A/N: My apologies for this being a day late after Halloween, but I was busy with life and I had to postpone finishing this for a bit. But, I'm glad I got it done and I enjoyed writing every minute of it, even if what I'm writing is pretty dark. :)

Writer: Terra ForceXIII

~*~ Birth from Darkness ~*~

Novel III: The Wolfman

"I believe a man lost in the mazes of his own mind may imagine that he's anything..."

Yellow Eyes narrowed at its prey, saliva covered fangs tasted the air, razor claws flexed in the dirt, and angry growls escaped its throat. Golden fur rustled in the cold breeze, the scent of mouthwatering flesh in the air, and utter silence filling its ears. The large trees watched the display, anticipating the violent act of the natural order of the forest.

Then the predator finally pounced and the silence of the forest was no more, the shrieks of the deer and the roars of the beast were intertwined into a horrific music. The sun barely gazed through the grey clouds as the killing in the forest continued, flesh was torn and sliced, innocent eyes widened, and blood spilled into the soil.

Its mouth opened with a heavy growl, hot breath visible in the cold, and blood mixed with saliva covered its fang.

Ventus opened his eyes with a panicked gasp, awakening from his stressful dream in the comfort of his cabin home. He could hear his mother making breakfast down stairs, the birds chirping outside in the fog covered trees, and the muffled voices of his family's discussion.

The boy's blonde hair was messy and spiked in multiple places, his blue eyes slightly muted from his stoic expression, and he had pale bandages on his head and left arm after an unexpected wolf attack a few days ago.

I've been having these weird thoughts lately...

His body still carried some lingering aches from the dramatic event, and he couldn't lift himself up from bed without groaning. His expression was stoic with a hint of tiredness, feeling the after effects of the dreams he's been having lately. It was like his horrific nightmare sucked the energy out of him, leaving him with nothing by time he wakes up.

He lived with his parents in a small village in Gwynedd Wales, near the white covered mountain of Snowdon. The environment was cold and foggy this autumn, which was rather challenging for hunting.

"That dream again," he whispered, dismissing his thoughts as he prepared to leave his room.

He carefully slipped his white button shirt on with aching sighs, wearing his blue jeans and socks as he made his way downstairs where he could already smell the aroma of mother's breakfast. He quietly sat down and started eating, consuming his bacon and sausage first with animalistic hunger.

"Feeling better, sweetie?" His mother asked as she cleaned the dishes.

"A little, my shoulder still hurts," he answered honestly.

Suddenly he felt someone's hand pat him on the wrong shoulder, sending surges of pain throughout his body as he hissed from the touch. He didn't need to turn around to know that it was his bullying older brother, who whistled his way in the chair next to him and start eating his own meal.

"You know that stings, Vanitas," the blonde boy muttered.

"Don't be a wuss," his brother lectured, giving him an unfriendly look as a warning.

Vanitas was three years older than his brother, carrying their father's charcoal black hair and lightly pale skin, intimidating golden eyes, and an attitude opposite of his carefree younger sibling. He seemed to be born with a rude and independent persona, and it was this kind of attitude that Ventus slightly admired and felt exhausted from on a daily bases.

"Think you can keep up with me when we go into town today?" He questioned.

Ventus gulped his chewed food and tried to stand his ground. "Sure, it beats laying down in bed all day."

"Jeez, Ventus," his mother commented, eying her youngest son's plate. "You're such a carnivore."

The spiky blonde's plate was clear of meat with only the scrambled eggs remaining, which was how his meals usually disappeared in that order. He gave his mother a smirk and wiped his mouth clean with his sleeve, while his older brother ignored the two and continued eating the rest on his plate.

After finishing their meals and gathering their bundles of clothes to combat the cold, consistent of thick jackets, boots, and gloves, and they left the warmth of their cabin home and walked down the slope towards town. Vanitas didn't bother in meeting his younger brother's steady pace and kept to himself, while the blonde boy adjusted his bandaged shoulder in his weighty clothing.

"What are we getting today?" He asked, trying to make conversation.

The charcoal haired brother looked over his shoulder and turned back to his front. "Just a couple groceries for mom and we're heading back," he answered simply.

The fog was thick this morning and it only allowed a couple feet of visibility, but the two managed to fine the main town and make their way around the shops. There wasn't many people roaming the streets and it made things a little more relaxing, enough that the spiky blonde was finished gathering his half of the groceries before his brother. He decided to explore any of the newest merchants in towns and found one particular tent displaying jewelry and trinkets; the fabric and designs gave him the impression that this was a traveling gypsy.

"I wonder if there's anything mom would like," he asked himself, deciding to browse while he waited.

He stepped into the large purple tent and examined the many tables displaying colorful trinkets, while the owner sat quietly in a wooden chair on the other side. The old gypsy woman stared at the boy with a blank expression, waiting patiently for him to decide to buy something or not, while Ventus tried to play casual and look for something unique.

He spotted something and brought it to the gypsy woman, pulling out some money as she silently accepted the exchange. During the transaction, Ventus glanced at a unique carving of a wolf's head in silver, reaching over to get a better look. But as soon as he touched the necklace, he felt something uncomfortable run through his body and make him petrified to move.

