"AH!"
Lou Garou jolted out of his sleep with a scream.
He got out of bed and made it to the bathroom, where he turned on the faucet and splashed some water onto his face.
It happened again
The sixth time this week.
Actually this has been going on for about a week and a half now.
"Why does this keep happening?" he asked, while he dabbed his face with a towel.
Indeed why was he having nightmares.
The death of his friend and leader of his "pack" Malcolm was killed, but the mystery of his death was solved.
With Malcom's death, Lou was made the head to the pack of rougarous.
While they looked human, anger, or stressful situations changes them into beasts.
In fact, the nightmare actually caused Lou to have those changes, as his ears began to grow pointy, the fangs of his teeth grew, and his hands and arms transformed into claws, and furry.
Lou closed his eyes, took several deep breaths, and his monster mutations disappeared, making turned back to human.
But these nightmares had nothing with Malcom's death.
The nightmares were of a room, with bright lights, a chrome table, and what looked to be a needle.
Lou headed back to bed.
Above the pizza restaurant that he owned, was an apartment that Lou called home, or as he put it Casa de Garou.
During the day the pizzeria was buzzing with activity.
Customers were coming in to dine on a slice or two, but it was mostly to see Lou, who was very well liked in the city of New Orleans's district called the 13th and a 3rd, not just because of his great tasting pizza and other fares, and they were delicious, but for his up-beat personality and smiling face.
But now, at the time of 3:04 am, as it read on his alarm clock, the only sounds at this time were that of his feet hitting the floor and hooting of an owl on a tree branch, outside his window.
Lou climbed back into bed and tried to shut his eyes, yet he couldn't fall back to sleep.

Later that day, actually in the afternoon, a group of teenagers known as the Fright Krewe, who had an encounter at the local cemetery when breaking a spell on the tree of life and unleashed an evil spirit named Belia, who had wanted to steal the souls of the living, but thanks for the powers they were given by Voodoo Queen Marie Leveau and other voodoo spirits called Loa the group of teens saved the city and the residents, were hanging out.
Since it was a Wednesday, schools were let out an hour early and the gang was at one of their usual meeting spots, a local bakery/ and spirit shop that was owned by the aunt of krewe member Pat, who along with the team's leader Soleil, were piecing together flyers and routes for this weekend's annual Halloween festivities spirit tours and readings.
And they weren't the only ones, as each member was participating with different agendas.
Will, who goes by the nickname Maybe was designing posters and making sure he had enough supplies to draw charactures, Missy was practicing art work of her own with face painting on some plastic heads, leftover from the beauty salon, and Stanley was one of her test "dummies".
"Stanley, can you please stop eating?
The movement of your mouth is messing up the design," Missy complained.
"Sorry Missy, the coach kept the team over after gym to prepare for the up-coming game, so I skipped lunch," Stanley replied as he popped another doughnut hole into his mouth.
"Say Stanley, how many of this doughnut holes have you eaten?" Soleil asked.
"Not sure.
I lost count after five."
At that moment, the shop's owner, Pat's aunt Alma, who was a talented baker and voodoo mamba, entered the dining area, carrying a tray of cookies.
"How's everything going kids?" Alma asked.
"We've got the flyers ready auntie Alam," Pat replied.
"And I've got the routes down for the ghost tours.
This is going to be the best Halloween feast ever.
I know I say that ever year, but the next year always seems to top the last," said Soleil, with a huge smile on her face.
"As far as I've known you, that's what you've said every year," said Missy, with a laugh.
Soleil indeed has always considered Halloween her favorite holiday, even more than Christmas and her own birthday.
"How's your baking coming along auntie?" Pat asked.
"Well, I'm about to get started on the cookies and cupcakes.
I thought I had enough pumpkin, and apple-cinnamon doughnut bites, but somebody has been tasting them," Alma answered, as she looked over to Stanley, who gave her a sheepish smile.
"Sorry miss Alma," said Stanley, who was eating yet another baked good.
"Anyway, Pat, can you please take these to Lou's place, as a thank you for lending me some extra candles for the spirit readings.
You know how much he and his staff love my peanut butter chocolate chip," said Alam, as she handed her nephew the plate.
"Of course auntie.
I'm on my way," Pat answered, excepting the plate.
"Thanks sugar.
"I'll come to.
It's been awhile since I've seen Lou and want to know if he's Ok," said Soleil.
"It's funny you should say that.
He always says hi when Paulie takes me to school, but he hasn't been outside his shop lately.
In fact, Fiona and Otis by the pizza place to see if Lou had any strings lights to spare for the Halloween events and he wasn't around, which is very much unlike him," said Maybe.
Nelson, Stanley and I didn't see last Friday night, when the football team went to get pizza after the game," added Missy.
"My mom got us dinner there last night actually and he wasn't out front, greeting customers," said Soleil.
"You don't suppose Lou's sick and doesn't want to worry everyone?" asked Stanley.
"There's only one way to know, if we go to the pizza place and find out."
"Guys, if there is something wrong with Lou, it's his own personal business," said Pat.
"You're right sugar.
If you don't see Lou, I'll call him later," said Alma.
In the meanwhile, Pat and Soleil made their way to the pizza place.