I was only sitting on my bed, silent as the morning going on outside my bedroom window. Since waking up I didn't move much or even got off my mattress. I was just sitting upright with bed covers still on me...And staring at the wall across the room and shooting an occasional glance at the window.

Normally I'd be out of bed by now and moving around, since I think I've woken up from my slumber since thirty minutes ago. But this morning didn't feel like any morning I woke up to. This one was different.

It was different because I was scared.

Because of...The werewolves.

While last night ran throughout my mind at lightning pace, I held in a breath for a long moment and let it out. A night's sleep obviously hadn't calmed me down. I was still scared to death from what happened to me the other night. In fact I didn't sleep all that well. How CAN anyone sleep if they were in my position?

My hand reached and touched my cheek, where a banadge was placed right at the area of where I cut it. As I was sitting here, I had thoughts of many scary possibilities that could happen to me, my mother, even my dogs here. My mind couldn't help but make them. Frankly I didn't know which any of them was more horrifying. They all were if you ask me.

Then I looked at my window again like I did several times already. I probably shouldn't be scared now, since daytime was around. I do know based on a few werewolf movies I watched on TV before that a werewolf would only come out and hunt during the night under the full moon. I brought my head down to my lap and sighed. Still...I was frightened. I think it was staying in the woods in this house that was making me feel that now...And the fact that I had a time limit of about several hours before another night with a full moon came.

I really wanted to get out of here. More than that, I wanted to get out with mom and the dogs and go to a town with a motel or something. Heck I certainly wanted to pack up and move back to Pittsburgh RIGHT NOW, and never EVER come back to this place.

If only mom had believed me.

Frustration clouded over me other than the fear I was having. I think I was like her in a way. I still couldn't believe that she thought I was going crazy like dad, hallucinating stuff and all. I know with absolute certainty that was not true. It was ridiculous. A growl of frustration came out of my mouth quietly, and I smacked my hand down on my bed. How can she think I was going crazy like him?! I'm not crazy! I never was going crazy! I never seen or heard anything that wasn't really there before. I'm not crazy...I know I'm not....I'm sure.

Then I was thinking through her eyes. Well, how would she believe me? A part of me still can't believe what I found in the woods. Werewolves are supposed to be in movies and books after all. If she saw them, then she'd believe me. But then she'd probably die if she did. Oh, but we'll probably both die anyways before she ever would.

I held up both my hands to my head as my eyes showed desperation. What am I going to do? WE HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE. But how?

While I was trying to think of an answer to this problem, I heard some mumbling down the hall outside my room. I dropped my hands down and stared at my door. Is that mom talking, in her room? Who's she talking to? Probably someone on the phone. I let out another breath, finally scooting and getting myself out of bed. Well, it's no use sitting in bed all day. Better get dressed and get going before mom wonders what's taking me.

Very quickly I found a fresh pair of clothes for today and got them all on. I could hear mother talking still before I started opening up my bedroom door. But when I saw my mom's bedroom door wide open and before I would even take another step out into the hallway, curiosity stopped me. I was kinda curious about who she was talking to. So I decided to eavesdrop.

I can hear mother clearly from where I stood as she said, sounding completely worried, "Doctor, I really think my son's becoming my husband. What I told you is purely insane, we both know it's impossible." I frowned. What? I continued to listen to her speak, "I mean come on, I would've believed him if he told me coyotes were trying to attack him, or some stray dogs. But werewolves..." I heard her slowly let out a sigh, "What am I supposed to do, get him committed? I don't want to do that and I'm sure you know it, but..."

That's when I realized what was going on here and who she was talking to. She must be talking to this doctor we both met back in Pittsburgh, Dr. Clay Monroe. She must be talking to him about what I told her the other night, in worry! I made an angry look, feeling betrayed. I can't believe her! She's that worried that she'd put me in a mental hospital?! Bullshit!

I hear mom's voice through my angered emotion, "Uh huh...Alright, I got it. I'll keep an eye on him. If he acts strangely a lot more than he did or does something dangerous, I will definitely do that. Thanks for answering my call, Clay, this felt very urgent." A tiny giggle came out of her next a second later, "Right. Ok, talk to you later. Bye." I pulled myself back into my room, closing my door softly with what I discovered stuck inside my mind.

Crap...I should have known she would do that! Well, least I'm not going away to a mental hosptial, judging by how the conversation sounded.

