Early Morning

Thomas and his younger sister, Beth, were preparing for their daily routines. Frustrated, Thomas shouted, "Beth! Stop messing with my alarm clock! Now I'm late!" Beth, brushing her hair, retorted, "Don't blame me! Maybe you should just get up on time." She was dressed in her school uniform, barely phased by her brother's irritation.

Once they were both ready, they made their way to a small room where a picture of their parents rested on an altar. As they knelt to pray, Thomas narrated solemnly, "Our parents died in a car accident years ago. Since then, it's been my duty to take care of Beth." Beth wiped a stray tear from her cheek, glancing lovingly at their parents' picture.

After their prayers, Thomas stood up and said, "Hurry up, Beth. You'll be late for school."

Beth nodded, smiling faintly, and replied, "Alright, but stop treating me like a baby!" Thomas walked her to school and, before leaving, said, "Do well today and come home early. I'll be working late." Beth stuck out her tongue playfully. "You're such a worrywart," she teased, waving as she walked inside.

At Work

Thomas biked quickly to his job as a pizza delivery driver, still regretting his late start. When he arrived, his boss stormed toward him. "Thomas! You're late again!"

"I'm sorry," Thomas began, "I had to drop my sister off - "

"Save it!" the boss snapped. "This is your last strike. Screw up again, and you're fired."

As the boss walked away, a coworker approached Thomas with a sympathetic smile. "What a jerk, huh?"

Thomas sighed heavily. "I don't know if I can keep this up."

The coworker encouraged him, "Come on, if you quit, who am I supposed to talk to?" Her lighthearted remark lifted his spirits slightly.

"Alright, I'll manage," Thomas said as he walked to his station.

The manager handed him an order slip. "Family-sized pizza with three milkshakes. Deliver it to this address." Thomas wrapped up the order and checked the address: 667. He mounted his bike and set off.

As Thomas pedaled, the address led him further and further from familiar streets. He frowned, questioning whether the address even existed. Finally, his GPS confirmed he'd arrived. He looked up at the destination: a decrepit, overgrown hut with crumbling clay walls. Hesitant, he double-checked the address. "667? This can't be right."

Determined to avoid more trouble with his boss, Thomas knocked on the door. The eerie silence unsettled him. He knocked again, harder this time, but the door creaked and fell inward with a thud.

"Uh? hello?" Thomas called out, stepping inside cautiously. "Sorry about the door. I can fix it?"

The house smelled of decay, and cobwebs clung to every corner. In the dim light, Thomas spotted a skeleton seated in a chair. He screamed, jumping back, but quickly composed himself. "This? can't be real." Mustering his courage, he placed the pizza box and milkshakes on the skeleton's lap.

As he turned to leave, his eyes fell on a jar clasped in the skeleton's bony hands. Thinking it might hold money, he hesitated before unscrewing the lid. The moment he did, a rush of cold air erupted from the jar as thousands of glowing, besst souls flew out. One of them mistakenly entered Thomas's body, throwing him to the ground.

Gasping, Thomas woke minutes later, his body trembling. He felt? different. Ignoring his fear, he grabbed his bike and pedaled back to the pizza shop as fast as he could.

Back at work, his coworker noticed his disheveled state. "Where were you? That address was a fake!" she exclaimed. Then her eyes narrowed as she looked at him. "Thomas? Your eyes - they're turning red!"

Thomas touched his face, his breath quickening. "I'm fine. I just? need to rest." She nodded. "Go home. I'll cover for you."

Meanwhile, at Steven's house, he lounged on a couch while his friend Sophie tinkered with a strange device. "What's that thing?" Steven asked, curious.

"Shh!" Sophie replied, focused. Moments later, she cheered triumphantly. "It's done!"

Steven sat up, startled. "What's done?"

"This," Sophie said proudly, holding up the device. "It's a beast detector!"

"A? what?" Steven asked, confused.

"Remember the old story about the beasts that killed humans until the were all sealed in a magical jar? This device can detect them!"

Steven frowned. "Why would you even build something like that?"

"Because if they ever return, I want to be ready," Sophie said, brushing him off.

Suddenly, the machine began to beep. Sophie's face turned serious. "It's detecting a beast. Nearby."

Grabbing the device, Sophie sprinted out the door with Steven trailing behind. "Wait! Are you sure about this?" Steven yelled.

The beeping grew louder as Sophie stopped in front of a figure: Thomas. "Thomas?" she asked, confused. The detector's alarm blared furiously.

"What's up, Sophie?" Thomas greeted her, unaware of the tension.

Steven, panicked, grabbed a stick and struck Thomas on the head. "What are you doing?!" Thomas shouted, holding his head.

"Sorry! Sophie's machine said you're a? beast," Steven explained sheepishly.

Sophie, still staring at the device, murmured, "But how? Why is it detecting you??".Steven glanced at Thomas with concern, breaking the uneasy silence. "What are you doing here, Thomas? Aren't you supposed to be at work?"

Thomas sighed, leaning against the wall for support. "I was, but I wasn't feeling well. I thought I'd come here to rest." He paused, looking slightly embarrassed. "I would've gone home, but it's locked. I gave Beth the key since I thought she'd get home before me."

Steven nodded slowly, his gaze drifting to Sophie, who was tinkering with a strange device in her hands. Thomas's curiosity piqued as he stared at it. "What's that?"

Sophie looked up briefly, her expression serious. "It's supposed to detect beasts."

Thomas blinked in confusion. "Beasts? What do you mean by beasts?"

Both Sophie and Steven exchanged shocked glances, their surprise palpable. "You don't know the story?" Sophie asked, almost incredulously.

Thomas shook his head. "No. What story?"

