The Gnawing Hunger Part Twelve

The pair arrived at the cabin a lot sooner then he had hoped for. A whole lot sooner then he had hoped for. And his stomach dropped as he realized just why Hawthorne picked her out. She was well and truly isolated from everyone else. So much so that it made him think of a horror movie. This definitely makes the poor woman easy prey for anything. Hell, she'd be easy prey for human beings who wanted to hurt her. If he were being utterly honest.

But, that was the entire reason Hawthorne picked her.

Getting Bo some easy prey out of the way to get some experience. Get an easy kill under his belt. Or something close to that type of thing. Either way, Bo couldn't bring himself to ask about it. Nor could Bo begin to stop himself. No matter how much he wanted to not be walking. All he could do is keep walking after the more human-looking Hawthorne. Feeling more than a bit concerned about the poor woman they were going to be going after.

Way more than a bit.

Though he didn't let it show on his face. In fact he couldn't make himself emote anything at the moment. Hell, he wasn't sure he could make himself feel more emotions. All he could do is walk along with the monster that infected him. Sure, he probably could speak to Hawthorne. That was probably all he could do in the moment. But, he couldn't think of anything he wanted to say to him. Or anything that they could speak about either.

All his thoughts were about this poor woman they were after. Who Hawthorne had brought him nearer in the coverage of the woods. He could see her standing as peacefully as possible in the front yard. Opening the mail box that every property had as leisurely as anyone would. What she was collecting didn't matter. What mattered was the fact that she didn't sense them. Nor did she seem all that concerned about anything. Just so serene like he had been before he had seen Hawthorne. When Arthur had still been alive and not devoured by the both of them.

Bo felt a small amount of envy for this woman.

She was completely unaware of everything around her. So at ease as she was looking over some papers in her hands. Seemingly so very happy as well. What Bo wouldn't give to be as happy as she was. Not having to deal with Hawthorne and his bullshit, either.

And she seemed to be super happy as well. As far as he could tell, she was happy and calm. This woman wasn't being turned into a terrible creature against her will. Forced to eat human remains, either. Or being romanced by the very thing that had turned him as well. She seemed to be very carefree and safe...well....as far as she knew she wasn't in any danger. Maybe she hadn't heard about the attack on Arthur. Or maybe she did but felt that she was safe in her cabin. So long as she didn't hike like Arthur and himself, she would be safe from being mauled.

Well, he felt bad that this wasn't true.

"Do you even know her name, Hawthorne?",Bo asked suddenly. Surprising himself that he would even ask that of him. Why in the Hell would this creature know that? Hell, he wasn't even sure why he asked Hawthorne it either. Though he wasn't surprised that he hadn't whispered. As the woman was much too far away to hear either of them. Something that Bo couldn't tell was good or terrible. Hawthorne answered,"No, I don't. But we do not need to know it."

"A wolf does not need to know his prey's name.",Thorn explained. Which was true. And confirmed his worst fears about all of this. They were going to kill this poor woman. And eat her to satiate that messed up hunger that Hawthorne infected him with. Which was one of the worst things they could do to her...well, as far as he wanted to think on.

Bo knew he should be feeling so very terrible about this. Should stop himself and Hawthorne. But, there was this part of him that didn't want to. Didn't want to leave or do anything to save this poor, poor woman.

In fact, the very idea was starting to irritate him.

Finding himself very happy with the idea of what they're going to do. So much so that it nearly made him grin over it. And he hated this. Hated himself for not fighting it harder than he was. Or even trying to turn from this and run back to his cabin. As well as what this was going to do to him. He didn't know if it was entirely part of the transformation or not. If a small part of this was just himself.

He feared the very idea of it just being himself.

That he was much more of a monster than he actually realized. And the very thought just outright terrified him to the core. Bo didn't believe that he was a monster. That he was anything like the creature standing next to him. But, he couldn't deny the thrill that he was feeling over it. There was just no way he could he deny that he liked being with Hawthorne either. Despite how desperately he really wanted to do deny those feelings. And by everything in the world he wanted to get the Hell away from Hawthorne.

"Do-do I have to kill her, Thorn?",Bo questioned. That was something that he didn't want to do just yet. It probably would have to happen at some point. Though he didn't want to do this right now. And he feared that Hawthorne probably wanted him to do that. He just had to know how involved in this act he was going to be. If he was going to be the one to kill her or not.

To chase her down a nearby path, pin her down, and end her life.

