The Awakening of the Beast

The December morning in Kolli Hills was enchanting. The hills were cloaked in a thick blanket of fog, creating an otherworldly scene. The dense fog clung to every tree, leaf, and blade of grass, giving them a glistening appearance.

Sugan was in bed, sound asleep. His friend, Chandran, was trying to wake him up. Sugan struggled to open his eyes, feeling as if someone was calling his name from afar. He eventually managed to open his eyes, but his vision was initially hazy, and he heard an eerie voice. After a few blinks and shaking his head, the vision and voice returned to normal.

"It's 7:30 now. Are you going to the office or not?" Chandran asked. Sugan stretched his body and groaned, "Oh, man, I couldn't get over last night’s stuff. It was one of the best we've had in a while." He got out of bed, reluctantly.

Sugan, a tall, dusky, and well-built guy from South Tamilnadu, was involved in a project for his company that aimed to uplift tribals in the Kolli Hills. Part of his work involved mapping ancient trees and herbal plants in the dense forest. He frequently ventured into the woods in search of rare plants. Chandran was his third-party colleague working as a LiDAR engineer for the project. Their shared professional background had brought them close, and Sugan often spent weekends in Chandran's room, where they hosted parties with Chandran's friends from Namakkal. Sugan had been a teetotaller before he met Chandran.

The room was in disarray, with empty alcohol bottles on one side and the remnants of last night's festivities on the other. Sugan made his way to the washbasin and began splashing water on his face. Suddenly, everything went blurry. He heard his own heartbeat loud and clear, noticed his sclera had turned a golden yellow, and his eye pupils had enlarged. Panic set in momentarily, but he quickly realized it was normal. He completed his morning routine and headed back to his room.

The air was cool and damp, carrying the earthy fragrance of wet soil and ancient trees. The calls of unseen creatures resonated like distant whispers, adding to the sense of enchantment.

As Sugan rode his bike, he contemplated the recent visions that had been plaguing him. His mother had advised him to get sacred thread from a local yogi, a common practice among villagers. Initially dismissive, Sugan's skepticism waned after encountering a yogi in the forest during a GPS survey. The yogi had forewarned him of impending danger, but Sugan's roommate and colleague, Tej, brushed it off, dismissing such yogis as opportunistic preying on tourists and outsiders.

Back at the room, Tej was agitated, scolding Sugan for his tardiness and advising him against staying with Chandran, whom he blamed for leading Sugan astray. The day's field trip began, with Sugan traveling alongside Government officials. They discussed proposals for the Government to develop the Kolli Hills. Suddenly, Sugan experienced another strange episode: time seemed to slow, his eyes turned golden yellow, and everyone's voices became eerie whispers, while his heartbeat resounded loudly. His body underwent a transformation with thick furs and sharp nails, causing him panic.

He erupted in shouts before grounding himself back in reality. Tej and the others were scared for a moment to see him shouted. He eventually soothed himself and convinced them due to a lack of proper sleep during the night. Initially, Tej didn't take it too seriously.

Embracing the animal within

Sugan and Tej were staying in first floor of a walled house. The ground floor remained unoccupied. In the mid-night, Sugan sound asleep. A ghostly, phantom-like figure stood by his side, then moved to the hall. Tej was in a call, seeing the ghost- like appearance he woke up in shock and rushed towards the figure. The figure, in response, swiftly returned to Sugan's room and entered his body, causing Sugan to abruptly awaken and shout. Darkness enveloped him, and all he heard were the distant sounds of nature from the dense hills. Sweat coated his face even in the chilly weather. Sugan arose and made his way to the hall. Tej's room was locked. Upon opening it, he found Tej sleeping inside.

Suddenly, a beastly howl pierced the night. Sugan opened the front door and ventured outside, only to hear another scream that sent shivers down his spine. He recognized it as not the howl of a dog. He feared the rustling footsteps surrounding the house. Thunder rumbled, intensifying his anxiety. He managed to convince himself to go back inside and closed his eyes.

Morning arrived, and Sugan heard a whisper in his ear as he awoke. Startled, he jolted upright but found no one around. He moved to the hall, where Tej was preparing to leave. He teased him for his slumber. "Did you hear that animal howl last night? It didn't sound like a dog," Sugan questioned. Tej looked confused. "Around 1:30 a.m., you were on the phone," Sugan continued. "Dude, come on, I went to bed around 10, and I didn't hear a thing. You might need company during your survey; perhaps a virgin ghost has taken hold of you," Tej jested, dismissing Sugan's claims.

The project office bustled with activity. Tej engaged in 3D modelling. Suddenly, there was chaos in the office. Rushing to the first floor, he found Sugan was fainted. He had a high temperature, and they swiftly transported him to the nearby primary hospital. The project manager advised him to take some rest.

In the Late evening, Sugan, in his sleep, awoke with a face covered in sweat. The surroundings were pitch dark due to a power outage. He rose from the bed and ventured out. A animalistic roar emanated from Sugan's room. In the dimness, he grasped a lighter from the table in the hall and began lighting it, attempting to locate the source of a voice calling his name.

Sugan stood in the hall, gripping the main door trying to open, while the sound of footsteps moved from his room then to Tej's room later the footsteps heard behind the main door. He sprinted to his room, searching for his mobile phone. As he emerged with the phone, a gigantic stature, resembling an animal, stood in the hall. Overwhelmed by fear, he fell, then swiftly regained his footing, retreating to the bathroom and shutting the door. Despite trying to contact Tej, the call remained unanswered.

