When Alexandra woke up, her head felt split in two, and she groaned. She reached for the side and slammed against the floor, dragging a thin blanket with her. She shook her head, glancing around and realizing that she slept in the living room instead of the bedroom. She pushed herself up, carrying the blanket with her.

“Ugh. What did I do last night?” Alexandra asked herself before checking underneath, naked, and she blushed. “O-one thing at a time.”

She dragged the blanket with her as she hurried to the bedroom, stumbling a step in. Soon, she reached into the closet and, dropping the blanket, grabbed her robes and slipped it on, drab gray and with string unraveling at the seams. Still, as she touched her other clothes, it was the only one that fit her size, with the others either donated or discounted at stores.

The thought of money caused her to let out a bitter sigh, shaking her head, before stepping out. Her headache pulsed once more, and, clenching her hair, she scurried to the kitchen. There, she opened one of the cabinets, grabbed an ibuprofen bottle, got two pills out, and swallowed them with some water.

At that point, her stomach growled, and she blinked. “And I-I feel so hungry for some reason.”

Alexandra grabbed a bowl and, opening a new cereal box, poured it in, topping it off with milk. But rather than waiting to go to the dining room, she ate it where she stood, consuming it all. Despite that, it didn’t fill her as much as she had hoped, and she ate more cereal and milk until every last bit from the box got wolfed down.

“Jeez,” Alexandra blushed, tossing the empty cereal box away before going to the bedroom and getting her clothes for the day. Soon, she went to the bathroom, where she brushed her teeth and washed her body to prepare for the day. As her headache faded, she attempted to remember the previous night’s events, but nothing came up. “Last night must’ve been rough. Otherwise, why else was I sleeping on the couch without nightgowns?”

She stepped out, wearing black sweatpants and a gray shirt, both oversized with the sleeves pressed against her wrists. Her brown hair, brushed, swayed as she rubbed the side of her head, deep in thoughts. However, no matter how much she dug into her memories, she remembered nothing, and she bit against her lips.

The doorbell rang, and she jumped, her heart skipping a beat, before dashing out of the room. Her hair flailed behind, the front of her feet the only part touching the floor, and she reached the door, swinging it open. Before her, a kid stood on the mat, holding out a cardboard box. He blinked in surprise before handing the box over to her.

“Huh? Ron, what is this?” Alexandra asked, but Ron kept silent, his green eyes looking almost red from crying. She ripped open the box before she gasped, with shredded clothing inside. “Hey! These are mine! Where did you find them?”

“Right outside of my home,” Ron said, his voice cracking as though he was crying. “I-I thought the worst had happened, and a monster had eaten you.”

“Oh, Ron,” Alexandra said, rubbing his brown hair. “You know there are no such things as monsters.”

“B-but there was a massive howl and everything last night,” Ron said while shaking, his face reddening. “And the ground shook. Mom and Dad said it might’ve been a wolf howling, and the news reported a rabid bear nearby, but would a bear be tough enough to crack the sidewalk and bend over a lamp-post?”

“Bears can be surprisingly tough,” Alexandra answered, while hiding her doubts.

“S-still, I found these near the destroyed area. I-I truly thought you died.”

“Ron,” Alexandra said, her voice soft before she hugged him close. “I’m OK. Don’t worry.”

Ron nodded before sniffing, though he glanced away from her when she let go. “And-and there’s more bad news. Mom and Dad said the landlord is making rounds for checkups and payments. They-they said that you’ll get kicked out.”

Alexandra paled, but she laughed. “I’m sure it’ll be alright. She is a nice lady, after all.”

However, Ron looked doubtful, enough that she thought that lie was too transparent, but he stepped away seemingly content with the answer. Alexandra closed the door before setting her forehead against it, trying not to cry. Instead, she inhaled before stepping away, glancing at the TV for a moment. She turned it on before stepping away, passing by the kitchen for the dining room.

A pink slip from Jung’s General Store lay on one side, which she picked up. “Oh, what will I do now?”

