3-13 The Barbara

Prompt: "They’re coming to get you, Barbara.” —Johnny, Night of the Living Dead

"You're The Barbra. You will shift the static and usher in our people as our overlords!" The homeless man raved.

I didn't know what he was talking about. I'd always been a denizen of Duke City. Besides I was never called that name. "I'm Cortney," I said. "I've lived here my whole life you've got me mixed up with someone."

The bum gripped my arm tighter his bright blue eyes more intense than lasers. "You don't realize what this means! Your scent you are a stranger to our pack. You were born of this planet yet you share our blood. You are The Barbra and we are coming for you!"

I yanked against this insane babbler's grip. "Let me go! I've got to get home to my husband!" I lied.

The man released me. "Yes, go say goodbye to your mate," he said. "Soon you must choose your Alpha."

I practically ran through the subway station to the waiting train. Duke City was getting more urbanized but until today I'd never had anyone act so weird towards me.

When I got home, I poured myself a glass of red wine. For a split second, it looked like blood. I watched my favorite film, A Werewolf in Paris, ate a rare hamburger and tried to go to sleep.

What the homeless guy said still bothered me. Shift the static? The Barbra? Our people? It sucked that so many people in the city didn't take their meds. How was I supposed to go to work tomorrow when I had that nonsense keeping me awake?

I went over to the balcony of my apartment. I nearly screamed when I saw who was crouched on the shadow. "I told you we would come for you," the bum said.

"Holy shit! Don't come any closer. I'll call the police."

"No, I mean no harm, The Barbra. I've brought the catalyst that will awaken your true nature. Yes, thats it...come here."

He handed me a small pouch. Okay, as if it wasn't weird enough some crazy man was up here god knows how, now this guy was making me part of his delusions. I emptied out a large pile of dust almost like gun powder but with a strange iridescent blue sheen to the particles. "Whats this?" I asked.

Throw it into the air. We must inhale it. Against my better judgement I tossed up the handful of powder. I didn't know was worse, dying of an OD or whatever this crazy person would do if I didn't cooperate.

Together we writhed in agony, our screams became howls. Fur covered every inch of me as I tripled in size. The bum was also getting larger. I could see him growing a tail. By the time we'd transformed, our hulking bodies were barely accommodated by the balcony.

So what, I'm a Werewolf now I thought.

that is one of many names we go by. Werewolf, Dogman, Bezerker these are just names the inhabitants of this world gave us. So, The Barbra, will you move the static?