So I didn't properly thank all of the lovely people who helped me with this fic when I was stuck. I had no idea what I wanted to do with this at first but it's slowly becoming my favourite. Thanks to everyone who gave me suggestions and encouraged me! Also, this chapter is loooong C: Well, longer than usual.

Disclaimer: I tried to write a better disclaimer but it won't show up for some reason. Ugh, why have I been having so many problems with FF lately? Anyway, I don't own The Saga of Darren Shan.


Fire. It's all around me. It hurts. It'll burn me to a crisp in a matter of seconds. I hear screaming. Is that my voice? I can't even tell anymore. I also hear laughter. Evil, psychotic laughter. I'm going to die here, I know it.

And who cares if I die? I have no friends, no real family. If death comes – when it comes – I'll welcome it. I'll thank the people who brought it upon me. Even hell would be better than this awful life I'm forced to live.


My eyes snap open and suddenly I'm sitting up in my hammock in the corner of Evra and Darren's tent. I hear a horrible, shrieking noise. No wait, that's me. I'm screaming and I can't stop.

Evra and Darren rush over.

"What's wrong, Sam?" Darren cries, his eyes wide. In the back of my mind I compare him to a shota character in an anime. Don't...ask how I know what 'shota' means.

"Are you okay?" Evra asks. "Did you have a bad dream?"

I nod, no longer wailing but gasping for breath. Sweat is pouring off me by the gallon and my heart is thumping wildly.

"Need...a drink," I cough.

Darren bobs his head up and down a few times then rushes out of the tent to get me a cup of something.

Evra studies me silently as I curl up into a ball, my head in my hands. I've had this dream before but it's never felt so...real. I can almost feel where the fire had licked me.

"Are you okay?" Evra asks again.

"No," I say softly.

I hear him chuckle sadly as he sits next to me on the hammock. We then wait in silence for Darren to return. After a while I calm down but my throat is dry and I have a killer headache.

Darren emerges after what feels like hours. He has Steve and Mr. Crepsley with him, Mr. Crepsley carrying a glass of human blood.

"Drink this," He says quietly, handing me the glass. I do what I'm told although the idea of drinking blood is still a little weird for me.

I polish off the glass quickly. Mr. Crepsley, Darren and Evra watch me with a look of worry spread across their faces. Even Steve looks a little less standoffish than usual.

"How do you feel?" Darren asks expectantly.

"Better," I croak. "No wait..."

And then the vomit comes up.


"Tell me, Mr. Crepsley! Why is this happening?"

"He is just going through the Change-"

"But it's been weeks! Shouldn't the Change be complete by now?"

"I should be but..."

"But what?"

"I do not want to worry you..."

"I'm already worried!"

"Alright, I shall be honest with you."

"Well?"

"He is dying."

"Oh..."

"His body was not meant for this. It is rejecting the Change. That is why he throws up whenever he drinks blood. Eventually it will prove too much for him and he will perish."

"Is there anything we can do?"

"I will do everything in my power to prevent this from happening but the odds do not look good."

"But there's a chance, right?"

"Yes, but it is very slim. It will require making a deal with Destiny himself."

"You mean...?"

"Indeed."

"Well, if it's for Sam..."

Darren and Mr. Crepsley are whispering to one another outside the tent. They think I'm sound asleep, that I can't hear a word they're saying.

I already knew I was dying. I could tell by the troubled look on Mr. Crepsley's face. I've always been pretty good at reading people.

I sigh and roll over. I cover my ear with a pillow so I can no longer hear Darren and Mr. Crepsley's hushed conversation. It takes a while, but I eventually fall asleep.


Guys, guys! Guess what! *Flails arms* I have Deviantart now. Well, I've had Deviantart for a year but I made an account just for my writing. Go watch me, it might encourage me to actually upload something xD Username is SL-Gibbs.