Chapter 13: Liana's Warning
"Jenny are you alright in there? I heard you collapse; I know I did!" John yelled through the door. Jenny stirred a bit on the floor, groaning and holding onto her belly. Her stomach burned so white hot that it felt like lava was sloshing around in it. She pushed with all her force to lift her body up but wasn't able to push herself from the floor. Instead both arms shook hard and she collapsed. Her head smacked the floor pretty hard, making it sore and Jenny could feel warm liquid beginning to pour from the affected area. She grunted; pushing harder this time to rise up, and clenched her teeth; causing drool to seep out of her mouth. With a huge shove, Jenny was able to put herself in a sitting position. Her arms and legs were limp.
Her head just laid down, her chin resting on her chest. It only moved a bit every now and then. Jenny's energy was completely zapped from her. No matter how hard she wanted o move more; she couldn't. Looking over at the door, she lifted her head, and groaned. "What's wrong Jen?" John asked. She lifted her left hand, pointing towards the door; with it shaking uncontrollably, while continuing to make noises. The use of her voice box wasn't going to happen. Jenny strained to get words to form in her mouth, and failed every single time. "I'm going to go get a spare key for the bathroom, hold on for a second!" With that, John booked away, in search of a key. Jenny continued to roll her head around, barely finding the strength to lift it every now and then. Her brain was throbbing excruciatingly, as she cried in pain.
It felt like there were thousands of knives and needles, stabbing and ripping at her skull; trying to prise it open. Her eyes were shut tight, and teeth still bared. "M-make it stop..." Jenny stammered. She clambered onto on knee, stumbling for a few seconds until she was able to lift and stand up. The room spun, causing her to lose her balance and topple against the wall. With a last ditch effort, Jenny was able to stumble over to the sink, and rest her hands on the ceramic surface. She kept crying, making tear drops plummet into the base of the sink. Her ears rang loudly with each time the drops hit a surface. It took only a tiny pinprick of water hitting a surface, to cause her ears to ring loudly. When she lifted up her head to look in the mirror, a sudden wave of agony shot into her head. Cracking sounds followed suit, making Jenny look into the reflective glass in front of her.
"What's w-wrong with me?" she asked. As she asked this, Jenny's skull moved around under the skin, growing and shrinking over and over again. An enormous vein pulsed on the surface of Jenny's temple, showing her the blood flow rate into her brain. It was astounding how fast the liquid flew through her. Jenny reached up to touch it, gasping with pain as her fingers came in contact with the tender skin. Then the blood shrank away from her head, pouring down her spin and resting right where her hips started.
A fiery sensation took over, running around her sides and settling in her abdomen. Then her belly skin bubbled hard, which she grabbed; trying to stop it from moving around. Lifting up her shirt, Jenny held it in her teeth, while watching in horror as the bubbles on her stomach began to become more defined and shot out more. It was then that she noticed it made a circle, and in the center of this circle, stood another shape that was beginning to form. "What in God's name is happening to me?" She asked. Her back snapped towards the wall, and then her stomach bursted back towards the opposite wall, and then it stopped.
Jenny's entire body was trembling with shock and pain. She looked down and just choked up, at the site, that befell her. She looked like she was a few months pregnant; her button was straining on her pants, and belly felt so bloated. She stood straight up, pulling her shirt up once more, and rubbed her hands up and down the bulbous skin, crying as she did it. When Jenny's hands ran over the circle a third time, she could see and feel kicking inside of her.
"HOW AM I PREGNANT?!" she yelled into the mirror. Sweat beaded on her forehead, as well as her body. She dropped the shirt, allowing it to cover up the bubbled stomach that she now inherited. Jenny heard clicking in the door, as John started to unlock it. She jerked around, wiping her face so the tears and perspiration was gone. Taking a deep breath, she waited for the door to open. When John entered the room, he looked around, and then locked his eyes onto Jenny's. "Oh, Jen; what happened to you in here? You've been in the bathroom for almost forty minutes!" Jenny sniffed, wiping her nose as well. "I just... the images; they made me literally sick to my stomach. The next thing I knew, I was puking my brains out into the toilet."
"My God Jenny! I'm so sorry." He said. John grabbed her and hugged her as long as he could. There was an over baring amount of sadness and fear ripping at Jenny's insides until it finally boiled over, causing her to erupt into a loud cry. John brushed her hair with his left hand, hushing her; trying to calm her down. They hugged for minutes on end, rocking back and forth slowly. Jenny shook so bad, that it made John jolt along with her. "It's going to be alright Jen, don't worry." "I c-can't take it anymore D-D-Dad! I-I mean, l-l-look at me!" She said, backing up abruptly. She threw both arms out, and turned sideways, to show the little bump. John's eyebrows furrowed, and bottom lip jutted out.