Or if Hawthorne was going to be the one to deliver the killing blow. Making Bo tear into the corpse like some kind of animal. Maybe even be the one to butcher her afterward. Something to either of those effects. Despite everything in him telling him that was extremely wrong...he found himself liking that thought. Of hunting down this poor woman in front of them. And tearing that poor, stupid, woman apart. Piece by shrieking piece.

"No, of course not. You are just barely starting out, Bo.",Hawthorne informed. Giving his back a gentle pat along with his words. His tone was so very surprisingly gentle and kind. Like he were talking to a child. Instead of a fellow adult. Then again, he was nearly a hundred or so. So, to him, he probably on some level was a child to him. Though that made him romancing him quite a bit disgusting if it were true.

"I will be chasing her down and killing her for us.",Thorn explained. Voice was becoming a lot more animalistic than he had been before. Bo glanced over to the shorter man and froze for a second. As he watched the man slowly turning himself back into that grotesque looming form. Getting thinner and thinner until he was skeletal. His whole body was stretching as much as it possibly could. Skin turning as pale as the snow surrounding them. Hawthorne turned to look down at him, he grinned even wider then before. Looking Bo dead in the eyes, he instructed,"You will be keeping up with the both of us. And watch me as closely as you can."

"Learn my technique as I hunt my dinner and your left overs.",Hawthorne demanded. The disturbingly too wide grin dropping from his skinny face. Though his tone was still so very gentle and kind. As if he were trying to not frighten Bo. A feat that he somewhat felt was all in vain. Since he was still very much frightened of the man in front of him.

Not as much as he had once been but, still.

"When I call, you may come to feed with me.",he informed. And Bo didn't have to think hard of the reasons why. Blood lust probably would make Hawthorne kill anything and anyone who got too close.

Even Bo.

It would definitely be more than wise to stay back until Thorn said otherwise. Otherwise would most definitely be mauled by the scrawny creature. Maybe not kill him but, leave him with injuries. Ones that Bo probably couldn't properly explain to his loved ones on why he had them. Just why he went outside the cabin the way that he had done. Especially, when Arthur hadn't died all that long ago. They would also definitely get him sent back to the E.R. And he desperately wanted to avoid that at all costs. As the bill for his previous injury was bad enough. He didn't want to get another one for easily avoidable injuries if he could.

"Now, my dearest, watch your Thorn hard at work.",Hawthorne commanded. And despite how hard he tried to resist, Bo nodded. Keeping his gaze trained on Thorn as he slunk down low to the ground. Carefully crawling down the snowy hill on all fours. Right towards their prey's cabin. The woman still blissfully unaware that someone was watching her. Or making moves to go after her either.

For a second at least.

Then her head perked up at least a few seconds later. And she seemed to be checking her surroundings. Suddenly aware that there was a predator coming towards her. Even if she didn't know what direction that Hawthorne was coming from. Bo carefully dropped out of sight when she turned her gaze towards his direction. His heart was pounding hard in his chest. Nearly leaping into his throat as he watched Thorn nearing the woman. Somehow managing to keep out of her sight. The sudden urge to warn her about Thorn was damn near overwhelming. Yet, when he opened his mouth to speak...nothing came out.

Not a squeak or a sigh. It was just like before with Arthur's death. Where he couldn't tell what had really happened. This was another thing he wasn't entirely sure if it were just the transformation or not.

No matter what Hawthorne had told him.

Bo chewed the inside of his cheek as Hawthorne neared the woman. So close that she could probably have smelled him. And she definitely could be able to sense him. Maybe even hear him approaching her as well.

Yet, she didn't spot the strange creature right away.

It was possibly the effect that Thorn had on her senses. Some form of magic or something like that. Making folks unable to sense, hear, or notice you until you want them to. Whatever the Hell that could even be called.

It didn't matter.

What mattered was the fact that this woman was going to die. And he watched her freeze in place. She wasn't looking in his direction anymore. The poor little rabbit of a person had slowly turned the other direction. Not yet spotting Thorn as he was creeping up behind her. Almost comically so. Reaching out a long spindly arm to touch her. A low growl escaping him as he did so. Intentionally making himself known to this poor woman in front of him.

She predictably spun around to look at the creature behind her. That's the only movement he could see her do. As her back blocked everything she was doing from his sight. Along with Hawthorne's face in that moment. All he could see was how he was crouched. He supposed it was a good thing he couldn't see his face or the woman's. Though he heard the loud scream of terror that she let out. One that was just blood curdling to listen to from the distance he was at.

Trying to turn towards her car to run to it in a second.

Doing the best that she could to get to it so she could drive off. Which was quickly blocked by the horrible bastard leaping between her and it. So fast that Bo's eyes couldn't even register the movement properly. Grinning widely as he let out another low growl. The poor woman turned once more and did what any scared person would do in this situation.

