I enter my biology class, minutes early as I am mentally preparing myself for what I must do. And to my personal dread yet my inner beast's joy, I hear the laughter of my newest and most dear friend Nate Hoff.

"C'mon Kitty Kevin, you gotta shower sometime! If you promise me cat boy I'll give you your book back." I make my way towards the pair as the football player is ironically bullying the boy I sit next to in class, raising his textbook at a level he couldn't reach. It was indeed time to have some more fun with Nate as I couldn't help myself being the only people in the room. His teasing stops the moment I stand in front of Kevin to meet eyes with his, his smile immediately sinking.

"Hello Nate." I speak calmly as I give him a slight smile of my own.

"H...hi." Nate stutters as it is obvious he is petrified by my presence. I look him once up and down, eyes as dangerous as the devil.

"Well...see you're as much of a dick as you were yesterday, and the day before that. Now if you would be so kind as to giving Kevin his book back..." I then move closer to him, talking just above his shoulder in a bone chilling lure.

"Or I could always make you give it back, cause quite the scene. But we wouldn't want that again would we?" I pull back, I letting him alone see what scared him straight the last time, my glowing crimson gaze. The quarter back immediately gives the kid his book before rushing to his own seat as Mr. Porter makes his way into the classroom, my eyes fading back to normal.

"Hey kids. Ah, students on time and ready for the day. Always great to see." He suddenly looks to Nate as he is appearing to be just as pale as I do everyday without even trying.

"You look off this morning Mr. Hoff. Something bothering you?" Nate from his chair glances to me watching him as I am curiously waiting for his answer. He quickly shakes his head then looks away as more kids begin to head into the classroom. I sit down, my once confident persona fading as I take a nervous breath the moment Carter arrives to class. However I contain myself as she goes not to her desk, but to stand in front of the boy sitting next to me whose clothes indeed reeked of cat urine. That smell as I just saw even a human could quickly detect and find extremely off putting. Carter's however overpowered everything, her own scent making me salivate in my mouth.

"Mind if we switch spots Kevin?" Carter asks politely to the boy.

"My kind soul...she's indeed lovely..."

We both look to Kevin, the kid appearing nervous sitting next to me as though I was going to tear his neck out even after coming to his aid. With his smell he would never have to worry about that happening. Yet Carter would if Kevin complied to her request. And unfortunately, the boy took no time to silently nod and make his way next to Jess whom indeed was pissed.

"What are you doing?" I ask Carter without any emotion, although laughing hysterically on the inside at the disgusted girl across the way.

"I wanted to sit next to you. Is that okay?" She gives me that arousing look of sheer innocence. How I want to break her out of her naive nature until she willingly commits every thinkable sin upon my body.

"It's not okay Carter. I want you to do more than just sit next to me. I want you to slam me onto that desk...take me and CHRIST LIZA! This is not what you need to be thinking about right now..."

"Whatever makes you happy at the end of the day Brown." I absently reply as I take out my textbook. I know what needs to be done, yet it doesn't make the task any easier. This is what's best, for the better of the girl. Both Annabelle's promise and Autumn's warning are also hovering over my head. I couldn't detect the smell of those mutts anywhere today, or hear my sire calling to me from "the abysses of hell". Yet I didn't need either right now to realize the danger of the situation. If I did not end this, I would indeed put more than one life at risk. Yet the brown haired beauty cannot help but to smile that amazing smile, her scent as enticing as ever. Yet I knew I could never have it.

"So about...you know..." She drags out, hearing her heart beat quicken in anticipation. I just look down at my desk then into her eyes.

"Carter I can't." The look on her face breaks me, yet I cannot show it. I open my book as she sits in silence before responding.

"Okay...well we could always do something else? We could hang and talk after school sometime." I must make this end and make it hurt. I finally speak as cold as they come.

"Look you need to listen to me, for this is the last time I will tell you. We cannot be friends and you must leave me alone. Trust me, it's better this way."

"But why?" Carter asks me with a soft pained reluctance.

"BECAUSE THIS MUST BE!" I respond sharply as I slam my hand hard upon my desk, so loud that everyone in class is looking at the both of us.

"Is there a problem Miss Thomas?" Mr. Porter harshly asks as he looks up from writing on the chalkboard.

"Not at all." I say as my eyes are locked on Carter's before turning to face forward, not saying a word else and neither does she as class begins. The class is going by so painfully slow, making me wish I was out baking in the sun rather then sitting in this very room. Everyone is eyeing me and Carter the whole time Mr. Porter is giving a lecture about shit they could care less about, more focused on my current teen drama.

