Werewolf Survival Vol 1 chap 1

The creatures that fell into a trap

Pitter-patter — I could hear the sound of raindrops striking the windows.

I was in the backseat of a car. Looking outside, I could vaguely see many trees shaking in the darkness of the night.

"Really, a landslide," Orihara sighed.

Orihara was sitting in the driver's seat. He was the guide of this summer camp.

CRACK!

Lightning crossed the sky suddenly and illuminated the landslide ahead. The road was completely sealed off, with large rocks and tree roots.

"Hello? Yes. Were cars number 2 and 3 safe? Okay," Orihara took a deep breath after making sure the other cars were safe.

He hung up the cell phone and adjusted his cowboy hat. "The others up ahead are sa—"

"Ori-san, is everyone unscathed?!" I interrupted, sticking my head forward.

"Yes, all of them are safe. Rather, they were worried about us, who were at the very end," Ori-san smiled but still warned, "On the other hand, tone it down a little, Hayato. Everyone else is asleep."

"Got it!" my retort was quick, though I still asked another question. "Then, will we use another route to head back?"

"That's what I'm considering, but there aren't any other routes in this area. Do you have any suggestions, Imako?"

I looked at the rearview mirror; Ori-san was asking the woman at his side.

"Maybe we could try another route," said Imako while turning her head. She'd been decorating the car mirror with a Little Pigs keychain.

Although she lacked a bit of femininity, she was a young and beautiful woman with short brown hair. Given that we had been at the summer camp for some time, she had sunburns all over her arms.

"But if this new route had a landslide as well... It'd be dangerous if we search blindly."

Currently, we were heading back home after three days of summer camp. After waking up and packing up our baggage, we descended the mountain and quickly arrived at the parking area.

Even so, the weather took a sudden turn shortly after. Heavy rain poured down followed by harsh wind. It was already challenging to advance further, but now with this landslide, it's nearly impossible.

"Ori-san, won't a rescue helicopter come? We should decide on the boarding order now!!"

"You're as impulsive as ever, Hayato," Ori-san's remark made me sulk for a bit.

"Ori-san, for your information, it's called 'quick-witted,' not impulsive."

"Oh? I didn't know that they add a new connotation to quick-witted."

"That's not it! I'm someone who takes keen and sharp decisions swiftly, it's definitely different from someone who's impulsive!"

"And how can a helicopter fly in this severe weather?"

"Ugh!"

"Now..." After thinking for a moment, Ori-san proceeded, "...We should prepare to spend the night here."

"Here?!" I was startled.

"But there were four classmates — plus me and you two— how should we sleep in this cramped car?"

The five of us were from the same club, and this year we went together to the summer camp. It was really fun. We played every day, made curry, and swam in the river.

"Certanly, it would be uncomfortable to sleep here. We'll go back to the camp; it's more comfortable there as they have many houses and lodges," Imako-san said with a radiant smile.

"Before anything, let's call everyone's parents," Ori-san stated and took out his cell phone.

In the meantime, Imako-san was taking a close look at the front mirror.

"!!" All of a sudden, she pointed forward, "Look there!"

Ori-san had just finished dialing a phone number when Imako-san shouted. He followed where she was pointing.

"There's something shining, Orihara."

"Eh? Um... Yes, I think I can see it. It's a house?"

We were all captivated by the light; we could see hazy orange lights shining ahead.

"Could it be an inn?"

"What are the chances, Imako? An inn in the middle of nowhere?"

"I'm not sure as well... but if it's an inn, we could try taking shelter there."

"I don't know... An Inn here, no matter how you look at it, it's strange," Ori-san didn't like the idea.

"Nonetheless, I think it'd be more comfortable than the lodge at the camp," noted Imako-san, before turning her head and asking, "What do you think, Hayato?"

"Hmm...No idea," I replied, averting my eyes. Come on, I haven't had time to think about it.

"Heh, weren't you quick-witted? Why the late answer?"

"This is different, also isn't the role of an adult to make important decisions!?"

Yawn...

Oops, another person woke up.

"Hayato~ you're noisy."

It was a young girl with a black hoodie on her head, Usagi Kuromiya.

"Sorry, Usagi."

Usagi, who had just woken up, curled back onto her seat like a little fluffy ball, and after a few moments, I could hear her steady breathing again.

"Look, Orihara, the kids are tired. After a long day with this crazy weather, maybe one of them is sick too. If that's the case the inn staff would provide us with great help"

"Yeah... Okay! Let's go take a look. Moreover, it seems everyone has woken up!"