The howling of a beast rattled the house, causing him sleepless terror. Gradually, the footsteps ceased near the bathroom door.He placed his ear against the door and heard a cough-like sound outside. Opening the door and darting into the narrow corridor, Sugan encountered a massive wolf that watched him from the hall door. The wolf departed from the room and headed toward the hall. Upon cautiously peeking into the hall, he discovered a figure sitting in a chair facing the main door. As Sugan approached, he was shocked to recognize the person as his grandfather.

"Grandpa?" he exclaimed and puzzled.

"Come, it's been ages since you've seen me. But I've been observing you every day," his grandfather warmly invited him to sit beside him.

"I've been attempting to communicate with you, but you couldn't comprehend, so I revealed myself. Why are you standing there? Come and sit," his grandfather gently urged him. Sugan obeyed.

"I've come to tell you it's time for you to change," his grandfather continued.

Sugan observed his grandfather, whose face remained obscured. "I don't understand, Grandpa. How do you still look the same as you did when I was a child? Are you the wolf?" he inquired, thoroughly bewildered.

Grandpa smiled and explained, "I'm not the only one, Sugan. You're also a wolf."

"Me?" Sugan was shocked.

"Yes, it's an inherited power that's passed down through generations. Now, you have that power."

His grandfather instructed Sugan about the potential to transform into a wolf and the unique abilities associated with this form. Recollections of encountering the out of body experience for the first time in Tej's room emerged in Sugan's mind.

Sugan remained silent, absorbing his grandfather's words.

"Remember the hunting story I told you when you were young? It's a family secret to ensure the story doesn't fade away," his grandfather revealed.

"The time has come for you. Let me teach you to become a wolf and introduce you to our world and other members like us," his grandfather imparted. Sugan's grandfather transformed into a werewolf and urged Sugan to do the same. Upon trying, Sugan's eyes turned golden yellow, transforming him into a beast. Both departed from the house. Together, they howled at the peak of the hills.

Early the next morning, Tej and Chandran returned home after searching him for the whole night. He lay asleep with injuries in his room. They were astounded and tried to rouse him. As he opened his eyes slightly:

"Where were you last night? How did you get injured?" Tej questioned.

"I was with my grandpa. He turned me into a werewolf, causing these injuries. Did you know? My grandpa was also a werewolf," Sugan said sleepily, then drifted back to sleep. His body was burning with fever.

Tej and Chandran decided to take him to Salem for proper medical treatment, leaving him to rest in the room while they arranged for hospital visits from the office. But Sugan had other plan. As he has power, his injuries would heal quickly, so he proceeded to the office without informing Tej.

Later in the office, Sugan sat with facial injuries. His colleague was surprised to see him in the office and inquired about his health. While conversing, Sugan's vision doubled, his eyes turned golden yellow, and he transformed into a werewolf. His colleague was frightened by the sudden change, and Sugan attacked him, causing the office to echo with his cries of pain.

Shadows in the Mind

Later that day, Tej and Sugan’s father awaited news at the hospital. Upon examining Sugan, the doctor called them to discuss his condition. Tej inquired about Sugan's health. The doctor, in conversation with Sugan's father, inquired about his grandfather. His father disclosed that Sugan's grandfather had passed away when Sugan was around 8 to 9 years old, surprising Tej. The doctor inquired further about Sugan's relationship with his grandfather and the circumstances surrounding his passing. Sugan's father explained that Sugan had spent much of his childhood with his grandfather, who used to share many stories. However, his grandfather suddenly fell ill, began speaking to himself, and was eventually taken to his sister's place for better medical care. It was discovered he had a mental disorder, and within a few months, he passed away. Due to Sugan's closeness to his grandfather, they hadn't disclosed the health issues and the passing, but he eventually learned about it as he grew up.

Doctor contemplated the situation for a while before providing an explanation. "Sugan has a mental disorder known as schizophrenia. Specifically, he has a condition called Clinical Lycanthropy, a very rare syndrome. Individuals with this disorder believe that they or others around them are transforming into wolves. In Sugan's case, he strongly believes he is becoming a wolf."

During their discussion, Sugan who was sitting in the testing room exhibited animalistic behaviour, rubbing his teeth with his tongue.

Tej inquired about reason. The doctor mentioned that there isn't any single, identifiable cause for this disorder.

The doctor listed a couple of possibilities on how Sugan could have acquired the disorder. "Firstly, Sugan's grandfather also had a similar mental disorder, suggesting that he might be genetically predisposed to mental health issues. Secondly, in our analysis, it was found that Sugan had experimented with MDMA drugs, like ecstasy or its equivalent. This drug might have induced hallucinations, leading to experiences such as hearing voices, double vision, fainting, rapid heart rate, and out-of-body sensations."

Sugan's father inquired about the curability of the condition. The doctor responded, "Yes, it is treatable. However, Sugan must adhere strictly to his prescribed medications. Using psychohypnosis, we can control these symptoms and aim to understand his mind better." The doctor then administered an anti-psychotic injection and prescribed tablets. "Take the injection now and continue with the medication. I will review his progress after three days," the doctor informed. After expressing their gratitude, they exited the hospital. They thanked the doctor and left the hospital with Sugan, who started feeling the symptoms again—his eyes turning golden yellow and the haunting voice in his ears…

Was it a hallucination or the real mystery of his family?

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