139 The show

The military practice field owned by the WGARM today was unrecognizable. Greg, Frank, and Tony had to bring in almost all free people from company's different departments here, promising everyone huge awards to decorate and prepare this place on such short notice, turning it in just one night into a stage for a large-scale show.

Not half an hour had passed since Tony spread the rumor through his own channels about the grand announcement from Greg that was planning in here, as a big crowd began to form at the gate. Reporters were ready to literally climb the entrance to the landfill, eager to find out quickly what the eccentric billionaire, who had recently raised the sales of newspapers to unimaginable heights, prepared this time. Everyone couldn't even guess what kind of shocking news he wanted to throw at them.

Franky frowned, staring at the video from surveillance cameras. All five friends settled down in the guard room in the administration building and looked forward to the arrival of the main invitees. The crowd grew bigger and with it their nervousness. In addition to reporters, there were also some strange fanatics, just curious onlookers and people waiting for the spectacle. All access roads were utterly clogged with parked cars.

"How do we know that they are already here?" - Frank asked in a worried voice, tearing his eyes off the screen. - "They hardly have a uniform or the same cars."

"We'll know!" - Greg answered firmly, continuing to peer into the faces of the people on the screen. He tried his best to focus on their plan, driving away thoughts of Lana. But his heart was still beating furiously, and the palms were all sweating. He closed his eyes for a second and took a deep breath, reaching out to that warm piece of his soul, which belonged to Lana, with his consciousness. But there was no answer. As if she slammed the door on the other side, not allowing him to look inside.

" It seems to me that these people look suspicious." - Michael said, pulling Greg out of the depths of his thoughts. The guy pointed to a group that just arrived. - "Although it is more likely that they are just ordinary shifters. Even though the men look agitated, these two girls are rather looking concerned and scared. Plus, their tactile associations indicate that they are acquaintances or friends. But these." - he went on, pointing to another company of people who arrived quite recently too and now stood silently on edge of the square before the entrance. - "These are most likely to be our dear friends."

Greg leaned closer and peered into the faces of those pointed at by Mike. They were usually dressed people standing at a short distance from each other. They did not talk among themselves, did not ask questions from others, just stood and waited.

" Yes, it is them." - Greg nodded, sighing with relief, noticing how more and more such people were arriving, gradually seeping into the crowd from all sides. The main feature was their faces without a single emotion on them.

At that moment his gaze caught on to the figure of a man approaching the crowd from the side. The ordinary shifters who were standing right there tensed and hurried to get out of the way. The man walked alone and seemed relaxed, as if on a hike, although if you look closely, you could immediately figure out a few people walking toward the gate, which definitely followed him at a distance, forming a small protective semicircle.

Greg did not even have to look closely to understand who it was. Long white hair in a net ponytail, so similar to Lana's and her bright blue eyes. Even some of the facial features looked like hers, although it was easy to recognize Brian in this man's massive chin, wide cheekbones, and thick eyebrows.

Greg clenched his fists.

"Damn bastard!" - burst out through his teeth.

"Yes, all men are basters! - With a grin confirmed Tony, importantly nodding.

"We are actually men too." - Mike indicated to him in an indifferent voice.

"No, Mike," - Anthony retorted in a patronizing tone. - "We are special. Like unicorns among a herd of ordinary horses.

In response, Paul burst out laughing, grabbing at his stomach.

"Tony, are you sure that you have grown enough stuff to compare yourself with studs, with a horn in their forehead?" - He said sarcastically, looking at a friend.

" Oh! Looky here, our virgin decided to check my magic horn? How can I refuse!" - immediately bit back Tony, lowering his hand on the buckle of his belt and looking at Paul challengingly.

"Shut up you two morons!" - Greg snarled, banging his fist on the table. - " You can match up your horns later however you want. It's time to start the party now. It seems all the guests are in attendance."

The guys looked at each other.

"Well, I'll go check out our beauties then." - Tony sang heading for the exit first. Frank got up from his chair and went after him too.