But come on, she didn't have to do that. I wasn't going crazy! I know what I saw! IT WAS REAL!!!

I heard mom walking outside my room and heading downstairs. I just stood staring at my door, contemplating if I should go out and see her. I still felt steamed after what I heard, but I couldn't stay in this room forever. I'm dressed up anyways. A couple moments later I yanked the door open and came out of my room for the first time this morning. I went down the staircase and made it to the first floor. Then I caught mom standing in the living room as I went in there. She looked a little surprised by my sudden appearence.

I stopped and stood where I was, staring back at her. She asked with a smile on her face, apparently pretending nothing happened earlier, "Morning, Matthew."

I know how I felt toward her, and kinda wanted to confront her about what I heard, but I pushed that aside and formed up a tiny smile on my own, "Hey. You doing ok?"

"I'm fine. I didn't hear you coming down the stairs."

"Oh."

Mom then put on some concern, "I'm wondering about you though. Did you sleep well? How's your cut?"

My fingers rose and tapped my bandaged cheek, "Doesn't feel bad now. Probably have that thing taken off very soon." Then I sucked in a breath and sighed, "And honestly I didn't sleep well, but I'm all right."

She nodded a little, "Good...That's good. You know I was worried about you."

My eyes trailed off of her. I muttered, "Yeah..." I bet you are.

Then, after a long moment passed, she said when she took a step closer to me with an offering smile, "Say, Matthew, why don't me and you go have breakfast at The Country Cupboard today? We haven't been there since a few days ago. I think Bess will be happy to see us."

I gazed back at her and reformed my smile, "I think you're right." I nodded, "Sure. I'm hungry." Least it'll get me out of this freakin place.

"Alright, then let's go."

*****

I sat in the passenger seat in silence, watching the streets go by me as the car moved. Another bout of relieved air came out of my nostrils. I felt so damn relieved after getting in the car with mom and drive away from the woods, and I felt even more better when we arrived in town. I know how I felt for being a city guy, but at the moment Fall Creek, or any other town and city, feels like a safe haven to me. A haven from monsters in the woods.

Sucks I ain't living in one. And I almost feel jealous towards any person we drive by because they're living here safely. They're just lucky...Compared to me.

I glanced at my mother beside me, who was focused on the road and still driving us to the Cupboard. Neither of us said a word to each other after we left home, but being this close to her has given me a vibe from her. I can feel that she was worried and concerned about my mentality. And perhaps maybe a little surprised and a little relieved I haven't brought up the werewolves this morning. I gazed directly at the dashboard with a blank face. I've basically gotten over what I heard her say on the phone, a little bit, but I had urges to try to convince her again that there are monsters outside our house at night and we should leave our new home without looking back. But I couldn't say anything, knowing what her reaction would be. I didn't want to get sent to a mental hospital pretty much.

Still, I have to do something.

Mom made a turn and I knew we were almost to the restaurant. I thought about talking about it while we were having breakfast. Maybe that would be the best time, and I hoped that she'll take my words into consideration.

I hope.

Mother drove onto the Cupboard parking lot and found a spot to park. Then without a word we both got out of the car and went for the entrance to the restaurant. Upon entry we found Bess near a booth close to the door and then stroll away from it in a split-second, apparently already done taking an order from a customer sitting at it. The elderly woman caught us coming in and beamed. She said as we came up to greet her, "Well good morning, you two."

Mom was all smiles when she responded, "Morning, Bess."

I just waved, "Hey."

Bess said, letting out a giggle, "I haven't seen you both since the other day. I was wondering if you two had already had enough of living here and moved back into the city."

Mom giggled, shaking her head, "No. We're still here."

"And hungry too I reckon." The old woman gazed right at my cheek, noticing the bandage on it. She showed a tiny bit of concern, "Hey, what happened to your cheek? Someone give you a boo-boo?"

I stated with a shrug, "Nah, no one did. Just an accident."

"Oh. Gotcha." Then she looked at the notepad for a second and looked at us as she was making a pace away, trying to rush herself out of this conversation, "Uh look, I just got this order and I better not keep him waiting. Have a seat and I'll be right with ya."

I nodded while mom replied, "Alright." We both went to find one while Bess went off to fulfill the order. Me and mom found a small square table for us to sit and we both each sat at opposite ends, facing each other. A minute later Bess came back and we ordered our drinks and our food, since we know what we both wanted anyway without looking through a menu.

