CHAPTER ONE: THE CHASE

I waited until I was hidden by the shade of the trees, deep in the forest, to phase back into my human form. Slumping against the tree, I caught my breath. It had been a long, arduous flight. I hadn't realized how hungry and exhausted I was. Flying across the Pacific Ocean could to that to someone, even with a few stops along the way. I had never made such a long journey in all the years since I'd first morphed into a bird. True, I'd gone across the Atlantic Ocean, but as an amateur flyer at the time, I had mainly taken rides on the tops of cruise ships and the tops of airplanes.

"All right, Melody," I sighed. "Stop being lazy, let's see where we are." I decided to walk around and survey the forest, rather than fly up and get an aerial view. I missed my legs, missed being human, especially since the exhilaration of flying is lost when you fly for such extended periods of time.

I took in everything about the forest. I noticed the tall evergreen trees looming over me, and noted each bird species I saw, out of habit. As I was starting to notice more, I heard a voice behind me.

"It's not often I see someone like you here," the voice said, masculine yet, musical.

Clearing my throat, I turned around. Another person, finally! It had been so long since I'd spoken, I almost had to remember how.

Seeing him in front of me, I have no trouble finding my voice. I screamed. I knew immediately that the glowing red eyes meant danger, though I didn't know why. I did know that it was unnatural, and the way he was looking at me, like I was something to eat, was driving fear through my heart.

"Not so fast, darling," he said with a smug grin widening on his face. His open mouth now showed his teeth, and how sharp they were.

I sped away. I only managed to sprint a few feet before the red-eyed creep appeared instantly in front of me. I was shocked. I'm a bird, after all. I can run like I'm flying. How could he catch me, and not only that, but overtake me?

I tried again to dodge him. I didn't get half as far before he was standing right in front of me.

I'm freezing. I don't know what to do, but I'm absolutely petrified.

I moved to run again, but he instantly grabbed my wrist. I wrenched it out of his grip, and he looked shocked. He was clearly not used to that. I took advantage of the moment of weakness, running away again. I looked back to see him standing there still. Faster, Melody, Faster. I urged my legs to keep going, to push faster.

"You're not human, are you?" he called to me. "Well, I'll still give you a head start sweetheart. I'll play your game."

I tried to ignore him, to ignore his disturbing pet-names. I wasn't playing a game; I was trying to save myself, though I didn't know what from. I certainly didn't want to stop and ask.

Daring to look behind me when I heard pounding footsteps, I saw him, suddenly right behind me. He must certainly be inhuman, like me, but he was entirely a monster.

A clear thought made its way out of my mind, clouded by fear. How did I not think of this before?

When we reached a small clearing, I pushed myself to run as fast as possible, trying to gain momentum. I heard vicious snarling as I jumped, diving into the air. Wings sprouted out of me, and I stayed in the air, flying up. I looked down as I flew onto a tree branch to land.

The red-eyed man was being torn apart piece by piece, by a pack of wolves. I dropped in shock, falling to hit a tree branch lower down, and I turned back into a human. I began rolling off the branch, and grabbed it quickly, as I swung upside down, still holding on.

I looked down as I lowered myself to perch comfortably on the branch below me. I saw the wolves back away from the dismembered body. I stared, confused, until one by one, they moved behind the trees, and re-emerged; as humans.