Alex was excited to get started with martial arts again. He wasn’t sure how often he would be able to go, but he would try to go as often as he could. Finding the dojo had helped clear up the bad memories from that strange dream.

He couldn’t help worrying that he might have another nightmare as he got in bed. He concentrated on his happiness of starting at the dojo and was soon asleep. As before it wasn’t long before he opened his eyes.

His body got up, dressed, and left the house. Not long after leaving the house Alex started to notice a difference compared to last time. This time he could hear a little, though the sound was muted as if he were wearing ear plugs. Still, compared to the silence of last time it was a big improvement.

Alex's body seemed to be able to avoid the many people with small smooth movements. Alex couldn’t help wishing he could be that agile when he was awake. Especially when he was at school, where bumping into the wrong person could mean getting beaten up. Even though he took martial arts, he wasn’t the best at it. Of course, even masters might get overwhelmed by sheer numbers.

The muffled sounds of cars going by and people yelling drew his attention. But he couldn’t make his head turn where he wanted to look. Just like last time he was just an observer in his own body. His body walked with such a confident determined walk, with no deviation or distraction. That made Alex sure his “body” had a destination, but felt it wasn’t a specific place. Something else was going on that he wasn’t sure of yet.

Alex’s body veered off the main road and ended up in front of a pool bar. Inside he could see there were eight pool tables lined up two by two with an aisle down the center. There was a bar/reception area along the right wall. The lighting was harsh and bluish with a few of the long bulbs flickering. He could see a small back door that must exit out onto an alley.

In the groups playing, there were few women. The ones he saw were mannish, though there were at least two that were somewhat decent looking. Alex couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed that there wasn’t anyone sexy.

Some people glanced at him, but were too into their games to bother with him. He strode further in, towards a table near the back that had two guys playing. Both men looked buff and unfriendly. In real life Alex would have given them a wide berth. Not walking right up to them, as if in challenge, like his body did now.

One man was six foot two with a lean muscular frame, wearing loose jeans and a fitted t-shirt. He had short brown hair and a small goatee on his slightly square, but roughly handsome face.

The other guy was huge, about seven feet. He had broad shoulders and bulging muscles. He wore a sleeveless shirt and tan cargo pants. His face was also square and rather large with a feral feel to it. He had long, dark-blonde, shaggy hair, with mutton chops. His brows were harsh, making him seem like portrayals of Cro-Magnons. He wasn’t too ugly, just animalistic and dangerous looking.

The shaggy guy looked straight at Alex and grinned, then nodded as if Alex had said something. Alex walked calmly out the back door.

“I’m out. I got some business,” the man growled to the other man before he came out and shut the door behind him.

The big guy moved so they were facing each other, like in a western duel. The larger man cracked his fingers and neck and growled. His muscles rippled and bulged, growing bigger to the point where his shirt stretched.

Alex thought that was weird but it became even more strange. The man started to sprout hair all over and his incisors lengthened, and eyes turned red.

Alex just stood there as if waiting, and inside the regular Alex was freaking out.

“Seriously?! First a vampire and now a freaking werewolf! What was next? He didn’t know. Would this battle end like the last one? Just thinking of it made him shudder. What if my body doesn’t win? Will I just never wake up? If this is a dream why am I dreaming about such strange things?” Alex’s thoughts went a mile a minute.

The werewolf charged interrupting Alex's panicking, swiping at him with his clawed hand. His body managed to dodge to the side, but the force of the blow still pushed him back. The werewolf’s face looked surprised, but his grin got wider.

Alex cringed inside at the creepy grin. “The crazy werewolf dude must love to fight”. Alex couldn’t understand at all.

All he could do was watch as the werewolf charged again.

The werewolf's arm pulled back as if to punch but instead his leg shot out towards Alex’s stomach.

Alex’s body didn’t even twitch at the intended feint. He dodged the kick but within a breath the werewolf jumped at him again, kicking out with both legs.

This time Alex’s body only barely managed to jump to the side.

The werewolf landed creating a small crater in the concrete. Even muffled it was a significant thud. Before Alex could even think, the werewolf was lunging at him right and left. Alex’s body deflected the first hit. But when blocking the second, the werewolf grabbed onto Alex’s arm. He flung Alex’s body up against the wall and Alex grunted. He felt the impact all the way down to his bones.

“Ugh!” Alex inwardly groaned. “Why can I feel the pain now?”

Alex’s body kicked off the wall, moving toward the werewolf’s midsection in a tackle.

"How can my body keep moving like that after that kind of injury. I am sure I must have a broken rib, at least." Alex thought. He wanted to wail as his already injured body slammed into the werewolf.

This move surprised the werewolf, and they were both knocked back. The werewolf got his footing back fast and grabbed Alex around the neck in a choke hold. Alex’s hands reached up to the werewolf’s head and they started to glow.

The werewolf was behind Alex, so he couldn’t see the guy’s expression. Alex couldn't help but be grateful that he didn't have to watch everything happen like last time. Soon Alex could see that strange mist flowing towards him. The suffocating pressure on Alex’s throat slowly released until the arms fell away. The mist was soon gone and Alex’s body let go and turned just as the huge body fell with a rather loud thud.

Alex couldn't help but wonder, "why had no one from the pool hall heard all the noise and come to check things out? Perhaps the other man had kept them from interfering?"

As his watched, Alex noticed that the man now looked human again. Though he looked pale and weak now. Alex couldn’t tell if the man was still breathing or not. Not giving Alex time to find out, his body walked off through the alley and back in the direction of home.

“It won’t be long before you remember the deal you made,” a deep voice said in Alex's head, just as his body hit the bed. The voice laughed and Alex’s vision darkened as he felt pulled into a deep sleep.

**********

Authors note Ok so I finally edited this chapter and hopefully there is a little bit more detail. Please tell me if you think there is more I could add. I am not very confident about the fight scenes and want to get better.

http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=4451