Sophie took a deep breath before launching into the tale. "Years ago, long before our time, a man brought beasts into this world. He claimed they were homeless creatures in need of help. But it was all a trick. The beasts roamed the world, slaughtering innocent people without mercy. The man who let them in... he felt responsible. He vowed to stop them."

Steven jumped in, his tone grave. "He used a magical jar from the Aslaste village to seal the beasts. But the process drained his life force, killing him. His sacrifice saved humanity, and the beasts were locked away"

Thomas's brow furrowed as he processed their words. Suddenly, his face darkened, as if recalling something. "Wait... I think I saw that jar when I went to deliver a pizza."

Sophie's head snapped up, her eyes narrowing. "What do you mean? Where did you see it?"

Thomas hesitated, visibly nervous. "I came across this... hidden hut. Inside, there was a skeleton holding a jar."

"A skeleton with a green necklace?" Sophie pressed urgently.

Thomas nodded, his face pale. "Yeah. That's it. I thought my mind was playing tricks on me." He trailed off, his voice faltering.

Steven's jaw dropped. "Wasn't it that jar? The one used to seal the beasts?"

Thomas's eyes widened. "No way. It can't be. I..." He hesitated again, visibly shaken.

Sophie stepped closer, her voice sharp and accusing. "What did you do, Thomas?"

Thomas swallowed hard. "I... I kind of opened it."

"What?!" Sophie and Steven shouted in unison, their voices echoing in the room.

Thomas ran a shaky hand through his hair. "When I opened it, these... things flew out. I think one of them... collided with me. It felt like something entered me."

Steven stared at him, his face a mixture of horror and disbelief. "You're telling me you might've just released the beasts that caused mass murder years ago?!"

Sophie, calmer but no less serious, examined Thomas carefully. "If one of the beasts entered you, that's why my device detected you as a beast earlier."

Thomas's voice wavered. "What does that mean for me? Am I going to be okay?"

Sophie crossed her arms, deep in thought. "There's a 70% chance you'll die... and a 30% chance you'll lose control of yourself."

Thomas's heart sank. His voice broke as he whispered, "I'm going to die?"

Steven tried to lighten the tension, patting Thomas's shoulder with a smirk. "Don't worry, man. You've been a great friend. We'll never forget you."

Thomas glared at him, swatting his hand away. "This isn't funny, Steven! I refuse to die." He turned to Sophie, desperation in his eyes. "There has to be another way."

Sophie sighed. "I need to analyze your blood first. That's the only way to know for sure."

Thomas nodded determinedly. "Fine, but I need to check on Beth first. I'll bring my blood back after that."

Meanwhile, the beasts' souls, freed from the jar, began to take on their original monstrous forms. They gathered, restless and agitated, searching for their master.

"Where is our master?" one beast growled.

"I saw the master's soul collide with a human during our release," another admitted, causing a wave of murmurs to ripple through the group.

"Silence!" a larger beast commanded, and the others obeyed instantly. "If the master's soul is in a human, then we'll find him. Track his presence, bring him to us."

As they focused their energies, a location became clear: Thomas's house.

Back at home, Thomas walked in to find Beth studying. He ruffled her hair affectionately. "How was school?"

"Fine," Beth replied, smiling up at him.

Thomas changed out of his work clothes and, steeling himself, cut his palm to collect a sample of his blood. Before leaving, he warned Beth, "Don't open the door for anyone."

Minutes after Thomas left, Beth heard a loud knock at the door. Confused, she called out, "Thomas? Is that you?"

The door suddenly burst open, revealing the beasts. Beth froze in terror as they advanced, grabbing her and carrying her away.

Meanwhile, Thomas returned to Sophie and handed her the blood sample. Sophie analyzed it, her face growing grim. "Your cells are reacting violently. I'm 100% sure you'll die in the next 24 hours."

"What?!" Thomas and Steven shouted simultaneously.

Sophie squinted at the monitor. "Oh, wait, my bad. You've got two days."

Thomas glared at her. "That's not much better!"

As he began to feel feverish, Steven asked, "Is there any way to save him?"

Sophie hesitated. "If it were a normal beast, maybe. But this... this looks like the alpha beast."

Steven frowned. "Wait, can't beasts sense their alpha? Shouldn't they already be here by now?"

Thomas froze, realization dawning. "They might've gone to my house. Beth's there!"

The three rushed to Thomas's house, dread pooling in their stomachs. When they arrived, the place was in shambles.

Thomas stood in the wreckage, his voice trembling. "Beth... she's gone." As Thomas, Sophie, and Steven approached the house, they confirmed the worst: Beth was missing. Thomas collapsed onto the couch, his face pale and his eyes glistening with unshed tears. His hands trembled, clenching the fabric of his pants as he muttered, "It's all my fault." His voice cracked, the weight of the situation pressing down on him.

Before his emotions could consume him, Sophie stepped forward and slapped him across the face, her eyes blazing with intensity. "Pull yourself together!" she shouted. "If they had killed Beth, they would've risked losing the alpha too. They'll wait until the full moon when they're at there strongest. That's when they'll try to end her and the alpha would emerge assuming if it was in her of course."

Thomas rubbed his reddened cheek, looking up at her in disbelief. "You're saying we have time?"

"Exactly," Sophie affirmed, crossing her arms. "But not much. Steven, check the date of the next full moon."

Steven fumbled with his phone, tapping rapidly until he found the information. "Three days from now," he announced grimly.

Thomas exhaled shakily. "Three days? That's something. But how are we going to save her?"

Sophie's expression hardened. "First, we need to address your situation. If you lose control or die before then, we lose everything."

"No," Thomas objected firmly, standing to his feet. "Beth comes first. If she dies, it's on me. We save her now."

