Cody had been on the prowl since Sunday. He had not eaten any humans for three days. But on Wednesday night while he was walking in the shadows, Cody spotted a farm five miles down the road from the Pickett farm. The moon light was bright and strong. It shined down on Cody's silver fur. Cody walked toward the farm. He then proceeded to walk toward the house. He looked up through a window in the front yard and saw a family of three: a man, a women and a little girl. The man and woman appeared to be a young, married couple who had a five year old daughter. The mother and father looked like they were helping their daughter go to bed. Cody could see the inside of the little girl's bedroom and saw how her parents sat on either side of her bed and gave her a kiss of the forehead. Cody thought of how he would feel if he was in the same position as the father. He wondered who he would take for as a wife. The only two possibilities were Barbara and Bailey.

After some deliberation, Cody could see himself with Bailey far more than being with Barbara. Bailey was refreshingly different from Barbara. She was so understand, caring and nice. She was so loving and willing to do anything to help those who badly needed her help. He could envision a life with her. He could imagine him meeting her if he wasn't a werewolf and falling in love and having a life together. They would be married for two years and then have a daughter. She would have her mother's hair and eyes and her father's gentle and fragile heart. She would have her mother's wits, kindness and patience and she would be smart. She also would be the cutest kid in the whole town. That is how Cody would think of his and bailey's first child if he even had a shot of being with her in the first place. But he digressed why he truly was at the house. He had held out for two nights and he had been good at repressing his carnivorous appetite, but he was weakening and would need to replenish his energy source. However, no matter how Cody felt weak, he could not bring himself to target the peaceful family of three. He tried to veer away and move onto another house but he did not go anywhere. He did not leave his post from the window. Instead, he became victim of the moon's commands and lost part of his human conscious. He became more like the hungry, bloodthirsty wolf like he was before he ran into Bailey. Cody's eyes grew wide and he growled. He licked his chops and stared at the married couple with gluttonous eyes.

Cody's wolf-like appetite was rising. He could practically see red. He could almost taste the blood and flesh of two perfectly healthy human beings. His mouth was wet with dripping saliva. He waited for the opportune moment. Once the little girl was tucked away in bed and her parents said goodnight to her, they left the bedroom and went to the kitchen. Cody had no control over himself. It was just his wolf instinct and his hunger for human flesh. His fangs grew sharp and he pressed a paw against a panel of the window and opened it. He hopped inside the house and snuck around the corner. The parents were talking about their upcoming chores on the farm. Cody crept low against the wooden floor. He slowly walked up behind them. When they finally turned around, they screamed. Cody lunged at the man first and tore off his face. The woman screamed and instinctively ran for her daughter's room. But before she could get to the hallway, Cody leaped toward her and clawed her back. She screamed in pain. He tore open her chest and carnivorously ate her heart. Blood splattered everywhere. The red bodily fluid splattered on the floor, the walls and parts of the ceiling.

The little girl woke up from the commotion and walked out to find Cody eating her mother's face. She screamed and cried at the same time. The little girl's scream was like a siren to Cody. It was a wake-up call to him. He stopped devouring the mother's flesh and stared at the little girl. He slowly regained his human conscious as he approached her. She continued to scream and then bolted out of the house. She ran as far as her little body would take her until she could no longer go anywhere else. She automatically ran toward some of her neighbor's that she knew. With each passing farm that she came in contact with, no one was awake. It wasn't until the little girl's legs no longer took any requests and halted her back to the Pickett Farm. It was the last neighboring farm she could depend on. With a river of tears flowing down her plump cheeks, she banged on the door crying for help, crying for her mommy and daddy. At last, she got an answer. Eunice opened the door and saw the little girl exhausted and frightened with a tear stained face.

"Ashley? Sweetie, why aren't you back home in your warm bed?"

"My mommy and daddy are dead! I want them back!"

Ashley clung to Eunice's legs and cried into them. Eunice patted her back.

"How did this happen?"

"Big, scary wolf….! Wah-ah-ah….I want my mommy and daddy! Why did they have to go?! Why? Mommy, daddy, why!? Mommy….Daddy, please say goodbye. Mommy…..Daddy…."

Eunice picked up the trembling Ashley as she could feel snot run down the little girl's nose. She cooed to her and wrapped her up in blankets and gave her hot cocoa and had called for Clyde to explain what happened to Ashley's parents. Clyde got a shot gun and had Grammy Pickett accompany Eunice in comforting Ashley. The poor girl must have been traumatized. All the while, Bailey was doing her homework. She recently received the test results from Kansas City earlier that day and they didn't seem very promising, but there was some hope a cure if only Cody would come back. She finished her homework and had put away her school supplies in her backpack when she heard rapid banging on her bedroom door. Accompanied by the banging was a distraught and anger voice of her father.

