When I posted the previous chapter, I was busy the rest of the day (1/15). I needed a break since I had spent some time enjoying my birthday and taking a little mental break. I'm sorry that I couldn't have uploaded this chapter sooner. But at least I have it up now. Future warning: I might take another short break because this chapter was hard to write about.

Cody ran for twenty miles until his beaten body couldn't take it any longer. His legs weren't taking any more requests. He stopped where he was and rested. As he lay still on the ground, Cody attempted to heal his wounds. He licked away the blood and hoped that his cut would close up sometime soon. Not a moment later, Cody could feel his eyes begin to feel heavy. He did have a rough day. He fell victim of fatigue and closed his eyes. What stirred in his wolf head was the image of a peculiar human girl with her innocent face and alluring body. He could dream a million pleasant dreams about her. Cody curled up in a ball and entered a realm of fantasy in his unconscious state. The world contained beautiful things, him and the intelligent farm girl, his adored Bailey.

By morning, Cody woke up feeling refreshed. He got up and stretched his limbs. He still could feel the residual pain of his injury but his body healed for most of the part. He still had a slight limp but felt much stronger. He looked out for humans and prowled along to get a sense of direction and trying to catch any scent that might help him find his way back to Kansas. So far, he was not getting any luck. He decided that he couldn't waste time or else the police officers would get him again. He ran in some direction. He didn't know where he was headed but he knew that he had to get far away from the fuzz before he lost them and could relax. Only then would he stop and try to turn human again and find out where he was. He wanted to be safe before he would proceed with a plan to get back to Bailey so he could get her help and maybe be cured of this dreadful life as a werewolf.

Cody traveled all day long until he ran into a city. He didn't know where he was, but he found some shrubbery and hid. He rested for an hour or so and then waited for night time to strike. He would have to kill someone so he could bring his strength back up and change into a human. And once he was human again, he would ask where he was and call for help by a pay phone.

Cody stayed hidden in some bushes. He waited deliberatively. He meditated for the right moment to awaken his inner killer and allowed people to pass him by. Night fall came and people wondered on the roads and sidewalks. Cody's yellow green eyes followed the decrease in pedestrians as time passed by. He didn't know it, but Cody was slowly turning into a real killer. He slowly was enjoying the feeling of the hunt, the kill. Cody watched until just a few people walking around. When it was ten at night, there was only one person on view. He was young, strong and seemed naïve. Cody waited until he was close enough and then lunged from outside of the bushes. He attacked the young man and tore his body apart. He was so fast that the boy didn't have a chance to scream. First came off the face. Then the arms and legs came off. Finally, Cody tore apart the chest. He ate and drank a copious amount of blood and flesh. When he was done, Cody licked his chops and then darted into the darkness. He found refuge under some trees and behind some bushes and laid there. Another night would pass him by.

The following day, Cody woke up and transformed into his human form. He got dressed and casually walked out of the bushes. His right leg twitched with lingering pain. His injury had not completely healed. Cody went into a drug store and bought a small pack of bandages. He left the shop and placed two bandages on his cut up leg. He walked into town and asked people around. Ten people passed him before he could get a middle aged man to stop and tell him where he was. Cody found out that he was in Louisville, Kentucky. Cody then asked the man where he could find public transportation and the man told him that there was a train station and a bus line. Cody asked him for direction to the train station and the man told him how to get there. Cody thanked the man and went on his way to find the train station.

After fifteen minutes of walking, Cody reached the train station. He walked up to a person and asked where he could find a pay phone. They directed him where he could find one. Cody thanked the woman and went over to a pay phone. He looked through the attached Yellow Pages and worked around the listings until he could figure out how to contact the Pickett residents. He called a service line and then was patched through to the Pickett family's phone number. Cody waited for about three seconds and then the line picked up. On the other side was Eunice. He went straight to business with her and asked for Bailey. He and Mrs. Pickett talked for a while before Cody could speak with Bailey, but he finally could contact her.

Eunice had called for Bailey to come down from her bedroom. Bailey had asked why. Eunice exclaimed that Cody wanted to talk to her on the phone. As soon as Bailey heard her mom utter Cody's name, she went into shock. She couldn't believe that he was still alive. She was ecstatic on the inside. Bailey agreed to come down. Eunice held the line for Bailey until she skidded down the stairs and reached the phone. Bailey thanked her mom and then picked up where the conversation was left off.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Bailey. I need your help. I need you to find some way to meet me in New Orleans."

"Where are you?"

"I'm in Louisville, Kentucky."