"Wh- What is this?" He stuttered.

The old lady noticed his quivering and glanced back at the necklace, showing some genuine emotion as she gave the boy a serious frown. She grabbed the silver trinket and put it away, restoring the blonde boy's nerves as he took the moment to recover.

"Were you bitten?" The gypsy woman questioned.

Ventus was taken back from her sudden decision to speak, mumbling a bit before he finally cleared his head and spoke. "Y- Yeah... I was attacked by a wolf a few days ago but..."

The old lady stood from her seat and walked towards the boy, which made him take a few steps back in response. She pulled out the necklace and presented it to the spiky blonde, sending shivers down his spine as she swayed it back and forth.

"Then it is possible that you are already cursed," she spoke sternly.

"Cursed by what?" He asked, gulping a lump in his throat as a sweat drop fell from his forehead.

"By a werewolf, my boy," she answered. "And whoever is bitten by one becomes a wolf them self."

How could he believe in such a outlandish tale? Ventus thought back when he and his brother were attacked in the forest during their morning hunt, and how the rabid canine acted out of normal circumstances. The wolf was larger than most, its eyes glowing in yellow, and the feeling of its fangs biting into his shoulder and sending haunting pains throughout his body.

"That's... insane," he muttered, trying to change the subject.

"Even a man who is pure in heart and says his prayers by night, may become a wolf when the wolfbane blooms and the autumn moon is bright," the old lady warned, ignoring his comment and placing his paid trinket in a bag.

But Ventus noticed that she slipped in the silver wolf necklace in the bag and held it up by its beads. "What do I do with this?" He asked.

The gypsy woman returned to her chair and gave the boy a concerning glance, speaking in a tone of pity. "Keep it with you at night, and maybe this curse will be cured before it's too late."

Ventus couldn't look at the wolf necklace without cringing in anxiety, half of him believing in the old woman's warning while the other half wanted to dismiss it as rubbish. But something told him that maybe being optimistic might be a wasted effort, scratching his neck nervously as he left the tent to rejoin with his younger brother. The woman's words were echoing through his mind, making him sweat and barely pay attention to where he was going.

It's just a foolish tale; Ventus... get a hold of yourself...

He tried to convince himself to feel better but nothing was working, he ended up finding his younger brother while displaying a sorrowful frown, which didn't go unnoticed by the charcoal haired boy.

"Been taking your sweet time, idiot?" Vanitas scolded.

Ventus didn't have the energy nor was in the mood to retort; he only walked by his brother and headed home with slumped shoulders. The raven haired brother raised an eyebrow and followed suite, keeping a close eye on his little sibling as they traveled up the trail towards their cabin home.

Back then when they were attacked by the rabid wolf, Ventus remembered saving his older brother and took the bite himself. It was just a genuine gesture that he thought was the right decision to make to save his brother, yet now it seems like his decision carries more significance then he could ever imagine. He took a bite for his brother, the curse that could doom him forever, and he was conflicted whether or not it was worth it.

Should I tell my mother and brother...

When they got home and finished taking care of the groceries, Ventus retired into his bedroom for some deep thinking. He laid on his bed and stared blankly at the ceiling with narrowed eyes, the bag of trinkets by his bedside as he thought about the gypsy woman's tale.

The more he thought about himself becoming a monster, the more he could hear his heartbeat rapidly increase in his chest. He feared that he would hurt his family and end up dead himself, and the fact that he couldn't do anything about it ate away at his hope.

I won't become a monster...

But he couldn't accept this grim fate and rose from his bed, feeling a slight pain in his shoulder as he grabbed his trinkets and headed down stairs. His mother was busy cleaning while his brother read a book on the couch, who gave him a half annoyed and concerning look.

"Hey, mom," he said casually, pulling out the trinket for his mother. "I got this for you."

"Aw, sweetie, you didn't have to," she admired, accepting her gift and giving her son a hug and a kiss.

"And this is for you, Vanitas," he mentioned, carefully grabbing the wolf necklace by its beads as he handed it to his brother.

The charcoal haired boy raised a questionable eyebrow and saw through his little brother's carefree smile, examining the sudden gift in his hand while he continued to give him interrogating questions.

"What did you break in my room?" He said.

Ventus gave him a pouting expression and answered in his usual tone whenever he explains himself to his ungrateful brother. "Nothing, this is just something I decided to do with my allowance!"

"Sure," Vanitas teased, putting the necklace in his pocket.

It would be better if Vanitas held onto it... in case the curse is real...

Seeing his mother and brother brought warmth into his troubled heart, making smile brightly as he moved aside his worries and decided to spend the rest of the day with them. But he couldn't tell if it was because he genuine wanted to be around them, or maybe it was a last request before his dark trials begin.

Ventus felt especially hungry this dinner, and it really showed when his mother presented him and his brother a plate of steak and spinach. He immediately went for the steak, ignoring his greens as he usually does while earning a displeasing look from his mother.