She ran.

And not towards the safety of her cabin, down a trail instead. With Hawthorne hot on her heels as she did so. This caused Bo to scramble to get to his feet. Bolting after the pair as fast as his legs could carry him. Faster than he ever ran in his entire life. Though he strangely didn't feel winded nor tired as he ran. His lungs weren't even burning in the tiniest bit from the exertion. It was as if the transformation were gifting him. At least a little bit. This felt like a benefit for him. Despite everything that was being done to him.

That he now was going to be able to run. Run better, faster, and further than he ever could before.

Maybe after he finds a way to kill Thorn, he could keep this. Well, Bo sort of wished that he could keep it. Though he really despised running in any form. Even if he liked being able to move quicker than he ever could before. It made him feel like some sort of strange superhero in a way. Or rather a strange new super villain that didn't know he was the villain...as stupid as that was.

Though he felt like this new ability was at a horrible cost.

And knew that all of this was quickly draining him of his humanity. So much so that he wondered if he could ever go back to normal. Or if this was truly going to be his life from now on. Though Bo felt that it wasn't going to be. He wouldn't let it be. There was no way in Hell he was going to allow Hawthorne to beat him or force him to be his. Despite the fact that he was following the creature as he chased down their prey. He wasn't going to allow Hawthorne to keep him to himself. Hoping that he could kill him before things got worse than this.

The creature was getting so close that he knew she could feel his breath on her skin.

Right on the back of her neck if he was judging the distance right. She was screaming so loudly as they were running down the path. Probably would be screaming herself hoarse if Hawthorne allowed this to go on any longer. The poor thing was probably not even realizing just how screwed she was. As there were no people this deep in the woods. Nor would there ever be.

There would be no help for this poor woman.

Not from him, not from Hawthorne, and not from anything else. And something inside of him felt bad for the woman. As she wasn't going to be saved by anyone anytime soon. She was desperate, not thinking, and just wanted help. Something that Bo understood entirely as he kept pace with both of them.

A small part of him wished that he could.

While the rest of him didn't really want to. This disturbing part of him was just savoring the way they were running after her. A huge smile growing on his face as he ran after Hawthorne. His mouth watering at the idea of ripping into the woman's soft flesh. Liking the idea of ripping into her with his nails. And listening to her scream out in horrible pain as Thorn tore into her.

Though he wondered why Thorn wasn't killing her.

Why was he chasing her like this? When he could be killing her already? Get this whole mess done and over with. That way Hawthorne could finally feed. And that Bo could have some left overs.

For when the hunger finally hit him once again.

Yet, Hawthorne wasn't. Instead he was taking lazy swipes at her. From what he could tell at least. Letting out little growls and hisses as he did so. Then he realized the full reason why the monster was doing this. Thorn was just playing with the poor woman. Chasing her down the trail like a cat with a mouse. Listening to her scream herself hoarse as she ran from him. It probably was the most fun that he's had in a long while.

And Bo couldn't stop himself smiling as he ran after them. Watching the horrible monster chase that poor woman. It was kind of fun for him as well. In the most horrifying sense that he knew he wasn't supposed to like. Though he could deal with the horrible feelings of his actions sometime later. Way later. When he was far away from Hawthorne and what he would be doing to this woman.

All of this should disgust him more it did.

Soon, like most things in life, the game of cat and mouse came to an abrupt end. With Thorn launching himself at the woman's back. Forcing her to the ground and right onto her face. Shoving her head hard into the snow. Definitely breaking her nose along with some teeth. If Bo was judging the force of Hawthorne's jump right or not. And he was definitely sure that she was going to be in a lot of pain.

There had also been a loud cracking noise that happened. Then the woman stopped screaming or making noise for a horribly long moment.

Then there were these weird wet gurgling noises along with whimpers. And as Bo stood behind the both of them, he realized that she might have a broken jaw. He wasn't a doctor but, he was sure of it. If the angle of it were any indication. He also realized that she was staring straight at him. And that she was begging him to help her with her eyes. Tears streaming down her face as Hawthorne leaned over her. Sniffing her with that disturbing smile on his face. Quietly, he said something to the woman on the ground.

Stuff that Bo didn't want to hear as he stood in front of them. But he saw her sag as she cried even harder. Those strange whimpers growing louder as she struggled to get herself free.