"Wow. I thought you were on your way to Boston."

"The van that I was in stopped for the night at a hotel in Cincinnati, but I escaped and kept travelling Southwest-ward."

"Cody, I'm just glad that you're okay."

"I know. But you got to find some way to leave home and meet me in New Orleans by this weekend."

"Okay. What should I say? I mean, my family kind of depends on me helping on the farm until I go to college."

"Did I leave anything behind at your home?"

"Yeah."

"Then just say that you need to return some items of mine to me and also say that I need to give you a proper goodbye and that I would want to make future plans to see you again someday, possibly while in college."

"Will you?"

"Will I what?"

"Will you make plans with me?"

"Maybe. It just depends on if the curse can be lifted or not and I am depending on to give me support when I make a claim to a witch doctor that I need to be cured of the curse."

"Okay. I'll do what I can, Cody."

"Thank you, Bailey."

"What are you going to do before we meet?"

"I'm going to make one more call and find a way to keep moving."

"Okay. Um….Cody?"

"Yeah?"

"It's nice to hear from you again. I was so worried about what happened to you."

Cody bit his lip. He couldn't decide to feel happy or just relieved to hear Bailey's voice again. He chose to keep things on a platonic level. His voice was dry but it had a hint of warmth.

"I'm glad too, Bailey. It's nice hearing your voice as well."

Even though Cody couldn't see it, Bailey was smiling on the other side of the phone line.

"Thanks, Cody. That means a lot to me."

"You're welcome, Bailey. I'll see you in a few days. And give my regards to Ashley. Tell her that one of your good friends heard about what happened to her and wishes the best for her."

"I will, Cody."

"Okay. Uh….Goodbye for now, Bailey."

"Goodbye, Cody."

Cody hung up on Bailey. He had one more phone call and he had to make it count. He was running low of his own money and needed to get an emergency loan. He pulled out a few more quarters and made a very specific call. He called the front desk of the Tipton Hotel in Boston. A man picked the line after a second.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Mr. Moseby."

"Cody? Is that you or am I hearing things?"

"It's me, Mr. Moseby."

"Cody! We thought you were dead. I can't believe that I'm saying this, but I'm glad to know that you're alive! Where are you?"

"I'm in Louisville, Kentucky."

"How on earth did you end up there?!"

"It's a long story, Mr. Moseby. All you need to know is that I got into a lot of trouble really fast no thanks to Zack."

"Oh…..Why does that not surprise me?"

"Anyway, Mr. Moseby, would you mind letting my mom know that I'm okay and that I plan on returning home? I got really lost when I was trying to get out of trouble."

"I understand and I will tell your mother that you're alive and well. She had been so worried about you! She's been so worried that she her performances have had a very melancholy feel to them."

"I get it, Mr. Moseby. Will you tell her?"

"Oh. Right! I'm sorry, Cody. I digress. I will tell her. But how do you plan to get back home?"

"Well, I do have one more favor to ask of you, Mr. Moseby."

"What's that?"

"You have to convince London to send me some emergency money so I can get back home. I'll need money for transportation, lodging and food and possibly some new clothing so I would say that I need at least a thousand dollars. Whatever I don't use, I'll give the rest back to her and work off the rest of the loan."

"How do you suppose that she gives you money?"

"A check."

"Where should it be sent?"

"760 West Muhammad Ali Boulevard, Louisville, Kentucky 40216."

"Okay, Cody. I'll tell London to give you a check of a thousand dollars and I'll send the check to that address. Will you be able to wait until Friday to get it?"

"Yeah. I'll manage somehow."

"Great. You know, Cody, I actually had missed you. It's not the same without you here."

"Thanks, Mr. Moseby. That means a lot to me. I would love to chat some more but I talking to you through a pay phone."

"Oh. Okay. I hope you get back to the Tipton soon, Cody."

"I hope so too, Mr. Moseby. Bye."

"Goodbye, Cody. Stay safe."

"I will."

"Okay. Bye."

Just then, Mr. Moseby hung up the phone on Cody. The line went dead. Cody hung up the pay phone and looked around his surroundings. He certainly would have to do some maneuvering around but he believed that he could manage to get along without being noticed by a lot of people. He would wait around until he got his emergency fund from London and then hop a train to meet Bailey in New Orleans. Cody softly smiled. He finally saw hope for his future. If things kept on going well for him then it might be possible for him to resume his life the way it used to be and he might be fortunate enough to go onto college where he can put his worries behind him. Cody had a long day ahead of him so he decided to roam around town.

To Be Continued…