Before we went to the mysterious house, Ori-san made sure to call each one of our parents, telling them we were safe. All of them were restless, particularly my mother who had seen the landslide on the news.

"Mhm! I'm fine. We'll stay here for the night," Usagi was talking to her parents while playing with the ears attached to her hoodie. "EHHHH!!!? A cheeseburger? Please, put it in the fridge!! I'll eat it tomorrow!"

"Usagi... You've just eaten curry, right? How can you still think about food?"

"Well, I have an extra stomach for burgers, 'kay! Hm? You want to talk to Hayato? Got it!"

Usagi handed me the phone; I could already hear her mother's voice from the speaker.

Her family and mine had been quite close for a long time. We did a bunch of things together, like going out to buy clothes and having dinner at each other's house. She was like a younger sister to me.

"Hello. Yes, all right. Yes, Usagi's eating well."

"Hey, I'm not a pet!"

"I promise I'll protect her, don't worry."

After talking a bit more with her parents, I returned her cell phone and she spoke a little more with them.

"'Kay, bye bye!" after talking to her mother she wondered, "What we're gonna eat tonight..."

Usagi...please.

The car stopped a few moments later.

It wasn't an inn, this building was wider, longer, and bigger than our whole middle school! My impression was of a stylish Western building, the type used by royals in the Middle Ages.

Huh? Odd, the rain stopped after we got down from the car.

I looked up.

Although the sky was cloudy just a moment ago, now there were only a few clouds. But this wasn't the strangest part... the yellow moon looked like a vertical slit, just like a beast's eye.

In front of the elegant building, even the adults were on edge.

"Oh, hello. What do I owe the pleasure?" said a melodious voice.

When?!

A man was standing at the front door holding a lantern in his hand. He was wearing a thick raincoat, so we couldn't see his face behind the coat.

"I'm sorry, we were only looking around. We were just about to leave, let's go, everyone!"

"Wait, wait, Ori-san, weren't we supposed to sleep here tonight?!" I said dumbfoundedly.

Weren't we here to take shelter?

"Like I thought, it's better to go back to the camp. Also, the weather has gotten better; it's easier to return to the camp now—" BWHOOOM

Just after he said that we heard a loud noise, perhaps another landslide?

"It's in the direction of the camp. I think... it'd be too dangerous to go there now."

"Undoubtedly the rain has stopped, but a landslide may still occur," the man said staring at Ori-san's eyes, then after a few moments, into Imako-san's.

Then, while shaking his lantern, he invited, "Please, come in."

The light pattern of his lantern resembled a small will-o'-the-wisp.

"But."

"You don't need to be cautious. Think of the children, it'd be such a shame if something happened to them."

With these words, both adults glanced at each other and decided to go inside, while my classmates and I went back into the car to get our stuff.

Before going inside, the man looked at us, "I won't eat you. Please pick up your baggage and come inside," although he was smiling — gulp — I felt goosebumps

After a faint creak, the door opened and we could see a faint yellowish light from its crevice.

We went inside, following the man beckoning. After crossing the door felt a tender wind caressing our cheeks.

The entry hall was spacious; in front were the stairs leading to the upper floor. The walls were decorated with candleholders and their flames were wobbling due to the wind.

Ori-san and Imako-san were speechless. They continued to walk while tightly holding their bags with stiffened arms.

"Uh...My name is Orihara from the Fresh Outdoor Club. I'm really thankful for your hospitality."

"I'm Imako, it's a pleasure."

The man stopped in his tracks as both showed their badges pinned on their shirts – 'Imako' was written in silver letters and 'Orihara' in gold. Each respective letter had been attached piece by piece. At camp, I'd had one as well.

"Here! I'm Usagi Kuromiya, 1st year of Tsubakigaoka Middle School! Nice to meet you!" Usagi was one step ahead of me.

"Hehe, guess I was faster than quick-witted Hayato." She smiled playfully while looking at my face.

"Wha—, I was about to do it!! Ori-san, help me out here!"

"Hayato, Usagi, that's enough," Imako-san said rather firmly.

After scolding us, Imako-san looked at the man and asked, "Could you please tell us your name?"

Water drops quietly fell from his soaked raincoat onto the carpet. He slowly lifted the hood of his raincoat. "I don't have a title or such a thing as a name. Nonetheless, it'd be burdensome if I don't have one... Hmmm, my name is... Count. Yes, please call me Count from now on."

Count was a young man who looked about 30 years old, with long dark brown hair reaching his shoulders. He had a soft expression on his face, which was free of facial hair, and the most eye-catching thing was the monocle over one of his eyes. Also, the gleam in his eyes was just like a little kid's, sparkling with interest.