"Bailey! Bailey! Bailey! Open the door now!"

Bailey urgently opened her bedroom door and saw her father red faced with tear stained cheeks and poison about spill from his tongue.

"Bailey, we need your help. Fix a nice cozy bed and warm and welco0ming atmosphere in your bedroom. Ashley Tibbles is here with us and she'll be with for a while. You will stay with her over night until your mother and I arrange some space in our room so we can keep her safe. Make feel her at home like she is family."

"Why?"

"Forgive me for saying this and I'll do ten Hail Mary's, but that God damn demon wolf came back and killed Ashley's parents! He killed the Mr. Johnson, the Weavles, your friend, Cody, and now Mr. and Mrs. Tibbles. We need to kill the demon wolf now!"

Bailey stood still in shock. She had a vague expression on her face. Clyde assumed that bailey was just processing what he told her and went on to finish his piece before he would go back down the stairs.

"Bailey, get a cot and make it safe and comfortable for Ashley and bring out any old stuffed toys you still keep around and give them to Ashley. Make sure to have plenty of tissues around and read her a bedtime story or accommodate to her needs in any way possible. Got it, young lady?"

Bailey snapped out of her daze. "Yes, papa."

Clyde nodded his head toward Bailey, patted her on the shoulder and then went back down the stairs with a shot gun in hand. Bailey bit her lip. She left her bedroom and slammed the door behind her. Just when she thought her efforts would hold Cody over for more than a few days, all hell breaks loose. She goes and gets a cot and sets it up in her bedroom, far from the window, closet and door. Then she gets blankets, sheets, and two pillows and sets them on the cot. She fluffs up the pillows, flattens out the sheets, layers on the blankets and sets her bunny rabbit toy with its dress on and a tan teddy bear on the cot. Bailey then finds an old nightlight and plugs into one of the walls sockets. She informs her sisters of what is going on as she bothers to stop by their rooms. They understand what they must do to ease the pain of the situation and scavenge to find great children's books for bedtime stories.

Elsewhere, Cody is mauling over his actions. He paces back and forth. His paws occasionally stick to the pool of blood. His human side slowly gains control of his wolf body and is repulsed by the sight before him. The sheer sight of two mangled bodies is a punch to Cody's human heart. He wants so badly to change back but he has tasted blood and flesh and his wolf side is resisting him. He thought that if he was strong enough that he would be able to transform. However, he realized that he must be both physically and mentally strong to transform. He was so guilt ridden that he didn't know where to start. Cody kept on pacing back and forth in the pool of fresh and sticking blood until he thought of something very risky but was technically obligated to do. He had to return to Bailey to see what could be done about this whole fiasco. He would not expect Bailey to forgive him once he knew that she knew. He just needed her opinion on the matter.

Cody tried to transform but he got only halfway between a human and a wolf. He stood up on two legs with claws and fangs but he had similar body build to a human's. He tried harder and finally transformed back into a human. He quickly changed into his clothes and then found a river or stream. He cupped some water in his palms and drank it. However, just seconds after he drank the water, he puked it back up and then vomited. He was in a cold sweat and haunted with the memory of eating a mother and father in front of their daughter. He could never wash away the sin of him devouring an innocent little girl's parents. He could never forgive himself. He may as well be labeled as a freak. He believed at that moment that he fittingly had a shock collar and tracking bracelet on. He felt that everything would be over for him soon. This last incident was the last straw. Cody couldn't take it anymore. He couldn't wait for the police officers and scientists from Boston to ketch up with him. He needed his life to be ended very soon.

Then an idea hit him like a ton of bricks. Instead of just asking Bailey for her opinion, he should just tell her to kill him. He thought that would be best. He would be free, she would be free and no more lives would have to be lost. It was a win-win-win situation. Cody made the final decision to go to Bailey and have her do away with him, to shoot him down. He just hoped that when she killed him off that she would either shoot him in the heart in the head so it would a quick death. After thinking about Bailey killing him off, Cody had goose bumps. He rocked back and forth near the river, sweating bullets. He kept rocking until he threw up again. Once he collected himself, he stood up and made the trek back to the Pickett Farm on foot. He was lucky enough to stay in his human form.

Twenty minutes later, Cody made it to the farm. He weakly shuffled to the front door. He knocked on the door twice and then waited for a reply. Nothing. He knocked two more times. Still nothing. He knocked another two times. Again nothing. He was not getting any reply. Cody slowly breathed in and out for three times and then focused. He knocked two more times. Finally, the door opened. Cody did not see Eunice on the other side, but Bailey.

"Bailey?"

Bailey yanked Cody inside the house by his collar and closed the door behind him. She certainly was seething on the inside.