“In other news, we have some updates regarding the bear attack in Jung’s General Store,” an electric-toned voice said, and Alexandra lifted her head in shock. She returned to the living room, the TV displaying the news channel. “The police gave us footage of the attack, as you can see here,” A video played out beside the newscaster, showing a rabid bear smashing through aisles and tearing down clothes. “This bear went on a brief rampage before leaving, with only a handful of the store untouched. Animal control has set out an alert to locate this bear, and once found, they will put it down.”

Alexandra stood there, mesmerized by the destruction, while her stomach tightened, her jaw dropped. Flashes appeared before her, smashing through a store, knocking down aisles, and approaching a lone man with a gun. Though she was much larger than him, his left arm quavering, and his eyes shut tight, he still shot her.

She shook her head, slapping her face as well. “W-what was that?” She felt sweat forming on her brow as she stepped back, collapsing onto a couch. She reached for the remote and turned it off. She breathed in and out, with more sweat forming on her face. “Th-that was just a figment of my imagination. Yeah, that’s i-it.”

By the time she calmed down, someone had knocked on the door. Alexandra jumped, praying to herself before walking to the door, with her fingers crossed. She grabbed the doorknob and turned it, though her chest felt hollow when she saw the elderly lady at the other side; Clara Evans.

“Oh, Ms. Evans,” Alexandra said, stepping back as Clara stepped in, her hooked nose pointing downward at her bare feet. “I was told that you’ll—”

“Yes, splendid,” Clara said bluntly, shaking her head, her dyed blond hair swaying along though the roots held her actual white hair color. “And I’m sure you know why I’m here.”

Alexandra turned pale. “Yes. The payment—”

“Exactly!” Clara reached into her plaid pink and white shirt’s pocket and pulled out a notebook, flipping through it. “You missed two monthly payments for the house rental. I was willing to let it pass, despite my misgivings,” She rolled her cold green eyes. “But this month is your third and final chance, not only for the payment for this month and the last two months but also for the late fees!” She pointed her boney finger under Alexandra’s nose. “Now, where is my money?”

“I-I don’t have it,” Alexandra admitted, her face white. “Jung’s General Store just—”

“Bah! I knew it! You’re lazy and useless!” Clara glared at Alexandra, who stumbled back. “Because of that, I have no choice but to kick you out!”

“B-but I don’t have a place to stay!” Alexandra struggled not to cry. “H-how—”

“That’s your problem, not mine!” Clara waved at her with disdain. “You will be out of here tomorrow morning, or else I’ll call the police on trespassing charges!”

“I-I can’t get everything out by then.” Alexandra tugged on her hair. “Some—”

“Oh, I’m sure there will be plenty of people who want to buy your leftover property,” Clara rolled her eyes once more before she turned around. “The money will be used to pay off your debts, even if it’s just a bit.” She swung open the front door. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll have to prepare for tonight’s party by paying rentals.”

Clara slammed the door behind her, and Alexandra stumbled back onto the couch, her tears over-flowing. She clenched her fists tight, her eyes turning red before she stared at the door. But she breathed in and out, trying to calm herself with her anger ebbing away, though lurking as always.

“No,” Alexandra whispered to herself. “Anger never solves anything.”

When she whispered the last syllable, her cell phone rang back in the kitchen. She

jumped again, blinking as she stumbled over, catching herself against the wall. The phone continued to ring out, and she rushed over to it. Then, picking it up, she pressed against the black screen and pressed the phone against her ear.

“Hello?” Alexandra asked, her face moistened with tears.

“Oh, hello, Alexandra,” a smooth lady’s voice said. “Now, I can tell you’re confused as to how I know your name, correct?”

“W-who are you?” Alexandra asked, striding over to the dining room and sitting on a chair. “I never heard anyone with your voice before.”