Before he could continue, Sophie slapped him again, harder this time, sending him stumbling back. "And if you die on the way? What then? You think guilt is going to save her? We fix you first, or we all lose."

"Agh, will you stop hitting me!" Thomas yelled, clutching his cheek.

"I'll stop when you stop acting like an idiot," Sophie snapped.

Steven stepped between them, raising his hands. "Alright, enough. Let's think this through. Sophie's right - if you're dead in two days, there's no one to save Beth. We handle your problem first, then we go after her."

Thomas hesitated, his fists clenching. "Why are you two even helping me? You could die because of this. It's not your responsibility."

Steven smirked and clapped Thomas on the back. "Because you've helped me more times than I can count. It's my turn to repay the favor."

Sophie shrugged nonchalantly. "I'm just interested in the beasts. But I don't mind helping you."

Thomas managed a small smile. "Thanks, guys."

Before the moment could settle, Steven's eyes widened as he pointed at Thomas' hand. "Uh? Thomas, your hand."

Thomas looked down and froze. His right hand had transformed into something monstrous - covered in red fur, with sharp claws extending from his fingers. "What? What is this?" he stammered, his voice shaking.

Sophie stepped forward, examining it closely. "Looks like you're running out of time," she muttered.

"What do I do?" Thomas asked, panic creeping into his voice.

Sophie straightened. "We can't get rid of the beast inside you. But? we might be able to seal it so you can control it instead of it controlling you."

Steven blinked in surprise. "You can do that?"

Sophie laughed. "Hell no."

Thomas and Steven both glared at her, and Steven leaned closer to Thomas, whispering, "She's finally lost it."

"I said might," Sophie clarified. "We can't do it, but the village that made the original sealing jar - Aslaste Village - might have the knowledge to create something for us."

Thomas' face lit up with hope. "Then let's go!"

Sophie raised a hand to stop him. "Hold up. There are two issues. First, Aslaste Village doesn't like outsiders. If they see your hand, they'll assume you're a beast and kill you on sight."

Thomas frowned, glancing at his monstrous hand. "I'll just wear a hoodie and keep it hidden."

"Good idea," Sophie nodded. "Second, the village is a day's drive away. We'll need something fast."

Steven grinned. "How about a Ferrari?"

Sophie's jaw dropped. "Since when do you have a Ferrari?"

Thomas smirked. "I've always known Steven was rich."

Soon after, Steven's driver arrived with the sleek, red Ferrari. As they piled in, Sophie took a deep breath, savoring the luxurious smell of the car. "This is amazing," she murmured.

"Just drive," Steven told the driver. "We're heading to Aslaste Village."

The driver raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"Just go," Steven insisted.

The driver sighed and started the car. Despite his irritation, he couldn't help but smile as he glanced in the rearview mirror, seeing the trio fast asleep. After a grueling 80 minutes at top speed, the driver finally arrived, his eyes bloodshot. He honked the horn loudly, jolting them awake.

"We're here," he announced.

They stepped out, gazing at the distant village nestled against a mountain. Thomas pulled his hoodie tighter to conceal his hand, and Steven instructed the driver to wait. As they approached on foot, they were met with a sudden whoosh. An arrow struck the ground in front of them.

"Halt!" two guards commanded, stepping forward with weapons drawn.

Meanwhile, in a dark, abandoned garage, Beth was tied up, her face streaked with tears as she glared at the snarling beasts surrounding her. One of them, smaller than the rest reach out to touch her face, but the largest beast kicked him aside.

"No body touch her", the large beast growled.

"In three days, under the full moon, we'll kill her and bring back our master ", Beth heart sank as she struggles against her bindings, her mind racing for a way to escape.

As the two guards pointed their arrows at Thomas, Steven, and Sophie, the trio threw their hands in the air. One guard demanded, "State your reason for coming here."

Sophie, calm and confident, replied, "Relax, we just want to see your leader."

The guard raised an eyebrow. "What makes you think you can see the leader?"

Sophie smirked. "Because the beasts are out again."

The guards exchanged skeptical glances, eyeing Sophie's spectacle. "Fine, don't believe me," Sophie said with a shrug, pretending to walk away with Thomas and Steven. "But don't blame me when the beasts show up here."

The guards hesitated, fear flickering in their eyes. One called out, "Wait! Fine, you can see the leader."

As they followed the guards, Sophie muttered under her breath, "I can't believe that actually worked."

Steven grinned and high-fived her. "Classic!"

The guards led them into the village, where a wrestling event was underway. Steven glanced around, wrinkling his nose. "This place feels so? uncivilized."

"Keep your voice down!" Sophie hissed. "Insulting their ways will get you killed."

Steven quickly clamped his mouth shut. Meanwhile, Thomas walked silently, observing their surroundings. The guards stopped and instructed them to wait. One stayed behind while the other approached the leader.

The king was engrossed in the match, seething as his men lost to his brother's fighters. When the guard bowed and whispered, "My king, we have visitors," the king frowned.

"Visitors? You allowed outsiders in?" The king's voice was low but dangerous.

"They claim the beasts we sealed long ago are loose again," the guard explained.

The king narrowed his eyes. "Do they have proof?"

The guard faltered. "No, my king?"

The king let out an exasperated sigh. "For years, outsiders have used this excuse to infiltrate our village. Bring them here, but search them for weapons first. I want no surprises."

The guard nodded and returned. He ordered the trio to be searched, but Thomas hesitated as they neared his right arm. Despite this, they were cleared of weapons and brought before the king.

The guards forced them to kneel as the king regarded them with disdain. "Why are you here?" he demanded.

Sophie stepped forward. "Our city is under attack by the beasts - "

"Do you have proof?" the king interrupted.

"No?" Sophie admitted.