He was happy to notice that his mother was wearing the trinket he got her, while his stubborn brother showed less of appreciation by having the wolf necklace on the table, which made the spiky blonde slightly uncomfortable whenever he glanced at the particular object.

"Come on, sweetie," his mother complained. "Eat your vegetables!"

With a carefree eye roll, he stabbed some spinach with his fork and ate it with a groan. His brother was nearly finished by time he ate half of his greens, the silence at the table slowly driving the blonde boy insane as he tried to think of something to say. But the only thing running through his mind was the gypsy woman's warning, the tale about werewolves, and how he might be cursed for life.

Not the best topic for a family discussion...

"So where did you get these lovely necklaces?" His mother asked, killing the silence.

Ventus was busy chewing his greens and displaying a goofy expression to respond, while his older brother rolled his eyes. "I- huh... got it from one of the traveling merchants," he eventually answered.

"Sure you did," Vanitas teased, crossing his arms as he waited to be excused from the table.

The spiky blonde gulped his greens and gave his brother a pouting look, quickly thinking of a retort. "Hey, it's not like I-"

Suddenly a painful feeling in his gut interrupted his sentence, making his eyes widen and a grunt escape his throat. He could hear his heartbeat in his ears and the voices of his mother and brother became slightly muted, losing the will to steady himself on his chair and collapse on the ground.

What's happening to me...

He gripped his stomach in an attempt to stop the pain, cringing on the floor while his loved ones kneeled beside him. He couldn't hold it in and vomited on the floor, all the spinach that he ate for dinner was now green chunks on the ground beside him. He barely heard his older brother's complaint while his mother ordered him to be serious, which didn't help the quivering blonde during his collapse.

But then his eyelids became heavy and closed the curtain on his unfortunate turmoil. Everything became darker, his family's voices faded away, and the pain in his body subsided into a numb after ache that lasted throughout his unconsciousness.

He could hear the growls of a ravenous canine, the bone chilling screams of a dear being slaughtered, and he could almost taste the blood in his mouth. This was the feeling of being a predator, and it made him feel like not-himself.

But eventually these abnormal visions disappeared like his past dreams and he woke up in his bed again, staring up at the ceiling while hearing the slight breeze coming from his open window. His body was aching and he couldn't lift himself up, turning his head to see his older brother sitting in a chair beside him.

"You're hopeless," he sighed, acting like his usual nonchalant self.

"Yeah, I guess I am..." Ventus spoke weakly, masking his inner sorrow with a smile.

"And a horrible liar," Vanitas answered quickly.

This comment shifted the weak blonde's expression into one of concern, raising an eyebrow while his brother gave him a serious glance. The raven haired teen reached into his pocket and pulled out the silver necklace, carelessly dropping it on his brother's sheet covered chest. Ventus cringed from the lack of space between him and the unbearable object on his chest, glancing at the threatening necklace with frightened eyes.

"What have you been hiding from me and mom?" Vanitas questioned.

The worried blonde wondered his eyes elsewhere while he tried to tip-toe away from the discussion. "Nothing, I just had an upset stomach from mom's spinach," he muttered.

The charcoal haired brother leaned forward and flicked his finger on his younger sibling's bandaged forehead, making the blonde flinch from the spike of pain in his head.

"Wrong answer," he scolded, leaning back in his seat. "So tell me where you got that necklace."

Ventus didn't have the energy for this interrogation, but it seemed like his older brother wasn't giving him any options. He knew how much his older brother liked to tease him, how arrogant he could be, and how uncooperative he is sometimes, but he was his older brother nonetheless.

"You remember when that wolf attacked us a couple days ago?" He started.

Ventus explained what he heard from the old lady and how her descriptions matched the encounter with the strange wolf that bit him in the forest, while Vanitas stayed abnormally quiet and listened carefully as his younger sibling spilled his worries and concerns.

"So you think you'll turn into a bloodthirsty wolf because you're cursed," the raven haired teen confirmed.

"Stupid huh?" Ventus sighed, feeling embarrassed to admit these foolish problems.

Vanitas reached over and grabbed the silver necklace, standing from his seat while he started to walk towards the door. "Completely," he answered in a flat tone.

Before he left the room, Ventus could see him wearing the trinket around his neck, making the spiky blonde question if he believed his story or not. He was left in his room in silence, feeling the weight of exhaustion overtake him, and he shifted his position on his bed and closed his eyes. He thought about the old lady's words again, the roars of the wolf in his dreams, and the safety of his mother and brother.

Due to his unstable health, Ventus was excused of his morning chores and stayed in bed. But it wasn't as relaxing as he would've hoped, he spent a majority of the time thinking about his cursed situation and the discussion he had with his brother. He didn't get a clear enough answer if Vanitas believed his story or not, which bothered him during his ceiling watching.

When he managed to stand up from his bed, he felt the urge to eat something and decided to head downstairs, but what was strange was that he was particularly craving for meat. The thought of bleeding, chewy, and mouthwatering meat was irresistible to even try to postpone in his mind.