"What's this all about?" He asked, waving a hand up and down at her. "I don't know Dad! After I got done throwing up, my stomach just grew before my eyes! I'm so scared; I... I think that I'm p..." She couldn't bring herself to finish the sentence. "You're what?" John asked her, folding his arms. Jenny kept sniffing, starting to feel her face burn red hot. Tears engulfed her eyes, pouring out of her like a faucet. Her face formed into the most pained sad face that she could muster. John couldn't bare seeing her cry like this, it just tore him up. He felt his chest ache with each pulse of blood that ran through him. "Come here Jen, you need some rest; I have to go do some errands anyway. When I get back, we can talk some more; if you so choose to do so that is."
"O-Okay." Jenny replied. She allowed her father to guide her out of the bathroom, and back to her room. On her way there, she felt a breeze of cool air rush past her, making her feel cold. Her entire right arm instantly began to cover itself with goose bumps, running from her shoulder all the way down to her wrist. She turned, looking back at the bathroom, with a vacant expression. "What's the matter?" John asked. He noticed where she was looking and gazed with her. The only thing that he could see was a small sliver of the bathroom, which was weird to him. "I could have sword that I didn't shut that door; do you know if I did or not?" He asked. Jenny stared up at him, and shook her head.
"I thought so; that's so weird though. Oh well, we need to get you to bed. I have a lot of errands to run, and some of them are bills. Let's get you to your room." Jenny again nodded. He picked her up, "This'll be better for you." "Thanks Dad." She replied. He carried her to her room, across the floor, and set her into her bed. "I know it's early but you need the sleep Jen; I can tell." He walked over to the window, and closed it. "Dad, can you keep that open please?" "Sure... There ya go!" He said, after re-opening it. "Thanks!" Jenny said. John stopped, holding onto the window's handles, just staring at the ground. All the bad thoughts ran through his mind. He thought of Jenny's problems, from lycanthropy to all the issues she's been experiencing internally, mentally and physically. He sobbed silently, taking in a breath of cold air to hide it. "Are you alright Dad?" Jenny asked. "Y-yeah; doing fine, thanks!" He lied. John didn't want Jenny to have any more problems so he just sucked up the grief and walked back over to her bedside.
"I'll be back in a few hours. When I get home, if you're still sleeping; I'll let you rest." He kissed Jenny's forehead, and walked away from her. When he got to the door, Jenny called out to him. "Dad?" "Hmm?" John replied. He was half way through the door, holding onto the frame with his back to her. "Will this ever end?" she asked him. There was a hint of sorrow in her voice. John felt his heart pulse hard and painfully. He didn't have any definite answer for her so he just shook his head, rubbing his face. "I have no idea Jen; I hope so." With that, he left the room, shutting the door. Jenny curled her legs up. Her eyes stung so bad that she had to squint to keep them open.
She hated her life right at this moment, and just wanted it to end. Everything that had been happening to her. "WHY IS THIS EVEN HAPPENING?! HOW IS IT POSSIBLE?!" She cried out loudly. "Has God forsaken me?" Jenny sobbed harder, and harder by the second. Finally she couldn't deal with being up anymore, so she flipped over onto her left side, staring at the wall. Her stomach was continuously bubbling hard, making her groan with intense pain. With tear streaked eyes, and a burning belly, Jenny shut her eyelids; praying to pass out.
As if someone heard her up there, he brain fogged up and then she was asleep. Her body rolled limply onto her back, spreading her limbs completely out. Her belly was beginning to grow even more, to the point where her jean button finally snapped off. Her eyes rolled around fast, while the belly grew a few more inches, before finally stopping. Jenny's shirt was now almost up to her belly button, which was starting to poke out. She placed both hands over the belly, and slipped into a deeper sleep.
* * * *
"Have you got the advertisements?" Hilary asked. Harold nodded in return, showing all the bright blue papers in his arms. Harold was wearing a dark brown suit, and matching pants. His shoes were the same old black ones he had previously.Hilary still had the old dress on, which looked even dirtier than before. "Good, now I just got to focus... I call onto you lycanthropy ancestors. Help me, a withered old woman, spread this message across the entire town. Please do as I ask, and in return I will bring you a powerful army and bring the human race one step higher than it was before." At first nothing happened. The air was calm, and the city; relatively quiet. Then out of nowhere, wind began to pick up outside the cave, making Hilary's hair whip around. She smiled, when Harold started muttering with annoyance. The papers were torn right out of his hands and pulled out of the cave.