The king's eyes glinted with suspicion. "If the beasts were truly attacking, how did three children like you manage to escape unharmed? And how did you travel a hundred miles without rest?"

Sophie froze, knowing she couldn't reveal the truth about Thomas being the alpha or Steven's driver. "I? I don't know," she stammered.

The king raised his hand, and the guards pointed their weapons at them. "State your true motive, or die."

Thomas, seeing Sophie falter, stood abruptly. The guards tensed, their weapons trained on him.

"Listen here, 'king,' or whatever you call yourself," Thomas snapped. "I don't have time for this crap. My sister is going to die if we don't hurry. So, hand over whatever you used to seal the beasts!"

The king chuckled coldly. "And why would I trust such a thing to you?"

"Because if you don't," Thomas growled, "we're not leaving."

The king's smile faded. "Then you won't leave at all."

The trio was thrown into a cell. Steven glared at Thomas. "Thanks a lot, dude."

Thomas leaned back, looking pale. Sophie glanced at him with concern. "If Thomas has only two days left, and today is almost over, tomorrow might be his last?"

Steven asked nervously, "So what do we do now?"

Sophie thought for a moment before her gaze landed on Thomas's beast arm. "Hey, can I borrow your claws?"

Thomas hesitated but extended his arm. Sophie guided his clawed hand to the steel bars. "Beast claws can break steel, right? Try it."

With one strike, Thomas crushed the bars. Sophie beamed as they stepped out. Steven tripped over a loose bar, making a loud clatter. Before they could escape, guards surrounded them again.

The king, visibly annoyed, approached. "You interrupted my wrestling match again." He gestured to the guards. "Take one of them down as punishment."

A guard drew his bow, aiming at Steven. As the arrow flew, Thomas's beast instincts kicked in. He caught the arrow mid-air with his beast hand, crushing it effortlessly. Gasps echoed around them as Thomas threw back his hood, fully exposing his beast arm.

Sophie groaned. "Idiot?" she muttered under her breath.

The king, however, began laughing. "Now I understand!" he declared. "You didn't tell me because he - " he pointed at Thomas " - jas the alpha stuck in him! The beasts can't attack without their master."

Thomas snarled. "It's not funny!"

The king smirked. "Your time is short, boy. Soon, the alpha will take over, and you'll die. Unless?" He turned to Sophie. "young girl Tell me why I should use the fluid syrup to seal the alpha inside him when I could rather seal all the beast and save millions."

Sophie stepped forward. "If you seal the other beasts, Thomas will die. And so will the person performing the seal. But if you give him the syrup to drink, he can harness the alpha's power to defeat the beasts by sealing the alpha I'm him."

The king stroked his chin. "Interesting? I'll help you, but only if Thomas fights in my wrestling tournament tomorrow."

The trio huddled. "I can't fight," Thomas protested.

Steven rolled his eyes. "Stop whining. This is our only chance."

Reluctantly, Thomas agreed. The king handed him the syrup. Thomas drank it, collapsing as his veins bulged. His friends watched in alarm, but soon, his right arm transformed back to normal, and he stood, stronger than ever.

The king grinned. "Rest well tonight. Tomorrow, you fight Tunda my brothers best worrior and unbeaten." The king smiles.

Thomas entered the dimly lit room and frowned at the sight before him. There was only one large bed, clearly meant to accommodate two people at most. "Just one bed? Well, I guess it's big enough," he muttered, collapsing onto one side of the bed.

Before he could settle in, Sophie claimed the other side, glaring at him as she did so. "Don't even think of trying anything, you jerk. You hear me?" she warned, her tone sharp.

Thomas rolled his eyes. "Trust me, I wouldn't dream of it," he replied flatly, pulling the blanket over himself.

At that moment, Steven entered the room, looking disgruntled. "These people don't even have bathtubs! How am I supposed to bathe?"

Thomas, unfazed, gestured toward the window. "Use the river outside."

Steven's face twisted in horror. "The river? Absolutely not! Do you know how many people probably use that river? Plus, what if the current carries me away? No way! I'll just sleep like this."

As Steven made his way toward the bed, both Sophie and Thomas blocked him.

"There's no way we're letting you sleep here smelling like that," Sophie said, her nose wrinkled.

Steven looked genuinely offended. "What? I don't even smell bad! I swear!" he protested.

Thomas crossed his arms. "Bath or floor. Your choice."

Steven grimaced, clearly not liking either option. "I have never in my life slept on the floor. You two could sleep on the floor while I take the bed," he suggested with a smug grin.

Sophie and Thomas exchanged a glance before simultaneously glaring at Steven, their patience wearing thin.

Moments later, Steven stood outside the room, dripping wet and sporting a few new bruises courtesy of his frustrated companions. "There. I've bathed. Happy now?"

Thomas smirked. "Thrilled."

Reluctantly, they let him back onto the bed, but Sophie turned to him with a warning. "And don't try anything either."

Steven blinked, looking genuinely confused. "Try what?"

Sophie's face turned red as she stammered, "Nothing!" and turned away to sleep.

Steven, oblivious, lay down in the middle of the bed. The three tried to sleep, but Steven's restless movements quickly became a problem.

"What the hell is wrong with this guy?" Thomas growled, trying to push Steven back to his side.

But Steven rolled over in his sleep, landing directly on top of Sophie. She let out a furious yell and shoved him off, waking him up in the process.

Steven sat up, startled. "What? What's going on?"

"You were moving around in your sleep!" Sophie snapped.

"I don't move when I sleep," Steven insisted, clearly unaware of his actions.

"Yeah, sure," Thomas muttered, already pulling the blanket back over himself.

Sophie asked, "By the way, is your driver still waiting for us outside?"