He went into the kitchen and checked the fridge, seeing only leftover bacon in a tiny bag. The ravenous blonde licked his lips and ate the few pieces of bacon left, still unable to satisfy his hunger and search for more. Ventus examined every inch of the kitchen to find edible meats, but ended up with nothing but disappointment and a groaning stomach.

His mother and brother were in their rooms doing whatever, while Ventus was left isolated to himself until dinner started. He laid back on the couch and returned to his deep thought, trying his best to ignore his stomach's whining pleas.

I can see everything...

The afternoon sun had already set after four and the living room was dark without the help of the nearby lamps. But it felt strange to Ventus that he could still see everything clearly without the assistance of light, even into the darkest corners of the fireplace, unknown to him to the fact that his blue eyes have changed into glowing spheres of yellow.

I can hear everything...

Ventus could hear things when his mind is in focus, the subtle sound of his brother flipping a page in his book, his mother's soft breathing while she took a nap, and the rustling of a nearby rabbit outside their cabin. After much concentration, he was able to mute the multiple sounds and rest comfortable on the couch, closing his eyes as he decided on taking a nap for himself.

I can smell everything...

The spiky haired blonde could smell the many scents and fragrances throughout the house, and his abnormal sense felt inconvenient and he tried his best to cover his nose with his arm. He brought his legs and arms together into curled up position, like a stray dog rolling into a ball to keep warm.

I feel so hungry... so hungry...

He couldn't take this anymore, he couldn't sleep or wait patiently for dinner, and he drastically made the decision to leave a note on the table and head out for something to eat with the rest of his allowance. Ventus gathered his warm clothes and his jacket, quietly leaving the house so he wouldn't disturb his family's current status. He knew his mother would give him an earful when he comes home, but he'll accept the lecture after satisfying his famished ordeal.

He went out into the afternoon trail towards town, with cloudy skies and a cold breeze making him bundle up in his thick clothing. The trail was lonely during this walk, and it made the spiky blonde extra observant while he glanced back and forth in the dark forest surround him. The birds and crickets made loud music, muting everything else as the noise began to drill into his mind.

Suddenly the pain in his body quickly emerged without warning, making the cringing blonde fall to his knees while he clenched his stomach. His heart was pulsing in his ears, his vision blurring into darkness, and his body was scorching with intense pain that spread throughout his quivering form.

No... no... it can't be like this...

His eyes shot open and revealed twin burning suns with black slits for pupils, and his concerning thoughts vanished along with the hold on his humanity. His teeth clenched while deep growls escaped his throat, his muscles tensing while his body twisted and turned into a nonhuman form.

The beast sprinted into the dark forest and headed straight into town, his heavy breathing in his ears as he navigated passed the skeleton trees and the dead leaves on the ground. He eventually halted his sprint and crouched behind some bushes, gazing beyond the iron fence and into the cemetery, narrowing his ravenous yellow eyes at a lone figure making his rounds around the graves.

The grave keeper was a middle aged man with nothing much to say, being known to be as lively as the people he surrounded himself with during his job. He was busy walking around the circular trail in the cemetery, holding a dim lantern in his hand while he hummed quietly to himself.

The old man heard something rustle in the bushes outside the fence and directed his lantern towards the possible intruder, feeling his nerves get the better of him as his arms and legs began to quiver.

"Who's there?" He shouted.

Of course there was no response, which made the weak old man even more nervous then he was before. He took careful steps towards the edge of the fence, lifting his lantern to better see what hid in the bushes. His poor vision couldn't see anything and retracted back, keeping his eyes beyond the fence as he returned to his spot on the cemetery trail.

"You're not supposed to be here, so you should leave!" He warned again.

The old man jumped when he heard a twig snap behind him, turning to see something large and in the shadows stalking him. The creature's glowing yellow eyes sent shivers down his spine, the beast's growls shaking him to his core, and the size of the predator left the old man petrified.

Before he could think and react, the shadowed beast claimed him and the grave keeper could only release a horrific cry. The lantern fell and shattered on the ground, relinquishing the flame and consuming the cemetery in darkness. The beast snarled and roared, ripping clothes and flesh, and snapped bone with its powerful jaws. The creature leaped over the fence later that night, leaving only splatters of blood, torn limbs, and other remains in the cemetery grounds.

The old man's cries echoed in his hears, images of claws slashing flash, and the terrified eyes that stayed open after the kill. The dark clouds revealed a bright moon shining into the skeleton forest, and the predator's gaping mouth dripped blood onto the orange and yellow leaves on the ground.

Ventus woke from his nightmare with a gasp, his blue eyes staring up at his bedroom ceiling while he held a frightened expression. Sweat rolled down his forehead, his body ached from whatever happened yesterday, and his stomach growled with an unsatisfied hunger for more meat.

Th- That dream again...

After much effort to crawl out of bed, the exhausted blonde slowly went downstairs to begin his morning with breakfast. Vanitas seemed to already be finished with his meal and continued to read his book on the couch, while their mother washed plates in the kitchen.

"Sleeping late after taking a stroll last night?" Vanitas commented, getting the attention of both his brother and mother.

Their mother turned and gave the spiky blonde an angry look, speaking in her strict motherly tone as she started this morning with a lecture. "Ventus, could you explain why you left the house yesterday without telling me?"

