The White Wolf in the Dark.

Chapter 1.

(!!!DISCLAIMER!!! Kirkwood, Missouri is a real place, but none of the characters, places, or events actually happened. I repeat none of the characters, places, or events exist. This is all for entertainment purposes!!!)

(ALSO!!! This may change!!! This isn't for certain, but it may happen so be wary!!!)

In the town that Jayce Monroe had lived in for his whole life, Kirkwood Missouri, people were disappearing. He knew it was happening, just like everyone else, but nobody ever wanted to acknowledge it.

Jayce sat bored in English class, waiting for the bell to ring. Being a Sophomore, he had Mrs. Durant, or as all her students call her, Mrs. Distant, which meant that she barely ever paid attention to the students, and mostly they were passed without doing much. Therefore, most kids sat in the back and texted or passed notes around.

He knew to dread the notes, as most of them were about his attitude or the way he wore his hood up where ever he went, or how he never looked at anyone in the eye or the way he avoided anyone and everyone in town, besides his best friend, Anthony Waters, who was also seen as an outcast.

That's the differences between this book and most teen drama. This isn't the book where the cute guy gets the hot girl. This is the book of the weird meets the weirder. And what follows suit could never be good. Like death.

As he sat in class, he felt an insufferable need for a 'cancer stick,' as his parents had called it during their lecture on teen smoking and how it could affect the lungs. They had caught him with a pack, and wouldn't let him out of the house for weeks. That's the thing about his parents; if you did one thing wrong, no matter how small, they punished you for it for as long as they could.

He raised his hand, and the teacher looked up and asked impatiently, "Yes, Jay?" He looked to the ground and mumbled, as he always did, "Bathroom?" She blinked. She then waved her hand and went back to whatever she was doing, the telltale sign of what everyone took as "Whatever, do what you want."

Everyone knew what he was really doing. His few friends, the gossiping classmates, the teachers, his parents. None of them could stop it either, no matter how much they tried. So, he walked out to the side exit of the school. The alarm had broken and they didn't bother fixing it. He sat against the wall and lit up one of his Marlboro, sliding down the wall until he sat on the cold, hard ground.

He sat back, letting the smoke slide into his lungs, then he breathed out and felt the satisfaction of it, closing his eyes. He hadn't had one since last night, and he really needed it. He opened his eyes as he heard the door open, and glanced at whoever the intruder was. He jumped, at first, then slid back into relaxation.

 "I knew I'd find you here," said Anthony as he sat beside Jayce. Jayce pulled out another Marlboro and held it out to Anthony, who took it and stuck it between his chapped lips. His voice came out muffled as he spoke, "D'ya guh ah light?" Without responding, Jayce held out his lighter, no longer looking at his friend. He waited for the sound of the spark, then held his hand out, which Anthony replaced the lighter into. His zippo was always with him, so there was no point in Anthony even asking if he had it.

As he walked back into the classroom, the bell rung, and Jayce sighed.

Lunch. Perfect.

He got his stuff slowly, waiting for everyone else to leave before him. He walked to his locker, which was down the hall, closest to the exit. He stuffed his books inside and stared longingly at the door to freedom. From everyone. From everything. Of course, it was only a dream. He'd have to come back at some point.

He walked towards the lunchroom and grabbed his tray of food he wasn't going to eat. He didn't bother looking for a place to sit. He knew that the sports table would be full, the drama table would be full, the nerds were too smart for him, and all the normos would rather jump off a bridge than to be seen with him.

So, instead, he did as he always did. He walked out to the back of the school, through hallways that no teachers went down and left. He threw his tray and walked out to the woods. He had about 25 minutes before he'd have to go back to class. So, he started to read.

His eyes lifted slowly off the page, as he heard a crunch. It was almost silent like a twig had been broken, but nobody was around. He looked in circles around him, and then he saw a figure.

He jumped out of his skin, then realized who it was. "Hey man, why are you so on edge all of a sudden?" Jay shook his head, looking at the ground. He didn't talk much, and when he did, it was too quiet for anyone other than anyone who was listening to hear. He didn't even do it on purpose, it just kind of... happens.

Nobody pointed it out. He knew why. Nobody wanted to talk to him, either.

Nobody wanted to hear him.

They'd hear soon.