Alexander needed to leave.

After he had disappeared into the woods, George refused to let him out of his sight. He was scared, he could see.

Alex watched with a pained expression as George told all the aides to prepare traps. He also demanded that they keep their weapons in hand, for tonight, they weren't going to sleep. They all had a job to do.

And it was to kill Alexander.

Of course, they still didn't know it was him, but Alexander had no plans whatsoever to tell them of the truth. He was sure that they'd go and kill him if they found out, because why would they put him—The penniless, immigrant orphan—over the safety of the entire camp?

But what George didn't know was that keeping him in his line of vision all night as he, Lafayette, and John all stayed in the General's tent with their pistols in hand, would put the lives of the entire American army at risk.

But Alexander was still too scared to tell them.

Alexander groaned out loud and stood up. "I need to relieve myself," He said, glancing at the clock quickly. He didn't have much time left.

George stood up. "I'll come with you."

"Your Excellency!" Alexander cried, abashed. "I'm just going to be outside!"

"I know that, Alexander, but I need to be there if the monster returns," George sighed, and Alex swore he heard the added whisper of the faint words, "And so I can protect you."

Alexander crossed his arms. "I am not a child, sir."

George gave him a look. "But you're not the one with authority here, either. If I say I'm coming, I'm coming."

Alexander stared at him. The General's expression was utterly serious.

"You know what? Nevermind. I don't have to relieve myself anymore." Alexander sat down and glared at his feet.

George slowly sat down as well. Alex could feel all three of them staring at him, but he refused to look up. He refused to look anywhere except at his feet, so he forced himself to believe that George would let him go on his own in time, so he sat there silently and waited.

Waited.

.. Waited.

But he did not realize that George was actually serious, and that he would not allow him to go on his own.

But then it was too late. The realization was useless as Alexander jerked his head up to see the clock strike twelve.

Alexander swore and stood up. He attempted to rush out of the tent, but it was too late. He collapsed to the ground.

John, Lafayette, and George all stared as Alexander clutched the ground. Then..

He screamed. The three rushed to his side, and Alexander shoved them away with as much strength as he could msuter. Then he yelled again as the transformation began.

"Oh my gosh," John breathed.

Alexander could feel his blood boiling. He clutched at his body in a desperate attempt to stop it, but the pain only heightened further as his claws emerged, and he cut himself. His tail grew, his ears lengthened, and the fur burst free. He howled in agony.

Alexander curled himself up and closed his eyes as the transformation finished itself. He refused to look at his friends or the General. He refused to smell them. He refused to let them go near him. He clutched his ears and forced them down so he would not hear them. He growled, "Go! Run! Kill me! Do anything you want! I'm here!"

He could hear muffled words trying to get to him, but he only shoved his his ears down onto his head harder.

Then he could feel gentle hands taking his claws away from his said ears. Alex weakly whispered, "P—please, leave me alone.."

Then someone was whispering, "Alexander, it's okay."

Alex looked up with apprehension. He saw George staring down at him. Not with anger or fear, nothing like that. But with..

.. Pity and mercy. Alexander shook his head. "No, it's not okay." He pulled his claws out of George's hands. "I hurt John and Lafayette. I disobeyed your orders. I'm a monster, sir, everyone said so."

John and Lafayette suddenly looked incredibly guilty. "We didn't mean that—" John whispered, reaching out to put his hand on his shoulder.

Alex shook his head and moved farther away. "Don't touch me. Of course you meant that." Alexander could feel the tears pressing at the back of his eyes. He felt so angry and hurt. He didn't want them to pretend to care about him anymore. If they hated the monster, then they hated him. He shouldn't have allowed himself to believe otherwise.

John looked pained. "Please, Alexander. I'm sorry."

"Me, too." Lafayette whispered, his eyes wet. "We didn't know, Alex, please. We didn't know you were the one. We would never had talked about you that way."

Alexander dragged himself farther backwards and shook his head. "I'm sorry," He whispered. "But I can't stay here anymore."

And, against all instincts, he rushed out.

Alexander weaved around the tents, avoiding the traps swiftly and leaping over the others. He dashed straight into the forest and did not stop.

The rain decided to fall then. Alexander desperately tried not to cry, but he could feel warm water sliding down his face. He knew it was not the rain.

He could hear footsteps behind him. He could hear yells of, "Alexander! Wait!" And labored breathing. Alex roared, "No! Go away!" And he made a sharp turn. He continued to run ahead as he heard the others stumble on the wet and rocky ground.

Alexander could feel the heavy jolt of pressure every time he pushed against the ground to run forward, but that heaviness did not feel as heavy as his heart. He had allowed himself to believe he could have friends. He had allowed himself to believe he could have a family. He had came here to help people, but only ended up hurting and scaring them.

He might as well have killed Dr. West.

He stopped when he could go no further. The pain in his limbs burned, but he didn't care. He deserved it.

Alexander stared at his claws and balled them into fists. Why did he think he was worthy of being the General's right hand man? Why did he think he was worthy of his friends' friendship? Why did he think he was worthy of his wife's love? He was nothing.