" I'll check if everything is set up." - He threw over his shoulder before disappearing behind the door.

" It seems we should go to our positions too, ready?" - Greg said, looking at Paul and Mike. The latter just nodded briefly, and Paul spread his lips in a cold grin.

" Course I ready! Time to make our Fluffies buddies nervous! Oh! How much I relish from sowing panic in the souls of people! Such a glorious day!"

***

When the gates opened, a crowd like a massive tsunami rushed inside. The company workers stood silently on the sides of the road leading to the landfill and refused to answer the questions of the annoying paparazzi, who were eager to find out as soon as possible the juiciest news. As soon as the guests crossed the path to the trial ground, a vast scene immediately appeared in the view. There were posters everywhere: "The day when the legend became a reality!" Or "Today all the masks will be dropped!" "There are monsters among us ?!"

Even the reporters stumbled a bit, trying to make out at least some hint what today's news will be. But the shifters seem to have long guessed and now looked around in bewilderment, not knowing how to react.

Night Watchers immediately scattered in the crowd, occupying the most convenient position.

The people finally got together and looked impatiently at the scene, here and there impatient shouts, laughter and even the buzz of fanatics were heard, who began to chant some mantras.

Finally, the stage was lit by a spotlight, and Gregory Wells himself appeared in a circle of light. The man halted at the microphone, waiting for the crowd to calm down. All eyes clung to his imposing figure, broad shoulders and sharp eyes.

"Ladies and Gentlemen," - his voice echoed over the site, forcing everyone to shut up immediately. - "I thank all those present for taking the time out of your busy schedules and coming here today."

Greg looked around and fixed his eyes on the figure of a man with long white hair in the first row. His lips immediately stretched into a wide smile.

"This day is special for me personally, and for many presents. You must be asking yourself what a terrible secret I wanted to reveal to you today? Well, sometimes it's better to see once than to hear a thousand times, isn't it?"

Under the agitated buzz of the crowd, Greg stepped back from the microphone and waved his hands like a magician. At the same second there was a rattle, and from the floor on both sides of the stage, two cubes began to rise, covered with the bright red fabric. The crowd started to buzz again, the back rows started to press, hoping to see what was in these huge boxes. Some unfortunate man even managed to crawl next to a white-haired man trying to get closer to the metal fence, and pushed him in the side. Ian could barely restrain himself from snarling. His people immediately pushed aside the impudent one, trying not to look at the face of their leader, which was darker than a thundercloud. Ian held himself from jumping onto the stage right now and tear Greg to pieces. Only the presence of a few hundred more ordinary humans stopped him from causing a bloodbath here.

Greg caught the hate-filled eyes of his future father-in-law and gave a broad smile and playfully winked at him, causing Ian to grit his teeth.

Meanwhile, Paul and Michael appeared on the scene. Each of them went to one of the cubes and froze waiting for an order. Greg hesitates for a second, heating the atmosphere. All the spotlights went out, and only a ghostly bluish light remained on the scene.

"Have you ever heard of werewolves?" - Said Greg quietly into the microphone, in a mysterious voice. Silence hung over the field. Viewers began to look at each other, trying to figure out if Mr. Wells was joking. And then a wild roar came over the area. The fabric on one of the cubes began to waiver, causing the front rows to back away. Greg looked around the audience with a pleased look, enjoying the frenzy in the eyes of the shifters.

"Legendary monsters. Creepy beasts." - He continued in a rough tone, seeing how the eyes of Mr. Winterborn have transformed. - "And today you will see them in all its glory!"

As soon as his last words were heard, flames blazed from the sides of the stage, and at the same moment Paul and Michael pulled off the fabric. Cubes turned out to be two large cells with a bunch of people inside.

Those present began to look uncomprehendingly at each other, and only the shifters among the spectators barely restrained themselves in order not to shift this instant. After all, in the cells on the stage, there was not a single ordinary human ...