“Oh, dear,” The voice gave a mocking laugh. “You know me just as well as I know you. Perhaps more. Do you remember when you were playing a video game called Super Smash Bros. Melee? The one time you got so mad in a match against your best friend, Dana, that you accidentally broke your controller?” Alexandra inhaled, her face flushed. “She hasn’t spoken to you for months for such poor sportsmanship, correct?”

“H-how did you know?!” Alexandra asked, leaning against the table.

“It’s quite simple to figure out, though I doubt you’ll believe me,” the voice replied

teasingly. “Really, it’s disappointing to see you in such a state. Fired from a job despite doing well-done work, kicked out from a house the morning afterward, it makes my blood boil seeing you take it.”

Alexandra turned paler, almost letting the phone slip from her fingers. “B-but that was just moments ago! You can’t know that!”

“Oh, my dear. It is impossible for me to not know those things since I’m always with you, following you like a shadow.” The voice made a mocking laugh again before she continued. “Still don’t know what I mean?”

Alexandra breathed in and out; however, her heart beat faster. “Who are you? And what do you want?”

“Why, my dear, what I want is what you want,” The voice laughed loudly enough that Alexandra felt it echoing in her head. “For example, the work that screwed you over before firing you without pay? I know you wanted to smash it up into bits, which I did last night.”

“W-what are you talking about?” Alexandra clenched the phone tighter. “I-I have no resentment over how they treated me,” The voice growled, and she gulped. “Besides, I saw the newscast. That was a bear.”

“That confused me when I saw the news,” the voice said. “But that wasn’t a bear. That was me. Or, in more exact terms, that was us.”

“What are you talking about?” Alexandra asked, shaking her head. “I wasn’t there at all!”

“Then where were you last night?”

“I—” Alexandra said before she stopped herself, trying to think. Yet, no matter how much she tried to remember, no memories of last night came to the forefront. “I don’t remember. But I know I didn’t attack my former workplace!”

“Are you sure about that?” The voice asked in a mocking tone. “I suggest you keep an ear out for the news tomorrow morning. I’m sure you’ll find out that witch’s little party and home will be smashed into bits, all for kicking you out.”

“B-but she has every right to,” Alexandra said, shaking her head. “I skipped out on payment three times.”

“And it’s because work screwed you over,” the voice said with hints of growls in her tone. “Plus, she refused to be understanding of it, making assumptions despite paying her off on time for the previous two years!”

“I-I don’t know how you know that.” Alexandra gritted her teeth. “B-but this must be an elaborate prank. Likely for some reality TV shows. Yeah.”

“If that’s what you want to believe,” The voice said. “But keep an ear out tomorrow.”

The voice stopped, and Alexandra slammed the phone against the table, sweat forming on her brow. She got up, pacing within the dining room, trying to calm herself down but finding herself unable to. So instead, she leaned down against the table and, again and again, she whispered to herself.

“No. Anger never solves anything.”

Daren strolled within the wrecked Jung’s General store, police tape blocking the entrance. He smiled, rubbing the gear necklace Alex made before glancing around at the destruction. Toys, clothes, food, and makeup lay on the floor, with little salvageable. Multiple people, store employees and police officers, stood in the area, ignoring his presence.

“It was much scarier than what the footage implied,” Daren over-heard one of the employees say as he rubbed against the clawed-up wall. “It was like a savage beast instead of a bear.”

“You’re not alone on that,” one of the officers said while shaking his head. “One eyewitness who fled to a tavern swore that it was a werewolf and that the footage was altered.”

“Hopefully, he’ll be taken care of,” the employee said, rubbing the back of his head.

Daren grinned somewhat at himself before stepping around the store, with him stepping on dried-up perfume. Nearby lay squashed canned foods, with a rotting smell already hovering from that area. He went over the cracked DVD boxes, with games and consoles toppled over and the glass cases smashed nearby.

“YOU WHAT?!”

Daren lifted his head before rushing over to that voice’s source, coming from one of the doorways with its entrance ripped open. Within, an employee in a red shirt leaned over one of the two remaining desks, where a pair of ladies sat behind, one having glasses. They both looked upon the man with disdain, with the one without the glasses rolling her blue eyes.

