Chapter 1

The sound of running feet pounding on concrete coming ever so closer. A silent prayer is whispered. Quick feet dash across an oak beam. The pounding is continuous, methodical, never ending. Shadows give away movements of assassins creeping across windows sills. Voices shout over footsteps.

Whispers pass through confused soldiers. Golden eyes appear and instantly vanish. Panic weaves her spell, darkness adds her power. Doors slide silently into position and lock in unison. Leaders call for calm. Someone cries out and instantaneously falls at an echo. Bullets ricochet off metal and another collapses.

Blue eyes flash in the shadows. An uneasy silence followed shortly after the last person fell. Soft feet pad across the floor, everyone turns toward the sound. Lightning flashes across the black sky with the thunder tumbling uncontrollably after it. Fleet feet dash across the ground and another soldier falls.

Panic was taking a tighter grip on her victims, strangling all logical thinking till nothing was left. The darkness presses in closer. A soldier cries at the closeness of his companions, claustrophobia gnaws at the brain. Something metallic clatters onto the ground, the sound echoes throughout the shed.

Rain hammers down on the locked shutters on the ceiling, pounding as though it wants to break in. Fingernails scrape along the walls. Strong winds try to rip the doors off rails and hinges. Through the billowing winds and thunderous rain, a lonely wolf bays to a hidden moon.

Soldiers start snapping, predators slink along the rafters slowing watching their prey sink into the depths of madness. The sounds of bullets ricocheting off walls and helmets fill the large room. People cry out as they fall the cold, hard concrete to slowly bleed to death.

Soon the sun shines through the thick blanket of clouds to bring forth a new day. A lone soldier survives the carnage that his own platoon savaged upon themselves only to see the face of his ultimate killers.

Blue eyes, as cold as ice and as hard as steel stare into the hazel ones of the soldier. Thinking that he might live he opens his mouth to speak. Without anything but a smirk, the blue eyed killer drives a knife into his stomach only to wrench it up into his heart, where he slowly dies.

A farmer awakens at the crow of his rooster as per usual. His day was going to be a long one, he just knew from a feeling that was growing in his gut. The cry of an old woman wakes the small village. Blood has appeared at the door of an old shed that was used for storing grain during the long winter months.

Villagers came running out from their small houses, which stretched along the main road in a perfect line. The ground was muddy and the clouds were growing darker by the minute. A door had come ajar and a young boy opened the door, a yell escaped from his quivering lips.

People were lying all over the floor and blood had stained the uniform grey concrete. Bullet holes littered the walls while empty casings could be found at random intervals over the ground. Scratch marks covered faces of some of the dead; others had slit throats and yet some just looked like they were sleeping. These were then rolled over only to reveal the gunshot wounds, which had been inflicted. Villagers started to get worried; these were soldiers that had been found massacred in the grain shed. People started to panic; others became sick at the sight.

Some were still coming out to see what the fuss was all about. Soon there would be police or government officials crawling all over their small peaceful town. How would they cope, how would they survive if they could not store their grain in that large barn for the community to share? It was going to be a long day.

Thumping loudly in my ears. My heartbeat woke me up. I looked across at the sleeping heap lying across my chest. It was good to know that he was still here with me. I carefully picked up his heavy, limp body and rolled him off. He silently complained with a grumble that brought a smile to my lips.

Getting out of bed, I wandered to the closet. Getting changed quietly was a failing point in my genetics. My jeans ruffled as I pulled them on over my boxer shorts. Warm hands grasped my waist. He was up. I turned around to face him. His black hair was everywhere, but it was falling into place. The golden cat eyes stared at me. What was he thinking about?

Gently he pulled me back onto the bed and held me close. The warmth of his body was so comforting; I could feel his heart beat on my bare chest. He kissed me on the forehead. Lips as soft as down pillows freshly stuffed touched my own. Shivers ran through my body, every muscle quivering under his touch. I smiled as I watched his muscles do the same. Pulling myself to a sitting position, I felt the tug a soft hands wanting me.

Getting to my feet I wandered to the kitchen to make some hot cocoa. His soft feet padded quietly behind my own. Making cups of cocoa is hard to do when you have someone rubbing their head into your neck, their hair tickling you. I leaned my head back slightly; he complained and moved his head away.

SCREECH! An alarm clock sounded in the quiet morning. Soldiers rolled over and get out of bed. A commander walks through the barracks door; it was a surprise inspection. Beds started to be made and boots were placed on feet. The commander walked into the centre of the building. His eyes looked at all the soldiers standing tall next to their bunks, one on either side. He smiled.

