Chapter 16

"Even though I'm the sacrifice, you won't try for me."

-Evanescence

Tyson threw himself down on the ground as fast as could. Hearing whatever it was that attacked him land on the ground not to far from him, he lifted his head to see his attacker, and gulped. A savage black wolf stood before him, baring its fangs. Cautiously he began to get up but only got as far as sitting before the wolf launched at him again.

Dodging the beast a second time, Tyson noticed how much lager it was compared to a normal wolf, and that's when he came to a deadly conclusion. This wasn't a wolf, this was a werewolf, and considering that it was snarling at him, it didn't like him very much. Once again, he tried to stand up; this time he succeeded.

Starting to walk backwards Tyson noticed the werewolf was following him step for step. Waving his hands in front of him to show he meant no harm ,Tyson began saying nonsense in hopes of the werewolf understanding. Werewolves are still human after all, so why wouldn't they understand. "You don't want to eat me. I'm just skin and bones, and any fat I do have in me will probably clog up your arteries."

A low growl was the werewolf's reply. Laughing nervously, Tyson continued to back away from the deadly wolf, praying to any god who was willing to listen, that he would live to see another day. Every thought in Tyson's mind ceased though as his back hit a tree.

The werewolf continued to advance on him, and he could only stand frozen in terror. He could hear his heart pound and feel the rush of adrenaline course through his body. Closing his eyes, he prepared for the attack, but it never came. Instead he heard a crash and then a whimper. Willing his eyes open, what he saw standing in front of him made him gasp in shock and horror.

Two werewolves were now around him. The new one was the same size and color as the one that had been trying to attack him, but instead of attacking him it was standing protectively in front of him. Feeling weak from the shock Tyson slid down the tree until he was sitting on the ground. "This better not turn out to be a repeat of what I had to go through with Kai."

The werewolf that had attacked him seemed to perk up at Kai's name, while the one defending him looked at him curiously. Ignoring the looks he was receiving from the werewolves, Tyson rested his head on the tree and breathed deeply. He was exhausted, he had been running for so long and dealing with these werewolves didn't make anything easier. "Hiro where are you?" Tyson managed to whimper.

The sound of the wind was the only thing that answered Tyson's question, and just as he was giving up hope he received an answer. "I'm right here."

Recognizing the voice instantly Tyson looked around to find his brother kneeling in front of him where the protective werewolf once stood. Without thinking, Tyson threw his arms around his brother's neck and embraced him. "Hiro where were you! I missed you so much!"

A sad smile formed on Hiro's lips but Tyson didn't see it. "I've just been going through some changes. But tell me, what are you doing out here? The camping trip has been over for months now. Why are you still here?"

Pulling away from his brother, Tyson pouted and looked Hiro directly in the eye. "Kai kidnapped me. Rei also kidnapped Max, but they're in love, so when I escaped I didn't make Max come with me, even if it would have been nice traveling with him." The smile on Tyson's face was alight as he told Hiro what had happened. Everything that had happened to him was so small now that he had his brother. "I'm so glad you're back," and with that said Tyson went back to hugging his brother.

Someone clearing their throat interrupted the brotherly moment between the two though. Pulling away from Hiro Tyson looked over his brother's shoulder to see an older version of Kai, which could only mean one thing, "Holy crap! You must be Anthony! But wait, how can that be? You'd have to be a vampire or a-a-a-"

"Werewolf," Anthony finished. "Yeah that's me. I'm a werewolf. So you met my brother, guess that means he's a vampire since I think I would have found him if he was a werewolf."

Needless to say Tyson was stunned. Going into hysterics Tyson grabbed Hiro by the shoulders and started shaking him. "What! Hiro, why are you hanging out with a werewolf! Oh no! He must have kidnapped you like Kai did with me! Don't worry, I'll save you!"

"Tyson!" Hiro shouted in desperation, and grabbed his brother by his shoulders in hopes of calming the boy down. When Tyson finally did relax, Hiro explained everything. "No, Tyson I wasn't kidnapped, if anything Anthony has helped me get used to some of the changes I'm going through right now." Seeing the confused look on Tyson face Hiro went into further explanation. "Tyson, I'm a werewolf."

Silence passed between the two brothers. It wasn't long after that Tyson started laughing. "That's funny Hiro, but if you were a werewolf, then that would mean on full moons you'd turn into a wolf, and the last time I checked tonight is a full moon."

Knowing how stubborn Tyson was, Hiro sighed in frustration. "Tyson, since you haven't denied that Kai is a vampire I'm assuming he is one. Now from what you have learned from staying with Kai, are all vampires the same?" Tyson shook his head. "Neither are werewolves. Some can control their transformation, while some can't. Luckily I'm one of the few that can."

Looking past Hiro Tyson stared at Anthony for confirmation and received it right away. A hurt look passed through Tyson's eyes, but he hid it from the two werewolves, giving Hiro a smile. "So I guess this means things can't go back to the way they were before."

"I'm sorry, Tyson, but I'm a werewolf now, and we can't change that. There is no way things can go back to being normal." Not seeing the hurt and betrayal in his brother's eyes Hiro moved away from Tyson and to Anthony, and both boys were about to leave when Tyson stopped them.

"Wait! I have a question for you, Anthony." Facing Tyson, Anthony waited for the younger boy's question. "Why did you attack me?"

A blush crossed Anthony's face and he seemed to stiffen. "I," Anthony hesitated for a moment, "I smelt Hiro's blood on you so I thought you had injured him or something. I didn't know you were just carrying his bloody jacket." With that said Anthony and Hiro left, neither sparring Tyson a second glance. For Hiro knew one look at Tyson and he would never be able to leave his little brother's side, and Anthony didn't either because he knew if he were to look it would make it harder for Hiro not to look as well.

But because neither werewolf looked back they never saw the river of tears flowing down Tyson's cheeks.

X.X.X.X.X.X.

Tyson was nearby, Kai could feel it. Using his vampire speed Kai ran through the woods in search of his young love. He couldn't explain it, but he knew something devastating had just happened to Tyson, and he swore he was going to make whoever was responsible for it pay with their lives. The sound of crying filled his ears, as he grew closer to Tyson, making his pace increase.

When he finally found Tyson his heart wrenched at the sight. The boy was leaning against a tree in a fetal position crying his eyes out. Slowly approaching the depressed boy, Kai sat down next to Tyson and embraced him. He could feel Tyson tense from his touch and then relax into it. "Want to tell me what happened?" he asked softly.

Tyson shook his head and buried his face into Kai's chest and inhaled the older boy's scent. Having been around Kai so much Tyson had grown used to his scent and it relaxed him, and made him feel safe.

Rubbing Tyson's back up and down Kai unfurled his wings from his back and wrapped them protectively around Tyson and himself. "It's okay," Kai assured in as gentle a voice he could muster. "I don't know what happened but I'm going to help you through it. I don't want to see you hurt."

Hearing those words, Tyson only cried harder, but not because of the pain he felt, but the relief. He still had someone. Someone who loved him.

Fun Facts About Haunted:

This fic was based on a dream I had

I had originally planned on this being around eight chapters

Half the stuff in this fic came from my imagination

Anthony was created by Kay, one of my fellow writers on this website, and don't worry, we're pals so she lent me Anthony

For the line "Tyson, I'm a werewolf," I had a strange urge to switch werewolf with woman. Don't ask me why I just did, or at least the voices in my head did