"Damn you! I thought I was supposed to trust you! Handing me back to the police so they can take me back to my father? Did you not hear what I told you about him? Do you not have any human sympathy?" She cried out to him as he drove straight toward the checkpoint.
Her heart pounded heavily in fear, and she was heartbroken at the thought of being caught. She knew very well that if her father ever got his hands on her again, he would never let her go. She would be trapped forever, a prisoner to his control.
Ariana began to breathe heavily as Finn approached the police officers, who were already waving for him to stop the car. She felt an urge to grab him by the throat, push him out, and drive the car herself.
She stared at Finn, wanting to confront him, but her mind held her back. She needed to act quickly since they were already at the checkpoint.
"What's up, man! Don’t worry, I’ll be right back!" Finn shouted to one of the policemen. As he opened the door and extended his hand, they shook hands; they seemed to be friends. The officers let him drive past without checking him since he was a trusted acquaintance.
Ariana let out a sigh of relief. She had almost thought her life was over, believing he was selling her out, not realizing he had other plans in mind. Thank goodness she didn’t act on her impulse.
"Hey... I think you need to calm down and think smart if you want to make it to Sam. I’m an honest person, and I keep my word. I don’t betray people like that," Finn said, noticing how heavily she was breathing.
“Thank you very much for that.”
She acknowledged as she exhaled softly, feeling relaxed while Finn increased the speed of the car.
“How close are we now?” she asked.
Finn smiled briefly at her, gripping the steering wheel firmly. He focused on driving without saying a word, but she understood his message: they were no longer far from Sam's home.
                    • Sam's Home •
John had already devised a plan to eliminate Sam. He had a smooth strategy in mind, but he needed to determine the best moment to strike. So, he decided to visit Sam one last time.
After making excuses to the others, John found himself alone with Sam, discussing the topic of freedom.
"We know you have been accused of being a monster, yet you've provided every reason to be free and not deserving of further questioning. I just need you to do me one last favor and answer this final question," John said.
Sam nodded, trusting John. He believed that helping John by answering whatever question he asked would also help him win Adam over.
"Okay then, are you truly not a monster? Do you have no master? Is there nothing dark within you?" John asked, observing Sam's expression closely. He could see that Sam wasn't happy with that question of his.
Sam had already told John that Adam was lying, so he wondered why John was asking that question again. He realized that John might be trying to extract some words from him, but perhaps it was time to reveal the truth. After all, they were friends.
"Please don't misunderstand me, my friend. I just want to be sure so that I can inform the police. We keep hearing about this monster lurking in the woods, taking innocent lives. The city is not safe, and the police need to take action," John explained.
"What I'm saying is that maybe you aren't a monster, but you possess some kind of power related to that. The police could use your help. If you won't do it for them, then do it for me. Help us identify the other evil beings out there so we can eliminate them. Once that's done, Adam will be shocked and will have no reason to call you a monster anymore, because there will be no threats left in the city," John stated.
Then Sam gazed at him silently for a moment before looking around. His eyes met those of Roseline and Rosemary, who were on the veranda watching them. They were caring sisters, always concerned about how he was feeling. They wanted to ensure he wasn't hurt and that he was safe. Particularly, Rosemary had been keeping a close eye on him, knowing that Adam was a very powerful man who could plot an attack in unexpected ways. Therefore, they had to be cautious with everything they did.
Reflecting on what John had said, Sam began to believe that he was right. Both of them understood that Adam was declaring him a monster, and that was precisely why he wanted Sam dead. However, if Sam could hunt down the monsters that had been terrorizing the humans in the city, there would be no more horrifying news from those creatures. Adam would have nothing to use against him, and he would be deeply disgraced in court. But this will make him confirm to John that he is really a monster, that shouldn't be a problem since at at least he doesn't hunt the life of innocent people.
"So, what exactly do you want me to do? I would be glad to help you with this case, knowing that you are helping me too," Sam agreed, folding his arms with a determined look on his face. John smiled happily at him and patted him on the shoulder.
"I want you to tell me the truth. I know you are a werewolf, but I also believe you mean no harm to the people. There are other monsters behind the scenes that need to be captured so we can end this nightmare once and for all. I've managed to organize a few trusted friends to assist us," John stated, stepping to the side of Sam, gazing into the woods with a somber expression. He put his hands in his jacket pockets, adjusting his posture.
"We both know tomorrow is a significant full moon, and I have planned a hunt for these monsters. As a werewolf, you might understand how they can be caught and know more about their weaknesses. Most importantly, you have the special abilities to hunt with us and help bring them down," he concluded. Sam stared silently at him for a few seconds before nodding his head.
"So, you’re saying you want me to go on a hunt with the police, and you want me to be in my wolf form?" Sam asked.
"Yes, that's because you will be helping the police. I know you’ve learned to control your wolf now. Please, I would really appreciate it if you could do me this favor."
"No, I’m the one who should be grateful because you’re helping me. I won’t think twice about accepting your offer. Just come and get me when you’re ready tomorrow," Sam responded with a smile as they shook hands once again.
"Then, I should be on my way now," he said, getting into his car. Sam watched as he drove off, and just then, he noticed Mary and Rose behind him.
"How... did you guys get here so quickly?" he asked, surprised to see them standing behind him while they were supposed to be on the veranda or at least on their way reaching him.
"Well, it doesn’t matter how we got here; we just want to know what you discussed with him," Rosemary requested.
"No, it has to be a secret between us, so you don’t need to worry about it. There’s nothing to be concerned about," he replied.