A couple minutes after we got our drinks and as we waited for our food, me and mom were just plain quiet. We still haven't spoken a word to each other. While sitting around with her, even though breakfast hadn't arrived yet, I tried to go through with my plan and tried to tell her what I should be telling her, but I still couldn't bring myself to do it. I was trying to build up the guts but I was so nervous...VERY nervous.

Other than that, while I was building up the guts, because this was where I first met her I was gazing around at each booth and table in the restaurant for Cat, curious if she was eating here with her family today. I think because I was so nervous I was trying to make an excuse not to talk to mom about what I planned to talk to her about again. But in my mind I thought 'come on! You should tell her that you two have to get out of that house forever or you'll both die during one night!'

Besides that...I didn't find her anywhere. So no excuse there.

I looked at mom for a moment before I looked away. Come on, Matt! Talk to her so hopefully you and her will move out of that house! So what she'll send you away to a building full of nutty people if you do? Stop acting like the shy little boy you once were and freakin do it!

I was about to find my voice to talk to her, when mom herself spoke up with eyes full of worry, "Matthew?"

Well, guess this helps. I replied, "Yeah?"

She seemed hesitant at first to ask, but she did, "...Are you ok?"

I stared at her for a moment before I nodded and said, "Yeah, I'm fine." I narrowed my eyes a tiny bit, "What, you think I'm traumatized so much from last night that I'm not the same now? I've been through a traumatic event before and I was still the same before this one happened, remember? So I think I'm feeling a little fine."

Mom held her head up by her hand with her elbow on the table, "It's just what you said...It's bothering me."

"...I know." I told her flat out, "I'm not hallucinating or hearing crap if that's what you're worried about now."

Mom only looked at me in silence a little bit. Then she spoke, "Are you now?"

I leaned back in the chair, "Are you kidding me, what did I just say?"

"I heard what you said, Matthew..." Mom explained with both her hands now on her lap, "But before everything happened with your dad, he told me the same thing."

Come on already! I leaned a bit over and whispered loudly, "This is different!"

"But I think you're lying to yourself, Matthew."

"I am absolutely not!"

She glared and whispered back, "Then what's the talk about werewolves? Do you know how screwy that sounds? Are you still thinking about them?"

I admitted in a loud whisper, "Yes! I'll always think about them! You can never forget anything like that! And I'm talking about them because I DID see them!"

Mom pinched the bridge of her nose, "Oh, come on."

I shook my head furiously, "No mom, they are as real as you and me and everything else! They're real! And we have to leave our house...For good!"

She shot down her hand, glaring at me again and declining, "We can't just up and leave our house. We just moved there."

I nodded in agreement, "Sure we just moved there, but what we both didn't know at first is our new house is a deathtrap." When this certain thought popped up, I whispered it, "Hell, maybe the last owner of the house died because of them!"

Mom shot down that theory, "Don't be ridiculous. I never heard anything about that."

I waved my hand, "I don't care how charming that house is, we have to leave. We'll die one night if we don't."

Mom turned that down, "We can't."

"Mom, they know that I know about them. They'll probably come after me over and over till I'm dead."

That time she held her hand to her forehead, clearly distressed, "Oh my god."

"Or until we're BOTH dead."

Mom played into this a little without hesitation after looking at me again, "They wouldn't kill me cause I don't believe you."

I shook my head at that, "I have a feeling they won't care whether you do or not. They probably don't like loose ends. And with YOU being a cop, they definitely won't take any chances letting you live." I shrugged my shoulders with raised brows, "Why pass up on good food?"

Glaring at me, she stared at me for a bit without another word. Then she got up, went around the table to my end and right away pulled me off my chair. She dragged me across the floor by my arm, and I did not protest at all. She dragged me till we went through the front door and standing outside in front of the restaurant. Mom let me go, turning herself swiftly to face me. After I faced her, she started off in a irritated tone, "Matthew..." She sharply shoved her finger toward me, "Enough of this nonsense."

I hollered right at her in reply, "God damn it, mom, please you have to believe me! We've got to move out of that house before dark today!"

She dropped her hand, closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and opened them up and said, "I told you twice now we can't. We have nowhere else to go."

I insisted, "Sure there is! We can go to a motel or something! Or we can just go back to Pittsburgh!"

"The house there is sold, Matthew, we can't go back to Pittsburgh. Fall Creek IS our home."

"But I don't want to live in the woods anymore, don't you get it?!"

