Moonbound

Logan is cursed by a witch’s crystal, transforming him into a savage.

Logan never believed in curses. That changed the night he had been camping alone when he wandered into the forest, chasing the muffled sound of a woman’s voice carried on the wind.

He found her in a clearing, standing beneath a dead oak. A single crystal hung from a chain around her neck, glowing faintly as she whispered in a language that made his skin crawl. The clock in his mind ticked louder with every step he took toward her.

“Stop,” she hissed, eyes flashing like molten gold.

“I-I’m just lost,” Logan stammered.

Her lips curled into a smile. “Not for long.”

She raised her hand, and the crystal pulsed. A force slammed into him, knocking the breath from his chest. Pain ignited in his bones, like they were being shattered and remade all at once. His jaw elongated. His nails tore into claws.

His scream ripped through the clearing, twisting into a deep, guttural growl. He fell to his knees, but they no longer bent like a man’s. Hair sprouted along his arms, spreading like wildfire across his skin.

The witch crouched in front of him, eyes locked to his. “The forest needed a new guardian. You will serve.”

Hunger clawed at his mind; raw, savage hunger. His senses sharpened; he could hear the heartbeat of a rabbit hundreds of feet away. The witch’s scent was intoxicating, warm and sharp like blood.

“Go,” she commanded.

Logan bolted into the darkness, his thoughts fragmenting into primal instinct. The moon hung low, and somewhere far away, he could still hear her chanting. He didn’t know if he’d ever be human again only that the next time he saw her, he wouldn’t be the one screaming.


Word Count: 284
Prompt: Write a story that includes the words: crystal, clock, scream”
Written for: "Daily Flash Fiction Challenge"