Steven shook his head. "Nah. I told him to leave. He'll come pick us up tomorrow."

The trio finally managed to settle down again, but Steven's movements resumed almost immediately.

The next morning, Steven woke up feeling refreshed and stretched, a satisfied grin on his face. He turned to Thomas and Sophie, who were sitting at the edge of the bed, glaring at him with red, bloodshot eyes.

"Morning, guys!" Steven greeted cheerfully, only to be met with a barrage of pillows and anything else they could throw at him.

After they vented their frustration, Sophie sighed. "Alright, Mark, get ready. You've got a big fight ahead of you."

Thomas looked uneasy. "What should I do? You know I'm a pacifist. I don't like fighting."

Sophie placed a hand on his shoulder. "You don't have a choice. If you want to repay the king and save your sister, you'll have to fight."

Thomas nodded reluctantly. "Alright," he said, heading out to bathe.

When he returned, the king was already waiting for him. "Are you ready?" the king asked.

Thomas took a deep breath. "I guess so."

Sophie and Steven joined him shortly after. Steven placed a hand on his shoulder. "You've got this, Thomas."

The king's brother arrived with Tunda, a towering man who looked more beast than human. At 7'9" and 200 pounds of muscle, he roared like a lion as he entered the arena.

"Holy cow," Steven whispered, his eyes wide.

Sophie's jaw dropped. "Is that even human?"

Thomas swallowed hard. "I'm having second thoughts, guys."

Steven nodded quickly. "Who wouldn't?"

Sophie elbowed Steven in the ribs. "Stop that!" Turning to Thomas, she said, "You've got this. Remember, you're the alpha. Not Tunda. Sure, his palm might be big enough to grab your entire body, and he could probably kill you with one kick, but - "

"Not helping!" Thomas interrupted.

Steven and Sophie gave him one last round of encouragement before stepping back.

The bell rang, and the fight began. Tunda wasted no time, charging at Thomas and landing a series of devastating punches and throws. The crowd watched in horror as Tunda tossed Thomas around like a ragdoll.

Steven winced. "I can't watch this," he said, though he peeked through his fingers.

Despite the relentless assault, Thomas realized something strange - he wasn't feeling any pain. Each punch and throw seemed to have no effect on him.

As Tunda charged at him again, Thomas instinctively threw a punch of his own. To everyone's astonishment, Tunda was sent flying out of the ring, crashing far beyond the village.

The arena fell silent. The king's brother's jaw dropped, and the king jumped to his feet, cheering.

Thomas opened his eyes, confused. "Did? did I win?"

Sophie and Steven rushed to his side, celebrating.

"Thomas, that was incredible!" Sophie exclaimed.

"Yeah, you totally destroyed him!" Steven added, patting him on the back.

The king approached, thanking Thomas for his help. The villagers gifted them food and supplies as a token of gratitude.

As the group left the village, Thomas focused on sensing the locations of the beasts. " At an abandoned garage That's where they're keeping Beth."

Sophie nodded. "We don't have much time. We need to rescue her before tomorrow night, or they'll kill her."

Steven's driver arrived just then, urging them to hurry. "Don't tell your parents I brought you here," he warned Steven as they climbed into the car.

The ride back was a long journey, tension hanging in the air. When they arrived at Steven's house, they gathered in his room to strategize their next move.

"We need a solid plan," Thomas said.

"And fast," Sophie added.

The trio looked at each other, knowing the battle to save Beth had only just begun.

Thomas, Steven, and Sophie sat in silence, the weight of Beth's rescue pressing heavily on them. Breaking the tension, Steven spoke up with his usual bravado, "Since Thomas has this alpha strength now, why don't we just charge in there? He can beat them all, and while they're distracted, Sophie and I can rescue Beth. Easy."

Sophie gave Steven a deadpan look. "You know, I didn't think it was possible for you to sound dumber, but congratulations - you've outdone yourself." She crossed her arms and explained, "There are at least a thousand of those beasts. Even if Thomas could handle them all, they'd quickly figure out the alpha power is in him, not Beth. They'd kill her, unseal their leader, and then it's game over for everyone. Not to mention," she added, "Thomas has terrible stamina. He'd burn out and die before it's over."

Steven slumped back, chastened but not entirely discouraged. Thomas leaned forward, asking, "Alright, what's the plan, then?"

Sophie took a deep breath. "If Thomas can find a way to blend in with the crowd of beasts and create a distraction, we could sneak in and get Beth out."

"Blend in?" Thomas frowned. "You mean? like fully transform into a beast?"

"Exactly," Sophie nodded. "If you can harness the alpha's power to transform fully, like you did with your hand before, you could act the part. But you'd need to move and sound like one of them, and that takes practice. Unfortunately, we only have until tomorrow night to save her."

Thomas nodded, determination hardening his expression. "I'll figure it out before then."

Steven, now fully energized, jumped up. "Great! We've got today to train. Let's meet here tomorrow morning, ready to go!" The others agreed, and they all headed home to prepare.

At home, Thomas went straight to his room. He sat cross-legged on the floor, focusing on summoning the alpha's power. He visualized the beast within him, tapping into its energy. Slowly, he began to transform, but the process was painful and incomplete. Undeterred, he continued practicing into the night.

Meanwhile, Sophie gathered supplies, scavenging through her lab for tools and inventions that might come in handy. She tested everything meticulously, knowing failure wasn't an option.

As for Steven? He did what Steven did best - slept.

The next morning, the trio regrouped at Steven's house. Thomas looked exhausted but determined. Sophie came armed with gadgets, while Steven seemed as refreshed as if he'd spent the night at a spa.

"Uh? Sophie?" Steven asked, eyeing her assortment of tools. "What's with all the gear?"