She tried to shush me, "Keep your voice down, we're still in public."

I lowered down my voice when I went on, "...Look, if you want to live here, great, then let's literally LIVE in this town."

Unfortunately, mom said, "We can't and you know that." I groaned, turning my back on her. Damn! Now what do I do?! I felt her hand touch my shoulder a minute later, and heard her say behind me, "Matthew...What are you doing?"

I frowned up at her question, glancing back a bit and barely seeing her behind me. I asked, "What?"

"What are you doing really?" Mom clarified, her tone clearly suspicous, "I mean why are you acting this way right now a few days after moving into our new house?" I slowly turned fully around to face her with a confused look. Then she brought up, "You never wanted to live in the woods...You wanted to live in town."

I gave her a glare, "What are you saying?"

Her eyes held accusation, "Well, you admitted you did not want to live in that house, then days later you're suddenly pulling this, saying you were in danger and we both will be and we have to leave the woods for good...I have a feeling now there is more to this than I originally thought."

"What are you talking about?"

"Be honest with me, Matthew....Did you plan all this so we could move away?"

I was appalled, "What?!" That's what she's implying?! She thinks I planned THIS?! I protested loudly, not caring that we are in public, "No! What I wanted before has nothing to do with this! I saw what I saw! I went through what I went through!"

She spoke with disbelief, "I believe what you said you went through was all an act, even when you cried when I found you out on the road. The cut on your face...Well, I still don't know if it was really an accident or if it was delibertate-"

"It was an accident." I fortified my position, "And I wasn't acting and the werewolves ARE REAL!"

Mom shook her head, "No, they're not. You're saying they are and you were attacked by them so you could trick me into agreeing that we should leave."

"Come on, I trippped over a dead animal and had blood on my clothes!"

"Maybe..." She threw another accusation at me, "Or maybe there was no dead animal and that blood wasn't real after all. You probably got some fake blood from someone in town. And after you got some on you, you played all of this from the gecko. And maybe you have let Tobey run loose last night so that way you'll be consistent with this ploy you're doing."

I threw my gaze and hand up in the air, "You gotta be kidding me!"

When I turned away a bit, she pressed me to answer, "Well which is it? You are either nuts, or you are lying and trying to play me. Which of the two?"

I answered without hesitation, "Neither."

But mom rejected, "I don't believe you. It can't be neither. Now which is it?"

That's when I've had it. I began to walk past her and away, grumbling to myself, "I can't believe this is happening to me."

Mom called out, "Matthew, wait, we're not done. Where are you going?"

I stopped and turned to cast my eyes back to her, "You know what, mom? What do you care? I wouldn't want to ruin your happiness of being in a new home in the middle of the beautiful, lively wilderness by acting like a crazy person like someone you married to. Yeah, sure wouldn't want to act like a dick and ruin everything. Hell, MAYBE I SHOULD turn myself in to an asylum so you can have fun living here without me. That's where I'm probably going. Have a good day." After all that, I went on with my walk without looking back, that angry look still evident on my face.

I trotted fast for a long time, until I slowed down and looked back, no Country Cupboard in sight. I looked down at my feet, having a calming breath in my lungs and slowly letting that out. Wow...I don't believe it. First she thought I was crazy, now she thinks I was lying and playing this 'trick' so we could move out!

This is bullshit! This is worse than before!

My stomach growled for food, but I didn't care about that. I didn't want to go back to the Cupboard and see her. I huffed. I'll just eat later. Walking on the block, I thought about Kent, Rachel and Andy. I gotta tell someone else about the werewolves. I don't think they know about them. I started to jog, my mind on heading for their house. I'll head to their house now. I need some help getting out of this.

I hope they will believe me.

*****

Rachel looked quizzical as she said, "What?"

Andy, while he sat beside her on the couch, looked the same too when he asked also, "Are you serious?"

I reaffirmed my claim while I sat on a chair in front of them, "Yes. It's just as I said. The woods I'm living in are crawling with werewolves, and they tried to kill me! Luckily mom found me on the main road before they did. Like real damn lucky."

The two of them just blinked, like they didn't believe me.

I did reach Rachel's house a bit after I abandoned mom at The Cupboard. At the door I found out Rachel had skipped school today and was alone with Andy and her dad went to work. I wanted Kent to know about it too, but I guess telling Rachel and Andy my problem would be enough for now. They both did notice the bandage on my cheek like Bess had, but I gave them the same answer as I gave her. I didn't waste time after getting in the house. I ushered the two of them into the living room, and we sat down so I could talk. They were a bit confused to why I was acting so rushed to tell them something, but they didn't have to wait long.

