The next morning I woke up with a terrible headache, and the unrelenting voices of the journalists at my doorstep did nothing to improve my mood. What the hell were they doing here? I already told them everything.

Irritated, I went to the kitchen and began to fry some bacon. One of the journalists saw me and practically mashed his face against my window. With a very hostile expression, I closed the curtains. As I sat down with a plate of eggs and bacon, I heard a voice outside that finally allowed me to calm down a little.

“...police, do you hear me, rat? This is the police! Get the hell out of here!” Simon yelled at them, ignoring their loud protests and questions. “When I go back out, I want you all to be gone, am I clear? I will arrest anyone I see here!” he continued to scream as he got to the door.

I was waiting for him right behind it. I opened it a little, pulled Simon into the house, and slammed it closed again, locking it for good measure. He was wearing his police uniform. I myself wondered when was a good time to go back to work. Probably soon.

"What happened? I’d think they would be bored of the wolf beast by now.” I went back to the table and drowned my irritation in my food.

"Yeah, they were, until yesterday when we found three bodies..." With a sad sigh, Simon pulled out a can of beer from my fridge. I could clearly see the frustration he was trying to hide behind the can.

"Three bodies?" I repeated absently.

"Horrible... Some men, about twenty years old..." He shook his head, frowning, and sat down across from me. "They found them right next to the jogging path in the forest, you know, the one we use all the time."

The forest jogging path? Wasn't I there yesterday? I tried to remember, but my mind didn't cooperate. I saw a guy with a broken nose in front of me. I saw the city moving by as I ran through the streets. And then? After that just bed, home and safety...

"Yeah, I know it's horrible..." Simon murmured running a hand through his hair. My gaze moved unintentionally to the scar he had on his forearm.

"Hey… Do you feel okay?" I tried in a matter-of-fact tone, though it was the stupidest question in the world.

"Do you mean if I’m okay with almost being wolf chowder or the fact we have three more bodies and we are not a bit closer to catching the animal?" He looked disgusted and took a long swing from the beer can. “We have no idea how to even find this thing. Damn, how is it that even animal behavior specialists can't find it? I don’t understand why even the dogs refuse to follow the wolf’s trail no matter how much we try to persuade them. And once again there was no hair, saliva, or traces on the spot. How is that even possible?”

"Simon…" I whispered, staring into my plate. My joints were again affected by the strange pressure, I clenched and unclenched my fist several times. It didn't help. "Simon, something… something is wrong with me... terribly wrong and I don't know what…"

"Are you kidding?" Simon laughed, it didn’t sound happy, and he gave me a sharp look. “You almost died! By the way, the doctor still doesn't understand how you could heal so quickly, he wants to do more tests, even if your father has consistently rejected the idea.”

"Don't you feel... weird?" As if there was something ... wrong inside you? I squeezed the root of my nose and tried to stifle the voices of the reporters that tore my damn ears.

“Considering the circumstances? No, I don't feel weird.” He paused and considered it for a moment. "Maybe a little angry and frustrated, but I think that’s part of our profession." He went quiet and looked me up and down. "You know, your father is still in town. Maybe you should call him."

"No, no, just… It must be the stupid meds..." I rubbed my aching temples and devoured the last of my breakfast.

“Try to relax a bit. Enjoy the medical leave.” He patted me on the back then went to the door. He stopped for a second to gain courage or probably patience. "Keep your fingers crossed for me. Hopefully, they won’t trample me." With that, he opened the door and began to shout at people, that he would lock them up for breaking onto private property and for total idiocy.

Sighing, I sat on the couch and turned on the TV. Relax… Sure…