The tired blonde released a heavy sigh and sat quietly at the table, rubbing his eyes as he tried to give a good response. "I just felt hungry for something different and went into town."

His charcoal haired brother closed his book and directed his cold gaze at him. "And you immediately went to sleep when you came home later that night too," he spoke calmly.

"Yeah... I was tired after making my trip back," Ventus lied, unable to remember exactly how he made it back home or even the place where he ate.

His mother presented him with breakfast of sausage, eggs, and bacon, still keeping a rather stern persona while she returned to the kitchen. "Well, it was stupid of you to leave the house in the dark while still recovering from your injuries," she scolded.

Ventus displayed his carefree smile and scratched the back of his head. "Sorry, I was really hungry and I didn't want to bother you guys."

His raven haired sibling rose from his spot on the couch and made his way upstairs, while the ravenous blonde consumed his meats in a flash. For some reason, he didn't want to take the chance eating his eggs after what happened with the spinach, thinking maybe his stomach is only in the mood for meat lately.

"Well, get ready for work," Vanitas announced. "We're getting more groceries when you're done."

The energetic blonde finished his meal and rose from his seat, feeling the energy return to his body as he quickly grabbed his jacket and waited for his brother by the door. Meanwhile, his mother noticed that only his scrambled eggs remained on his plate, her expression shifting into a displeasing pout.

"Ventus, you didn't even eat your eggs!" She spoke.

"Sorry, I was still full after eating last night," he answered cheerfully, following his brother out the door before his mother could lecture him more. "We'll be back soon!"

The brothers made their way down the trail towards town, the morning fog clouding their vision while the autumn cold revealed their hot breaths as he walked quietly.

"Was eating in town all you did last night?" Vanitas questioned suddenly.

Ventus gave him a raised eyebrow while showing a clueless expression. "Yeah, I left the house, ate somewhere, and returned home," he answered in a half hearted tone.

"You weren't howling at the moon or anything," his brother teased.

The spiky blonde didn't find his older brother's comment particularly funny and shifted his look into one of aggression. "Not funny, Vanitas," he retorted.

"Wasn't trying to be," the raven haired teen added.

The two eventually came across a crowd of people near the entrance to the cemetery, while some policemen kept them back while the others examined something inside. The townsfolk spoke of a murder, while the brothers stopped to view the scene from the upper part of the trail.

Ventus was curious at first until his eyes found the mangled corpse of a person, his expression darkening into a petrified look of horror. The man's body was torn, his limbs twisted and chewed, and the rest of his corpse covered in blood. The sight gave him a realization, filling in the gapes of his memories between he left home and returned last night.

No... did I... kill this man...

He covered his mouth and stepped back, which didn't go unnoticed by his raven haired brother. Ventus couldn't stand to watch anymore and panicked, running back up the trail while ignoring the calls from his older brother.

I killed him... I killed someone...

The spiky haired blonde exhausted himself and collapsed near a tree, panting heavily as sweat dripped from his chin. He slammed his hand against his face and covered his left eye, while his lips quivered as he tried to keep it together.

Ventus couldn't remember anything, only images and sounds that felt like faded dreams, and he could feel the abnormal pain growing larger in his chest. He can tell that this change to his body was permanent and it was happening rapidly, the sounds of the forest were clearly in his ears, his muscles tensed and grew, and his untamed hunger clenched at his stomach.

"Hey, look at me," his brother's voice called.

The troubled blonde turned to see his older brother by his side, who carried a pained and serious expression as he placed a hand on his shoulder. "What's your problem?" He asked.

Ventus didn't like to show any weakness around his superior sibling, but he couldn't help but crumble before him while the guilt consumed his heart.

"I killed that person... in the cemetery," he admitted.

Vanitas felt unmoved by his answer, still carrying his calm yet pained expression as he said nothing. The charcoal haired brother released a heavy sigh and stood up, looking around as he tried to force his younger sibling on his feet.

"Come on," he ordered, brushing the stray leaves off his brother's jacket. "Head home and tell mother that you're not feeling well, I'll get the groceries myself."

Ventus felt empty and his expression held a permanent sorrowful look, keeping his hollowed blue eyes on the ground as the image of the bloodied corpse kept occupying his thoughts.

"But... I just-"

"Stop," Vanitas interrupted, receiving a surprised look from the spiky blonde. "Just go home and don't say anything to mom."

Before he could protest, Vanitas already turned and made his way down the trail, leaving Ventus alone in the fog covered forest. The spiky haired blonde leaned against a tree and slid down to a collapse, clenching his hair with both hands as he tried to stable himself with the weight of murder on his shoulders.

Why is this happening to me...

He brought his hand to his stomach and sighed, still feeling the emptiness in his gut groaning for meat. The troubled blonde glanced at his other hand and felt something take over his thoughts, his mouth slightly gaped as his canine teeth sharpened, and his blue eyes shifted into bright suns with black slits. Like a starving wolf in a bear trap, he bit down on his forearm and punctured a vein, blood spilling from his wound as he finally realized what he just did.