I told them the very beginning at first, Tobey escaping his chain and running off into the woods and I went to look for him. Then after I got to the point where I found the dead deer, after they were shocked at the mere mention of it, they got confused when I told them that I've found and was chased by werewolves.

And sure enough...I'm getting the same result just like from my mother. I can tell they did not believe me. Figures as much.

Andy mentioned with a brow raised, "I suppose you got this idea from that movie we watched yesterday? Nice try, dude."

Rachel giggled in disbelief, "Yeah come on, werewolves? Is that really the best you could do to scare us from entering the woods? Gotta do better than that cuz that doesn't scare me at all."

I told them both, "Well you should be. You seriously don't believe me?"

The only girl in the room shook her head no, "Nope."

Andy had the same answer, "Nada."

Damn it. I groaned, "Guys, listen, I know what this sounds like, trust me, but this is serious. This isn't a joke and it's not a lie. I literally saw them. Real-life werewolves! They were hairy! They had pointy ears!" I held my hands out and made them look like I was getting ready to claw someone, "They had teeth, and claws! And god, they were tall! Taller than your dad probably, Rachel!"

Andy and Rachel just stared at me, then the boy with the geeky voice asked with a grin and a little giggle, "I never thought you were the type, maybe it's a long shot, but did you find some weed in the woods and smoked it? Cause if you did, please bring me some. Not like I haven't done drugs before." Rachel chuckled beside him.

I groaned, getting my butt off the chair, "I didn't do drugs! I was clean!"

Rachel rolled her eyes, "That's what they all say."

Andy held up his hands, saying playfully, "Hey, don't worry, we won't tell your mom on you. We're not tattletales like you are, Mr. Tattletale."

I cursed, "Oh for fuck's sake!"

Rachel formed a glare, "Don't get mad. We were only messing with you."

I retorted, "Well I wasn't. I told you this is serious!"

Rachel wiped that look then shortly gave me a nod, "Well I'm serious too now."

"Me too." Andy cleared his throat, seriously asking, "So you never smoked anything? Because if you had, and it's okay to admit to us that you did, then there are some hallucinagenic side effects from these sort of things."

I replied, "I know what a recreational drug does, and no, never had."

"Ok, then it was too dark and you imagined you saw something like that." I let out a breath, looking down away from them. He stated factly, "I mean you did wander around in the woods a little without a flashlight on. I'd be imagining stuff too if I was all alone like that without a light source."

I shot my eyes back onto them, protesting, "I wasn't imagining stuff! It really happened."

Andy argued, "Look man, werewolves do not exist. They're just a bunch of myth and folklore."

I nodded three times, stating in adamance, "Yeah, well, what we all thought is wrong." My hand rose and closed around my neck, "I mean god, one of them grabbed my neck and lifted me off the ground. You call that imaginary?"

Rachel said, "Well that does sound like a unique thing to make up."

I shouted, "I'm not making this up!" I sucked in a breath and asked, "Alright, then let me ask you this question...Were there ANY animal attacks in Fall Creek? People found dead and eaten in the woods? You guys lived here for a long time so I'm sure you've heard of something like that. Right?"

Rachel furrowed her brow as she seemed to put some thought into it, "Mmmm." Finally she said, "No. Not that I know of."

Andy answered as well, "I don't think so. I don't think anything like that happened around here for as long as I can remember."

I dipped my head, "Oh." So no animal attacks happened around here before I moved here? Sure you'd think someone wouldn't live to tell about the werewolves if they encountered them, but come on, someone would've found a body, or pieces, left behind if there were.

I guess either the monsters were clever and don't attack innocent people unless they have to, or not many people go into the woods. I don't know.

Andy insisted, "I think we're right, anyway. No weird animal attacks happened here, as far as we know." He stood off his seat and walked towards me. When he stopped in front of me he stated without any doubt in his voice, "Listen, I believe you've REALLY accepted what you thought you saw. For the last time dude, werewolves don't exist. Just like I said about ghosts the other day. They don't either. Period. The supernatural cannot exist."

Rachel nodded, agreeing with him, "Andy's right. I don't think there's anything out there. Maybe he's right about the darkness making your imagination run wild."