Sophie smirked. "Let me explain. First, this is a blaster." She held up a sleek weapon. "It fires concentrated bursts of energy. Very dangerous." She pulled out another device. "This is a drone lifter. It'll carry us above the beasts so we can avoid direct contact. And finally?" Sophie held up a spray can with a mischievous grin. "This is my masterpiece. Beasts eat humans - everything except their brains. So, I used brain tissue from the cemetery my dad works at to create this spray. It makes you smell like a beast, so they won't suspect you're human."

Steven and Thomas recoiled in horror. "That's disgusting!" Steven exclaimed, his face twisted in revulsion.

"Yeah, well, survival isn't pretty," Sophie shot back, unfazed. Thomas then says that "I used the whole day to perfect my transformation into my beast state but it couldn't be mastered in one day as I can only use it for five minutes" as he transforms showing them

To prove her invention worked, Sophie sprayed the concoction on Thomas. The smell hit him like a brick wall, and he staggered back, gagging. "Ugh! That's the worst thing I've ever smelled!"

"Good," Sophie said, satisfied. "That means it's working."

Their discussion was interrupted by Steven's mother entering the room, curious about the noise. She froze, eyes wide, when she saw Thomas in his beast form. Before anyone could explain, she fainted. Sophie and Thomas hurried to lay her on Steven's bed, but Steven waved it off. "Don't worry. When she wakes up, she won't remember a thing."

With that, they finalized their preparations. Sophie handed Steven the blaster, and they set out for the abandoned garage where Beth was being held.

Inside the dimly lit garage, Beth was slumped against a pillar, tied up and barely conscious. She hadn't eaten, slept, or even moved much in two days. The beasts ignored her suffering, prowling around as they awaited the night when their leader would be unsealed.

From a safe distance, the trio surveyed the scene. Thomas clenched his fists, his blood boiling at the sight of Beth's weakened state. "It's time," he growled, his voice already deepening as he began to transform.

Fully transformed, Thomas entered the garage, blending seamlessly with the crowd of beasts. He moved confidently, mimicking their snarls and grunts. To create a distraction, he shoved a nearby beast. "You stink, and you're ugly!" he snarled.

The insult landed like a punch, and the offended beast lunged at Thomas. With a quick move, Thomas flung him into another beast, sparking an all-out brawl. Chaos erupted as beasts turned on each other, completely distracted from their surroundings.

From above, Sophie and Steven used the drone lifter to fly toward Beth. Steven clung tightly to Sophie, his face pale with fear. "Don't drop me!" he squeaked.

They landed near Beth, who weakly opened her eyes. "You're here," she whispered, tears welling up. "I thought? I thought I was going to die."

"Not on our watch," Sophie said as she and Steven worked to untie her. Once free, Beth collapsed into their arms, too weak to stand. Steven handed her a beef stick, which she devoured ravenously.

Their escape plan hit a snag when a stray rock, thrown during the beasts' fight, struck the drone. The device sputtered and crashed to the ground, destroyed. Sophie cursed under her breath as she explained the situation to the others.

Things worsened when the acting alpha - a towering, menacing beast - entered the fray. His eyes scanned the chaos, quickly noting that Beth was missing. He roared, silencing the fighting beasts, and barked out orders to find her.

Sophie, Steven, and Beth hid in a small storage room. Thomas slipped in moments later, reverting to his human form. Steven, startled, nearly threw the broken drone at him. "Calm down!" Thomas whispered harshly.

Beth, seeing Thomas, broke down in tears and hugged him tightly. "I knew you'd come," she sobbed.

Thomas held her close. "You're safe now. I promise."

Her stomach growled loudly, and Steven handed her another snack. As she ate, Thomas turned to Sophie. "What's the plan now?"

Sophie's face was grim. "The drone's destroyed, and the only exit is the front door."

Thomas nodded, his resolve hardening. "I'll buy you time. Get Beth out of here."

Before anyone could protest, Thomas transformed back into his beast form and burst out of the room. He leaped into the center of the garage, landing with a thunderous roar. The acting alpha turned to face him, and without hesitation, Thomas delivered a devastating kick that sent the alpha's head flying.

"Run!" Thomas bellowed to the others.

Sophie and Steven grabbed Beth and bolted for the front door. The beasts, enraged by the loss of their leader, swarmed Thomas. He fought with all his might, knowing he only had five minutes before his stamina gave out.

Thomas stood his ground, muscles tense, as he fended off the snarling beasts with every ounce of strength he had. Sophie, Steven, and Beth, seeing an opening, bolted for the exit of the abandoned garage. The sound of their hurried footsteps echoed against the crumbling walls. But their escape was far from smooth. A beast caught sight of them and let out a guttural roar before charging after them.

As they ran, the creature leapt at Steven, knocking him to the ground. Sophie skidded to a stop and rummaged frantically through her bag. Her fingers closed around a can of beast spray, and without hesitation, she hurled it toward Steven. "Catch!" she shouted.

Steven caught the can mid-air, fumbling for a moment before spraying it directly into the beast's face. The creature screeched, clawing at its eyes as it stumbled backward. Steven scrambled to his feet and tossed the spray back to Sophie, gasping, "Thanks."

There was no time to linger. More beasts turned their glowing eyes toward the fleeing group, and their snarls filled the air. Thomas, still fighting near the rear, attempted to intercept the charging beasts, but the sheer number overwhelmed him.

By the time Steven, Sophie, and Beth reached the heavy metal exit door, their path was blocked. A dozen beasts stood between them and freedom, their sharp claws glinting under the flickering garage lights. They were cornered.

"Thomas!" Sophie called out, her voice tinged with desperation. She glanced back at their protector, only to see his transformation beginning to reverse. His claws retracted, his monstrous features softening into something painfully human. "This is bad," Sophie whispered to the others. "Thomas is turning back? and these beasts don't look like they're going to let us go."