It would have made his stomach twist if this happened a few days ago. Hell, the first day that he arrived. Right now, it just was making him grin so wide that it nearly hurt. But he didn't really care about that. All he cared about was watching Hawthorne bit down deep into her shoulder. Nearly laughing as the woman let out another horrible gurgling noise. Hawthorne was grinning as he pulled upward. A part of her shoulder coming away with a gross tearing noise. Along with some of her jacket and shirt. Blood began gushing out of the wound. Staining the ground beneath the pair. Yet, despite how horrifying it was to watch, Bo couldn't get himself to turn away from the scene in front of him.

Instead, he just watched as his mouth began watering once again.

His hunger hadn't come back entirely just yet. There was just this strange lingering feeling inside of him. Not entirely the pain that he had been feeling last night. Just the ghost of what had been and what was going to be. Bo felt something strange in his hands as he watched Hawthorne continue to tear at her. Scratching deep into her back with his long claws as she continued to moan in pain. When he glanced down at them, he felt his stomach drop.

Bo's fingers were becoming something like Thorn's were. Long, clawed, and more animal then human.

This would have made him scared if it weren't for the transformation. Making him more like whatever the creature in front of him was. It was dampening the fear that was welling inside his gut. Keeping him from running away and from screaming at the top of his lungs. While he stood there, he turned his gaze back to the woman and Hawthorne. Turning his gaze just in time to see the creature grab the poor woman's head and twist it. A loud cracking noise filling the air during it. The poor woman going completely limp in his grasp. Her eyes no longer seeing anything as she was laid back on the ground. There was this urge to just get on his knees next to them. Grab the dead body and start eating despite not feeling hungry.

Of which he did the best to hold himself back on.

As Hawthorne had demanded of him to not try anything. Not until he was called forward to do so. Chewing his bottom lip as he watched the creature dig in. Pulling off pieces from her back with his teeth. Then his face buried into her side with the most obscene moaning noises. Sounds that were similar to Xander when he would eat chicken wings. The comparison made him not want to eat them anymore. Maybe not for the rest of his life if he were being honest. Biting deeper, he watched as Hawthorne pulled out an organ. Stuffing it into his mouth with a sickening grin. What it was, Bo had no idea but wasn't interested in asking in the slightest bit. Though he had to guess it was a lung by the texture. Other than that, he wasn't entirely sure that he wanted to know.

A moment later, Hawthorne was sitting down next to the body. Stomach looking a little bloated from the amount of 'food' in him. Almost like he were a month pregnant or something.

"Come here, dearest. It's time for you to take what you will be needing.",Thorn commanded. Tilting his head to the side as he held out a long arm. Motioning with his disturbingly bony hand as he did so. There was no hesitation as Bo found himself walking towards him. Excitement bubbling in his stomach as he dropped to his knees. Leaning over the body while staring down at the gaping hole in it. The ribs having been broken and bent in ways that normally would have disgusted him. Eyes widening as he found himself looking for something to take with him. At first, he didn't want to take any of it. Feeling disgusted that some part of his mind was urging him to do so. To grab something small to take with him as soon as the hunger hit. This was wrong, this was horribly wrong. And he wanted to pull himself away from the body. Instead, his hand reached in and grabbed a relatively small organ.

The thing was terribly squishy under his fingertips but, he didn't care. He yanked it out quickly with a small smile. Soon as he stuffed it into his hoodie pocket, there was a hand on his shoulder. One that was much smaller than it had previously been. In a much gentler voice, Hawthorne complimented,"Good job, dearest. You are turning out so well."

"Much better than I anticipated you would be, too.",he added. Which was terrifying within itself. And Bo felt his stomach did flip flops as he glanced up at Thorn. Noticing that he was looking a lot less terrifying than before. Though his clothes were pretty torn up and stretched out. Arthur's clothes, not Hawthorne's clothes. It made him feel a little angry to see that he was ruining them. Then reigned in his anger over it. Some nasty part of his mind telling him that it wasn't like Arthur could ever wear them again. Something that nearly made him want to cry as he slowly stood up.

Hawthorne's hand was still on his shoulder as he stood up. Carefully taking a step over the woman's body. While he had his hand on Bo's shoulder, Thorn insisted,"We should do this tomorrow, Bo."

"Why? Don't I have enough for a little while?",Bo questioned. Confused as to why they would need to do this. Wasn't this enough for a good long while? Why in the Hell would they need to do this so soon? Hawthorne answered,"Yes it will be enough for when the hunger hits. But soon it will hit more frequently."

"Then you will need more and more...",he trailed off. Non-verbally telling Bo that he will need more. It was probably something that he had informed him last night. But he couldn't really recall it. Instead he just nodded as he and Hawthorne started walking towards his cabin. And he prayed that everyone was still asleep. As he wasn't sure how he would explain why he left the house without his cellphone.