Chapter 3: Nails For Breakfast, Tacks For Snacks

Kai's POV

A couple weeks ago, I had escaped. Yes, gotten away. And alone, without the person who made this possible for me. That part killed me. While the vampires were pre-occupied with Autumn going and hurting herself, I had managed to get away. I had to run fast, because I knew some vampires were on my tail. They chased me for a good distance, until I lost them. I didn't think they'd ever stop.

As soon as I had gotten a good distance away, I went to the closest major city, Rome.

There, I was glad it was broad daylight. I had to scavenge for a change of clothes, so I didn't have to parade as a nudist, nor as a humongous wolf.

I found my bank and took out money for food and clothes, and money for a plane ride out of here.

I took a taxi to the terminal, and sat back to try and relax. But that was soon disturbed. Although it wasn't vampires, it was almost equally perturbing.

The police. They came to my side, with walkie-talkies in hand.

"Excuse me miss, you'll have to come with us." One of them said, with a delightfully thick accent.

I think the reason I had primarily avoided the police was because they would bring the media. And the media would be a bad thing to call upon from one running away from a very powerful vampire family. Shit.

But I complied.

They took me back into a room to wait, while they contacted the Canadian Embassy. And from there, I assumed the government and shtuff, and then my parents. And of course the media would be tipped off, and my face would be all over the world. I need a cover story.

Okay, so I was kidnapped (along with Autumn) by a bunch of strangers who hijacked our bus, and kept us for a long time. The captors didn't say why. Eventually, after I hadn't seen Autumn for a while, I assumed they killed her. Weeks later, they dropped me off outside of Rome. They never let me see their faces.

Wow, I would have to play so dumb, because I knew they wouldn't just ask "how was it?" They would probably ask why I was so well fed.

And I would have to make sure that I was really 'shaken' by the events, so I could not appear in the media. This would be hard to fake.

They took me on a government official plane, making sure I was comfortable. On the plane ride, I gave myself time to unwind. And sleep most of all.

I caught myself waking up several times, crying.

Six hours later, the plane landed in my hometown of Toronto, turning my stomach.

I was rushed through customs to avoid people. Even as the cop put his coat over my face, I could see the flashing of cameras, and swarm of media. Eventually, he picked me up, and we were guided to another room, that was bright, so we must be somewhere high.

The coat was removed, and I was seated in a twirly chair, told I was going to have to wait a bit for detectives to prepare a questionnaire.

Into a camera, a detective had me answer simple questions. He had really curly brown hair, and glasses that bothered me with glare.

I made sure to lay on thick to my fake story. I made myself cry, which wasn't hard when I had so much emotion to draw from. I even got choked up.

His beginning questions were simple enough. His other questions were hard though.

"What happened to Autumn, Kai?" he asked delicately.

"I don't know…" I said truthfully. "I think she's… dead. I didn't see her for a while."

He nodded, pretending to be sympathetic—it was probably part of his job. "Just a few more questions, Kai."

I sniffled, and bowed my head.

"Why do you think you were chosen?"

"I don't know, sir. It could have been anyone else in my class."

"No specific reasons? It certainly seems they took care of you…" He led on.

"What do you mean?" My voice shook.

"Well, you look healthy. Usually there are signs of abuse on the faces, but you have good color, and actually, a very surprising physique for someone who's been in isolation for so long."

"I—" don't know what to say. What should I say? "That's just the way I am. Before, I was training for track season…"

"They didn't hurt you, did they?" He asked.

"No…" Not the way you think, buddy.

He seemed to believe, given the state of my health.

"We'll still have to run some medical tests on you to make sure you're in perfect health. Your showing signs of post-traumatic stress, but externally, not too much of anything." He spoke quietly. "And certainly we'll have to set up meetings with a therapist. Not to mention the media will be all over this, so a press conference will be a must to get those people off your back."

"Do I have to?" I said, coming off stronger than intended. Everyone in the room looked at me, if they weren't already.

He knelt to my level. "If you're worried about them finding you, we can protect you. This is just to reassure the public, and answer questions. If you'd like, all you have to say is hello, and you're doing fine."

But I'm not fine… "I'd still prefer to not…"

He raised his chin, irked. I can't have been the first to deny. "I just want to see my dad." I said. I really did, but I need to get alone.

Everyone looked at the detective expectantly. I must have made him look like a jerk.

"That's fine. But we need to set up another interview." He said, and with that, left the room.

I was escorted home, and brought to the front door. I knocked on the door, and after a minute exactly, my dad answered. I must have almost broken his back, jumping on him.

That night, my father spent all day on the phone, either angrily hanging up on television companies, or accepting condolences from family. I even heard him talking hushed to my mom.

After two hours, he put down the phone, actually removing the batteries.

"Who was that last one?" I asked.

"Oprah." He said, running his hands through his hair. Which was receding.

