Take advantage of the distraction from the bear and shoot William

From Create Your Own Story

You take careful aim and squeeze the trigger. Despite your wounded state, your aim is still lethal. The silver bullet does its gruesome work, causing the werewolf's head to explode in a mess of blood and gore.

The bear roars at the sound of the shot, and turns towards you. Four more shots from your revolver bring the bear down, dead.

You look over at William's remnants, trying to come to terms with what you have done. The emotional storm whirling through you, combined with the loss of blood, causes you to pass out onto the cold, damp dirt.

• * *

You open your eyes and find yourself looking up at an unfamiliar ceiling. Looking around, you see that you are lying in bed in a spare room in Lord Kellar's mansion. The wounds on your chest have been neatly cleaned and bandaged.

A female servant is in the room, preparing more bandages in a bowl of water. When she sees that you are awake, she shouts loudly. In less than a minute Lord Kellar and his wife appear in the doorway.

"Anastasia! You're awake! Thank God."

"What happened...How did I..." you murmur.

"My men and I were looking for you for hours," says Lord Kellar. "We finally found you early this morning. Your revolver was still in your hand. You did it. You slew two monsters."

You shake your head. "One of those monsters was your...your son...Nothing heroic happened in those woods."

"It was the only way," he says quietly. Mrs. Kellar, although there are tears in her eyes, nods in agreement. She comes over to the bed and gives you a tight hug, then excuses herself from the room, the servant girl following her.

Lord Kellar, now left alone with you, takes a deep breath. "Anastasia, I have to ask." He points at the bandages on your chest.

"What, not satisfied with your wife's rack?"

"Anastasia! That's not what I..."

"I know. I'm sorry. I thought a little joke would lighten the mood. And I'm fine. It was only the bear that clawed me. Not W..." You find yourself unable to say his name out loud. "I loved him..." you whisper.

Lord Kellar comes over and holds your hand. "I know." The two of you sit in silence for a few minutes, mourning your losses, until he finally stands back up. "At least the curse is finally banished from this land. You did well, Anastasia. You did your duty as a Van Helsing. Now rest."

Left alone with Lord Kellar's words echoing in your mind, you still can't help wondering if you somehow could have found a cure for William, and then found a future together with him...

THE END