Not nothing, Alexander bitterly reminded himself. Not anymore.

Alex felt a small, secluded part of him hope that John, Lafayette, and the General would come and find him, and maybe bring him back. Maybe they were still friends. Maybe him being a monster wouldn't change things.

Alexander shook his head furiously and put his head in his hands. Who was he kidding? Of course they had to kill him now.

Alexander opened his eyes and scanned the cave he was now hiding in. This wouldn't be a bad place to spend the rest of his days. He could feed off rabbits and other animals that came his way. He wouldn't be helping the world, but at least he was protecting it.

As Alexander stared aimlessly at the falling rain that almost seemed like a waterfall from the inside of the cave, he envisioned his life as a lowly beast. He did not notice the three figures watching him. Alexander angrily wiped his eyes to get rid of the tears that had formed again and swallowed the hard lump in his throat.

Then they were inside the cave. Alexander yelled and scrambled backwards.

"Alexander, please!" John cried, reaching out quickly and grabbing Alexander's furry wrist.

Alexander yanked it away. "Go away. You know I can't be around you guys anymore."

"But we can help you," Lafayette begged him.

"No one can help me," Alexander hissed at them. "No one. So go away, before I lose control and hurt you again. You may not want me to be your friend anymore, but I still don't want to kill you."

Ignoring how stupid and childish he sounded, he turned around to face the barren wall of the cave, crossing his arms firmly across his chest as he let the air in his lungs out slowly. His eyes burned yet again.

He heard the heavy footsteps of the General come up behind him. He was silent except for his tired breathing. Then he whispered, "Alexander,"

"Go. Away," Alexander growled. Didn't he understand how dangerous he was?

There was more silence behind him. He could hear the rain, the tired breathing of George, and the uneasy fidgeting of the other two. Alexander could also hear the blood rushing in his ears, his own frustrated breathing, his heart beating so quickly..

Then the General's hand was on his shoulder. Alexander stiffened and reached up to shove it away, but George just gripped it tighter and sighed, "Alexander.."

Alex felt himself being turned around. He resisted for a few moments, then finally consented angrily as he let himself come face to face with him. He stared up into the General's eyes. His heartbroken eyes.

"Alex, even if we had originally wanted to kill the supposed monster—" Alex flinched. George speedily. continued, "—you must understand. With the said monster being you and not just a random beast, it changes things." He paused, then took a deep breath. "We.. Probably cannot reverse this, but perhaps it doesn't have to be thought of as a curse."

Alexander stared at his solemn face and desperately blinked away his tears. George continued,

"Not everything has to be bad, Alexander. You can still help us in the war. You can help us win. Your genius and words and marksmanship are too valuable to waste. And I.. I can't bare to lose you again." George swallowed. "We don't hate you because of this, Alexander. Just please, come back with us."

Alexander looked down at his feet and steadied his breathing for a moment. Then he looked up at John and Lafayette, who's eyes were glistening. Alex swallowed and looked up at George and breathed, "I.. I'm valuable?" He faltered weakly.

"Yes, Alexander," George said, tears running down his face now. "Valuable for the war. Valuable to your wife, your future child, your friends.. And me."

Alexander trembled, and tears streamed down his cheeks. Then he did something that he never thought he would ever do.

He embraced the General. George hugged him back tightly, the both of them crying now. John and Lafayette slowly came closer, and Alex, in spite of himself, laughed and pulled them into the embrace.

They were all crying now. Alexander had never seen John or Lafayette shed such tears. But he especially had never seen George himself come even close to it. This was a strange phenomenon Alex had never known was possible.

Finally, after a good few minutes, they all pulled away. Alexander sighed and allowed a small smile to break through. "So, my friends,—" He smiled wider as his friends nodded vigorously. "—what do we do now?"

George gave him another smile in return. "If it's alright with you, maybe you can explain what really has been happening ever since you were rescued?"

Alexander ran the past two days in his head and nodded slowly. "I.. I Think I can do that."

"Alright, then," The General said, sitting down on the ground. The others following suit—A little eagerly, if truth be told.

After Alexander finished telling his thrilling little tale of escapades and torture in a very eloquent and appealing way, they were all in a state of minor shock and relief.

"I'm so sorry for jumping to conclusions about Dr. West." John flushed, embarrassed.

"You didn't know, John," Alexander cut him off gently. "It's not your fault."

"I can't believe those Redcoats did that to you, though!" Lafayette suddenly exclaimed, furious. Alexander only could give him sad smile in response.

"So, are those really the only memories you have of your time under the captivity of those—" Then George called the Redcoats a very rude name, to the chuckles of the other three.

"Yes," Alexander finally replied. He stared down at his clawed fingers and sighed heavily. George gave him a pityous look. "We will do our best to find a way for their plans to backfire." He promised him solemnly

Alexander smiled at him. It was extremely comforting to know that the General.. Actually cared for him the way he did. And the same went for his friends. Alex smiled at them and opened his mouth to speak again, when his skull—no, his brain—suddenly felt like it was being cracked open. He screamed, and—