“You heard us,” the glasses-wearing one said, pulling back her yellow hair. “We fired Alexandra Winter yesterday.”

“But she was the best stocker we have!” The guy said, shaking his head. “Far better than me, and she’s been doing it much longer than I have! Did she call out too many times? Did she get into too many fights? Was she getting slower? TELL ME!”

“We don’t have to explain anything to you,” the one without the glasses replied, combing her raven-colored hair. “As HR of the store, we can fire anyone we want for any reason,” She brushed back her raven-colored hair. “And if you have any problem with that, Hayden, you can leave anytime you want.”

“Very well then.” Hayden took off his nametag and slammed it against the counter. “I, Hayden, formally resign from this store.”

Hayden stormed off, passing by Daren while ignoring him. He blinked in surprise before he peeped back in, with the two HR ladies shaking their heads before typing into their computers. He raised an eyebrow before glancing near the back of the store, where two more doors were ripped off. But as he wandered over there, rubbing his earlobe, he felt an itch at the back of his head. He glanced around the store as though a clue was somewhere around him, and he felt something click within.

“This doesn’t feel like a standard werewolf attack,” Daren said to himself. “Werewolves usually attack the nearest person they find. But the one from last night seemed content to scare them off and smashed up the store instead,” He picked up a stuffed toy with a hole in the center, its stuffing all over the floor. “I wonder.”

He strolled to the back of the store, with dark gray walls and floor. The roller at the center, stretching from one end to the other, stood bent, with several chunks ripped off. The flooring held multiple cracks, with the backroom shelving ripped down with its products spilled or crushed. He grimaced, rubbing against what remained of the packing station.

“This felt more like that werewolf was angry rather than savage,” Daren stood there, remembering the werewolf dropping him instead of attempting to kill him. “If so, what caused the werewolf to get pissed off?”

Daren reached under the desk, soon pulling out a schedule binder from multiple binders within. He flipped over the pages, skimming them, lasting from the last six months to two weeks in advance. He grunted and was about to place it down when he spotted the name Alexandra Winters on it. And when he flipped the pages over, he raised an eyebrow, his lip twisted.

Though the schedule listed Alexandra as a full-time employee, there wasn’t a time when she was given more than thirty hours a week in the last six months. So he let out a low hum, her schedule having fewer hours the closer he got to the current day, going as far down as fifteen hours. But her name was crossed out once he got to the current schedule.

“Interesting,” Daren said to himself before he slipped the binder back under the desk. “It may just be a coincidence, though I should follow up on that.” He glanced at the desk where a computer used to be, with it along with the monitor lodged out and tossed to the other side of the room. “There’s only one other place to check.”

Seconds later, he walked out of the back, passing by a police officer interviewing a guard. Ignoring them, he walked past the rotting food before heading to the side of the building and entering. He strode past the bulletin board, having recognized employees, before entering the HR computer area, where the two HR ladies chatted with a balding man.

“So, we lost Hayden just now?” The man said, shaking his head.

“It wasn’t that much of the loss,” the raven-haired lady replied, shaking her head.

“Always supporting that slob, Alexandra.”

“Still, it is a huge blow, especially since I doubt that we'll be able to open for a month at least,” the balding man said, rubbing what’s left of his yellow hair. “They were good employees.”

The two ladies rolled their eyes at him while Daren grunted, sliding over to the only computer not in use; the others smashed into bits. He glanced around as the computer booted up, broken glass from a case littered behind, and work phones/scanners hybrids crushed underneath a foot-paw. And once the computer booted up, he pointed the TF Scriúire at it, with the light glowing green while buzzing. A second later, it logged him in.

He opened up files regarding employees and searched for this Alexandra Winter, soon opening it with documents and images displaying a lady with hair brown as Fall’s leaves. Daren raised an eyebrow at her oversized clothing, which contradicted her face, bright and beautiful. And as he skimmed through the texts along with added notes by superiors, a burning anger built within him.