Wish it was. I gazed at Andy first then Rachel still sitting around second. That's when I said with a dull voice, "But you're wrong." Their eyes went wide. I went on, "You are wrong, I know what I saw, they were real, and they're out there in the night." I gave Andy's shoulder a friendly pat and whirled around on him, trotting for the front door of the house, "Sorry to trouble you guys."

Andy tried to stop me with his voice, "No Matt, come on." I quickly made it to the rug where all our shoes piled together and began slipping them on.

Rachel got up from the couch and jogged to where I was, "Matt!" After getting the other shoe on, she stopped me with her hand grabbing mine, "Matt." I looked at her, right at her insistent eyes as she pleaded, "Stay with us. You just got here."

But I said, "Rach, I already troubled you guys enough today."

"You're not troubling us." She smiled, "I have an idea. Since you're so worried about what you saw, why don't you spend the night here? We could all watch movies together in Andy's room." Andy while still in the living room beamed and gave me two thumbs up.

I shook my head, "It won't make a difference. I'll still be going back home."

"Then maybe we can come over to your house and keep you company while your mom's off doing nightshift. Is she tonight? We'll-"

I warned, "If I were you two, I'd stay away from my house. Particularly away from the woods at night. It's not a good idea." I managed to pull my hand away from hers, "And since you don't believe me, just stay out of it. Alright? I'll talk to you later." Without even a reply from either of them, I pulled the wooden door open and emerged outside. I quickly stepped off the porch, having a quick peek over my shoulder and seeing Rachel watching me leave through the open doorway. I looked ahead, hearing the door squeak and close a moment later.

On the sidewalk near Rachel's mailbox, I just stood there, pondering what I should do now. Well, my mother doesn't believe me, also thinks I'm plotting to get us to move out of our house, and my two new friends don't believe me either.

Fuck.

Well...What else should I do?

Then I was finding myself thinking about Cat again. I gasped, shooting my gaze towards the direction of her mansion. Wait a minute...She and her family live in the woods. For a long time I'm sure. I'm betting they must've seen or heard something strange out there like I have. Maybe they know the werewolves exist too!

I should get over to that mansion and talk to Cat. See if she knows anything. Besides, me and Cat made a plan for me to come over to her house today anyways.

With that thought in mind, I began my second journey to Cat's mansion.

*****

I strode on the dirt road to Cat's place. On my way there, I had Cat's father Elias in my head. I breathed out in a tiny, nervous matter. Her dad has been on my mind all the way up to here, like a lightbulb turning on and off, and on and off. I think I was a little nervous knowing how he acts towards strangers...Particularly based on what Andy told me. I seriously hoped he wouldn't try to pick a fight with me. After all I wasn't coming there for trouble.

Like I said to Cat, if he does get angry at me for seeing me talking to her, then he'll just have to get used to me.

Cat appeared in my head once again. I honestly hope she wouldn't think I was nuts after I tell her what I went through. I was tired of being called crazy as it is. I even hoped she wouldn't think I was lying or playing a joke just to scare her, cause I sure as hell know I was not doing neither. But I was also still certain with confidence that maybe she had seen a werewolf out here, and maybe her whole family and boyfriend did too. They live in the woods for a long time, so how would they not know something like that is out here?

I'm thinking they never said anything about them, even Cat never said anything about that to me when we started talking to each other, because of how silly and impossible that sounded. Pretty understandable. And I kinda cannot get over the fact that the werewolves haven't killed them all yet.

They're lucky I guess. And I probably wasn't as lucky as they were.

A few seconds later, I came across the huge mansion. I headed up on the grass for the double front doors. I even gazed through several windows on the building to see if I could see anyone seeing me coming up. I didn't see anybody watching me. As I was halfway to those doors, I slowed down a bit, the nervousness about Elias creepin up on me. Matt, don't let her dad stop you. Be a man and knock on that door!

My chest grew some confidence and it pushed my legs to move faster. When I made it to the double doors, I raised my hand and knocked on one of them four times. I stepped back and waited for someone to come. Finally a minute later, someone opened up the door in front of my eyes. I was smiling before it would reveal whoever answered.

With the door opened all the way, it revealed a man who was way older than me and Cat with long brown hair, slim figure, and he was wearing an eyepatch on his right eye. I frowned. Who's he? Never seen him before. The man asked in a grumpy tone, "What do you want?"