While Ori-san and Imako-san stared at each other awkwardly, Count started to walk ahead again.

"Given the complicated talk is over, shall we move to the other floor?"

"Yes."

"Yes."

"'kay!! I'll be the first one!" before Usagi could run off, Imako-san grabbed her arm.

"You'll be waiting here until the adults finish talking."

"Boo! Come on Imako-san, the slogan at the camp was Friends Forever. I've never seen friends holding secret conversations behind their friends' backs."

"Yes, the seven of us here are all friends, but this is different."

Thus, after a few moments, Count, Ori-san, and Imako-san went upstairs; their figures faded away into the darkness of the hallway.

...But only Count returned after a short time.

"Sorry for the wait. Then, shall we go to the accommodations?"

"Accommodations?"

"You can't possibly sleep here on the floor. We should go upstairs, there are individual rooms for each of you."

With large strides, Count started leading the way. We were quite confused for a moment but followed shortly after.

A deep red carpet covered the long staircase, its color as intense as a dazzling flash of light.

"Is this a hotel?" a sharp voice asked. It was a young girl in a violet suit with a white necktie. Her name was Tsubame Shizaki.

"No," Count replied briefly.

"Then why do you have so many guest rooms? According to what you said, you've at least seven individual rooms here," the young girl voiced her suspicions while adjusting the large bag on her shoulders.

"I have countless associates who come here from time to time. They make use of those empty rooms."

"And where are Ori-san and Imako-san?" someone interrupted their conversation ahead of Tsubame.

It was Gyukaku Aoyama. He was a tall boy with a shaved head; his appearance was similar to a softball player.

"I... want to go home," yet another voice muttered almost inaudibly.

It was from the farthest person at the back, Yamane Shiroishi. She was wearing a frilled yellow dress, resembling a little doll.

Although at camp we had worn light jerseys to move our bodies comfortably, our clothes were soaked after playing in the river on the last day. Therefore, everyone was wearing different clothes.

While we continued to climb the staircase, Yamane glanced at the painting on the wall, "...It—, It's scary here," she whispered.

The painting she was glancing at depicted five sheep dressed in traditional clothes, each sheep was holding a limb of a human, and the last one was being pointed at by the others while standing next to a bloody guillotine.

What a sickening illustration.

Count knelt down to meet Yamane's eye line, "There's nothing to be scared of here, Yamane. Don't be afraid, I'm quite certain you'll make wonderful memories here," he comforted her while patting her shoulder.

"I-I'll try. A-Are you sure?"

"Yes!" after replying cheerfully, Count started to walk again, and our group followed him closely.

Wait... how does Count know Yamane's name? Did she say it beforehand?

To begin with, only Usagi had said her full name, yet I'm almost certain Count had used Yamane's name earlier. Is it only my imagination?

On the other hand, I hadn't paid much attention to what he had said as my heart almost stopped after seeing that horrifying painting.

Hold on, what's that?! Since when was there a wolf behind the sheep in the painting? Was it there from the beginning?

The wolf was dressed like the sheep, in traditional clothes, but there was a glaring contrast between him and the rest. Furthermore, I had a feeling it was staring at me. Remembering the horror I felt earlier, I hurried ahead to rejoin the others.

---

This room is too extravagant for a single middle schooler. A fluffy bed softer than cotton candy, a huge sofa that makes me sleepy just from glancing at it, and a spacious bathroom equipped with a large bathtub.

The room is indeed massive.

Looking through the window, I saw the summer night's darkness.

Despite all the extravagance, I couldn't calm down. So, after putting my bag down, I took out my cell phone — we have permission to carry one in case of an emergency.

Let's make sure she's alright.

I tried to call Usagi, but I didn't hear anything from the speaker.

Ugh, out of range. Why? It was fine in the car.

I couldn't settle down, so I started pacing around the bedroom.

Besides, Ori-san and Imako-san haven't returned yet.

I've been so lost in thought that I hadn't realized my mouth was drying out from anxiety. Without thinking twice, I pick up the cup full of water from the nearby table and drink it. But, shortly after, an intense wave of drowsiness hits me. I couldn't resist and collapsed onto the bed.

---

I abruptly opened my eyes. Glancing at the window, I could see that night had passed. Yet, there was no sunlight, only the small raindrops against a gloomy sky.

An early morning rain, huh?

Oh no, I've overslept! — At camp, someone had always woken me up but now I was alone. As I thought about the camp, I changed my clothes, washed my face, and brushed my teeth all within two minutes. Then I bolted out of the room into the long hallway.

