I gasped and woke up with a start. Something was grabbing me. I looked around frantically, my heart beating wildly as I waited for my eyes to adjust. It was mid-August, but I could feel a chill in the air that rushed through me. I was all too familiar with that feeling, and I didn't like it. Not one bit.

Whatever had touched me was grabbing at me, pulling at the cuff of my jeans frantically. Eyes widening I saw it was a corpse, its flesh mostly rotted off. Jumping up I shook it off but it was still crawling its mangled body towards me.

"S..ss…stop." I cringed at hearing myself stutter. I've always had one but I was better at controlling it now unless I was surprised or scared. Like right now for instance.

Almost immediately the corpse stopped and stared at me, waiting for my next command. The once-person's eyes were long gone but I knew it was staring at me with pure-hatred. Doing my best to remain calm, I focused on releasing its spirit. The corpse shuddered before falling back to the ground, it's spirit finally set free.

I sat back down in the woods and wrapped my arms around my legs. I was horrified at what I'd unintentionally done. Somehow in my sleep, I had raised the dead; summoning a spirit and throwing it back into its decaying body. I hated myself for it.

This is why the Edison Group wanted me so badly. I was powerful, so powerful I could summon in my sleep and command the dead. And they had no choice but to obey. Well didn't that make me feel like crap.

I looked back at the dead corpse and back to the camp I had made for myself in the woods. I should have known better. It had been awhile since I had raised anything in my sleep, but it was a lot easier to do when I was near dead bodies in the woods. Now usually it was just animals, but occasionally human bodies would turn up too. Those scared me the most.

Nope, no way was I going back to sleep. The sun was beginning to rise; might as well get an early head start. Throwing everything back into my pack, I continued following the river to the next town.

As promised Liz was waiting to leave a note for my Aunt Lauren. Hopefully Liz would come back soon so that they could figure out a way to meet up and be on the run together. It was suspicious for a fifteen year old walking along, but with an adult? She'd be less noticeable.

Hearing leaves crunch behind me, I whirled around only to see nothing. I didn't sense any ghosts and Liz wasn't here to tell me if she saw anyone. After waiting a few minutes, I relaxed and began to walk even faster. I needed to get out of these woods before I officially lost it. Even squirrels were freaking me out. I still kept looking behind my shoulder every now and then, because I couldn't shake the feeling that someone or something was following me.

Finally I had found signs of civilization. I had been walking most part of the day without stopping, and it finally paid off. Liz still hadn't caught up with me, but I knew she'd find me sooner or later. Walking up into a gas station I immediately withdrew as much money as I could from the ATM.

Since my dad was away more than he was at home, he left an account open for me in case I ever needed anything. I had never really been a big spender but if I ever did buy something expensive (like my amazing video camera) he didn't bat an eye. If anything he was happy when I spent the money. I guess it made him feel like he was a good father because he could provide things for me. If it was up to me I'd rather him be around more than all the money, but it was his way of coping since mom died. I couldn't blame him for that and I knew he loved me.

I was munching on a sandwich I had just bought when Liz appeared beside me.

"Hey Chloe," she said out of breath.

I quirked an eyebrow at her, knowing very well that ghosts couldn't get tired. But hey, Liz was a little… enthusiastic. "How was the trip, you look exhausted." I said, playing along.

She smiled but it didn't reach her eyes and I immediately knew something was wrong.

"Sorry I took too long, but I was waiting for your aunt to get back. I figured she was working late, but when it was almost morning I figured she must have been too tired to drive home. So I went to the clinic and she had never shown up for work." She gave me a sympathetic look. "I'm really sorry Chloe."

I put down my sandwich, no longer hungry. "They have her," I said quietly. My mind began swirling with possibilities of what they could be doing to her.

"We don't know that for sure, Chloe. I mean… maybe she just took a small vacation or… she knew they were coming and got out while she could!"

I appreciated the effort, but if there was one trait that drove me crazy about my aunt, it was that she was like an over-protective mother. She continued to baby me and there was no way she would ever leave without me.

"What should we do?" Liz asked suddenly.

I shook my head, not really knowing an answer. "All I know is that we have to keep moving. Maybe we can find other's to help us, but we can't go in alone or we won't be able to save her without getting caught ourselves."

Over the next few hours Liz and I threw out ideas on where to go next. Liz offered to scout the area ahead, but after last night, I really had no desire to spend another night alone again.

