chapter 1

Chapter one

16 year old Peter Archer felt like his lungs were going to collapse, or better still, explode. There must have been some kind of fire burning somewhere in his chest.

He strangely couldn't remember what it was that he was running from but he knew it wasn't anything good.

He didn't even have the slightest idea of how he had gotten to this place. Last time he checked, he was in his house.

His legs kept running, and no matter how much he tried, they didn't pause. It was more like they had a mind of their own.

He must have been in a kind of jungle because he was surrounded by tall trees. It was also dark, so dark that he could barely see up to two feets ahead. He was confused as to where he was running to.

Why was he running bare footed in a forest trail? Why was he feeling so much fear around? Even the air seemed like it was still.

He burst out onto a paved road, leaving the canopy of the trees, the moon shone down on his golden coloured hair.

He was still scared but also a little relieved. At least now, he might, just might, see what it was that was making him feel this way.aa

Peter finally came to a halt, taking in his new surroundings. He hadn't done this for long before he froze, the hair on the back of his neck standing straight up.

He was being watched, he felt it in every atom of him. Something ominous was out there, enjoying making him feel like a prey. He was probably an amusement show to whatever it was.

And then he sensed it! The eyes!

He slowly turned around, silently hoping that he was wrong. But he wasn't. There in the shadows, just across the road, in the shade of the trees, was a man.

A terrifyingly weird abnormal man.

It did look human and at the same time, it didn't.

It had all the necessary human features. It had a face, it had limbs too, like every other human that you'll meet in the street.

But if you mistakenly met this in the dark, under the full moon, there was a high chance that you'll find it easy to pass out.

Instead of a skin, it had a dull green scaly body. The way the moonlight bounced off it made it look like the armor of a shiny knight.

Its dressings were torn in spots that were stained red with blood. Like it had been bitten by a pack of wolves. It had black, cold eyes that seemed to send out nothing but murderous intent. Those eyes looked like they could pick up a person and bore holes into any soul.

Peter instinctively retired backwards. He knew a few self defense moves that his father had taught him but he also knew that those won't work against this beast.

Nothing that weak would work against this thing that looked like the arm of the devil. Somehow, he felt like he had seen this beast before. But he didn't know where.

The green human screeched with a force that can't be recalled. In those split seconds, Peter caught a glimpse of black canines. Those things that are called fangs in movies and books. Peters' fears heightened almost immediately.

He bumped into something as he continued to step backwards. Trying his best not to take his eyes away from the thing that stared at him, he spotted another one just behind him.

This was a female. Maybe just a little older than him, or so he thought. Her hair was tangled with broken twigs and leaves in it. She had one bite mark just below her left ear.

Peter's eyes widened in realization, he shouldn't be standing. He was supposed to be running.

He turned around to run but then she was already so quick to pounce on him, tackling him with her to the ground.

Peter screamed out in pain when she sank her fangs into his shoulder.

He felt another pain shoot through from his knee. And his forearm. And soon it felt like he himself was being attacked by a pack of wolves when all he saw was black eyes and green scales all over. They were tearing and devouring his flesh.

Peter jerked up in his bed covered in sweat and breathing hard, his legs aching like he had really been running. He hastened to put on the lamp by his bed to make sure he didn't have any bite marks.

Sighing in relief when he didn't see any, he walked into the bathroom to splashed water on his face. Wondering why he kept having the recurring nightmare, he sat on his bed when he returned, devastated .

He had lasted longer this time, long enough to get the actual bites. That was a part that even his curiosity didn't like.

He picked up his phone, he was going to try searching for the people from his dreams. Google would have information on them if they really existed. He needed to make sure that it was only a dream.

"people with dull green skin and fangs".

After tapping the search button, he was put at ease by the results. "no related results, search instead 'people in tan".

Now he was sure that his nightmares were just dreams, they didn't exist in the real world. He couldn't imagine being bitten by those things. Even though he was awake now, he could still feel the tightness in his chest.

He dropped his phone, after checking the time. 1:47 am. There was still enough time to get some sleep.

Peter adjusted his bedspread, laid down and slowly drifted to sleep. His brain hoping not to have any more nightmares. He needed his brain to be as relaxed as possible.

There was going to be a math test the next day. He needed a functioning brain to perform well.

He picked up his phone again, stared at the wallpaper for a short while. His heart tingled deep in him as a faint smile formed across his face.

Soon Peter was snoring. The light from his phone reflecting off his hair.