A Wolf's Nightmare

Chapter 12

Jason
"Hailey, what's going on? Why do we have to go through Taylor's stuff?" I asked as I took a seat on Taylor's bed. I'm going to be honest with myself. This is the first time I actually see Taylor's room, but it looks better than mine. It's hard to believe that Taylor owns a flat screen T.V. and a collection of some of the greatest movies of all time. I can't believe he hardly spends time in here.

"I already told you. There's something eating him alive, something that caused his sleeping problems. We need to find whatever it is," she pulled open one of his drawers and found Taylor's boxers. "Now I know Taylor's choice in underwear," was all she said before closing the drawer and opening another one.

"How is going through the guy's clothes going to help us?" I asked her. "Or were you going to steal his boxers?"

She ignored me and moved on to the desk drawers. "I knew he was hiding something! I found a false drawer in his desk." I walked over and watched as she opened it, quite curious to see what Taylor keeps hidden.

Inside the drawer was the photo and slip of paper he received on Christmas, a ruined photo album, a stuffed bear, and a journal.

"Wow I never expected him to have any of this. Is that his journal?" I asked no one in particular.

Hailey shook her head no. "I remember these items. They were given to Taylor by the association, whatever could be saved from his house." I picked up the journal as she picked up the bear. "I remember when Mrs. Henderson brought this to him. It was the second time I tried talking with him. He had told me his mom made it for him for his birthday but he wouldn't take it back with him. I brought it to his room later, but left it by the door when I heard him crying."

I began flipping through the pages until I found an interesting looking page. I decided to read aloud as Hailey began to carefully go through the album.

"Today is November 18, 1997, Nicholas and I are grateful to have our little miracle, but we know what we have to do next. Shawn and Taylor can't be together because of a mistake we made as parents. I look at my baby boy resting peacefully in his father's arms, and can't help but feel like this one is special. There is a reason why that couple wanted Taylor, but there's something strange about them. They continued to give me a strange liquid, saying it would make my baby strong. They reassured me I would be alright and it won't hurt Taylor, so I took it. Just by looking at him, I could see how my little boy will change the world. Nicholas can see it too, and we agreed this child has to be protected from that couple. Taylor is different. He holds the key to a new world. I just hope he chooses the right one."

Hailey couldn't hide the sympathy she was surely feeling as she found a picture of a young woman, no older than sixteen, with a guy, about seventeen years old, holding a newborn in their arms. I began to sense the presence of another vampire and quickly hid the small journal under his bed, figuring I could get it later. Hailey returned the album and the bear back to it's rightful place as we heard the front door unlock. The sound of the door opening made Hailey close the drawer as quickly and quietly as she could, before pushing me down on his bed, and whispering "play along" before she pressed her lips against mine.

Taylor had already entered the house, closed the door, and made his way to his room. "What in God's name is going on in my room? Why couldn't you do this in someone else's bedroom. I sleep here... Most of the time." The guy was covered in blood, but he didn't seem to be injured anywhere.

"What happened to you? Did you fight wolfy?" Hailey asked him.

He shook his head no. "I didn't fight Austin. The rest of the pack is a little beat up," he answered. "I'm still waiting for an explanation, you know. I won't let you change the subject."

I sat up on my elbows and looked him in the eye. "What do you think we were doing?"

He rolled his eyes before saying, "you're an idiot." He began searching his room for any signs of disturbance until his eyes landed on his desk. "What were you two looking for? This room is off limits, so what in the world was so important in my desk?"

I calmly responded "that's actually a very interesting story. Hailey, tell him the story."

She hit my arm before turning her attention to him. "We needed to find the information on Austin's wolf buddies for Parker."

He opened the drawer above the one with a secret compartment, pulled out a file and handed it to her. "Go home, sis. Your dad is going to be worried about you," he said avoiding her eyes.

"No, he won't. I'm a well-trained hunter. If anything tried to hurt me, I'll kill them," she responded.

Taylor's calm face became irritated as he repeated his words. "Go home, sis" again. This time, Hailey stood up, said goodbye, and made her way out the house. Taylor took a seat on his computer chair, undid his torn shirt, and threw it to the ground. "There goes another shirt I have to pay for. All because that stupid wolf wanted to play." He walked over to his closet, threw on a random shirt, and sat down to power his laptop. "What's the real reason you went through my stuff?"

I shook my head no. "I wasn't doing it. Hailey was the one who wanted to," I answered. "She found your drawer. The past you try to hide." I noticed his fingers clench tightly into fists before he took a deep breath and relaxed.

"Do me a favor. As a friend, don't remind me of those again. Please, keep Hailey out of my desk. Some things are better left undiscovered."

This is still kind of strange for me, but seeing him look so... So broken and vulnerable that I just have to agree.

"Don't worry, man. I'll keep her away from your room as best as I can. In return, I need you to promise you're going to work out this whole sleeping issue. You're scaring everyone, and honestly, it's scaring me too. I don't understand what you're going through, but for Brenda's sake, get help."

He turned from the screen to look at me. He knew I was being serious. I have no doubt he understood. After thinking it through, he opened his mouth.