It slammed into me.
Knocked the air straight out of my lungs.
I hit the ground hard—and before I could even react, it was on top of me.
Two massive paws pressed into my chest, pinning me down.
Hot breath.
Drool dripping onto my face.
I didn't move.
I couldn't.
Darkness wrapped around everything as I held my breath, terrified even the smallest movement would set it off.
It leaned closer.
Closer.
Until we were nose to nose.
Its eyes—
Silver.
Cold.
Watching me like I was already dead.
Its fur was thick and black, almost blending into the night itself.
I couldn't tell if I was prey…
Or just a late snack.
A claw pressed down into my chest.
Sharp.
Slow.
Piercing just enough to break skin.
Pain burned through me.
My mouth opened before I could stop it—
A small, broken sound escaping.
A mistake.
The beast moved.
Fast.
But Zack was faster.
He slammed into it, tackling it off me with a force I didn't know he had.
Air rushed back into my lungs as I gasped, curling slightly from the pain.
Tori dropped beside me instantly, pressing hard against the wound.
"Stay with me," she snapped.
"We can't go home like this," I whispered, my voice shaking.
She tried to pull me up, but my legs barely worked.
Then Zack was there again.
He didn't hesitate.
He lifted me over his shoulder like I weighed nothing.
We moved.
Fast.
I could feel his speed—
Too fast.
Behind us, the beast lunged again.
Tori turned.
Her eyes burned with anger.
She swung—
Hard.
Her fist connected with the beast's head, the impact echoing through the night.
It dropped.
Still.
Unmoving.
For now.
They didn't stop.
They ran around the house, searching, deciding—anywhere but here.
Zack kept moving, his grip steady as I faded in and out.
Everything blurred.
The pain.
The night.
The sound of my own heartbeat pounding in my ears.
Then—
Light.
Bright.
Blinding.
It cut through the darkness behind my eyes.
And I woke up to pain.
Sharp.
Burning.
And hands on me.
I shot up—
A guy was leaning over me, stitching my chest.
"Hey—hey, relax," Zack said quickly, grabbing my shoulders. "You're okay. He's helping."
I froze, breathing hard.
"Daniel's brother," Zack added. "He's a doctor."
I blinked, trying to focus.
"I didn't know Daniel had a brother," I said, my voice weak.
The guy glanced at me, calm like this was normal.
"Nice to meet you," he said. "I'm Jack."
"Does Mom and Dad know?" I asked, panicking, creeping in.
Zack shook his head. "It's only been an hour. We can make it back, Mae."
"Where's Tori?"
"Home."
"What was that thing?" I pushed, my voice rising. "That wasn't a dog."
"It was a dog," Zack said quickly.
Jack raised an eyebrow.
Zack looked away.
I stared at him.
"That was too big to be a dog."
"Mae," Zack said, more serious now, "it was a dog. I saw it. I was right there."
Something in his voice told me—
He was lying.
"Let's go. You're good," Zack said, pulling me to my feet.
He thanked Jack, and we slipped out quietly.
I noticed Daniel standing outside… with a girl.
Everything about tonight felt off.
We climbed back in through Tori's window.
She had left it open for us.
Of course she had.
I moved carefully, trying not to pull my stitches, then slipped out of her room and into mine.
I didn't even make it to the pillow.
I dropped onto my bed and passed out instantly.
The last thing I remember—
It was the scent.
That same scent from the beast.
Still on me.
I woke up again.
Still dark.
My mom was standing over me.
Watching.
"Something wrong?" I asked, sitting up slowly.
"Are you feeling, okay?" she asked, her voice… off.
"I think so. Why?"
"You've been really tired," she said. "You slept the whole day. Missed school. You need to eat."
I blinked.
Confused.
"Didn't we just have Burger King tonight?"
"That was yesterday," she said.
My stomach dropped.
"I… didn't know that."
"It's okay," she said quickly. "I'll bring your food up."
"I'm still really tired…"
"I'll bring it," she repeated, already leaving the room.
I lay back, staring at the ceiling.
I slept the whole day?
That didn't make sense.
Nothing today made sense.
Then I smelled it.
Food.
Getting closer.
Stronger.
Too strong.
She set the plate down on my dresser and left without another word.
But the look on her face—
Tight.
Agitated.
Like she was watching something she didn't understand.
I ate everything.
Fast.
Too fast.
And it tasted…
Wrong.
Not bad.
Just… not right.
I couldn't place it.
My body felt heavy.
Numb.
Like something was taking over from the inside out.
I barely made it back to bed before collapsing.
Everything spun.
I felt hands on me again.
Moving me.
Lifting my shirt.
I forced my eyes open—
My mom.
Looking at my wound.
Then everything went black.
Something's wrong.
She knows.
A tapping sound pulled me back.
Soft.
Repetitive.
My window.
I sat up slowly.
The house was silent.
Everyone asleep.
The tapping came again.
I already knew who it was.
I stood, unlocked the window, and pushed it open.
"Please, Mae… please?" Cami whispered.
"Where?" I asked.
"A party!" she grinned. "Come on—how many times do I ask you for a favor?"
"You always do."
"Yeah, but how many times do you actually come?"
"None."
She smirked. "Exactly."
I hesitated.
Then, I stood up.
"Fine."
Her face lit up as she climbed inside.
Let's just say—
She did not dress me like myself.
At all.
Short hot pink skirt.
See-through top. Black bra underneath.
Tall black boots.
Hair up.
Makeup sharp.
I barely recognized myself.
"Wow," she said, stepping back. "Who turned you into this?"
"You did," I said.
She laughed. "Yeah, but… something's different about you. You'd never go out like this."
She tilted her head, studying me.
"You seem…"