Instead, we focused on where we could sleep for the night. Motels were too expensive and since I was underage, I doubted that I could get a room anyways. I briefly looked back over to the woods but immediately dismissed the idea. No way was I doing that again anytime soon.

We were now walking through a neighborhood. The night was cloudy, dull street lights illuminated the night, and I still couldn't shake the feeling that I was being followed.

"Liz, are you sure you didn't see anyone? It is dark out and maybe-"

"Chloe, will you relax? I told you, you're just being paranoid. I already scouted the area. No one's there."

Crossing my eyes, I met her with a pointed look. "I see ghosts, how can I not be paranoid?"

Liz stifled a giggle and was about to reply when suddenly she froze. Following her gaze I saw two girls approaching us.

"Um, maybe they're here to say hello?" Liz squeaked.

At that precise moment, the girl with the short black hair pulled out a pocket knife and I immediately began grasping for mine that was hidden in my back pocket.

"Oh what a pretty little mouse we have here, don't you agree Jenna?"

The second girl had a head full of red curls that were matted and weathered down boots. "Yes, and look that the designer jeans she's wearing; can't find one of those in this small town."

I immediately began backing away, my hand still fumbling for my knife. I didn't want to use it, but I would if I had too. Luckily, I saw Liz dragging what looked like to be a piece of board and I braced myself, ready to run.

"I…I'm just pas..ss..sing through." I internally cursed my stutter. Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to calm down. "I don't want any trouble."

The girl with the knife only smirked, and before I could process what was going on, I was being tackled down to the ground. I grasped the knife in my hand and plunged it into her shoulder. The girl screamed.

"I'm gonna kill you for that, you little bitch!" I was about to stab her again when she was knocked to the side by Liz.

By now the other girl, Jenna, was on top of me and knocked the knife out of my hands. I shielded my face, knowing Liz wouldn't be able to help me against too of them. Shutting my eyes tightly, I waited for the blow to come. When none came, I looked up only to see the girl being pulled off of me. I couldn't get a good look at him in the darkness, but I saw his broad shoulders hunched over in a protective stance over me. Was this guy really protecting me?

As if to answer my question he grabbed Jenna's knife and threw it down the alley. He must have looked threatening, because immediately the girl shrank back before helping her friend up.

The girl with dark hair glared at us. "Just count yourself lucky, princess that your boyfriend was here to save you. If not then you'd be dead right now." I watched them slink off, and I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from grinning in victory. Served those bitches right.

Realizing I had yet to thank my savior, I moved towards him, tucking a lose strand of hair behind my ear. "Thanks for all of that. I really appreciate-"

"Chloe RUN!" At hearing Liz's frantic scream I whirled around. It was in that moment that my rescuer turned towards me and I saw a flash of piercing emerald green eyes….the eyes of a wolf. Then it all came together. My ransacked house, the feeling of being followed, it all made sense now.

I turned and ran back towards the river. It was the only hope I had to outrun him. Outrun him…what was I thinking. It was impossible to outrun a werewolf. The entire time he had been tracking me. Werewolves were rare to find, but the ones that were found worked for the Edison Group. They worked as trackers and got paid for it. Easy money and in return for their services they were left alone to their own devices.

My lungs are burning but I refuse to stop running. Getting to the river was my only chance at him losing my scent. All I can hear is the drumming of my heart and my ragged breathing. I had to make it. I had to-

Suddenly he was in front of me blocking my path. Where the hell had he come from? I sprinted in another direction but he only blocked me there as well. I was growing tired, and the smirk on his face only fueled me to run faster. He was toying me, that son of a bitch.

Grabbing my knife, I can see him advancing on me. Behind him, I see Liz dragging a led pipe. I briefly wondered where she had found that, but I was thankful it wasn't the wooden board she'd used from before. However, whatever hope I had just felt immediately diminished as the young werewolf whirled around and grabbed the pipe from her and throwing it away in the river.

Grasping the knife more firmly, I prepared to strike him when he suddenly has my arm.

"Don't even try it," he growls. I immediately struggle against his grip. All I could think about was trying to escape and not how his close proximity was affecting me.

Growling, he pulls me against him, and I can feel his fingers pressing against the back of my neck. The last thing I remembered were powerful arms wrapping around me and beautiful emerald green eyes, before being surrounded by darkness.