7:41 a.m. : Claire

7:46 a.m. : It's Gray, the girl you ran into yesterday

From: Claire Novak, 7:50 a.m. : Why are u up so early? It's like 8

7:51 a.m. : I think there's something wrong here

7:51 a.m. : My parents are dead

From: Claire Novak, 7:53 a.m. : What are u talking about? Why haven't u called the police

7:55 a.m. : I did, they're coming.

7:55 a.m. : I can't be here

7:55 a.m. : They're all mutilated, it smells gross

From: Claire Novak, 7:58 a.m. : You remember the park from yesterday?

From: Claire Novak, 7:58 a.m. : Meet me there

Claire's mind spun at the notion of Gray's adoptive parents just up and dying. It hit too close to home. Claire knew, however, that Gray could not leave the scene of the crime, so she contacted Jody.

8:00 a.m. : Jody, hey, the girl that the Samuels adopted just contacted me

8:00 a.m. : She seems really stressed.

From: Jody, 8:01 a.m. : Claire, you know Gray? I'm not sure if she should leave. It's a murder scene

8:02 a.m. : Jody, please, she's really stressed. Just let her come with me for a bit and if you find anything she can just go back

8:02 a.m. : Plus, what if it's something unnatural?

From: Jody, 8:03 a.m. : Good point. But you better not hold her back if I find something.

Gray's mind was wild with thoughts of revenge, confusion, and misunderstanding. Hattie and Ed were the nicest people that she knew, who would've wanted them dead? Bear was sitting next to her in the passenger seat, whining nervously. Gray glanced at him, biting her lip. "I know, boy, I'm scared, too." She whispered. She bit her lip, having parked against the curb, and slunk back into her thoughts.

"Nia, can you tell me why you're so angry?" The man in white asks, his skeptical, judgemental eyes locked onto hers.

"I shouldn't be here." She responds, lifting her dull eyes to his. "I'm not crazy. She is coming for me. She won't stop until she has me."

"Who is coming for you, Nia?"

"Marie."

The name tastes like poison in her mouth. The five letters had once brought up such loving, caring feelings... but now it only brought up hatred.

"Your ex-girlfriend? The woman you attacked just last month?"

"I had to! She cursed me, why doesn't anyone believe me?" Nia demanded.

"Nia, you are suffering from a form of paranoia known as lycanthropy." The man explained. "There is no curse, there is no monster living inside of you. And to prove this to you, we'll be placing you under observation tonight."

"You can't do that!" She was panicked, afraid. "I'll kill you all!"

"Hey!"

Gray jumped, her amber eyes snapping to the driver's side window. The blonde, Claire, was rapping her knuckles against the glass. "I've been trying to get your attention for, like, two minutes. What's up with you?"

"Well, for one, my parents just died." She said, stepping out of the car. Bear jumped out after her, intent on investigating Claire.

"I see you brought the cavalry," Her words were almost teasing.

"Who, Bear?" Gray asked, then shrugged. "I wasn't gonna leave him there. My parents.. it looked like some animal tore them up. I didn't want them to suspect Bear."

"So, what happened?" Claire asked, her icy eyes locking onto Gray's. "With your parents?"

Gray quirked an eyebrow, taking Bear around to put him in the back of the truck. "Get in, then we'll talk." Claire seemed to smile, and she went around to the passenger side door. "Bear, sit. Stay. Don't jump out." She said, ruffling the dog's ears. Gray made her way back to the driver's seat, climbing in and starting the engine.

"So, what happened?" Claire asked, glancing at Gray.

"Well, after I ran into you," Gray started, "I came home. Found my family lying on their bedroom floor. There was blood everywhere, Hattie was already dead. Ed was still alive.."

"Is he okay?" Claire asked, tilting her head slightly.

"No." Gray's voice was almost cold. "He died in my arms. Someone.. something.. killed them. He said.. he said that whoever did it wanted to wish me happy birthday."

"So the killer knows you?"

"I guess so." Gray murmured, though she was starting to suspect who the killer was, it couldn't be proven until she was aware of the person's whereabouts.

"I, uh.." Gray glanced over at Claire when she heard the girl speak. "I'm sorry. About Hattie and Ed. I know what it's like.. I lost my parents, too."

"You did?" Gray asked, glancing at her.

"My mom died not too long ago and my dad.." Claire's sentence trailed off.

"If you don't wanna talk about it," Gray said softly, "I won't make you."

Claire nodded, glancing out her window. "So.. The Samuels, how'd they find you?"

Gray bit her lip. "I, uh.. I was in a bad place at the time. Young. Hungry. Alone. Scared." She shrugged. "Hattie found me, I'd wandered into the diner outside of town. She took me in."

"What about your real family? Like.. life post-Samuels?"

Gray glanced at Claire. "My dad left when I was a kid. My mom kicked me out."

"Oh," Claire said softly, "I'm.. I'm sorry."

"Yeah," Gray agreed, "I am, too."

