Hell Beast

Running

I bolt up to see Liv a hundred feet away, gawking at me. My mind freezes. Liv can see me in beast form. She must hate me. I turn and run.

"Cameron! Wait!" She yells after me, but I ignore her.

I run as fast as I can, stumbling and tripping over roots. I stay in beast form, as I can run much faster that way. I run faster than I ever had, running from the girl I love.

Tears begin to cloud my eyes. I don't bother wiping them away, letting them stream down my face. The girl I love hates me.

I still love her.

I crash through trees, running in the direction of what I hope is my house. I feel branches tearing at my skin, but I don't care. I've lost Liv.

After a half hour of running, I trip over a root. I land face first in the dirt. I don't bother getting up, but just lie there, crying. I don't even shift into human form. I decide to let my instincts completely take over, so I don't feel anything.

As I feel them take over, I notice the absence of the ambition to hunt. I don't crave blood. Actually, I do crave blood. But not animal blood.

I'm craving my own blood.

To see it pouring out of me. To watch as it covers my skin. To feel the pain.

I get up and begin to walk, in a random direction. I need to clear my head. I take a deep breath and shift back, instantly feeling relief.

A million thoughts still fly through my head. Liv hates me. Or does she? I need to get home. What about the light energy? Why is shifting becoming so easy? Why do I have to be the "chosen one" or whatever?

I walk around a lake I've don't recognize. I believe I may be walking towards Liv's house, but I'm unsure. I honestly have no idea where I am. There are animals around me, their chorus of cries helping me to relax.

A minute later, I hear a blood curling scream. It sounds halfway human, deadly and painful. I shift, preparing to fight whatever beast is crying or causing the crying.

I scan the tree line as I continue around the perimeter of the lake. I swear I see a brown blur run back into the forest. I continue, figuring it is just a large bear.

Crawling forward, I carefully move around. I don't want to be caught off guard by the creature.

I see a trail of blood, leading into the trees. I follow it quickly. Up ahead, I see a body lying face down. I run to it and study it. It is a young boy, covered in blood. He is obviously dead. I flip him over.

It's Sawyer.