"Usagi? Hey Usagi? Where are you?" the hallway was dead silent.

I knocked on several doors but received no answer. All of them were locked.

"Ori-san?! Ori-san?! Imako-san?!!"

I dashed off and hurried down the staircase.

"Hayato!?"

The nearest door swung open suddenly and Usagi hurried out. She was wearing her cute black hoodie. I could also see Tsubame, Gyukaku, and Yamane behind her.

"Ah!! You scared me! It seems I was the only one who overslept." I put my hand on my chest feeling quite relieved. Though Usagi and the rest were dumbfounded for a moment.

"Has Ori-san not appeared yet?"

"Hayato... what do you make of this?" Tsubame said.

She showed a jacket with a camouflage print.

"Well, this is Ori-san's jacket," I said while checking the pocket of the jacket. there were many things inside it. His watch, keys, and wallet.

Plus... RHR? Isn't this Ori-san's golden badge? But many pieces have been removed from it.

"Then... this," Gyukaku held up a black cloth.

I remember this pattern, isn't this Ori-san's...?

I was about to say it was from Ori-san's shirt, but I stopped.

"What... is this?"

The cloth had a huge gash in the middle. And when I tried to touch it, my hand came away dirty with a weird sticky substance that gave off a disgustingly rusty scent.

"Blood...?" then I looked inside the door. There was a large pool of blood in the middle of the room.

And in the bloody scene, I could see a brown shirt with a silver badge — Imako-san's clothes.

"Why... What... what's the meaning of this?" I stepped inside the room with an ashen face.

"This is a prank right, Ori-san?! I get it, it's like those mean pranks that I've seen on TV many times."

Drip... drip...drops of blood from the cloth stained my sock.

"It's fine now! Please, Ori-san!!! Let's all go back and eat together again." I screamed, alone, while the other four stood motionless in the entrance hall.

"You all need to say something too! Oh, I see, I was the only one in the dark, right?" I faced them with a strained smile.

But my smile gradually faded when I studied their expressions and glanced at the frightened face of my childhood friend.

"So...It's real?"

"Everything is real, from yesterday's landslide until today," Tsubame declared indifferently.

She then pulled out her cell phone, "Look, no service. Ori-san's and Imako-san's are the same."

Mine too, since last night. The message I sent to Usagi had not reached her phone.

"Let's try the front door!" after Gyukaku's suggestion, we sprinted towards the door.

But as I grabbed the doorknob and pushed it forcefully... it didn't budge.

"What!? Open up, open up, OPEN UP!" I charged at it and used the wall for leverage, but the door stood firm as a rock. It was securely shut.

"We're really locked in here..." Yamane murmured in fright.

"Locked in... Wait! The window! Let's try to get out through the window!" I was about to rush off again when Usagi grabbed my arm.

"But what about Ori-san and Imako-san?! And even if we leave, can anyone here drive a car?! Plus, we're in the middle of the mountains! How are we supposed to leave?!"

Ugh.

All I could do was groan as silence filled the room.

Are we just going to stay here and do nothing? While I thought about our situation, a male voice broke the silence and shattered my scattered thoughts.

"Do you know when male peacocks display their plumage?"

As the unknown voice sounded, everyone looked around intently, searching for the source.

"The answer is, from spring until summer. It's most beautiful from seven to ten in the morning and from three in the afternoon until dusk."

Someone pointed towards the second floor. We all followed the finger's direction like moths drawn to a flame.

A balcony has risen out of the wall, and there he was sitting on a chair – A young man who appeared to be in his 30s, he had long dark brown hair reaching his shoulders, a clean-shaven face with a soft expression, and a monocle over one eye.

Count.

While reclining comfortably in his chair, he raised a small porcelain cup and asked, "Furthermore, do you know what male peacocks do when the season turns to fall or winter?"

He set the cup on the table and slowly poured amber tea into it, "They shed all their feathers...It is such a shame. Nonetheless, when the feathers fall to the ground their shape... resembles beautiful flowers."

Stunned by the situation and his words, we were glancing around trying to decipher the meaning of all of this.

Count elegantly swirled the tea in his porcelain cup, "Why all beautiful things are ephemeral? The full moon only shines for a single night; flowers bloom only in the right season; snowflakes melt instantly in our hands."

And after sipping the hot amber tea once, Count stood up.

"Now, shall I explain the rules?"

"Rules?!!"

"The Rules of the Werewolf Game," Count's smile was sweet as a child's.

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