"Okay, okay. Pull up here," Claire instructed, pointing to a one story house. Gray did as told, pulling alongside the curb. Shutting off the engine, she shoved the keys in her pocket and slid out, walking around to the back to grab Bear. "Oh, uh.. I don't know if Jody wants a dog in her house," Claire added, glancing at Gray as she climbed out of the passenger seat.

"Bear sticks with me." Gray said. "I won't leave him out here."

Claire only shrugged, walking up the drive and towards the front door. "Fine, then. Have it your way."

Gray followed close behind, Bear at her heels, as Claire stepped aside for her companion and the dog to slip inside. The interior was clean, and Gray watched Claire kick her shoes off. Gray did the same, stepping onto the fuzzy carpet. The Samuel's house had not had carpeting, nor had it had such a comforting smell to it. The Mills' house smelled oddly like peppermint, which stung Gray's nose but also comforted her. Bear took to darting back and forth, investigating every nook and cranny that the house had.

"Are you hungry?" Claire asked.

Gray had noticed that the girl had already made her way into the kitchen, rooting around in the cupboards. Gray also noticed that she was starving, which wasn't odd. She was always hungry. "Yeah," Gray said, "I haven't eaten all day."

"Well, you know," Claire stated, "It's only, like, nine in the morning."

Gray shrugged, looking around. "Nice place."

"It's Jody and Alex's." Claire stated. "I'm leaving as soon as I can figure out how to.."

"How to what?"

"Hunt. How to hunt,"

"Hunt? Hunt what?" Gray asked, intrigued.

"Stuff." Claire shrugged.

"Wow, that really clarified." Gray said, rolling her eyes slightly. "So glad you're learning to hunt 'stuff'."

Claire exhaled, sounding annoyed. "You'd think I'm crazy if I told you." She stated, "And seeing as you're the first person that wants to be around me on their own free will, I'd rather not."

"I think you'd be surprised." Gray shrugged. "I mean, you sound kinda crazy," She teased lightly, "But not too crazy."

"Ha, ha." Claire's laugh was fake, dry. She rolled her eyes. "Thanks."

"Any time," Gray said, leaning against the counter, continuing to glance around.

"What's your deal?" Claire suddenly asked.

"My deal?" Gray frowned. "I don't have a deal."

"You're looking around the house like you've never been in one before." Claire stated.

"I've never been in a home other than the Samuels'." Gray admitted. "I honestly haven't done much with my time here in Sioux Falls."

"How long've you been here?" Claire asked, glancing at Gray.

"Three years. Going on four." Gray told her, watching the blonde's every movement. "And you?"

"A year almost." Claire shrugged. "Which, by the way, isn't important. I'll be getting out of here soon, anyways."

Gray quirked an eyebrow, watching as Claire loaded her thin- yet, Gray guessed they were capable as well- arms with bags of chips and other junk foods. "Need any help there?"

"Nope. I got it." Claire said, pushing past Gray. "Follow me, Stranger."

"'Stranger', huh?" Gray asked, following. Bear darted after them. "Not even your friend?"

Claire seemed to laugh. "I'd rather not get attached to you. Everyone leaves in the end."

"Maybe you're just overestimating me? I'm rather loyal."

"I guess we'll just see, then, huh?" Claire asked. She had led Gray and Bear into her room, where she plopped onto the bed. Gray watched her before she, too, sat down; watching the blonde devour the chips. Claire opened her laptop, reading something. "Make yourself comfortable. Eat." Claire shrugged, "I'm not gonna take care of you." Gray hesitated a bit, but she lay back- resting her head against the small of Claire's back, using her as a pillow. Gray could feel Claire shift beneath her, but she wasn't sure if it was a good or bad thing; however, Claire didn't protest.

"What happened to your parents?" Gray asked after a while.

"My dad died when I was younger. My mom left, and I, uh.. lived a rough life. She died this past year." Claire said, avoiding details.

"I'm sorry to hear that." Gray said quietly.

"Don't be. I got a pretty nice setup now," Claire said, glancing back at Gray. "I mean, I might be leaving soon, but still."

"Where do you plan to go?"

"Everywhere. Anywhere." Claire said, popping another chip into her mouth. "I'm going to do the world a service."

"What service?"

"I'm going to kill all the monsters." Claire admitted after a brief pause. Gray rolled over, suddenly curious on what Claire was looking at. By doing so, she was practically laying on top of Claire. The blonde seemed to blush, shifting a bit uncomfortably beneath Gray. "What are you doing?"

"Just curious. What are you looking at?"

It was at that moment that Claire's phone went off. Claire, almost instantly, shut the computer and sat upright; checking her messages.

From: Jody, 9:56 a.m. : You need to send Gray back here. Found something. You might want to come, too.

"So, uh, that was Jody." Claire said hurriedly, standing. "We need to go back to your house."

"Now?" Gray asked, sitting up slowly.

"Now."