CHPT 136: Unhealthy Obsession

October 31st, Wednesday. 3hrs until the Full Moon.

After talking to H.M Alaric on Monday morning, everything happened as the man said it would.

For the rest of the day and the next, Claude went about his business— trying to avoid the twins and Det. Cyrene while his body continued to change in preparation for what was to come in mere hours.

Unfortunately, one of his two objectives was impossible to complete. Det. Cyrene had been sticking to him like glue— almost literally.

She was in all of his classes, no longer attempting to watch from the shadows and instead sitting shoulder to shoulder with him whenever she could. There were a couple times where he wanted to rip her throat out after she pricked him with her silver claws a few times too many. Luckily, Arne was able to keep him focused on controlling his heightened temper.

He didn't bother questioning why she wasn't keeping her eyes on the twins anymore since he was certain he'd become the object of her obsession a long time ago.

***

Training was coming to an end now as him and the class wrapped up with a light session of weight lifting.

Claude felt his anxiety raise as the cool October sky darkened with every passing hour.

His brain was moving at a mile a minute as he thought of how he would survive the night, grunting and groaning in between pull ups. It seems, aside from the angry jumpy feeling, he now had an intense burning sensation in his muscles and joints that was brought on by the Full Moon. It made training a pain and Det. Cyrene seemed to understand.

Aside from her, he noticed he was also being watched by Ursula as she worked with Isaac at the bench press, and the twins who looked as under the weather as him. He knew they could subconsciously feel the difference of today. They could feel the Moons influence.

"[Ok. We've got a fairly sturdy plan. But there's one variable that could change everything.]" Arne commented as Claude later out the plan to him.

"What is that?" He replied as he switched from doing just pull ups to high speed muscle ups— trying his best to ignore the muscular/joint pains.

"[I know very little about Beast Tamers and their companions, but I think when you transform, Frosty will feel it.....he may run out searching for you....and you won't exactly be yourself, Claude. Also the twins will be in close proximity of you.]" Arne explained.

Claude stopped and let himself simply hang from the bar as he watched Frosty laying in the grass, eyeing the students with interest.

"Wh—....I'd never hurt Frosty. Never." He stated. "But, you're right. It would be dangerous for him if he found us."

"[Ive got an idea.]" Arne said.

"Hit me."

"[You can't be two places at once, and Ursula has been worrying about you all week— she's a problem.]"

"So...?"

"[So, why don't we get her out of the equation by finding a way to get her to sneak Frosty into your room while you get the twins to chase you out of the building?]" Arne said.

"Alright great work everyone, do your cool downs and then your free to leave! Have fun at the Halloween Festival!" Prof. Raizen yelled as students began sheathing their weapons and racking their weights.

Claude silently dropped down from the bar and turned to face the forest in the distance as he thought about Arne's idea.

"If I timed that right.....that could work. That could work." He told himself as students began to excitedly pour into the building and go get ready for the Festival.

As he pushed off from the wooden beam he leaned against to go inside, someone caught his attention.

Det. Cyrene stood in the distance next to the two Professors, near the door into the building. She paced back and forth, twitching slightly as she mumbled to herself.

She looked even worse than Claude, with dark circles around her harsh black eyes and random strands of her usually well kept blond hair sticking out of its tight ponytail— she probably hadn't slept in days. He was sure of its since he could smell her outside his room during the night.

She would be unavoidable tonight.

Claude began to head towards the door when her rambling became understandable.

"Three more hours....three....three more hours....no more monsters....kill them all....three more hours....remove their heads.....hehehehhehehe..."