“Let me go, you bastard!” I shouted, but surprise, surprise, Mike didn’t listen. Instead, he pulled me away from the clearing and through the woods. Mike dragged me through the brambles and brush. He didn’t slow until we reached a quiet residential neighborhood. Mike marched me over to a large red van parked across the street. He opened the door, shoving me towards it. I cried out as a couple of men grabbed my arms, ignoring my pain, and pulled me inside. Anna sat across from me with a satisfied, smug grin. I couldn’t help myself. I had to ask the dreaded question. “Why?” “Why not? Finally, all those years of listening to you whine have paid off,” she said, then smiled a sly, flirty smile at Mike. “I did well, right?” Something in me shriveled and died at her words. She had been playing with me this whole time. All this time… “You,” I said through gritted teeth. Anger flooded through me and lept at her. As I grabbed a handful of her hair, I punched her as hard as I could. Anna screa

I paced from my cot to as far as the chain would let me go, then back again. With no windows, I had no way of telling how long I’d been down there, but any time was too long for me. The sound of the door opening sent me hurrying back to the cot. I pressed myself into the corner as the heavy footsteps came down the wooden stairs. Mike’s mom stepped out of the way when she reached the bottom, allowing room for Doctor Samson to come off the stairs. “Here she is, doctor,” Mike’s mom said as if having someone chained in the basement was normal. Maybe for her, it was. The doc, at least, had the good sense to appear horrified by my situation. He walked over to me; his expression somber. “What seems to be the problem?” “Besides the obvious?” I said, moving my leg so the chain would rattle.

Ryder ~~~   “What time is it?” I demanded. “You know full well what time it is,” Andy said flatly. “You’re supposed to be making me feel better, not the other way around. If you haven’t noticed, I’m kind of paralyzed!” He smacked the wheels of the wheelchair as if I might miss the fact he was sitting in it. I gave him an apologetic grimace. “Sorry man, it’s just Brook,” I said, running my hands through my hair. “We get it, but asking us every five minutes what time it is or how long it’s been isn’t going to help anything,” Kara told me. “Now how about we figure out what we want to do when she gets back.” “Not a lot I can do,” Andy complained, crossing his arms o

Ryder~~~ Hours seemed to pass. Sweat drenched Brook’s clothing and blanket. I kept continuing to whine and whimper, sending her my encouragement as best as I could.Mom watched the machines like any predator, not willing to miss even the smallest movement. She was silent most of the time, which drove me insane with worry. I had no idea what was going on. Was Brook doing okay or did things look bleak? Suddenly, the machines started making a bunch of noise. All the nurses and my mother jumped into action, pressing buttons here and pushing them there.Brook convulsed on the bed, and I jumped to my feet, unsure what to do. I didn’t know if I should lie on her to keep her from falling or stay back. A whine of indecision escaped me and I looked at my

“Hey, you okay?” Ryder asked when he found me sitting on the patio of the back porch with concern plastered all over his face.“Yeah, I’m okay,” I replied and when it was obvious, he didn’t believe me I added, “Look, I get everyone means well, but I’m not used to all of this... attention.” Ryder laughed, and I glared at him. “Dude, I am serious. Today I had six people come up to me, ask how I was, and tell me if I needed anything. They were here for me. Six people, Ryder, six people who I have never seen in my life! It’s weird and makes me claustrophobic just a tad.”Though, he still had a smile on his Ryder as he sat next to me. “Okay, yeah, I guess that would be weird.”“That’s werewolves for ya,” I said, returnin