"Are you kidding?" I asked, too surprised for more complicated words.

"No. I don't know how all these companies got my number. After this week, I'm changing our number." He said.

I nodded, and thought for a bit, just about things. "Hey dad… who was that on the phone before Oprah?"

He sighed. "It was your mother."

"Oh."

"She was worried too, you know."

"I didn't know that." I said honestly.

"Yep. She was actually calling weekly, seeing if I got any information she didn't."

We just sat in our apartment living room, looking out our window, watching the skyline.

"Hey dad? I'm gonna go to bed now…"

I could see I pulled him out of his contented thoughts, because he was teary eyed, yet smiling.

"Okay sweetie, I'll see you in the morning." He got up, hugged me and kissed my cheek, but jumped back. "Kai, you're burning up!"

"I know dad. I just… I think I need to sleep on it."

"Are you sure? You don't need to go to the hospital?" He asked. And he never asked me to go to the hospital.

"I'm fine, I'll wake up and I'll be okay." I said. I knew I won, because his eyes trusted me.

"Alright. I just don't want to lose my baby again." He said, patting my head. I turned and went down the hall to my room. I knew my dad was probably crying.

I closed my door, and lied down in my cool bed. My room was exactly as I left it. Which was surprising, since my dad usually cleaned my room, like once a week.

I hated to lie to my dad like that. I'd have to tell someone eventually, and it would probably make my life a lot easier if I had my dad to support me with my problem.

The next morning, I hadn't quite gotten used to waking up in my bed. It was definitely harder than the old one I occupied in Italy, but more comfortable.

I walked back down the hallway, and my dad was making my favourite breakfast, crepes.

I cleared my throat to let him know I was here, and he turned to me, holding a large plate for me. But I don't think it would fill me up, to be quite honest. I could eat a whole buffet right now.

I could see in his eyes, questions. Some I wasn't prepared to answer.

I just sat at the island counter and ate, as he cooked and cooked for me in silence.

Suddenly, the phone rang. I swallowed my food quickly and motioned to grab the phone on the counter, but he beat me to it. Just because I've been missing, doesn't mean I'm weak.

I gave my dad a look, and he just stood there, listening to the person on the other end for a short second.

He hung up, his eyes somewhat puzzled.

"Lines dead." He shrugged it off, and watched me eat for the rest of the morning.

"So how're you feeling, honey?" he asked me, handing me my third hot chocolate in an hour.

I was sitting on my couch, huddled in a blanket, and flicking through channels. I got the feeling of mixed annoyance and delight to see myself on the news. Delight, because I've never seen myself on TV before.

"You know, fine."

"Did your fever go away?" He asked, sitting beside my feet.

"Uh, not exactly."

"Well I want you to be in good health before you go back to school." He said, knowing I would be anxious for school.

Then, a new dread filled me. I can't be around normal people. It would be impossible to hide this. High heat and an abnormally high metabolism to add to my furry issue, as a shape-shifter would be hard to ignore.

"Dad, you're my closest friend…" I said, silently acknowledging that I would probably never see Autumn.

"Yes." He nodded, gently rubbing my calf in comfort.

"There's been something I've been meaning to tell you."

"What is it dear?"

"I'm a…" God, I am going to sound crazy.

He had on an expression that probably thought I was going to tell him I was raped or something.

"Dad, I'm a werewolf."

His eyebrows should have touched his hairline. "Kai, are you okay?"

"Dad, I know I sound crazy, but it's true." I said, looking him dead in the eye.

"Sweetie, I think we need to go the hospital…" I had to try harder. He's leaning towards the phone.

"No, dad, listen. There's a reason my temperature's up past normal. And haven't you noticed how jacked I've been lately? And just this morning, I ate enough for an entire city!" I said.

His face twisted in large disbelief and wanting to believe me (not matter how small the latter was).

"Just sit down, and let me talk." I said, careful not to cry. Its always the ones saying how "not crazy" they are that look more and more insane with each defiance.

He didn't sit down right away. "Dad, it has something to do with my disappearance."

He sat right down, and his forehead creased, making me pleased to see he was complying.

I told him the story. I didn't say what happened to Autumn though. I had shifted into a giant wolf. My dad was skeptical at many points in my tale, but nodded anyways. Although I did not lay him with the vampire part, fearing his brain would overload with that Hollywood make-believe shit. I only let him know the part about me transforming, and Autumn having to fend for me, and that the captors were really interested in my state.

"Dad, I just can't talk to the media." I said. "They'll tear me apart." Referring to both media and possible thoughts of therapists, vampires, detectives, vampires. And of course doctors… and vampires.

"I… understand." He said, resting his head upon his hand. He had a lot to think about.

There you have it, the end of the third chapter. Obviously I shall add more to her tale, for it is not yet over ;)

-Sage94