"What did you do?"

"I-"

"I know what you did, Cody! I want to know why."

"I'm sorry. I lost control of my conscious."

"Do you realize what you have done?! Why did you come back now at this time?"

"I know. I'm sorry. I just thought I would back now since I technically promised you that I would come back."

"Is that all you're going to say?!"

"No."

Bailey calmed down a bit and allowed Cody to continue speaking.

"I came here for a very specific favor to ask of you."

"Whatever is it, can it wait until later? I have to go tuck Ashley in."

"No. It can't wait."

"Why? What's your stupid request?"

Cody grimaced at Bailey's poisonous tone of voice. He knew what he had done and he regretted every bit of it. Once Bailey saw the hurt expression on Cody's face and the sign of regret in his eyes, her stern expression softened. But she still had a firm hold of her anger toward Cody. She crossed her arms in front of her chest.

"What is it?"

"Kill me."

"What?"

"Shoot me. End my life. I don't care if you shoot me in the heart or in the head; I just want you to kill me. Go ahead and get a gun and shoot me. Please, do it quick."

Bailey slowly moved her arms down not from anger but from terror and remorse. Her breath hitched in her throat.

"What?"

Cody stared straight into Bailey's brown eyes.

"Let's face it, Bailey! I'm a fucking monster! I raped you-"

"You did not rape me. I gave you consent."

"That's only because you felt obligated to do so!"

"I gave you permission to enter me."

"I'm a horny, bloodthirsty bastard. I'm a Godforsaken creature! A thing at best! I took advantage of you and ate an innocent, little girl's parents in front of her. I ate her mother pulsing heart!"

Cody then showed Bailey his blood drenched hands.

"See these hands, Bailey!? They have blood on them! It's not my blood; it's the blood of the little girl's parents'!"

Bailey took one step back. She could see some blood splattered on his face. "I can see that, Cody."

"Then what are you waiting for? Kill me now before it's too late, before I kill you."

"I'm not going to kill you, Cody. It wouldn't be right."

"Kill me! Grab a gun or some sharp object and kill me…..! I can't…."

Cody began to cry. "I can't take it anymore, Bailey….Please…Enough is enough. Kill me now."

Bailey shook her head. Cody yelped in frustration and in pain. He plopped himself on the couch and dug his forehead into his right hand which still had fresh blood on it. As he rubbed his palm against his forehead, stick blood smeared against his face and stained his blonde bangs. His voice was barely over a whisper.

"I don't get it, Bailey. Why won't you do away with me?"

Bailey wanted to approach Cody but then changed her mind. "Cody….."

"If you can't kill me then have your father kill me. He's been dying to kill me anyway."

"No. I don't want to expose your identity."

Cody whipped his head around to face Bailey which shocked her. His face was red and stained with tears and spots of blood and his nose was a little runny. "Then what to you want me to do?!"

Bailey's heart broke a little bit since Cody's voice sounded so strained and…well broken. But, then again, her heart has been breaking a little bit every now and again since Ashley came to their home.

"Cody…..I have to tuck Ashley in bed. Would you like to come with me and make peace with her even though she won't know who you are?"

"No."

Cody sternly turned his head away from Bailey and spat some blood out his mouth and onto the floor.

"Okay. Uh, I'll be back as soon as possible so we can continue our discussion."

Cody just grunted. Bailey didn't know who feel bad for more: Cody or Ashley. She weighed different factors on how each individual suffered so much, but when she considered the big picture and the longest time period of suffering, Cody has suffered more than Ashley, but Ashley probably will be traumatized for the rest of her life. Bailey just felt so bad for both of them. She knew that Cody needed her help desperately but she had to tend to Ashley since kids required more attention and love than….a lonely, cursed werewolf. Bailey made the decision that even though she would tuck Ashley in and say goodnight to her, she would try her best to rush back to Cody's side because he deserved as much attention and love as a young child deserved when they're scared and lonely. Cody technically was a child. It's just that he was in a bigger body with a more developed brain. He was just as lost, scared and confused as a child would be who was briefly separated by their parents in a grocery store or in a public park.

Bailey quickly stepped up the stairs, went to her room, tucked Ashley in, gently stroked her forehead a few time and then read her a bedtime story. Once she was done reading to Ashley, Bailey had the little girl lay down, snuggle her bunny rabbit and teddy bear and close her eyes. Then she changed into her pajamas, turned on the nightlight, turned off the light and left the room with the door opened by a quarter of a way. Bailey scurried down the stairs, grabbed a blanket from the linens closet and made a bee line for the couch. Once she was in close range of Cody's slumped body, she sat down next to him and draped a blanket over his shoulders.

"Was I gone long?"