Ventus gasped and released his arm, staring at his bleeding forearm with a horrific expression as he tried to comprehend what just happened. His animalistic hunger took over him and he almost started to eat his own limb, like a ravenous lone wolf that hasn't eaten in weeks.

"Dame it," he shouted, cringing from the pain he inflicted on himself. "I can't go home like this."

He stood with some support from the tree, hearing footsteps coming his way as he directed his angered eyes on the stranger. The uniform and badge confirmed that the man was a police officer, who seemed to be on business while having a look of suspicion on his face.

"Excuse me, young man," he stated in a deep tone. "May I ask why you're just standing here in the forest trail?"

Ventus shifted his gaze away from the officer in an attempt to hide his abnormal changes. "I- I'm just heading home now," he answered in a muttered tone.

The police officer didn't look convinced and stepped forward. "Are you okay, boy?" He questioned, noticing the blonde's misdirection.

The troubled blonde sensed that the man was getting closer, while a wrathful instinct started to emerge from the dark place inside him. His teeth clenched while a growl escaped his throat, disliking the fact that the officer was closing in on him.

"Please, don't get any closer," he warned.

The officer took note of the boy's tone and narrowed his eyes. "Boy, I'm going to ask that you look at me," he ordered.

The officer placed a hand on his shoulder, snapping whatever reasonable feeling Ventus had in his mind as his eyes widened with rage. "I said, leave me alone!" He roared, quickly turning around and punching the man's chest.

His hand pierced through the officer's chest like a knife, and came out of his back with blood covering his fingers and palm. The police officer choked and his limbs felt petrified, standing for only an instant before collapsing on the forest ground. Ventus stared at the man's body with a look of frightened realization, shifting his gaze on his blood covered hand.

I did it again...

The sight of a fresh meaty corpse sent shivers down his spine, the feeling of exhilaration like finding a juicy steak with an empty stomach. He grabbed at his throat and looked away, trying his best to wipe the thought of eating a man from his mind.

No... no, I won't eat another person again...

Ventus ran and made his way home, halting multiple times as his body twisted and shifted from the inside, making him fall to his knees and crawl until he gained the strength to walk again.

I have to... make it back home...

Throwing subtlety out of his mind, he pushed through the front door and collapsed on the ground, hearing his mother gasp his name and come to his aid. She helped him to the couch, while Ventus tried to stay conscious and hear his mother's worried questions.

"Sweetie, what happened?"

His mother glanced down at his blood covered hand and gasped, covering her mouth in shock. "Ventus, are you hurt," she asked, beginning to cry.

The blonde haired boy looked at his mother and took in the sight of her tears, feeling even more guilt on his heart as he was being treated with such love after committing such unforgivable acts. Tears began to form in his eyes and cascade down his cheeks, sniffling as he finally broke down into turmoil.

"I made a mistake," he spoke sheepishly.

Suddenly, Vanitas entered the cabin with a serious panic, slamming the door as he ran to the couch. "We have a problem," he spoke.

Their mother was in a state of confusion and worry. "Wh- What happened?" She questioned.

"The town knows, Ven," he said, directing his attention onto his brother. "We have to get you out of here before they come knocking at our door!"

'Boys, what did you do?" Their mother gasped.

The pain in his chest surged through him and Ventus let out an agonizing cry, clenching the spot over his heart as the pain consumed him. His mother and brother came to his side, asking him what's wrong and how they can help, until he can no longer hear them. His blue eyes widened and shifted into their animalistic form, his vision clouded in darkness as he lost the will to stay conscious.

I'm a monster...

He could hear his loved ones try to calm him down, to tell him to stop, that he didn't have to do this. The growls of a hungry wolf came like the ones in his dreams, and he could hear the shrieks of the dear being caught in the hunter's claws. But the more the cries echoed in his mind, the more he discovered that it wasn't a dear that was crying out to him, but his mother.

He could open his eyes again, seeing darkness at first because of how dim the lights were, and then seeing something red covering the furniture, the floor, and everywhere else. Ventus realized that he was sitting in the kitchen, leaning against a wall in the dark, and heard nothing inside his cabin home. But his concerns went straight to something that wasn't there before, slowly reaching up to his head to find something attached to his ears, only to realize that it was his ears. He felt something furry move behind him and he glanced back, seeing a wolf tail protruding from a hole in his shredded pants.

But then he remembered something, quickly dismissing his abnormal form as he jumped to his feet. "Mom... Vanitas!" He called, hearing no response.

Ventus entered the living room and stopped, glancing down at two familiar bodies that laid motionless on the ground. His mother was on her side, her eyes closed; her throat slashed, and carried a peaceful expression, like she died quickly without a scratch on her. But Ventus couldn't accept what he saw and hurried to her side, tears streaming down his face as he shook her in an attempt to wake her up. The trinket he gave her was on the ground to her, and he took it back without question, keeping it as memory for his beloved mother.

"M- Mom..." he whispered, praying to whoever that she would respond. "P- Please wake up."

