Chapter One

I ran through the forest, my hands outstretched to move tree limbs out of my way. The leaves scratched against my face, and thorns scraped against my bare legs.

 

I was so stupid. I mean, who wears shorts to an outdoor party? Oh yeah. That would be me.

 

Footsteps crashed behind me. I veered to the right, crouching behind a large bush. I held my breath, listening, waiting.

 

"Vennie!" He shouted. I clamped my hands over my ears at the loud sound.

 

"S**t," I whispered to myself. How'd I let him get so close?

 

He broke through the trees. His eyes were wild, and his hair was messed up. The moon shone through the dark canopy overhead. He looks almost ethereal in the milky light.

 

"Vennie," He said. "It's only me, Adam." He made his way around the area, as if sensing my presence. He stalked like a predator, head tilted to the side to catch any sound I would make.

 

Fear pulsed through me as he made his way closer to my hiding spot. My hands grew hotter, giving off a gentle, warm light as they soaked in the comfort of the full moon.

 

My heart thudded in my chest as he passed by me. He started walking back the way he came.

 

I let out a breath of relief, and turned to leave.

 

"Found you," Adam said to me quietly. He was only about five feet away from me. It would have to be enough.

 

Instead of facing him, I did the one thing I was told not to do.

 

I panicked.

 

I didn't look behind me as I ran, but I did hear Adam swear in surprise.

 

The tree branches smashed into my face, but I no longer cared if he heard me. I knew I was running for my life, and a small amount of pain would be worth being able to keep it.

 

"Vennie!" He shouted again. "I just want to talk!" I snorted. Didn't he understand why I was running? I didn't want to talk to him!

 

"Come on, Vennie! I need some answers!" I stumbled, then slowed. I guess I did owe him some answers.

 

I stopped completely as I came into a clearing. My eyes were immediately drawn to the glorious moon, and I dropped to my knees, as if I was worshipping it. In a way, I was.

 

The moon was all I had left. It enchanted me, loved me, gave me a sense of belonging no matter where I was.

 

Adam used to be like that for me. But after what he did.... I shuddered. The memory still hurt too much.

 

I felt the tingling sensation begin, and then it started to sting slightly. I knew that the change had finally begun.

 

"Vennie," Adam said gently. He sat next to me, petting my hair and cooing my name.

 

I glimpsed a reflective surface. I first thought it was a knife. But it was a laughing matter. I'd known Adam since we were kids, and the thought of killing someone made him sick.

 

Then I thought a silver symbol of some sort. It was also laughing matter.

 

I realized it was handcuffs. My heartbeat increased, and I pushed my hands against his chest, trying to get him away. He tried to get the handcuff on my wrist, but I twisted my hand, grabbing the cuff.

 

My eyes closed, and I imagined the metal boiling on the inside, heating the outer metal.

 

My eyes opened when Adam yelped. He dropped the handcuffs. I flung them into the forest behind me. When I turned back to Adam, his face was a ghostly white. I could see his blood pounding beneath the surface of his skin, and I became starving. I swallowed the saliva and took my hunger by the reins.

 

"Vennie," Adam said, his voice calm, but with underlying fear. "You have to go to the police. You killed someone, and you will end up killing me."

 

I looked away from him, towards the stars. I sniffed. "I had to." I raised my eyes to his. "And I won't kill you unless you betray me." He began to shake.

 

I walked to him, my intent be to comfort him. His eyes closed, as if expecting me to strike him. I touched his face gently, and he flinched. I stroked his cheek. He leaned into my touch.

 

I opened my arms as he fell sobbing into them. "I really thought you were going to kill me," He said through his tears.

 

"I would never," I lied. Some truth still sang in my voice. It wouldn't really be me that killed him.

 

I rubbed his back while he sobbed into my neck. He just sobbed louder when I started humming.

 

"I'm so, so sorry, Vennie," He said, wailing now. Apparently my attempts at comforting him were poor ones.

 

Adam's words finally registered in my mind. "For what?" I asked, confused.

 

I had no answer besides for the sharp pain in my shoulder. I looked to it, and saw that a syringe was above my collar bone.

 

I racked my brain, remembering that needles were not on the list of the things we weren’t invulnerable to.

 

I looked up at Adam in horror as dizziness swept over me, and the pain that had been building numbed.

 

Adam wasn't smiling maliciously, or looking at me with hatred. His eyes were filled with agony, and tears continued down his face.

 

I fell to the dewed grass, the moon shining overhead. It was so close to it's highest point, I was........so........close..........to my...........change

 

My thoughts dimmed.

 

I..............would've.............been................who I'm supposed..............to be.............had he....................not given me.......................the sleep stuff....................Now I may.........never.............................change.........

 

To be continued, sorry for the cliffhanger, yadayadayada, blah blah blah, Copyright to me (LiquidFire) and no one else besides me, if you steal it I can send Vennie after you! Smiles all around, and happy reading :)

 

Author's Note

Okay, now the insecure me comes out. Did I have too many of a certain word? Was there an expanse of grammar issues? Please, please, PLEASE REVIEW! Tell me your thoughts!