THE PAST RETURNS

Dominic’s story

I was so stupid. How could I do such a thing? How could I not have tamed myself and this wolf that was getting the best of me? They were questions that drove me crazy and no matter how hard I would try to find justification for what I had done to Rebecca, I would sink deeper into guilt.
Today I took a break from my struggle and rehearsed a few scenes from the new film. Nick, as always, was effective, but I was losing focus. I was forgetting lines, or messing them up. I couldn’t concentrate on what I had to do. Even the co-actor who was rehearsing with me saw that something was wrong, so he brought Nick into the picture immediately.
“What’s the matter with you, Dominic? Alec told me you’re having trouble concentrating? Are you okay, man?” Nick was really worried.
“Can we take a break?”
“Of course. Come, let’s go to the cafeteria set up by the film crew. There’s nobody there now.”
I followed him in silence, and we had a cup of coffee. Mine was a double. Even if I’d had it, I’d have put a few drops of whiskey in it. But it was supposed to be on the job. “Okay, now you can tell me, wolf. What’s wrong with you?”
“That’s the problem, the wolf. Yesterday he got out of control and attacked” I started the story but stopped as soon as Nick’s face turned serious.
“What do you mean, he attacked? Who? What did you do, Dominic?”
“Rebecca” Nick’s eyes widened even more.
“What? Rebecca? Are you insane? I hope you didn’t hurt her...”
“No, stay calm. I didn’t attack her in the way you think. I couldn’t have physically harmed her. You just know she’s the one promised to me by the Moon Goddess.”
“I know that, but you did something to her to cause you to be in this state.”
“I spoke to her on the phone two days ago and she said she’d come by the house to pick up her papers and the last of her things. I told her she could come anytime she wanted as I wouldn’t be home,” Again I paused, rewinding in my mind every frame of what had happened yesterday.
“And of course, you were home! Dominic, if you can’t control your urges, stay as far away from her as possible.” Nick understood exactly what I had done without listening to the rest, but I just felt the need to vent.
“As I spoke to her, I heard her as she entered the house and headed for what had been her room. I immediately sensed that she had been running after her racing heartbeat. Then her phone rang. It was Logan, supposedly a good friend, and they arranged a meeting. Then I saw black in front of my eyes. I understood that the meeting was already scheduled. She had a change of clothes with her. She thought she’d take a shower first and I couldn’t control myself. I walked in on her...”
For a few seconds, there was silence. I could even hear Nick’s heart. He looked at me as if he didn’t think I was capable of such a thing. And the truth was, I didn’t think I was capable either until I saw myself there in the shower with her crushed into my arms.
“Did you hurt her? Did you force her? Just tell me they did nothing you’ll regret later, Dominic.”
I ran my hand through my hair nervously and lowered my gaze. Then I looked at him again. The shock still hadn’t left his face.
“I did nothing to her, Nick, but I came so close. And that’s probably what hurts me the most.”
“You need a break, man. You need to put some distance between you and her as soon as possible. Reveal to her who you are. I don’t know how good an idea that is.”
Nick was right, and this situation was beyond me.
“I need to step back a bit, Nick.”
I got up slowly and walked off the set. Nearby was a thick forest, almost similar to the one where Rebecca had been attacked. It was quiet, perhaps too quiet for my taste. But it was better that way to put my thoughts in order. But I didn’t get to enjoy it much. A familiar face appeared before me. So familiar that it hurt.
“If it isn’t Dominic Stone, my daughter’s killer!” snarled the man in front of me with a hatred I had forgotten over the years.
“Zack Barnett...” I uttered his name, a name I had cast into oblivion.
“The one and only! Hmm, but you seem to take great pleasure in seeing me. How do you live with your conscience, murderer?” It was hard to see him after so long, and I suddenly realized that the wound hadn’t closed yet. And it looked like it hadn’t been for him either.
“What are you doing here? Why are you following me?” The questions made little sense, but this man was dangerous even to me.
“Well, my dear Dominic, I came to see how you’re doing. How have you been? But as far as I can see, you’ve become a famous actor, you have many fans and from what I sense about you now, the Moon Goddess has shown you the way to the chosen of your heart. I wonder what Jane would say about this situation. My poor Jane...”
“What does Jane have to do with any of this? Get over it!” That snapped Zack out of himself and he lunged at me, his hands digging into my neck, slamming me into the tree.
“See, that’s always been the question I asked myself. What did she have to do with you? But since she’s no longer here to answer me, you will! How many times have you cried thinking about her? How many times have you taken flowers to her grave?” The tightness in his hands became even more sharply.
“You are... crazy...” I said, forcing myself to speak, feeling the anger spreading through my veins. I jerked his hands away and the roles suddenly reversed. I was the one on top of him.
“Am I? Maybe I was in the past for not discovering you in time and that cost Jane her life. But there always comes a day of reckoning, and I will be both judge and executioner.”
Zack’s anger was that of a grieving father, but he was so wrong. I loved his daughter. He spilled his anger on me again and his punch in the gut felt like punishment.
“Leave the past where it belongs, in the past!” Another punch flashed through my jaw and knocked me to the ground. I realized with each blow how powerful Zack was and how much hate he had been gathering all these years.
“Precisely because the past must come into the present and you, like your father, will have to pay for the audacity to romance my daughter. It’s your fault she’s no longer here and soon you won’t be either.” Soon after this threat, his body changed. His sharp fangs grew menacingly, and he got all covered in gray fur. A loud roar startled all the birds in the forest, who flew in fear into the sky. It was my turn to change, or I didn’t stand a chance against him. But he didn’t give me the opportunity and attacked me without a second thought. Rage and pain blinded him.
The power with which he now pinned me to the ground was dozens of times greater. I felt pain all over my body. If I couldn’t get the wolf out of me, I was doomed.
“You think killing me will bring Jane back?” I shouted from beneath him, and that made him even angrier. His roar rumbled through the forest again. I could hear his thoughts and although I felt he was suffering, what he was doing was not the answer.
“You think I care what happens to you? I’ve been waiting a long time for this. And if indeed Rebecca is your Luna, then she will feel your agony and come. I’ll greet her properly, don’t worry! I can be an excellent host.”
“If you lay your dirty paws on her, I swear I’ll make you regret even what you ate this morning!” Just hearing her name and the threats against her made me lose my temper even more. Somehow, I gathered my strength and pushed him off me, slamming him hard against the tree behind him. The jolt was so strong that I heard a few of his ribs crack. He stood up, twisting, rearranging them.
“Interesting, Dominic. You fire up when it comes to her. Let’s see what you do when she gets here, under my claws.” Suddenly my mind went dark, my anger was out of control. If Rebecca came here, she’d find out who I was. I couldn’t let anything happen to her. “Let’s see what she’ll say, sweet and innocent Rebecca, when she sees what a freaking monster you are!”