I put on a smile and replied politely, "Uh, hello there. I'm-"

"I know who you are. You came here yesterday. Now what do you want?" In his one working eye, I can tell he was PRETTY MAD, "You came to see my daughter again?"

"Your daughter?" My eyes went wide for a sec when I realized who it was. Then I giggled a bit and said afterward, "Oh wait! You are Elias, right?"

He replied like he was annoyed, "Yes."

I put a hand to my chest, "Gosh, I'm sorry about that. I didn't recognize you at first."

Elias replied heatedly, "Funny considering we NEVER met up close."

As I lowered my hand off my chest, my smile melted off my face from his attitude. I responded, "I think it's because your daughter warned me about you."

"Well she did the right thing."

My eyes inspected the eyepatch he wore. I asked, changing the subject, "Say, what happened to your eye? I saw you from a distance yesteday, but I don't remember you wearing that."

My friend's father immediately brushed that off, "My eye is not important."

Okay, then. I nodded, forming another smile, "Alright...Then is Cat here? I want to talk to her about something."

He declinded, "I don't think so."

I frowned, "Why? She not here?"

Elias's eye shot up as he answered, "She's upstairs in her room, grounded for the rest of the day. And I suggest you get off my property."

I tilted my head a bit, "Uh, I thought it was Albert's property."

His face along with his working eye showed fury, as he made a threatening step toward me and shoved a finger to my chest, "Don't push me."

I backed away with my hands up, "Hey, whoah, I'm not looking for trouble."

"By coming here, you found it. And since I'm in a tiny bit of a good mood, I'm giving you a chance to walk away without any pain, and NEVER come back here."

I dropped my limbs down and replied, "Look, Cat is my friend. And I'm hers. You can't keep us from seeing each other."

Elias said as if he was sure of himself, "I can, and I will. You are not her friend and I am keeping it that way."

I narrowed my eyes, "Hey look, I never did anything wrong to her. I-"

Elias snapped, "Yes you fucking have!" I jumped back a bit with a wide face, "Don't pretend you haven't done anything wrong to her, cause you sure as well have."

I tried to deflect his accusation, "But I-"

"Shut up and listen." He went on to warn me, "If I were you, I'd stay the fuck away from me, stay the fuck away from my family, stay the fuck away from here, and most of all...Stay the fuck away from my daughter. Otherwise you'll regret it...TEN FOLD. I promise you that. Now get out of here, never come back here, and goodbye!" He stepped back into the house and slammed the door in my face.

I formed a glare. Wow...Our first conversation didn't last long. Cat and Andy definitely were right about him. What an ass...And a bit unpredictable. I dropped my gaze down and sighed, then turned around to walk away. Well, better not make him mad. Best get out of here and get home. Don't think I have anything else planned. While pacing away from the brick-made mansion I looked back momentarily, right at the second floor windows, wondering if Cat heard her dad and is watching me leave through one of them. I didn't see her through none of them. I let out a huff, and stopped short when I stepped onto the dirt road out of here.

I found a walking trail that's off the road and into the woods. That gave me an idea, another way of how to get home. Cat met me in the woods while I was walking in them one time. Maybe this was the same trail me and her used when she met up with me. I bet I'll get home a bit faster using this. I nodded, walking off the road and onto the trail. Yeah, it's ain't dark outside, so why not?

Birds tweeted throughout as I paced through the wilderness. I didn't wander off the trail at all as I continued to follow it. I was focused on getting home. I shot my eyes behind me, finding that I was already far from the mansion. I looked ahead, seeing where I was going. While walking, I thought about Cat, thinking she was probably sad that her dad rejected me and kicked me off of their home. This was what she was afraid of. Her father scaring me off and I would never see her again. I smirked. But I wasn't scared that easily. Sure his attitude made me nervous, but he didn't scare me out of his daughter's life. I told her I would never stop talking to her, and I was keeping my word.

I know we would see each other again, but probably not there.

I hummed in thought. Wonder when we'll see each other again? Tomorrow? I guess I'll find out. Then I thought about the other reason why I went to the mansion, and held a glum look. Tomorrow? Yeah, if I'll survive till the the next morning. Guess I'll definitely find out. I heaved out a sigh. Now that I was thinking about it, what sucked about this botched visit was I didn't talk to her or any of her family about the werewolves. I shrugged my shoulders. Well, if I survive tonight, then I'm sure there'll be other times to do that.

Please god, let me survive another night.