Alexandra Winter worked for Jung’s General Store for five years, with her showing a great deal of promise. Initially working as a part-timer, she was noted to be a successful stocker. She showed her skills when she maintained the electrical stocks during the Black Friday/Cyber Monday weekend when others lagged behind. Three years later, she was given full-time work.

However, despite her skills, when it came to raises, she was given a minimal amount even as other employees were given fatter pay raises, which Daren raised an eyebrow at. In addition, anonymous notes from fellow coworkers considered Alexandra to be annoying, difficult to talk to, and weak-willed. And in one of the notes, it said that she was given full-time work because of how long she worked there since the other option was to promote her.

During her last year employed, she got her hours cut and treated like a part-timer instead of full-time, with a few mocking notes from HR. Various paperwork showed her requesting more hours, which got rejected each time, and the one time she was given it, she needed a blood transfusion last month, where she got no sick pay. The previous two files from the last two days were her begging for more hours, her debts were in the red, and her termination paperwork, without pay.

“Jeez, anyone would get angry if they got screwed over like that,” Daren said, shaking his head before remembering the werewolf. “Hmm.” He turned off the computer and paced up and down, his finger and thumb rubbing his chin. “That werewolf was content to scare everyone, instead directing its wrath to the building,” He rubbed his ear, poking at the pointy end, covered by his dirty blond hair. “I’m almost sure that this wasn’t a monster hungering for the flesh, but a massive temper tantrum.”

Taking a mental note of the areas the werewolf chose to vent its wrath, he walked out, with the rotting smell growing at that corner. He ducked under the police tape, taking a few more steps before he took off the gear necklace, pocketing it. Then, glancing at the store again, he felt gears turning in his mind.

“This Alexandra has the motivation to cause such an attack,” Daren said to himself. “Though that’s assuming that it was her in the first place.” He shook his head before passing by a man in a gray suit and hat. “Profiling sucks, but I don’t have any other leads.”

Daren sighed before pulling out his smartphone and opening up the map app. Then, after imputing the address listed in her files, he followed the suggested path. He took his time, passing by a man in a Yung’s General Store uniform on his knees and sobbing before a crushed van.

Kurt walked toward Jung’s General Store, his steely eyes gazing through the round glasses. He paused for a moment, a dirty-blond man with a blue aloha shirt unbuttoned over a green shirt strolling the opposite way. He twisted around, smirking while patting his hidden revolver before turning ahead, shaking his head.

“Not worth it,” Kurt whispered, reaching for the yellow tape. “If those idiots lost to that guy, they must be pathetic.” He waved over to the lead investigator, who rushed over to him. “Besides, Reiner’s request overrides those dummies any day.”

The lead investigator stepped over to Kurt, clenching and unclenching his fists. “Sir, this is an investigation regarding a rabid animal attack. Why would—” Kurt reached into his coat’s pocket and pulled out a paper slip, handing it over to him. He opened it and read through it, paling in the process. “B-but all the footage we got—”

“That’s something you should ask him yourself,” Kurt said, taking the paper back. “My orders are to keep an ear out for large animal attacks for the next six months. And while all the news said it was a bear, I want to see the footage myself.”

“R-right this way, sir,” the lead investigator said, lifting the yellow tape up and letting Kurt stroll in as though he owned the place.

The people within, police officers and store employees, glanced at him, though the officers turned away as though facing an alpha. Kurt smirked at their sheepish behavior, hands in his pockets while talking a couple of steps. One employee glanced around in confusion before approaching.

“Excuse me,” the employee asked. “Who are you?”

“He is our chief consultant for cases such as this,” the lead investigator answered as Kurt shrugged, nodding. “You can trust him.”

“I must say, this is interesting so far,” Kurt said, careful not to step on the spilled products. “That bear must have been large and strong to make gashes like this.” He bent down before a sliced-in floor. “And to cause the ground to crack just by moving, I’m impressed.”

