---- 387.


    PSYCHIATRIC MADWOMAN KATHERINE The scream got stuck in my throat.


    It was nothing but a blurheavy footsteps thundering against the earth, emerging from the deep forest, massive ws reaching for Eranciss back.


    Its roar tore through the night, shaking the entire world.


    The man who had me trapped had no time to react.


    A shriek of agony filled the air when that fur-covered handtched onto his throat, holding him like a ragdoll.


    It lifted him over its head, wrenching him away from me.


    Before my eyes, it stood like a giant merciless, red-eyed, its gaze like two frozen rubies.


    The force of the impact made me copse against the tree, hugging my knees tightly to my chest as if they could protect me.


    Twas trembling, my teeth chattering, my vision flooded with crimson as a rain of blood poured from above.


    Franciss body was shredded between its ws.


    Its gaping maw didnt stop roaring, consumed by visceral hatred.


    Organs flew through the air, staining the green grassan armnded near my feet.


    I curled up even tighter, trying to make myself invisible, hoping to ---- go unnoticed.


    A few terrified tears slipped down my cheeks.


    What was this creature? I had never seen anything like it in my life.


    And after killing Francis, would ite for my head next? eee All my questions would soon be answered.


    The ughter was over.


    It tossed the soldiers head aside as if it were nothing, Despite the situation, a dark satisfaction stirred within me at the sight of his torn, distorted faceempty eye sockets, muscles and bone protruding, brain half-exposed.


    For a moment, I even forgot about his executioner.


    But when my erratic gaze returned to the creature, I found it standing still in the middle of the clearing.


    Rigid.


    Like it had just realized something.


    Then, its massive, lupine head slowly turned toward me.


    That was its forman enormous dark-brown wolf standing on its powerful hind legs, like a towering, savage man but in its most primal beastly shape.


    The thought of running crossed my mind.


    It shed through my head while those fierce eyes locked onto mine, filled with panic.


    But I couldnt move.


    I was frozenparalyzed by sheer terror.