In this world, humans weren't always just... human.
Once, there were others among us—creatures born with something different in their blood. They were called Taka.
To the outside world, they looked exactly like us. No horns. No fangs. No glowing eyes.
Just people.
Until they weren't.
When pushed past their limits—emotionally, physically, or otherwise—they changed. Transformed into beasts pulled from nightmares. Some were wolf-like. Others took the form of lions, hawks, or even serpents.
Legends painted them as monsters. The government treated them like threats. And the military force built to handle them—TEU—became our so-called "protectors."
But me? I wasn't thinking about any of that when I was born.
December 14, 2006.
That's the day I opened my eyes for the first time.
My name is Jamie.
My father was never around.
But I had my mom, Kendra—and my big brother, Alex.
I never cared much about our dad.
But my brother did.
"Your father was a brave warrior," Mom would always say.
And Alex? He'd light up like a candle every time she said it.
She told us our dad was a high-ranking officer in the TEU.
That same military force trained to hunt down the scary, legendary Taka.
Back then, Alex would go on and on about how he was going to follow in his footsteps.
"I'm gonna join the TEU one day—just like Dad."
I looked up to him.
He had Mom's respect. Her pride.
So I followed right behind.
"Then I'll find Dad first," I'd tease him. "And I'll be better than you."
We were just kids, dreaming big.
That was years ago.
Now, I'm seventeen.
And life isn't what I thought it'd be.
Instead of chasing down legends or joining military camps, I stay home.
My mom's been sick for five years—real bad.
The kind of sickness even the best doctors can't name.
And Alex? He's barely around anymore.
He stays at the TEU camp, training under some famous captain named Crow.
He says he's gonna climb the ranks, become an officer.
I just wish he'd come home.
Even just once.
I know it would make Mom happy.
Sometimes I wonder if I'm doing enough.
All I can do is help Mom however I can.
"Jamie, I need more water!" she called from her room.
"Alright, Mom!" I yelled back so she could hear me from the other side of the house.
We didn't have much. Definitely not enough to pay for running water every week.
So I started going down to the river. I'd collect what I could, bring it back, and clean it until it was fresh. It was hard work, sure—but if it meant helping her, I'd do it a thousand times over.
I was heading back, bucket in hand, when I heard a voice behind me.
"Hey, Jamie—back to the river again?"
I turned and smiled. "Yeah, just a quick trip this time, Grampa Joe."
Joe chuckled, that old, gravelly sound that always made me feel like things were gonna be alright.
"You know, kiddo, I love what you're doing for your mom. But if you ever need a little extra cash—"
"Oh, hush, Joe," Aunt Mia said with a playful smack on his arm. She walked up with a warm grin and handed me a basket full of fruit and bread.
"Here. Tell your mom we're thinking of her. Hope she gets better real soon."
I stared down at the gift, then back up at them.
"Thanks," I said, the weight of their kindness settling in my chest. "Really."
Moments like that… they stuck with me.
They were old, sure—but their hearts were huge. And every time they helped, I couldn't help but smile.
By the time I got home, Mom was fast asleep again. Peaceful. For the first time in a while, she looked... calm.
I set the jug of clean water by her bed and just stood there, watching her breathe. I wanted to stay, but something in me said I had to go.
I needed to see Alex.
He always told me to let him know first before visiting the camp, but I didn't care this time. He needed to see what we were going through—what Mom was going through.
The TEU camp sat just on the outskirts of town. Steel fences. Cold lights. Soldiers with stiff backs and sharper eyes. As I walked up, one of them raised his voice at me.
"Hey! Who are you?"
"My brother trains here. His name's Alex," I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt.
The guard narrowed his eyes, then gestured for me to wait.
A few minutes passed before I saw him.
"Jamie! How've you been, man?" he said with a big grin, pulling me into a tight hug.
I didn't hug back. "Could be better," I muttered.
Alex ruffled my hair like I was still ten. "Come on, let's grab something to eat. I know a spot."
We walked through the camp into town and stopped by a bakery—our usual place when things weren't so complicated. Alex talked like nothing was wrong. About his promotion, about some captain named Crow he was training under, and how close he was to moving up the ranks.
I forced a smile, but it didn't last long. "What about Mom?" I asked, my voice low.
Alex paused mid-bite, then looked away. "She's not getting better. You know that, right?"
I gritted my teeth. My hands balled into fists under the table.
"No, you don't know. You don't know because you're always at that damn camp! You care more about imaginary battles than Mom!"
His eyes snapped back to mine. He stood, grabbing me by the front of my shirt.
"I'm doing this for Mom. For us. So we can have a better life!"
I shoved him off. "Yeah, sure," I muttered, turning my head to the side.
For a second, the heat between us simmered.
Then… he hugged me again.
"We're gonna be okay, man," he whispered.
I didn't say anything back. Maybe I was jealous. Maybe I just missed him. Either way, I couldn't hate my brother—not really. Even if it felt like he'd already left us behind.
A week passed, and I stayed home to make sure Mom was doing alright. But as the days went on, something unbelievable happened—Mom suddenly seemed better, as if she'd miraculously healed overnight.
I couldn't contain my excitement. I rushed to tell Alex.
"Moms upright and standing again. She's speaking, and there's no more coughing blood when she talks."
"That's great. Tell her I'll be home to see her tomorrow. There's still something I need to take care of tonight," my brother replied, his voice distant.