“Yes,” the lead investigator said, pulling out his notebook and flipping through it. “Various eyewitnesses to the event described it as a monster, that it was much bigger than the footage implied.”

Kurt nodded, though he raised an eyebrow. “You said it was a rabid animal, specifically a bear?” The lead investigator nodded. “Curious. Animals that have rabies would be drooling all over. Have you checked the ground for it?”

“Um.” The lead investigator flipped through the pages again. “I don’t believe that we found any, sir.”

“Huh. That’s strange. And did this rabid bear attack anyone?”

“N-no. One guard said that he attempted to taser it, but it shrugged it off. Everyone within the store fled without the bear chasing him.”

“Now isn’t that bizarre?” Kurt’s glasses shone in the light, covering his eyes. “I want to see the footage now. Do you have it?”

“Certainly.” The lead investigator rushed toward the security room, where another officer was holding a clipboard. After a few quick words, he took the clipboard away and handed it to Kurt. “Here are all the notes regarding the attack, including timestamps.”

“Why, you make excellent notes,” Kurt said, flipping over them. “Now, if you don’t mind, I like to examine the footage alone.”

“Very well, sir,” the lead investigator said, and he and the other officer stepped aside, with Kurt strolling into the room, closing the door behind him.

Kurt shifted his eyes before sitting on the chair, multiple monitors on, and each one paused during the last night. He tapped on the keyboard and played the footage, the bear drooling over the floor. He rubbed his chin, glancing from one monitor to the next as the bear appeared, smashing the store. He raised an eye-brow before rewinding the footage to before the attack.

Every screen flickered a couple seconds before the attack began. He rubbed his chin for a couple of seconds, rewinding and playing it in slow motion, the flicker much clearer. Then, finally, he let out a low hum, lifting the clipboard and flipping through the pages.

“No mention of flickering. Though if I was a betting man, I would bet that this footage was doctored.” He grinned. “Perhaps I should ask them why they thought about fooling us.”

Kurt got up halfway before he paused, the flickering screen an inch away from his nose. He sat down and fast-forwarded the footage; the bear was almost comical in destroying the store, even ripping down doors and getting to the back. Finally, the footage reached the end of the bear’s rampage, where it lifted up an aisle and smashed it near the front entrance, stepping out. The screen flickered once more, and he nodded.

“Oh, the police should rethink trying to block Reiner,” Kurt said, getting up. “After all—” He stopped, a dirty blond-haired man with a blue aloha shirt sprinting into the store within the footage. “You?” He sat down, rubbing his chin as the man entered the security room. Two animal control officers followed, entering the room a minute later, and the man walked out, wearing a gear necklace though the footage became glitchy. “Interesting.”

Kurt rubbed his chin, glancing away before rewinding the footage back to the bear attack, pausing it. Then, before walking out, he stood up and dusted himself, the lights gleaming against his glasses. The two officers took a step away, and he handed the clipboard back.

“I must say, this has been most illuminating,” Kurt said with a smirk. “Now, do you two have any ‘special’ footage from last night? Anything that you’re hiding?”

“Huh?” the other officer replied, standing straight. “That’s everything we got. We would never hide anything from you.”

“Uh-huh,” Kurt said, shrugging. “Also, did you see a man who shouldn’t be here? Blond hair with a blue Hawaiian shirt?”

“Who are you talking about?” The lead investigator asked in turn. “We never saw anyone—”

“Right, right.” Kurt shook his head before adjusting his bowler hat. “Thank you very much. You have proven my beliefs in police procedures.” He placed his hands in his pockets. “Now, I believe what you said is true: this was a rabid bear attack. However, if another such attack happens, let’s say, tonight, don’t hurry. Wait five minutes or so.”

The lead investigator nodded, writing into his notebook. “Yes, sir.”

But the other officer gazed at Kurt in doubt. “But why?”

Kurt patted the left side of his suit over where his hidden revolver lay. “Believe me, it’s in your best interest.”

The officer went pale before nodding. “Yes, sir.”