Chapter 6

Preston kicked twigs and fallen sticks as he walked through the forest. His teeth were clenched and he could have punched a hole into the strongest tree. He was angry, betrayed, and he felt as if his life was fallen apart.
"I hate this," Preston muttered. "My girlfriend is gone. My best friend is gone. My team is gone. And my dad hates me. What else can go wrong?"

Suddenly he heard a low, deep growl. The hair on his neck stood up. "H-hello?" Preston called into the darkness. He squinted his eyes and thought he saw a shadow disappear behind a tree.
A twig snapped and he whirled around. "Lawson? Tracey?" He called. Although he knew it wasn't them he prayed it was.

A shadowed figure ran passed him and into the darkness. It was an animal. He picked up a stick and banged it by a nearby tree. It shook as he hit it and tremors were sent up the branch, stinging his hand.
A growl sounded once more and he whipped around and began running.
Stupid idea.
He tripped over his own feet and stumbled down a small slope. He crashed into a tree. His back hitting it hard. Pain coursed throughout his body and he clenched his jaw.
He looked up and saw a black shadow stalking towards him. Dark, black, soul-less eyes pierced through the darkness. It was a wolf. Probably the black one he managed to dodge earlier. There was no dodging now. The black wolf-like figure crept closer until it was a foot away. Suddenly it let out an ear piercing howl and lunged. He felt razor sharp teeth meet with his flesh and he tightened his eyes and yelled in pain. His bruising back was nothing compared to the fire running through his veins at the moment. Than, there was darkness. Like a wave the shadows washed over him, dragging his deep into the depths of dark and despair. He closed his eyes and he was gone.

~~~~~~~~~

Preston awoke at his house. His eyes fluttered open and his head was throbbing as well as his back. "Was it a dream?" Preston asked himself. His dad walked into his room. "Your here! I looked in at midnight and you were still out. With Tracey I suppose," He said.
Preston clenched his teeth but relaxed. Not only was his back and head in pain but his whole body. "Ow," He groaned.
"Rough night, eh?" Mr Hale chuckled and walked out, closing the door as he left.
Preston lifted the blankets away from him and revealed he was still in the clothes he wore last night. They were stained and torn from the fall. His arm felt numb and he moved the part of his shirt covering his left shoulder. A bloody bite mark was shown.
"What the hell," Preston said. "How'd I get home? How'd I escape the wolf?"
He looked around his room and spotted claw marks near his window. "Wha-" He squinted his eyes. There wasn't just claw marks, but bloody claw marks as well.

Preston got up slowly and showered and dressed. He cleaned his bite and took a few pills to ease the pain. "I don't understand anything."
He made his way downstairs and into the kitchen. "Dad, I'm going out for brunch," he said.
"Hm," Mr Hale mumbled without looking up from his paper and coffee.
Preston got in his truck and raced along the road until he made it to the Grill.
He got out and entered the Grill. He stopped a waitress who was balancing four plates. "Excuse me miss, where is the waiter who was attacked by that wolf?"
The waitress frowned. "I'm busy. Ask someone else." With that she left him alone. Preston cussed and looked around. He spotted Annalee who was making her way over to him. "What are you doing here? Why are you asking for that waiter?" She asked suspiciously.
"My dad's the sheriff. I'm curious." Preston stated.

"That's not it. Is it?" Annalee asked.
"Come," She grabbed his arm and brought him to Lucas who was sitting in a booth.
"What is he doing here?" Lucas muttered.
"He's asking around for the guy who was attacked," Annalee explained.
"Why?" Lucas growled. "What's it to you?"
"I'm just curious. That's all. Why are you two so defensive?" Preston snapped.

Lucas shifted in his seat and Annalee looked away.
"That's how it's going to be? Your the only ones allowed to ask questions?" Preston muttered.
"No. You shouldn't be here you know," Annalee said.
"You are the one who brought me over here, remember?" Preston rolled his eyes.
"This isn't a joking matter, Preston." Annalee said crossly.
"Who said I was joking around?" Preston questioned.
He got up to leave and Annalee got up.
"I'm sorry," She muttered.
"Y'know I've heard that a lot lately but I don't think it's ever real," Preston replied sharply. He turned to leave but Annalee reached out for him. She grabbed his shirt by accident and pulled it, revealing the bite mark.
Annalee gasped and Lucas looked up to see the problem. "Damn it," He snapped.
"What? What's going on?" Preston asked.
Lucas got up and headed for the Grill entrance to leave. Annalee followed. "Come," she demanded.