I couldn't believe he wasn't coming home right away. I mean, our mom might have just been cured from this mysterious illness no doctor could diagnose.
But when I got home and told Mom, she grinned softly. "Oh, that boy," she said with a knowing smile.
She never outright said it, but I always felt like she loved Alex more than me. He was her firstborn. She always said he looked just like our dad. Deep down, I envied him for that. But seeing her smile again, seeing her well—it made those feelings feel small.
The Next Morning (Jamie's POV)
I woke early, a mix of excitement and relief waking me before the sun. I had to check on Mom—make sure it wasn't some dream.
When I opened her door, I saw her sleeping peacefully. But something was wrong. The calm, blissful expression that had been on her face was gone. She looked… distressed.
"Mom," I called softly, but my voice couldn't break through the fog of sleep.
I shook her, desperate. "MOM, WAKE UP!"
I pressed my fingers to her pulse, and my heart dropped. Her pulse was weak, slow. I could feel the panic rising.
"Mom, no! Please, MOM!"
I picked her up and ran through the town, shouting for help. "HELP! Please, HELP!"
My neighbor Tod came running out. "What's wrong?" he asked, his voice filled with concern. "What happened?"
"She just won't breathe, Tod! Please help!" I could barely get the words out.
"Stay here. I'll get someone," Tod said urgently, but before he could leave, Mom's eyes fluttered open, just barely.
And that's when I saw it.
Tod's face twisted in fear, his voice trembling. "Ta…ta...TAKA!!!"
Suddenly, the street seemed to fill with people. Eyes wide with terror, they gathered around.
"HELP!" I screamed again, but no one moved.
I turned to Aunt Mia and Gramps. They were frozen, as if they were seeing something they couldn't comprehend.
I looked down at my mom and saw claws—the one growing from her fingertips, sharp and glimmering. Her eyes, once brown, now radiated an eerie blue glow.
"Jamie… I'm so sorry," she whispered, barely audible.
And then, before I could even process it, I knew what I had to do. I didn't have time to wonder why Tod was so terrified. I didn't have time to think about the fear on everyone's face, or why no one came out until the word "Taka" was spoken. I didn't even have time to look at Aunt Mia and Gramps as they stared.
I ran.
I grabbed Mom's body and sprinted, my thoughts scrambled, my heart racing. I wasn't thinking clearly, but the heat of her body in my arms was comforting. Her warmth reminded me of better days.
I tripped, stumbled, but I kept running, making my way to the local hospital. But just before I reached the door…
SMACK!
I hit the ground hard.
I didn't know what hit me, but I didn't care. My mom needed help.
I scrambled to my feet and stormed past the hospital security, pushing forward despite the blows I received.
"DOCTOR! I NEED A DOCTOR!" I yelled, my voice breaking as I desperately tried to push through. The people in the hospital stared, horrified by what they saw.
I spotted a doctor in a white coat, and with my last ounce of strength, I grabbed his arm.
"Please help," I pleaded.
Before I could blink, something sharp stung my face, and my mom's body was on the floor again.
"LEAVE, you spawn of Satan," the man hissed, his voice full of disdain.
I looked around at the people in the hospital—faces twisted in fear, their eyes now full of hate. They began to throw anything they could grab at us: pens, chairs, books, anything within reach.
I shielded my mom, holding her close, but the security guards dragged us out.
As they pulled me away, I heard a whisper from someone in the crowd: "Good. They're here."
I turned.
A squad of soldiers, gleaming swords in hand. TEU.
And standing behind them, I saw my brother. Alex.
He froze. His eyes widened as they fell on me, on Mom.
"There it is! There's the Taka!" shouted the captain.
"And who's the kid?"
"Her son," said a hospital guard, pointing at me.
Laughter erupted from the TEU troops.
"Alex—PLEASE!" I screamed, desperate. "Mom's sick! Help her!"
The captain turned to Alex. "Alex… what is this boy to you?"
His face hardened. "I'd never align myself with Taka, sir."
"Good boy," the captain said. "Now let's hunt."
Why? Why did they look at us like that? Why wouldn't anyone help Mom? Why did they only come when she changed? Why was my brother—my own brother—charging at me? What did we do? What did she do—except try to live? She was still my mother. Even with the claws. Even with the glowing eyes. She was still my mom.
Someone help me. Someone please.
Mom whispered, her voice shaking.
"Run…"
Before I could even process what was happening, Mom transformed before my eyes. She grew taller—almost twelve feet—her body shifting into a massive wolf.Silver grey fur covered her body, muscles rippling beneath the coat. Her claws gleamed, sharp and deadly. The air around her crackled with power.
The TEU soldiers froze, their faces a mix of shock and fear. They weren't prepared for this. They weren't trained for this. But me?
I wasn't afraid.
I was in awe.
As monstrous as she was, my mother was beautiful.
"RUN!!!" the wolf roared.
And so, I ran.
I ran far beyond the camp, past the familiar streets, past Tod's house, past Aunt Mia and Gramps. I ran past the home I grew up in.
I ran.
And ran.
And ran.
But when I finally turned back…
I saw smoke rising from the town. Thick, dark clouds of it. Something had burned.
That's when it hit me. The weight of everything that had just happened. What I had just witnessed.
And I couldn't stop the tears.