to find any answers for such a phenomena.

There was hardly anyone to be found in the university who would know something about werewolves.

Maybe he should try the old library. The whole day had been fruitless. No matter what test they ran on their subject in that cell, it would always turn out to be a normal human being, about the age of 36-40 years old and reasonably good health.

He opened the hatch one more time before he left. It was sleeping now. It always seemed to be sleeping as soon as it was back in his cell. Doctor Bruns didn’t know what to expect. But it surely wasn’t the calm and sociable person that was laying on its bunk now.

In frustration he slammed the hatch shut.

Only a slight twitch of the ears would have told Doctor Burns that the man insight the room wasn’t sleeping at all, if he only had been able to see it.

When Gabriel awoke from his restless sleep the first snow had fallen and now covered his window sills. He opened one of the windows and breathed the cold fresh air. With a gasp Gabriel jumped back. It was just like in his dreams. He rushed under the shower, hoping the hot water would wash away any bad dream that still lingered around him.

Gerda already awaited him in the kitchen. With disgust Gabriel noticed she had given him a plastic cup for his coffee.

"You had a phone call this morning, Gabriel. A Doctor Bruns from Munich would like to speak with you in a very private matter. He told me you should meet him in the university in his office at about 3 p.m. this afternoon."

"Good morning, Gerda. Yes, thank you, I slept well. Did you see the snow?"

"Sorry Gabriel. But he sounded really urgent. Will you go?"

"Yes I will. Maybe it’ll get my mind off the past and give me something to concentrate on."

Much to his surprise Gabriel managed to be on time at Doctor Bruns office. An elderly, strong build man opened the door "Mr. Knight?"

"Yes Gabriel Knight."

A smile ran across the man’s face.

"I’m Doctor Victor Bruns. Pleased to meet you. Do come in. Would you like to have a coffee?"

"Yes. Thank you." Gabriel stepped inside.

Doctor Bruns hurried off to get two big mugs of coffee. After he settled down behind his desk, he relaxed a little.

"Now, Doctor Bruns. What is this urgent matter you would like to discuss?" Gabriel asked.

"Mr. Knight, this may sound strange to you. I have come upon a very unusual case and I think you might be the man to help me. I read a few old books from our library and found something connecting my case with your family, the Ritter, and this very special position you have as a Schattenjäger. But let me tell you what happened. A few weeks ago I got a rare object into the morgue. A burned dog. It was a pretty large one at that. While I was preparing an autopsy for another corpse, I saw something moving beneath one of the other sheets. Now, that isn’t very unusual, sometimes it happens when some stiff tendons loosen or when a burned body dries up. But this time the movement was much stronger. The whole form seemed to change. At first I didn’t dare go near that examination table but then I got too curios. Very carefully I lifted the covers and couldn’t believe my eyes. Instead of the burned dog there was a man lying there. He seemed to be waking up, so I screamed for help. One of my assistants came running. We barely managed to get the man sedated in time. For several weeks now we have been running tests on him, but nothing ever explains anything. I am out off good ideas. After all I read and many hours of thought I believe it only leaves one, highly strange conclusion. I must admit, it is hard to believe but I think it could be something the myths would describe as a werewolf. Your help in this matter would be very much appreciated."

Gabriel felt cold sweat running down his neck. It couldn’t be. There was none left.

"Doctor Bruns, I find it very hard to believe a burned dog should turn into a man. Maybe someone just swapped the corpses. You didn’t see the mutation did you?"

"No, I didn’t actually see it. But I was in the room. Alone! No one else was there."

"Why don’t you tell your ‘werewolf’ to change again." Gabriel tried to joke.

"I would, if he’d listened to me. The only lead I have, is the traditional opinion that the moon has something to do with it. We will try it in a few days. In four days we will have a full moon. I intend to start the tests tomorrow. We have already tried a lot of things. He heals extremely quickly, shows little sensation to pain and has a genuine stamina."

"You mean, you will actually let him out?" Gabriel choked.

"No, by all means. He will be in a secure cage."

Gabriel wanted to get out of there "So what do you want me for?" he growled.

"We ... that is I, would like you to take a look at it. Tell me what you think. You are a Schattenjäger?"

"Yes I am. All right I will look at it, but I still think it’s ridiculous."

"Mr. Knight, thank you very much. But please, this is highly confidential. No one must know of it."

