NIGHT SCHOOL

Maleva was new in town.

She had moved in a hurry from the last town with her Mum.

Moving around meant she never really got a chance to finish off her schooling.

Now 17, she could go to evening classes or night school as it was known in this town.

The first time she went was that typical social mess: awkward introductions and nervous expectations.

The subject she needed was English Lit and she had chosen a course in Gothic Writings as it interested her and she thought it would be fun.

Her tutor was called Mr. Strange and he was. Strange. But also sweet enough to make her feel welcome. He asked if she had managed to get hold of the three books being studied and Maleva said she had. She had them in her bag: Frankenstein, Dracula and The Werewolf of Paris.

It was a small group. The Chic Lit course was much bigger.

Everyone made their introductions as part of the ritual breaking the ice. There was Elsa, a young bright girl who looked like she'd been in a car accident as she was terribly scarred on her neck and wrists; there was Binford, a jerky young guy, who just couldn't wait to start reading the books; Geraldine, Cornelia and Dorothy, three bratty sisters who just stared at everyone else - obvious rich kids - and then there was Maleva.

The first class went without obvious event. Everyone had their favourite books and Mr. Strange hoped they had a nice week until the next night school. He hadn't noticed the tension in the air when each of the books was introduced. The students really did have their favourites. They all walked off from the school into the dark.

The following week Binford and Elsa didn't show. There'd been no message sent to Mr.Strange and the class felt too small without them. Besides, the three girls were sniggering behind their copies of Dracula.

Maleva stared at them.

"What's your problem newbie?" said Cornelia.

"Nothing. I was just wondering what was so funny," replied Maleva smiling.

"None of your fucking business newbie," replied Dorothy viciously.

If Mr. Strange heard this exchange he showed no reaction to it and after a reading gradually brought the class to an end.

Maleva noticed him speaking with the three girls as she was leaving. The tutor had his head curiously bowed as if he was cowering.

It was a dark cold cloudless night outside and the stars were out in full and shining brightly casting a wan light on those below.

"Hey newbie, keep your fucking big fat nose out of our business, in class or out of it. Get it!"  snarled Geraldine as the three girls met Maleva at the corner.

"Yeah, you nosey bitch. We'll laugh all we want to. Those other retards Binford and Elsa were nosey like you and who knows were they are now!" whispered Cornelia.

All three of them began to chuckle again at this.

Mr. Strange turned the corner just then and joined the group.

"Everything all okay girls?" he enquired.

"Maleva the newbie here is asking an awful lot of questions Mr. Strange," explained Dorothy moving closer to the girl.

"Its a small town Maleva and its best not to make any waves I'm afraid," warned the tutor.

Maleva was alarmed at Mr. Strange's obvious collusion with the girls and her hackles were up now. 

"Besides, its our town and we don't need no rookie bitches like you and that Elsa spoiling our fun. Isn't that right Mr. Strange," gnashed Geraldine exposing unusually long dog teeth as she spoke.

"That's right. Its an orderly place Maleva and as long as everyone follows the rules we'll all get along. You might say its a well-bled town. Every donation secures the peace and I help keep the donations flowing. Elsa and Binford were most accommodating but they struggled and that was a shame. The girls had to take more than was necessary I'm afraid. We hope you won't struggle Maleva," reasoned Strange as he began to grab her hands.

"I wouldn't do that Sir if I was you," warned Maleva menacingly.

"Why not, Your'e just some punk bitch from trashville. Do it Strange, we're hungry!" hissed Dorothy.

"I'm a .... werewolf!" explained Maleva, "Things could get very ugly for you!"

"You fuckin what! A werewolf! So fuckin what if you are! There's no full-moon tonight. You've got your fuckin periods mixed up slag. You can't harm us, we're the Brides of Dracula himself!" shrieked the three girls together as they began to levitate.

Strange loosened his grip a little at the unnerving news.

"I'm not a lunar werewolf," continued Maleva, "I'm an astral one."

Strange loosened his grip completely even though he didn't know what that meant.

"What the fuck is an astral werewolf you piece of shit? You're just stalling 'cos you know your'e ass is ours. Get her sisters!" cried Cornelia.

"An astral werewolf is one that changes not by moonlight .... but by star-light. And the stars are full tonight ladies!" explained Maleva as the Brides approached drooling and clawing.

They stopped and Strange stopped too.

Maleva transformed into a huge snarling howling shirt-tearing wolf girl in seconds and ripped all three Brides and the tutor to shreds in the darkness of the street corner next to the Night School.

The she-wolf ate and drank until her gut was distended. There wasn't a scrap left when she'd finished.

Maleva turned back and picked up her book off the floor, the Werewolf of Paris.

She chucked Dracula in the bin and walked off smiling under the pale glow of the starry night.

"I like this town," she thought to herself and wandered home.