Cody didn't look at Bailey. He just stared at the floor like it was the most entertaining thing in the whole world.

"A little."

Bailey scooted up on the couch closer to Cody and tucked her legs on her side.

"Cody, why do you want me to kill you?

"I just feel that it will solve many problems if I died."

"But why do I have to kill you? Why me?"

"Bailey, I just thought that it would be fitting if you killed me. After all, you chose to get yourself involved in this whole situation and you have the responsibility to kill me."

"Well, I don't care what you say, Cody, I'm not going to kill you."

"Why?"

"Because-because I….."

Cody lifted his head up and looked at Bailey. He rose an eyebrow at her.

"Because of what?"

Bailey couldn't explain exactly why she didn't want to kill Cody, but she did know that it wouldn't feel right to her if she took a life, especially Cody's life. She wouldn't be able to live with herself if she knew that she was responsible for Cody's death. She still had hope that he could be cured. She didn't want to give up on him, she simply couldn't.

"Bailey?"

"Look, Cody, I told you that I'm not kill you and that is the end of that."

"But I'm running out of time."

"Cody, I'm not going to kill you…."

"Fine….But what's there left?"

"The test results."

"They came?"

"Yes."

"What are they?"

"They don't look too good, but there is some hope."

"What?"

"The results indicate that there is one way to cure you of your werewolf curse."

"What's that?"

"You're probably have to return to the source and have the curse reversed…"

"No. That will be impossible. I'd rather wait here and die by the hands of angry police officers and crazy scientists."

"But Cody… You still have chance."

"No. Besides, why do you care so much now? I thought you hated me."

"I never hated you, Cody."

"Why?"

"I got to know the kind and sensitive and smart side of you, the human side of you. I want to get to know that side of you better."

Cody sighed. He still didn't look at Bailey. "Well, set your heart on a new fantasy. I probably won't be around much longer."

Bailey didn't say anything. She simply wrapped her arms around Cody's body and clung to him.

"I want to be here for you, Cody."

At last, Cody looked at Bailey with sincere eyes.

"Why?"

"Let's just leave it at that."

Then Bailey kissed Cody on the forehead and cuddled close to him. He stretched out and arm and wrapped it around Bailey's slim waist.

Bailey breathed on Cody's neck. "Cody."

Cody nuzzled his face into Bailey's neck. "Bailey, I'm so sorry."

Bailey could feel hot tears drip from Cody's face onto her cool skin. "I know. I forgive you."

Cody cried even harder. He then wrapped his other arm around Bailey's body and pulled her even closer to his body. If they were any closer, they would be sharing contour lines. Cody whispered some desperate words into Bailey's left ear.

"Bailey."

"Yeah?"

"If for some miraculous reason, I come out okay and I'm a normal guy again, will you promise me soothing?"

"Sure. What is it?"

"Will you promise to always be there for me and never leave me?"

"I promise as long as I live and beyond. I'll always be there for you forever."

Cody buried his tear and blood stained face in the crook of Bailey's neck. He mumbled something but Bailey was able to hear it.

"Thank you."

Bailey had a tiny smile on her face. She kindly whispered back in Cody's right ear. "You're welcome."

Cody hugged Bailey as if for dear life and then after a five second hug, he had let her go.

"So, what now? I can't exactly stay here."

"Sleep here on the couch and before anyone else wakes up, hide in the barn that no one uses."

"You mean, the barn that we….?"

'"Yes."

"Okay."

"Stay here, Cody. Promise me that you'll stay in the house for tonight."

"I promise."

"We'll sort things out later tomorrow."

"Okay."

"Good night."

"Good night."

Before Bailey could get up from the couch, Cody grabbed onto her left arm. Bailey stared at Cody with wonder.

"What is it, Cody?"

"It's just that I-"

"That you what, Cody?"

Cody stayed silent. He abruptly pulled Bailey close to him and placed a hot and passionate kiss on her lips. She was surprised at first but then melted into the kiss. She wrapped her arms Cody's neck and ran her fingers through his hair. Cody pressed his lips hard against Bailey's which made her slip out a small, explicit moan. Before things got too intense, Bailey forced herself off of Cody and cleared her throat. She brushed her pajamas and excused herself from the couch.

"Good night, Cody."

"Sleep tight, Bailey."

Bailey blushed, turned head away from Cody and scoffed.

"Same to you."

Then she walked away and went up the stairs. Cody laid down on the couch and placed the blanket over his suddenly warm body. He closed his eyes, relaxed and soon fell asleep. At least he had a decent end to a horrible day. He got to see Bailey again. He was ready to be either cured or killed. He didn't care because he talked to Bailey about his problems and now everything is out in the open between the two of them.

To Be Continued…