"Doctor Bruns. I think this whole story is so weird, I wouldn’t dare telling it. Someone might want to throw me into the loony bin."

Doctor Bruns didn’t know whether to smile at Gabriel or not.

The way to the security area seemed endless to Gabriel. He didn’t know what to think. Turn and run? What was he scared of? He fingered for the amulet beneath his shirt. With a gasp he let go of it. Somehow it felt burning hot.

Four guards were standing in front of the door that led to the security section. Their footsteps echoed through the hallway.

Inside the laboratory Gabriel could hear the many sounds of different machines they used for the observation. In the middle of the main room, stood a 3x3 meter room build of solid metal walls, with a single door and a hatch in it.

It looks like a prison cell, Gabriel thought.

Doctor Bruns crossed the room swiftly "Mr. Knight, if you’d please step over here."

The four meters to that little room seemed endless. Gabriel could feel his heart pounding and his hands started sweating. As he reached the door Doctor Bruns threw a few switches. Gabriel looked quizzical. "Just the lights for inside the cell." Doctor Bruns smiled reassuringly

Gabriel slowly reached for the handle of the little hatch, he opened it and peered inside.

On a bunk in the middle of the tiny room sat a man. His back was turned towards them. The shoulders slumped forward. Dark brown curls ran down his neck.

Gabriel’s heart stopped, he didn’t dare to breathe. No, this couldn’t be true. Please no. His mind was racing. He wanted to scream and run. He was doomed.

The man inside the cell looked exhausted and weary. Unseen by the two people outside his nostrils twitched. A faint scent was carried from where the door was to him. He had already heard the hatch being opened. He smelled again. Hope flickered in his dark, sunken eyes.

Gabriel watched in horror as the man slowly turned his head, he didn’t want to see these eyes again.

He knew this face so well. He had seen it so many times, sharing an evening of joy and laughter and then he had seen its other side and he had learned to hate it.

Now he could fully see it. He saw the eyes, sunken, lost and burning with hope.

Friedrich von Glower couldn’t believe it. Outside his prison cell stood Gabriel. They shared a long look at each other when suddenly the hatch was slammed shut.

Gabriel stared at the closed hatch. His hand still resting on the handle. He took a deep breath and tried to stay calm.

"Now, Mr. Knight. What is your opinion?" Doctor Bruns was anxious to hear his results.

Gabriel slowly turned to the man standing beside him. His body felt frozen.

"I must admit he looks quite unusual. But I have to study a few books in my private library. I agree, you should run some tests during night time. I will call you as soon as I find out anything. Please excuse me now."

"Certainly Mr. Knight. I will show you out." Doctor Bruns wasn’t sure what to think but he hoped something would come up eventually.

Friedrich von Glower stared stricken at the hatch. He could still feel the agony Gabriel was in.

Slowly he lay back on the bunk. To his surprise they left the lights on in his cell. It hurt his eyes. Light! It was the first thing he remembered after.... after what?

He tried to recall the time before the light. Oh yes, there was music. And sudden confusion. Like fog lifting it all came back.

The opera, he should have guessed. He had known about Wagner writing a special opera for Ludwig. The music had been very well performed. But then all had changed.

The mutation. No! Not in public. But he just couldn’t control it. What was happening? His blood was rushing, his ears were ringing .... damn Wagner. He had to run. The door....locked. Detta’s face .... horrified. The other guests.... confused. He jumped. The sound of crushing bone. What the hell, it would go away. He managed to escape to the basement, feeling the mutation finish. He was on all fours now. That felt better. Run.....run. Out somewhere! His alert senses noticed Gabriel before he arrived. He tried to stay ahead but Gabriel caught up with him in the end.

At his final attempt to leap for freedom he felt a hard push at his side. Pain....fire. It was all over. Somehow he was glad. Then it all stopped.

Lights. Blinding lights. Stinging his eyes. He wasn’t able to move at all. Am I dead now?

"Get me that X-ray over here!" someone at his left side ordered.

No, he wasn’t dead after all. They must have gotten him out of the fire before heart or brain had suffered serious damage. So the worst thing ever happened. Someone saw it all, they knew and now they were going to test him, dissect him.

He had ended up in this cell. For how long he didn’t know. And now suddenly, a last hope had appeared. If he only had the chance to speak to Gabriel. Explain to him. But somehow he knew it wasn’t going to happen.

Continue to Part 3

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