He heard something, but not from his mother, turning his gaze as he met the half lit eyes of his older brother. Vanitas was on the ground too, with multiple gashes and blood marks, his shoulder punctured and bleeding fast, while his face kept a calm expression like he was ready to go to sleep.

"Vanitas!" The blonde gasped, going to his injured brother's side as he tried to figure out a way to save him.

"Ventus..." the raven haired teen muttered.

The wolf boy continued to cry and covered his face, digging his nails into his skull as he tried to think of something. "Va- Vanitas... I- I didn't want to-"

"Go.."

Ventus stopped his sobbing and looked down at Vanitas, meeting genuine eyes of compassion in his older brother for the first time. The dying teen coughed and used whatever energy he had left to lift his arms, pulling the silver necklace off his neck and placing the bloodied trinket in his younger sibling's hand.

"Go..." he repeated in a low breath. "Before they come for you..."

Even after all of this, after discovering that he was cursed, that he might turn into werewolf, and after being the cause of their death, Vanitas still wanted to protect his baby brother. He was never the emotion type, to show signs of affection or caring, but Ventus knew that his older brother loved him like any sibling. Even after everything that happened, his older brother's last words were ones of calm and direction, telling him to escape and live.

The raven haired teen closed his eyes and his hand went limp, falling from his brother's palm and onto the ground.

With his heightened hearing, he could sense some townsfolk making their way up the trail towards his cabin home, ranting and raging over the murder of their grave keeper and police office. Without thinking, he placed the silver necklace in his pocket and stood, halting only for a moment as he gazed upon the bodies of his loved ones. The tears never seemed to end, his cheeks flushed red, and his breaths stuttered with each inhale.

Ventus covered his face in sorrow. "I'm sorry… I'm so sorry," he sobbed.

The townsfolk were getting closer and the wolf boy made a run for it, shattering the nearest window as he escaped through the back. He sprinted into the fog covered forest, running with such inhuman speed that he managed to flee the wrathful mob, taking sanctuary in a small cave created from a few boulders of rock.

He was pressed against a corner with his knees up against his chest, instinctively wrapping his wolf tail around his ankles as he dove his mind deeper into despair and darkness. His blue eyes that once held such brightness were now lifeless and dulled, his expression muted of anything positive as he stared at nothing.

I killed them…

Ventus held his mother's trinket in his hand, rubbing the corners and surface with his thumb as he remembered happier times when she was smiling, laughing, and giving him lectures. But the most important memory he had was when he was a child playing outside, and when he noticed his mother hanging clothes to dry, smiling back at him while the summer sun glistened off her form.

Brother…

He pulled out the silver necklace and gazed upon its frightening features, ignoring the uncomfortable feeling in his gut from staring at the bane of wolfs. He entrusted this pendant to his older brother, hoping it would protect him, but only fed the false hope that crumbled around Ventus as soon as the beast started to take over. Vanitas was a good older brother, not the best, or the most emotional, but he was more than Ventus deserved after being cursed to hunt for flesh for all eternity.

I want them back…

His eyes widened and he rose from his corner, slamming his hands against his head as he stripped away at his mind. He cried, sobbed, screamed, and roared as he stumbled in the cave, praying to whomever that they bring his family back, end his suffering, and make things the way they were before.

I want them back…

Ventus lost control and squirmed on the cold ground, covering his face in his hands as he started to remember every painful memory peace, love, and everything else he couldn't feel again, the images of his mother smiling, his brother smirking, and all three of them together in the living room as a happy family.

I want them back…

His narrowed eyes met the silver pendant on the floor next to him, hating how useless it was, how it couldn't save his family, and how the carved wolf looked at him. In a fit of rage, he grabbed the necklace by the silver itself, feeling the burn in his pain as he tried to ignore it, and squeezed it in his clenched hand. It burned his hand like poison, like he wasn't supposed to touch it, but the pain prevented him from thinking of anything else more troublesome.

Give them back to me…

Ventus slammed the pendant on his forehead, triggering something that made him stop in his tracks. Suddenly, a flash of light came over his eyes and cleared him of his pain, curing him of his despair and leaving him petrified, but also consuming all his energy and certain important aspects in his mind.

He fell to his knees, dropping the pendant on the ground, and stared down with empty eyes and a blank expression, as his memories were being suppressed and buried deep into subconscious, leaving him with nothing but a blank page in his mind.

I… can't remember why… I'm sad…

The wolf boy collapsed on the ground and lost consciousness, sleeping soundly for the first time without the dreams of wolves, blood, and killing. Instead, he dreamt about two strangers living in wooden cabin in the forest, looking happy and carefree as he observed like a guest.

Ventus could only remember his name, beginning his new life as an outcast with wolf ears and a tail. He traveled across the lands and hid wherever he could, stealing and scavenging for meat to feed his voracious hunger. He even managed to somewhat control his ability to turn into a wolf, hunting for dear and rabbits in the nearest forest whenever he couldn't find anything in the town he was staying at.

He knew he wasn't human, but didn't know much about him at all. He only wanted to survive, to find a quiet place where he could live without concerning over the opinions of others who would no doubt reject him.