"There they go, ready to spread the message." Hilary said. Philadelphia was already shrouded in darkness, masking the papers as they flew around. Harold sniffed loudly. "Do you not have confidence in me Harold?" Hilary asked, turning around to look at him. He was picking at his fingers when Hilary asked him the question. "I'm just wondering about something." "What's that?" Hilary asked. She walked over to him, crossing her arms. "Just because you have those ads all over Philadelphia; who's to say someone's going to actually do anything with them?" He stopped picking at this fingers now, looking at her.
"You have a valid question there Harold, but I've already taken care of that problem, and do you know how?" Harold shook his head. "There's something that I have between me and the cult that binds us. When they help you, they have their own special kind of magic. Whoever reads those ads, if they have the werewolf disease in them, old or new; they will be drawn by an ancient magic. It's pretty hard to explain in depth, but I'll break it down a bit." She said, while beginning to pace the floor. "Basically, when I practiced the cult's magic, I learned a few tricks here and there. For instance, when I call upon the darkness to help me, they aid me in mysterious ways. Their magic is so advanced that even I can barely understand it."
"So what you're saying is that these papers will literally just, brain wash anyone who has this disease and draw them towards that shack?" "That is indeed correct Harold! They will find a need to want to head up there, and when they get there; it'll feel like a school to them. They'll believe that they are there to tame, that inner beast." Hilary said. Harold just blew air out of his nose, running his hands through his hair like he always does. "I'm still very confused here Hilary. You're talking complete and udder bull here. I can't understand a single THING that you are saying to me!" He could feel an annoyed fury rising up in him. Hilary, noticing this, continued before he could explode all over her.
"It's ancient magic Harold. It's best to not question how it's possible and just go with it. These people from the past have their own kind of magic; sort of like black magic. They are able to do the impossible, penetrating the very boundaries that God himself gave us! They told me while I asked them for help, in my head that is; they would put some magic on the advertisements that would draw other lycanthorpes up to the shack, and that's that." "There's nothing else to it? It's just a charm, that some ancient beings put on paper?! Some ridiculous voodoo that will take, even the strongest of intelligent humans, straight to the front door?" Hilary nodded. Harold just threw his hands into the air, making noises and turned to the city. "I guess you're right. If you think this whole fiasco will work, then I stand behind you." Hilary patted his right shoulder, and heard the cauldron sending off a calling for her. She turned and strode over to it, telling Harold to be quiet for a few minutes.
When she got to the boiling pot, a blue light illuminated her face. She smiled at the sight that was before her, feeling her heart leap. "YES, FINALLY!" Harold jumped out of his skin, clasping his chest. "What was that all about?!" He asked her. "God, you almost made me crap myself." He walked over to her, taking in all that she was. When he got to the cauldron she just hushed him, and pointed to the reflective surface. "What is it?" "Just be quiet for a minute!" Hilary scolded him. Harold sighed and watched the water for a while.
Then something began to form under the water, it was a scene of some sort. The scene that unfolded was that of Jenny Warburton, laying in the middle of a torn up classroom, on a desk, and heaving in and out. Screams of pain could be heard, billowing out of her, as she grasped a swollen belly. "Don't you see Harold?" Hilary asked him. He looked up at her, trying to guess her expression. She rolled her eyes, rubbing them angrilly. "Look, Jennifer is pregnant with her father; Phillip. It shows us here, that she's giving birth to him; he's going to be reborn! Don't you see where this is going?!" "She's pregnant with him already as we speak, and she'll be giving birth to him soon." Harold said. Hilary nodded, and just started dancing around with joy.
Harold felt so saddened by this picture that he placed his hands in the water, to break it up. She was already pregnant with Phillip and now she was going to go through even more pain."Harold?" He cringed when her voice said his name. "Yes Hilary?" he replied, turning around to face her. She looked so ecstatic, with a face of pure relished enjoyment. "Look up towards the hill on the the other side of the city." He lumbered over to her, slowly as if to prevent the inevitable. When he finally got to the cave's opening, and looked at the hill, his heart sank.
There was a small line of people trekking up the hillside, towards the old shack. All of them looked young. "They're already heading to the shack, let's go get ready to greet them. As of now Harold, you are the Dean of the School of Lycanthropy; enjoy your new position!" With that being said, she and Harold both grabbed a hold of her teleportation emblem, and warped on top of the hill, waiting to welcome the new members of their army.