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Alex groaned as he slumped against a cafeteria table, tapping at his nonfunctional phone. He knew it had battery left, so there was no reason for it to not work. Cell towers were probably down because of the storm, but that didn't explain why it wouldn't even [i]turn on[/i].

[color=ffcccc]"That doesn't even make sense,"[/color] He grumbled as he dropped the device on the table and buried his face in his arms.

[color=cc0000][i]'This isn't a natural storm,'[/i][/color] The gruff voice of his spirit 'companion' rumbled through his mind ominously, as if sensing his frustration. 

Alex lifted his head back up and adjusted his skewed glasses to look around. Nope, no one watching; he'd be free to whisper back at The Ram without looking like a crazy person talking to himself. Small victories.

[color=ffcccc]"What's that supposed to mean?"[/color]

[color=cc0000][i]'Trouble. Go to that room you use to relieve yourself and make sure you aren't followed.'[/i][/color]

[color=ffcccc]"The bathroom? Why?"[/color]

[color=cc0000][i]'Is my order interrupting the riveting conversation you were having? By all means then, continue.'[/i][/color]

Alex merely groaned again. He was sitting alone at the moment, with his last social interaction having been a few shallow comments about the weather and the crappy lunch conditions exchanged with the students a few seats away. That was a solid five minutes ago. Spirits were mean.

He rose from his seat, pocketing his phone before he made his way out of the cafeteria. The bathroom nearby would no doubt be occupied, so Alex detoured to one slightly farther away to meet The Ram's privacy request. When he arrived, Alex pushed the door open and crouched down, peeking under the stalls for any sign of occupancy. 

[color=ffcccc]"Okay, we're clear. What's up?"[/color] He asked at a normal volume now as he rose back to his feet and paced nervously.

[color=cc0000][i]'There will be an attack soon, if there hasn't been one already. This veritable buffet of fresh young souls huddled so tightly together is bound to attract whatever is causing this storm eventually,'[/i][/color] The Ram explained in a calm monotone, [color=cc0000][i]'This lockdown is troublesome but not insurmountable. Once you transform you should be able to exit the building without any witnesses.'[/i][/color]

[color=ffcccc]"Attack?! Th-this is one of your kind, isn't it? If it's coming here, shouldn't we stay inside? People could get hurt!"[/color] Alex found himself on edge every time The Ram made cryptic predictions of spirits popping up and causing mayhem - and it liked to make them a lot - but even the amount of forewarning he'd been given didn't dull the sudden panic he was feeling.

[color=cc0000][i]'Precisely why I want to take a proactive approach. We're at a disadvantage if we're fighting in the presence of the cattle; you'll be too busy whining about collateral damage to listen to my direction.'[/i][/color] It responded pointedly. Alex reasoned The Ram must be feeling tense; it wasn't usually this insulting to him. Of course, that only worsened his panic as he realized that even the terrifying death ghost living in his head had misgivings about the situation. He felt a little lightheaded, and he couldn't determine if it was shock or hyperventilation causing it. Good thing no one was around to see.

Alex almost had his breathing under control when the muffled sound of shattering glass and screaming echoed through the halls outside. [color=ffcccc]"Wha-what- what was that?!"[/color]

[color=cc0000][i]'Your cue. You're a predator now, act like it.'[/i][/color]

That's right; The Ram was powerful. [i]He[/i] was powerful. He had nothing to worry about. Alex shoved a shaky hand down his collar to pull out the ram's head medallion that he kept nestled under his shirt and gripped it in a tightly balled fist. Hyphoid tendrils sprouted from between his fingers, criss-crossing into a grotesque web around his hand. The biomass then expanded into what looked like a reddish slime mold that tingled on his skin as it rapidly spread to engulf Alex's entire body. The Ram always assured him he didn't need to hold his breath for this part, but the simple thought of any of that getting in his mouth was enough to make him gag. The muculent film writhed against his flesh for only a second or two, but he spent the whole time dealing with cold shivers and tight-feeling muscles, and there was always a throbbing soreness behind his eyes. But, it was worth it when his cocoon finally flaked off into dust. He felt [i]good[/i]. Energized. Powerful.

Alex had, admittedly, never gotten a good look at himself when he transformed before. The Ram had instructed him to venture out into some isolated corner of the woods and get used to the form before, but Alex was always back to normal before he got home. In the bathroom mirror, the person staring back at him was decidedly [i]not[/i] Alex Kozlov. He saw the resemblance behind the dumb costume, sure, but the guy in the mirror was bigger and, more importantly, didn't have a trace of hair dye on him.

[color=cc0000][i]'Stop gawking, no one will recognize you.'[/i][/color]

[color=ffcccc]"Huh? Uh, yes, my Lord!"[/color] Alex meekly yelped before barreling through the bathroom door. The hallway was unoccupied but there were sounds of quickly approaching footsteps; he needed to hurry before the panicking crowd arrived. They were clearly fleeing from something, which means he needed to flank back around to kill it. Assuming he could kill it. A needling flare of impatience shot through his head at the thought, indicating The Ram's displeasure at Alex's hesitation. Never one to disappoint when he could help it, Alex promptly bolted for the nearest exit.

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