Steven's voice quivered. "What do we do now? We're trapped!"

Sophie clenched her jaw and met his eyes with fierce determination. "We fight back." She shoved the beast spray into Beth's hands and gripped her blaster tightly. "We have no choice."

Beth, normally hesitant, nodded. "I owe these things for everything they've done. I'm not scared anymore."

Steven looked panicked. "You're both insane! We can't fight them - we'll die!"

"Then stay here and let them eat you," Sophie snapped. She tossed him a broken drone from her bag.

Steven stared at it in disbelief. "What am I supposed to do with this?"

"Figure it out!" Sophie barked as the beasts began their attack.

Beth wasted no time, spraying the gas into the faces of the nearest beasts. They reeled backward, snarling and clawing at the air. Sophie let out a battle cry and joined her, blasting at any creature that got too close.

Thomas, partially reverted to human form, launched himself into the fray with nothing but his fists. Though his blows weren't as strong as before, he fought with a ferocity born of desperation. Meanwhile, Steven, shaking, swung the broken drone at an advancing beast. To his surprise, the impact knocked the creature out cold. A spark of confidence ignited in him, and he swung again and again, using the drone as a makeshift weapon.

But their luck didn't hold for long. Beth's spray ran dry, and Sophie's blaster battery died. "Thomas!" Sophie shouted, retreating toward him.

Steven kept smashing his drone against the beasts until one of them bit down, shattering it. "What now?" he yelled, retreating to Thomas's side.

Thomas panted, blood dripping from wounds across his body. "I'll make an opening," he said. But before he could act, his vision blurred, and the world around him seemed to fade away.

In the depths of his mind, Thomas found himself face-to-face with the Alpha. The towering, monstrous figure radiated power and disdain.

"You dare summon me again?" the Alpha growled, his voice rumbling like distant thunder.

"I need your power," Thomas said firmly, standing his ground.

The Alpha's lips curled into a sneer. "You sealed me away, and yet you continue to abuse what I allowed you to borrow. That privilege is over."

"They're my powers now!" Thomas shot back.

"No," the Alpha said coldly. "The seal was to trap me, not to grant you my strength. If you want it, you must accept me fully. Say the words, 'I accept you.' But know this: you will crave human flesh. You will kill to survive. You will become one of us, though you'll retain control. That is the price."

Thomas shook his head, his voice trembling with defiance. "No. I'll never be like you. I won't kill anyone."

The Alpha's glowing eyes narrowed. "You already kill. You slaughter my kind without hesitation. Killing is in your blood - our blood. It's instinct. The choice is yours, Thomas. Accept me, or lose everything."

Thomas's jaw tightened. "I can't."

The Alpha's form began to dissipate. "If you change your mind, you know where to find me."

In the blink of an eye, Thomas was back in the garage. Only a second had passed in the real world, but the beasts were advancing again. Steven yelled, "Thomas, hurry up and clear a path!"

Thomas clenched his fists. "I can't," he admitted. "The Alpha? he's gone. I don't have his power anymore."

"What?!" Steven and Sophie shouted in unison.

The beasts circled closer, their snarls growing louder. Without hesitation, Thomas grabbed a piece of the broken drone from the ground. "I don't need his power!" he roared, charging forward.

With sheer determination, Thomas struck down the beasts in his path. Each swing of the drone piece cost him dearly, his body taking hit after hit, but he didn't stop. "Run!" he shouted, his voice hoarse.

Steven, Sophie, and Beth sprinted toward the exit, leaving Thomas to hold off the pack. Steven was the first to escape, followed by Sophie.

As Beth ran, a beast lunged at her, catching her ankle and dragging her down. "No!" Thomas yelled, turning back.

Beth looked up at him, her eyes filled with resolve. She pushed Thomas toward the door. "Go! You have to live!"

"No! Don't do this!" Thomas shouted, tears streaming down his face.

Beth smiled through her tears. "Take care of yourself, Thomas. I'll tell Mom and Dad you took care of me. And? thank you for everything."

The door slammed shut as the beasts descended on Beth. Thomas pounded on the metal barrier, his screams echoing through the garage. "No! Stop! Leave her alone!" His fists thudded against the door until they bled, but it was no use.

Overwhelmed by anguish and rage, Thomas fell to his knees. He closed his eyes, and without hesitation, forced himself back into the trance.

The Alpha stood waiting, a smirk on his monstrous face. "Changed your mind?"

Thomas's voice was raw, filled with hate. "I accept you."

The Alpha tilted his head. "Are you sure? Once done, it can't be undone. You'll crave human flesh. You'll kill - "

"Do it!" Thomas roared. "Give me the power! They're all going to die by my hands!"

The Alpha's laughter echoed in his mind as their bond was sealed. Energy surged through Thomas, and his body began to transform once more. His claws lengthened, his eyes burned with a crimson glow, and his muscles rippled with newfound strength.

Back in the garage, Thomas rose to his feet, his breaths heavy and uneven. He turned toward the snarling beasts, a murderous glint in his eyes. "Run," he growled at Sophie and Steven. "Run as fast as you can."

They didn't need to be told twice. As they disappeared into the night, Thomas unleashed his fury, a whirlwind of claws and destruction. The beasts that had tormented them stood no chance against the unleashed wrath of the new Alpha, later Thomas stood covered in blood as Steven and Sophie approached him, Thomas stares at them with blood lust ready to pounce.

As Steven and Sophie backed away from Thomas in his terrifying beast form, fear etched into their faces, Sophie desperately tried to reach him. "Thomas! This isn't who you are! You have to fight it!" she pleaded, her voice trembling but resolute.