"God could these damn lights be any brighter?!"

The lights in the room were starting to get to me, making me feel extremely irritated and wanting to attack anything around me with a pulse. Students already give me odd glances when I lowered the blinds next to me before every biology class. I indeed prefer the dark, but becoming bothered from nonphysical light typically only happens when I haven't fed. This couldn't be the case, yet when I'm around Carter everything is off the table including my control. I can feel her frustration in her temperature, her blood flowing ever so delicately through her skin.

I pretty much told Carter out flat I wanted nothing to do with her, but that is completely a lie. If there weren't currently any witnesses, I would pin her right to the floor, having my way with her in every way possible before attaching myself to her neck and draining her completely dry. I want to, more than anything. That's why she must stay away, and I hope this gave her the message she ever so needed to save her own life. The bell is about to ring as I somberly speak to the girl next to me.

"Tomorrow you won't have to worry about our seating arrangements, for I will be rearranging my classes. Don't worry though, I'm sure Jess will gladly take you back." Before the bell even rings, I abruptly get up and leave my desk to head out of the room. I stop just outside the doorway as I vividly smell Carter's fuming blood, hearing her rapid heartbeat. My eyes flash to crimson.

"I want my teeth in her skin, her blood spilling inside my long awaiting mouth. I have to go back and claim what is mine. I need it...I need her..."

"Hey move it new girl! HELLO?! ARE YOU FUCKING DEAF?!" A boy yells behind me. With this I move forward, only to yank the boy by the throat with one hand and slam shut the door behind us with the other. I forcefully shove him against the wall beside the doorway. A snarl rips from my own throat as I lift him in blind rage.

"No, but I'm quite fucking hungry!" I growl as I keep my head down while there's loud knocking coming from the other side of the door as I held it shut. "AHH! HELP!" The boy chokes out just as kids are beginning to walk out of their classes. It made me come back to realize I was far out of control, about to reveal myself to every living soul in this building. I lift my head that is hidden from view only to look the kid dead in the eyes, hoping what he is currently seeing makes him wish he really was.

"Forget everything you've just witnessed you son of a bitch." I compel the frightened boy through gritted teeth before releasing him, every eye on me as I race down the hallway. Many students had already seen me manhandling a teenage boy, so I made sure my face remained hidden so no one would notice that my eyes are now pitch black, my fangs fully out in the open. If the wolves found out about my little stunt with an even bigger finale potentially on the horizon, I would end up killing Carter, Evelyn, and myself all in one day. I have to get out of here, before there's no going back.

Carter POV

I saw it in your eyes

I saw the creature deep inside

You opened up your cage

Pathetic insect

Drawn to flame

I come out of my morning classes livid and as lost as ever. Once again Liza just blows me off and treats my feelings like they are meaningless. Then there was the utter chaos out in the hallway after biology. Everyone gathered around Dylan on the floor appearing as if he just saw a ghost. It was just like Nate yesterday, the football player today literally bolting from the hallway just seconds after as he glanced at Dylan with a look of true fear as he saw the alarming bruising upon his neck. Another red flag was when Mr. Porter asked the initially rude Tyler if he was okay. He couldn't even recall what happened outside the doorway yet alone why. Yet I know this has everything to do with Liza, with me.

"What the hell is wrong with her? Is there something wrong with me? Am I the plague or something?" I speak angrily to myself as I put my history book inside of my locker. I am about to head to lunch, or sit in the bathroom and eat mine there from humiliation. I slam shut my locker only to see Sam.

"Hey. Heard about what happened in your biology class. Rumors going around that Liza flipped her shit out on Dylan, and you...actually." I just look down at the floor. I feel Sam touch my shoulder.

"Yo are you okay? What happened?" I look up to Sam now concerned as he sees I'm anything but fine.

"I don't wanna talk about it..." I say with my eyes turning away from him. Sam just pats me and puts an arm around my shoulder, leading me to walk with him down the hallway.

"Look screw girls C. Well...not you. You know what I mean. Who needs them anyway right?" He exclaims.

"Well that's a little harsh isn't it?" Me and Sam turn around to see Evelyn standing with her arms crossed as she leans against a locker across the way.

"Carter." She says shortly. I don't respond; only to see my best friend now at a loss for words, letting me go as the girl is staring us down.

"Mind if we speak alone without your...might I say...handsome friend here? You are?"

"I'm...I'm..." Sam can't even think straight as Evelyn is now looking directly at him.