"OK soldiers; listen up. Last night we had a run in with some people. Unfortunately we lost a whole battalion of men and women. Bullet holes were everywhere and casings littered the floor. They were lead into a building just like this one but it was in the small village that is close to here,"

"New orders have come through to us here at base. You are not allowed out of camp unless it is absolutely necessary understand! AM I UNDERSTOOD!" he yelled.

"Yes sir!" all soldiers shouted back.

Smirking, he turned to leave. As he reached the door, a small stream of smoke started to come from under the doorframe. He took a step back. The soldiers started to talk, but the commander turned around. His eyes were wild. One of the soldiers walked up to the commander.

"Sir, are you all right?" his voice was shaky. He placed his hand on his leader. Instantly the commander grabbed the worried soldier by the neck.

Yelling loudly, all the soldiers turned. They watched helplessly as their leading officer strangled a comrade. His body started to convulse, his limbs flailing uselessly. Some of the soldiers took action, grabbing their commander and pinning him to the floor. His eyes were bloodshot. The commander suddenly burst into laughter. Froth started to build at the corners of his mouth. An evil laugh echoed out across the foggy region.

Everyone was outside the barn where a massacre had occurred the night before. The farmer was not in a good position, it was time to harvest his crops and his own barn was full. He knew others were in the same boat. The whole village had planted more that year because of the shortage, which occurred the year before. This mass slaughter was going to set everyone back. Women were mourning for the dead as some of the men started to clean up the bodies.

The local police were there right away and telling people to keep their children inside as this was not a good sight for them to see at a young age. Women took that as their cue to leave and they left the men to deal with the problem at hand. He started making his way home when a teenage boy came running up to him.

"Here's my big boy. How are you?" his wise eyes changing to look at his grandchild with loving eyes.

"Hey there Gramps, I'm good thanks. What's happening? Dad told me come straight here while he organised our luggage," the teen said. His eyes scanned over the area.

"Well last night there was a battalion of soldiers doing their normal routine. You know the one where they march through the town and then go back to base so that we have no intruders. They came through town and because they follow a single light, it must have led them astray, because where they went, death was waiting for them," Gramps answer was simple but obviously it had served its purpose.

"Tyson, come and give us a hand mate!" his father called out to him from the car.

"Yeah dad! Be right back Gramps," and he was gone. Looking out on the workingmen, Tyson's grandfather sighed and started to help clean up.

Holding onto the hot cocoa, I made my way to the soft futon. He had already curled up to a pillow to keep warm. The fog was really dense this morning. Looking into his eyes, I felt a strange serene feeling wash over me. Turning slightly I smiled at him. His small tan hand reached out for a mug. I handed it over to him.

Sitting up slightly, he leaned his soft head of hair against my still bare chest. Placing my arm round his shoulders, Rei moved into a lying position. My own hair draped over my shoulders. He laughed quietly.

"What are you laughing at mister?" I asked as he turned his face up to mine.

"Just that fact that you always wear a shirt around the apartment yet here you are. You always look so damn fit. Kai, lean over I have something I want to tell you," his voice went to a whisper. I leant over to hear what he was saying.

His soft skin coming within inches of my own. Rei reached up and clasped the back of my neck. A soft kiss was planted on my lips. He smiled shyly. Gently I pulled him up. I held him close and kissed him back. My feelings for my kitty partner were running hot through my veins. His weight now was fully on my chest. He leaned in close to kiss me again. I just couldn't resist. Rubbing my hands along his back, he moved to a sitting position. Pulling the futon out, I fell onto my back. On his knees, Rei slowly dragged his hands down my front. My abbs twitched at the touch of his warm, gentle fingers.

Our mugs of hot cocoa were being forgotten, sitting on the coffee table just out of reach of my feet.

Getting onto my elbows was a difficult task. With Rei holding my waist, I grabbed his and pulled myself up. Holding onto him, I kissed him passionately. He squeezed my waist. Rolling over, he fell to the couch. The colour of his eyes had changed ever so slightly. They burnt are brilliant gold; hints of yellow touched the edge of his beautiful eyes.

His cheeks were a pale pink, and his skin was very warm. My own skin had become rather hot during our encounter. I pulled him close to kiss him again. What would I do without him? Soft downy lips connected with my own. He was my everything.

Getting into a sitting position, I grabbed our cocoas and gave him his. A sly smile crossed his gorgeous face again. I was not going to try and find out what it meant, as there was a lot to do today.