I trotted across the woods for a while until I came across something I didn't expect. A large round patch of dirt that has five different dirt paths at each different spot at the edge including the one I'm standing on. That's a bunch of paths to walk on. I gazed around, thinking which should I take. Well...Judging by the direction of my house... I looked at one at the far side of the patch. I think I'll take this one. This might be it. I nodded, strolling across the circle of dirt and walking on the path I picked out.

For a long time after taking that path, I was still moving along on it. Which I figured since my house was a little far from the mansion, each standing near both far sides of town and all. But after several minutes of exercise, I think I was recognizing where I was at. Then finally, I showed up at the edge of the woods, staring at my own, small house. I chuckled to myself as I headed towards my house. There we go! I knew I took the right one. It appeared mom wasn't home either, since the car wasn't parked upfront. Which that seemed like a good idea at the moment. I still wasn't in the mood to see her after earlier.

When I was right near the front porch, my moment of happiness just flew out of my body. I slowed down my pace when I caught something lying in front of the front door. I walked slowly up the porch steps, having a closer look at what it was. What is that? That's when I saw up close that it was a little animal lying in a heap.

A dead raccoon.

I held a hand to my mouth. Jesus! I muttered out loud as I slowly pulled it off my lips, "What...The hell?" What's it doing here? I crouched down, examining it. This wasn't here when me and mom left. Who left it here? Judging by how it died, it apparently was mauled to death by some predator. Teeth marks and bloodied scratches covered the poor critter's hide. I stood up high over the body. Somebody left it here. But...Who...?

I quietly sucked in some air. The werewolves? Then I saw something stuck on the front door. I carefully stepped over the raccoon and pulled what it appeared to be a piece of paper off there. It was a note. I backed away and began reading it, which the words that were written in pencil were all big and bold like somebody who wrote it was very pissed:

THIS IS WHAT YOU ARE. ANOTHER CRITTER TO BE HUNTED. THIS IS WHAT YOU'LL END UP BEING. GET OUT OF OUR WOODS! STAY OUT OF OUR TERRITORY! OR YOU'LL END UP LIKE THIS PUNY THING!

I gasped, dropping the paper. My god...They did it. This was just a warning. But this wasn't here when me and mom left here. Maybe one of the werewolves delivered the carcass and the message as a normal human being, after we were gone.

Who was it? Who are they?

Upon this discovery, dread filled up my chest. We have to get out of here. Me and mom have to get away from this place. I looked down at the raccoon. Maybe if I show this and the note to mom, she'll have to believe me! Then I was having second thoughts. Or would she? She'll probably think I had something to do with this, probably after since I left her at the restaurant. Perhaps she might say that I, after coicidentally finding a raccoon that was dead and wasn't totally eaten, kept it and hid it somewhere and left it here when the time came, and I was the one who wrote the note and stuck it on the door.

Not like she hasn't accused me of playing her before.

I cursed lowly, "God damn it." I sighed. Well...Don't think leaving this here will do any good. I better throw this poor guy in the trash. I immediately went in the house, greeted by little barks from Brendi the chihuahua, and went to the kitchen to grab me a black trash bag. I found one right away, and a rag to pick up the dead animal. With both in tow, I ran back outside. Soon, with the help of the rag, I managed to pick up the raccoon by its ring-tail, while holding my breath to prevent from hurling all over the porch. I dropped it in the open bag, then I dropped the rag I used on the ground for now. After tying the trash bag closed, I picked it up and carried it to the dumpster.

I was about to step off the porch when I actually caught something on the ground, on the small amount of dirt in front of the house. Something I didn't see before I walked up here. I squinted, kneeling down for a better look. What's...?

I found a few pawprints. Huge pawprints. Just like the ones I found at the backyard the other day.

They're...Werewolf prints!

I stood up straight, my gaze not leaving the prints. They weren't here before, just like the note and raccoon. I'm sure they weren't. I know that for a fact cause I remember looking down when me and mom walked off the porch earlier today. I was definitely sure they weren't there before.

An alarm went off in my head at this discovery. Wait a minute...Werewolves only transform during the night under the full moon! Right now it's day!

That's impossible!

Unless...

I gasped sharply.

I remember from watching that werewolf movie 'The Howling' that this sort of thing was possible. And I also now just remembered that last night...It didn't have a full moon in the sky. My blood turned cold when my mind came to this conclusion. Oh, no...

The werewolves don't need the full moon to transform.

They can do that anytime they want...EVEN DURING THE DAY!