But during one particular night, he stumbled upon a couple walking down a lonely street a night. He wore his usual cloak and hood to hide his canine features, and smelled the sweet aroma of a high class meal in the bag the man carried. The wolf boy licked his lips and ignored the dangers of stealing in public, stalking the couple until they entered an alleyway.

Ventus moved quickly kept his sight on the bag, snatching it in no time before the man noticed and made his way passed him, only to be suddenly tripped by someone much faster than he was. The blonde haired boy fell to the cold wet ground and pressed himself against a corner, keeping his head down to avoid eye contact from the angry faces of the two adults.

"I- I'm sorry," he spoke weakly.

He was careless enough to let his hood fall back and reveal his pointy ears, looking up at the couple with troubled eyes. But their expressions quickly changed when they noticed his abnormalities, staring at him with astonished looks rather than horrified gazes like other people.

"P- Please, I'm hungry," he begged, as his blue eyes looked away in fear. "I just want some meat…"

"What are you, boy?" the silver haired man questioned, frightening him with his deep tone.

Ventus gave him a glance and noticed the serious intent in his burning eyes, speaking sheepishly with careful words. "I don't know."

The couple gave each other a look of puzzlement, which in turn bewildered the frightened blonde on how they were able to take in the sight of a boy with pointy ears and a tail. During the past year since he first woke up in a forest, he's encountered multiple people who were startled by his inhuman appearance, referring him as a werewolf, and either ran away or tried to harm him. But these two were different, like they've seen these kind of things before, and it intrigued him slowly.

The blue haired woman bent over and gave him a friendly smile, astonishing the boy on how beautiful she was up close. But he noticed how her eyes shined brightly in the darkness, and how her pupils were like black slits like a predator. Ventus was a little afraid of her, like she herself was a wolf in sheep's clothing like himself, only more dangerous.

"Are you alone?" she asked softly.

The silver haired man gave his significant other a raised eyebrow, like even he didn't know what she was planning.

"Y- Yes," Ventus stuttered, wondering his eyes elsewhere.

"You're an outcast," she deduced, smirking mischievously as she gave her partner a glance. "Like us."

The wolf boy looked up with a look of surprise, noticing the couple's abnormalities for the first time. The man was tall and broad looking, with silver hair, burning ember eyes, and an aura that carried the scent of blood that stained his hands for centuries. The blue haired woman carried predator-like eyes, sharp fangs, and an even darker aura that was born from darkness itself. Their eyes glowed in the dark as they stared down at him, their figures shadowed by the darkness as they welcomed the boy into their deviant arms.

"You don't have to be alone anymore," the woman offered.

The silver haired man gave her another look and placed his hand on her shoulder. "What are you doing?" he questioned.

"Xemnas, this boy is like us, we can't just let him live alone with lesser humans," she answered simply, presenting her superior outlook on humanity.

Ventus couldn't remember if he had family like himself, or maybe he was alone even before then, but he couldn't help of yearn for the feeling of being with others who cared about him. Like a desperate moth to a comforting flame, he stood from his spot in the corner and took a step forward towards the monstrous couple. He still kept to himself, keeping his arms close to his chest under his cloak while he waited for something to happen.

His blue eyes widened when he felt the woman's arms circle around him, embracing him in a hug while she coursed her soft hand through his messy blonde hair. "Besides, I always wanted to have a child," she snickered.

Ventus felt tears swell up in his eyes and accept the hug, feeling the warmth of affection for the first time. Meanwhile, the blue haired woman gave her partner a smile, while he looked away with an ambiguous frown.

They accepted him like an adopted son, teaching the wolf boy of their nocturnal ways and giving him all the attention he deserved. He never felt happier, smiling more and more as he experienced the life of being with a family for the first time.

They lived in an isolated mansion covered in fences, with cloudy skies and roaring thunders that scared off any wondering eyes that thought of entering. Ventus sat quietly at the large stairway in the center of the mansion, holding an important piece of his life before in the shape of a necklace. He woke up in his amnesia state with this trinket in his pocket, unable to figure out what significance it carried as he tried to survive on the streets. But now he was living a good life with Aqua and Xemnas, his best friends, his parents, and the only people that would ever accept him in this cruel world.

"What are you doing alone?" Aqua voice asked.

Ventus turned to see his blue haired mother standing before him, which again amazed him on how she was able to move about without him sensing her presence. He's been thinking of this decision for awhile, and he wanted to thank her for bringing him into their dark fold.

The wolf boy stood and presented his necklace. "I… uh… want you to have this," he spoke weakly.

Aqua accepted his gift and put it over her neck, earning him a pat on the head while she marveled at the trinket's design. "Ah, thank you, sweetie, I love it," she admired.

"I wanted to thank you and Xemnas for taking me in," he explained.

The blue haired vampire smirked, basking in the feeling of togetherness as she gave the wolf boy a hug.

"Together… always…"

Thanks for reading, hope you'll review and tell me what you think! Hope you had a great Halloween and enjoy the rest of these two awesome moths of holidays! :D

Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy, or the Gothic Novels portrayed in these stories, original characters and stories belong to their original owners...