"Regretting your last statement?" She grunts a laugh. "I can see that. Well all is forgiven, and there's plenty of time for introductions later. Until then cutie. Have a great rest of your day ." She sends a flirtatious wave of her fingers to Sam who just looks to me, completely jealous I was going to be talking with her. As he leaves Evelyn has her eyes on me again with a set stare, hard to read what she wants of me. I had four words to describe her in the flesh: Mysterious, seductive and somewhat scary. I want nothing to do with her, even with Liza at the moment. I turn away from her and begin to walk away.

"All's awry in Liza Land?" I freeze, turning around to see Evelyn hasn't moved from her previous position as she is still looking at me even in the midst of traveling students passing us. I am not in the mood, and her confusing words only irritate me more.

"I don't know what you're talking about. And I surely don't know what's going on with your sister. " Evelyn takes herself off the locker to slowly walk towards me as the hallway is becoming completely vacant. She meets me only to speak into my ear.

"I know you wanna find out." I do not respond, taken aback by her accusation. She then pulls away letting out a silent sigh.

"Look, what if I told you that I know exactly what's going on with Liza, and I have a way to help."

"What? How?"

"Go talk to her Carter. She could use someone to send her a harsh grounding back to reality. And that someone just so happens to be you." My eyes widen.

"Me? And how do you know that?" Evelyn just smirks to herself, making me tense as she draws in closer. Her eyes wander down my chest as her fingers play with the buttons of my open flannel shirt.

"Well...for one I know a thing or two about Liza. I am her sister after all. And the fact she never tends to listen to me. Though she would if she knew what was good for her." She drawls out her response as if teasing me with information hinting the obvious and the unknown, holding it so close yet still out of my reach.

"What's your angle here?" I ask Evelyn in suspicion. She just looks to the floor then at me with an alluringly sly smile, putting a finger just below my chin to lift my head slightly.

"Oh Carter, you're surely a smart girl aren't you? My angle is simple: To get Liza to finally be honest with herself. And you my friend, are the exact person for the job. Trust me on that." She then removes her hand from me, closely passing by as she brushes my shoulder.

"Friends?" I ask to myself quietly, only for Evelyn to turn back around to stalk again towards me, making me step backwards.

"You don't trust me do you?" She asks shrewdly.

"I never said that...it's just...I don't really know you to call you a friend is all..." I respond nervous as I continue to back away from her, only for the both of us to pause our movement as Evelyn sends me a sweet grin.

"Indeed, how pushy of me. Then let's make it official, we're on a first name basis which means we're friends now. We all need friends Carter. And they help each other right?" I just give her a nod, feeling like she has said something like this before yet I can't put my finger on it. And because even if I wanted to protest I was a little afraid to give her any other response.

"So now that we've gotten our relationship status out of the way, we're going to help another friend in need. And then I guarantee all your questions will be given answers." I once again go stiff at the younger girl's last sentence as she begins to resume heading down the hallway. It seemed like Evelyn was already a step ahead of the game. Was she acting on Liza's behalf as her matchmaker? Or was she just a stalker? A mind reader?

"Liza being honest about what exactly?" I can't help but ask, only for Evelyn to stop midway in the hall and turns her head slightly without looking at me.

"I'm not going to speak for my sister. That would just give away her divine element of surprise wouldn't it? What I will tell you is she's left school. She's probably home at this very moment sulking about her life, one she needs to finally come to accept. Time is a precious thing Carter, especially while we're young. So let's not waste it shall we?"

Evelyn begins to walk into the girls bathroom, only to stop and turn her head to make direct eye contact with me.

"Oh and by the way, you and I never had this conversation. I'm not on the best terms with Liza at the moment. And it surely would make matters worse for myself if she found that I let you in a little on a few of her biggest secrets. I'll see you later Carter, I'm sure you'll make out just fine." She winks at me with another devilish smirk before disappearing from sight.

I stand in the hallway by myself, contemplating what to do. Yet Evelyn was the final piece of the puzzle to make it clear as day that I have something to do with Liza's odd behavior. What happened yesterday with her threatening Nate and basically making out with my jugular, now rejecting me and harming Tyler today? I have to get to the bottom of this, whether Liza likes it or not.

I'm falling apart

Inside your holographic heart

Lost souls dancing

And now the lie's collapsing

There's something inside you that isn't right

There's something that haunts your dreams at night

There's something that you have lost

And you're bringing it down

You're bringing it down

On top of us

"Bringing It Down" - Starset