PROLOGUE

Drew laid in his bed, staring up at the ceiling. Only the windy sound of the night breeze blowing through the window above him could be heard. He took another long, deep breath and focused harder upon the moonlit shadows of tree branches dancing back and forth across his ceiling. He felt as if their waltz was calling him; to climb out of bed and crawl through the window, out into the coldness of night. To what and to where, he did not know. Drew shut his eyes and collected himself. No, he knew what to, and to where. He also knew of that particular darkness outside, eagerly waiting, beckoning him to do so. He rolled over onto his side, now facing the closet wall.

Through the window breeze, Drew could hear the faint, far off calling of that particular darkness, those sinister night crawlers within the now black and thickened forest, yet still a ways out past his house. They were a ways a way, but not far enough. Still, Drew knew they were there, summoning him out; their whispers floating upon the night air. A clammy sweat began to condensate upon his skin. His body began to feel like clay, cold and damp, yet inside, Drew felt as dry as burnt wood. He reached his hands up to his eyes and ran his fingers over his brow. There indeed was a clamminess, but his mouth, throat and chest felt parched. His body began to feel itchy, yet smooth and damp. He pulled his hand away from his face to notice his fingers were pasty white. Utterly pallid in nature, to be exact. His fingernails were looking as if they were painted black, or rubbed with charcoal.

Horror began to overcome Drew as he noticed upon his hands, a soft luminescent glow reflecting off them. It was deep purple, ultraviolet in color. He knew what it was; moving his hand closer to his eyes, the lights’ glow became brighter. Almost instantaneously, he sat up on the edge of the bed, bringing his hand to and fro form his eyes, checking the intensity of the glow. Sure enough, it was what he feared; the light was beaming from his eyes! He somberly lowered his hand and looked down at his shirt-less chest. It, too, was ghostly white in color. From back outside the window, he heard the soft voices, almost as if they were singing, then slowly faded away. All was quite again, just the night breeze. But Drew knew better; he knew they were still out there...waiting for him, like a beast crouching in wait to pounce upon its prey.

He slowly laid back in his bed. The curse he tried so hard to avoid was finally catching up to him. Drew knew there would be not much time left. They were calling to him. She was calling to him. And Drew was becoming one of...them.


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Next Chapter: Chapter One