But Thomas wasn't hearing her words. His beastly instincts overwhelmed him, drowning out any shred of humanity. With a guttural growl, he lunged at Sophie.

Steven, acting on sheer instinct, threw himself in front of her, shielding her with his body. Thomas's powerful jaws clamped down on Steven's arm, and blood gushed out, staining the ground beneath them. Steven cried out in pain, his voice both firm and pained. "Thomas, stop this! You're going to hurt people - hurt the ones who care about you!"

The sound of Steven's voice pierced through the haze of Thomas's instincts. For a moment, clarity flickered in his beastly eyes. He released Steven's arm, recoiling in horror as he realized what he had done. The struggle between his human self and the beast raged within him. Unable to bear it, Thomas let out a guttural roar and fled into the night, leaving Steven bleeding and collapsing to the ground.

Sophie dropped to her knees beside Steven, tears streaming down her face. "Somebody help! Please!" she screamed, her voice cracking with desperation.

Hours later

Steven awoke in a hospital bed, his vision blurry. His family stood around him, their faces filled with worry. Sophie was there too, seated by his side, her hands trembling as she held his uninjured hand.

"Where's Thomas?" Steven mumbled weakly, his voice barely above a whisper.

His family exchanged confused glances, unsure of what he meant. One of them left to fetch the doctor, but Sophie stayed, leaning closer to him.

"Steven, Thomas... I don't know where he is," Sophie admitted, her voice shaking. "I've tried calling him, but he doesn't answer. I even went to his house - nothing. It's like he's disappeared."

Tears welled in her eyes as she lowered her head. "I thought we could handle this. I thought we could help him, but I failed. I couldn't do anything to save him. I couldn't even stop him from hurting you."

Steven mustered what strength he could to squeeze her hand. "You're wrong, Sophie. We couldn't have made it this far without you. You stood by him when no one else would. Thomas is in pain right now, but he's a fighter. He won't give up on himself, and neither should we."

Sophie wiped her tears, nodding hesitantly. "You really think he'll come back to us?"

Steven managed a faint smile. "I know he will. One day, he'll walk through that door, apologize for everything, and laugh with us like old times."

Overcome with emotion, Sophie leaned forward, wrapping her arms around Steven, careful not to disturb his injuries.

Elsewhere

Thomas sat slumped in a dark, damp alley, injecting himself with a makeshift serum. The pain from the injection was immense, but it was the only thing keeping his beastly instincts at bay, even if only for a short time. He let out a deep sigh, his body trembling as the serum coursed through his veins.

"Just a little longer," he muttered to himself.

Once the pain subsided, Thomas stood and began wandering aimlessly through the city. His clothes were torn and bloodstained, his eyes hollow. He barely noticed when he accidentally bumped into a burly man surrounded by a group of thugs.

The leader grabbed Thomas by the shoulder, spinning him around. "You looking for a fight, punk? You just messed with the wrong guy."

Thomas, exhausted and uninterested, muttered softly, "Please... just let me go. I don't have time for this."

The thugs, noticing Thomas's disheveled appearance, urged their leader to leave him alone. But the leader smirked, raising a steel pipe.

"I don't care who he is. No one disrespects me!"

The pipe came down on Thomas's head with a loud clang. To everyone's shock, the pipe bent on impact, and Thomas didn't even flinch.

The leader laughed nervously, taking a step back. "What the hell are you made of?"

Thomas's eyes glowed faintly as his instincts began to take over. He muttered under his breath, "No problem. I'm hungry anyway."

Before anyone could react, Thomas moved with inhuman speed, his clawed hand swiping through the air. The leader's head hit the ground with a sickening thud, his lifeless body collapsing seconds later.

The other gang members screamed in terror, trying to run, but Thomas's beastly instincts had taken full control. He tore through them mercilessly, leaving no survivors.

When the police arrived, they were met with a blood-soaked street and Thomas in his beast form. Without hesitation, they opened fire, but bullets ricocheted off his thick hide.

"Bring him down!" one officer shouted, but their weapons were useless. Thomas roared, charging at them.

The officers deployed tasers, lasers, and every weapon at their disposal, but nothing could stop him. Just as hope seemed lost, a massive steel cage was dropped from above, trapping Thomas inside.

The material of the cage was unlike anything Thomas had encountered before. No matter how much he thrashed and roared, he couldn't break free.

A woman with an air of authority stepped forward, her expression calm yet intrigued. Her dark uniform bore the insignia of a special task force.

"Fascinating," she murmured, approaching the cage despite the warnings of the other officers.

Thomas snarled, his glowing eyes fixed on her, but as she reached out and gently touched his face, his anger began to subside.

"You're a vessel," she said softly, almost to herself.

Thomas's growls turned into a low rumble of confusion. "Who... are you?"

The woman smiled faintly. "My name is Aisha. I've been waiting for someone like you.

Back at the task force's headquarters, Aisha explained everything to Thomas.

She showed him a scar on her back - a circular mark burned into her flesh. "This mark," she said, "was given to me by the beast I once carried within me. Like you, I was a vessel."

Thomas stared at her in disbelief. "How is that possible? That was... centuries ago."

Aisha nodded. "I'm over 500 years old. The beast's power has a way of distorting time. But that's not important now. What matters is that you can be saved."

She explained that the injections Thomas had been using were making things worse, not better. "The serum suppresses your instincts temporarily, but it damages your body and mind. I can help you gain control - permanently."

Thomas hesitated. He thought of Steven and Sophie, of the harm he had already caused.

"If I do this, I can't see anyone for a long time," he said. "I don't want them to see me like this... not until I've mastered it."

Aisha placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Then we start tomorrow."

To be continued...

(Man Beast 2 coming soon)