CHAPTER V

As usual, I went out for another run that morning, just as Tony ended up bringing me a towel when he came out of the cold waters of West Penobscot Bay.

As it was already routine, we returned in a smooth run home or at least we tried because I stopped abruptly.

Again, the smell of ammonia burning every nerve ending in my nose.

"What's wrong Matt?"

"Don't you smell it?" I asked him.

 "Smell what?"

"That smell of rot and ammonia."

"I don't smell anything except the saltpetre of the sea Matt" Anthony answered me as I was running again on my way home.

I tried to get it out of my head, maybe it was just my paranoia, too much stress for my brain in such a short time. I put the turbo in my race and in three strides I was already on top of Tony, who looked at me over his shoulder before putting in the sixth and coming out like a speeding car; he was fast but he was even faster than me, but that didn't stop him from doing battle. Maybe he was faster but I was much stronger and had longer legs, so I had to put more strength in each of the strides I gave but I won, by a hair's breadth but I did it.

"Next time I'll beat you, I swear," exclaimed the dark man, tapping me on the shoulder as he passed by on his way home.

"I'd like to see that, at 8:10 at your door?" I asked him since this week it was my turn to drive the car to the University.

"As usual."

"Hi Dad," I said when I entered the house, looking at my father who was sitting on the kitchen island reading the newspaper.

"Good morning, son. Hurry up, your eggs are getting cold" he looked at me over the newspaper.

I quickly took a shower, just as I dressed, finally deciding on dark grey pants next to a red wine coloured sweatshirt and my inseparable Vans Classic.

"I'm already here. Anything interesting?" I asked my father when I joined him in the kitchen.

"The signings of the season are bad, but if there is anything," he said as he passed me the newspaper.

"Are the Miami Dolphins expanding their stadium?"

"The other page Matt, please."

"Sorry, I'm not a fortune teller," I said as I looked at the page my father was pointing out, this time correctly.

"Vermont police investigators compared data with the Worcester police force, finding similarities in the killer's modus operandi, which seems to move between states at an impressive speed. What do you mean by this, Dad?"

"This is not the first time this has been in the news, and what worries me most is the killer's modus operandi."

"What's so special about him?"

"Nothing in the human world is capable of splitting a person in half with one punch."

"Dad?"

"The herd already knows this son, but I ask you to be alert anyway, I'll see you this afternoon, I'm taking the Mercedes."

"See you later Dad," I said goodbye as I got up and started to pick up all the dishes for breakfast.

I went up to my room to get my backpack and grabbed a jacket, just for show, and left the house.

My father had taken care of getting my car out of the garage for me, the dark grey five-door Jeep Wrangler that I was able to buy last year after spending a lot of time-saving.

Dad wanted to help me get even some of the money but I refused outright, I wanted to do it on my own and even though it cost a lot of money I ended up getting it.

I took the car out of the ramp in the garage at home and backed it up to the Diaz's door where Anthony's dog Flint was sleeping.

"See you later, Mom," my friend yelled in a hurry as he left the house and ran to get in the car.

"Good morning T, ready?"

"Ready," he said while checking his mobile phone "It's Mike, his car has broken down and he has no way to get to the university, can we come and pick him up?"

"Wasn't he with Ricky?" I asked as I turned the car around and put it in Mike's street, where I could see the blond man already waiting at his door.

"Today Ricky had a field trip to the Portland microbiology lab."

I parked the car parallel to the pavement of Bright's house, waiting for Michael to get in the car, which he did immediately as soon as the car was quiet.

"Thank you thank you," said Mike in a hurry as he dropped into the back seat of my car.

"No problem bro," I said as I put the car in gear and drove to the university, going a little faster than I used to, bearing in mind that we were already a little late due to my two friends being late and that Professor Knowgle was not a big fan of delays.

Luckily, we arrived just in time before the bell rang, and that day's classes had already begun.

"God, that was a close call," exclaimed Mike as we grabbed the workbench that we always took in Professor Knowgle's classes, who taught microbiology.

"Don't talk so loud that you know the bat can hear us."

"Don't call him that" Mike scolded me.

Keaton Knowgle, or the bat, was our microbiology teacher, so nicknamed because of the disproportionate ears on either side of his face and the upturned nose that presided over his face.

"Good morning to all ladies and gentlemen" announced the bat entering the classroom accompanied by her and this Ryder "As you know three new students have joined our institution and we are fortunate to have two of them on this course, please introduce yourselves, young men"

"Hello everybody, my name is Ryder Fisher, I'm 21 years old, and I've moved with my family from Massachusetts," said the goatee boy.

"I'm Sarah and I'm the same age as Ryder."

"Of course, we are twins" interrupted the boy.

"Well, that's it."

Fate can be funny, to top it all off I was also sharing classes with her.

"Nice to have you in this class young Fisher, now if you please; Dunbar, Bright be so kind as to separate, you will be in charge of being the guides of the two new students at least this term."

Mike looked at me with a circumstantial look on his face as he picked up his things and moved to one of the remaining benches, where he was quickly joined by Ryder. Was it?

"You're next to the best in the class, boys, take advantage," said the bat before turning around and starting to write what appeared to be a cellular structure on the large waxwork that presided over the room.

"So ... hello" they waved from my left.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm down.

Bad idea, its smell was like the harshest of lashes. He smelled of ambrosia and my wolf was eager to show himself to his companion.

"Hello," I answered in a muffled whisper, practically mute.

"Are you OK?" she said, putting her hand over mine, skin to skin"

The electric tongue that ran down my spine even seemed to pierce my skin and touch it, it had closed, the bond was already sealed.