“And the mark of the beast…” – from the Good Book

Stewart opened his eyes. He had no idea where he was or what was going on. His head was pounding, and he was thirstier than he’d ever been. The sound of steady techno music just beyond the closed door flooded his ears. Stewart’s entire body was aching. Not just sore, but an active ache. Like he’d just worked out for days. But, he couldn’t keep himself from smiling. 

He looked down at his arm. Is that a…bite? He asked himself.

“They’ve laughed at you,” a strange man’s voice was in his head, “They’ve called you Meeker your entire life.”

It felt like the voice came from a dark part of Stewart’s mind. His voice was powerful and mean, but Stewart wasn’t alarmed. He almost felt relieved. 

A sudden image flashed in his mind. Stewart was in a dark forest, and a wolf was running toward him, green eyes glowing as it snarled. But he wasn’t in the forest. Stewart was lying on a couch in a room he couldn’t place. 

The music was getting louder as the voice turned into a yell, “They’ve made fun of you!”

“I gotta sit up,” Stewart said. 

“They’ve laughed at you!” 

The beat pauses on a note. Boom, boom...Boom, boom, BAM. 

“They’ve laughed at you…”

Meeker stood, facing the door to the room, and a sudden flash filled his mind—a terrifying wolf, baring its teeth. 

“They’ve made fun of you…Now…You’ll make them SCREAM!”