I sat on the floor with my back against my dresser. The round handle on one of drawers digging into my back gave me a little comfort knowing I could still feel something.

I spent all week trying to find a job but nobody has called me back and I'm almost out of food for both me and Dobby. To make matters even worse, I'm down to just about a week left on my hormones and even with a miracle of starting a job tomorrow, I wouldn't get paid in time to refill before running out. That's assuming Jake didn't get me fired again which is a high probability.

People have done nothing but call me day and night leaving all kinds of threats on my voicemail and I know he has had something to do with it. I just couldn't figure out why he hadn't just shown up himself. Ashley needs to learn to stay the fuck out of other people's business! That little stunt of hers has done nothing but made my life an even worse than Nancy coming into it. I had to chuckle at the thought of it. Nancy... my mate who wants to kill me. My mate who is a fucking GIRL! All my damn life my parents, Joann and everyone else have tried to get me to date and eventually marry one. It's not what normal girls do so I've never wanted to.

No, I'm not homophobic. I've worked so damn hard at being accepted that I don't want anything giving anyone doubts. That's all they fucking do and I can just hear them already "I knew he was only confused." I will never hear the end of it! What the hell do lesbians do anyways? Shouldn't I have some say in this? The more I thought about it, the more depressed and hopeless the situation seemed.

Dobby came over and laid his head on my leg knowing I've been off lately. Dogs ability to sense how you're feeling has always fascinated me but I guess it wasn't hard to not notice. I haven't been petting him or taken him for walks like normal which made me feel even worse.

"You got any bright ideas, Dobby? If not, you might need to learn how to hunt so we can continue eating." He stood back up and licked my face which he knows I hate. It did make me feel a little better.

I pushed him away "Stop that, Dobby!" He did and turned towards the hall, his ears stood up and he took off barking loudly. Oh who the hell is it? I look like shit and I'm not even dressed aside from panties and my Betty Boop nightshirt that I've been in all day.

A minute later I heard a soft knock between Dobby's barking that was starting to give me a headache. "GO AWAY!" I yelled as loud as I could.

"Luke? Come out here, I need to speak with you." I faintly heard calling me. I instantly recognized the voice of my mom. This was the last thing I needed. What the hell is she doing here? The whole time I've lived here she's never once visited me. Whatever it was, I certainly didn't want to hear it.

I jumped up and stormed out. How dare she just walk in like she owns the place! At her house it was one thing, but she not going to get away with it this time.

"It's Crystal! Don't ever call me that again especially in my own place. You're not welcome here, so just turn around and go!" I motioned to the door as I grabbed Dobby by his collar and pulled him away from her. I didn't think he'd bite her but I didn't want to take the chance no matter my feelings towards her. He didn't know her and he knew I didn't want her here.

"Lu-" she shook her head with frown as her eyes started to tear up catching me off guard. Did something happen to dad? She didn't stop by last time.

"Crystal... it's your sister. Something happened... I'm still not sure what exactly but it's bad. She's at Lakeside hospital... I know she'd like you there."

I stood there speechless trying to process what she just said. What could of happened to Joann? "Mom, what happened? Wa-was she in a accident or something?

"She shook her head again then walked over and sat on the couch before answering. "No she was attacked by something- some wild animal from what we were told. The doctor said she had claw marks all over her. Apparently, she was awake for a bit but she refused to say anything to them. She was out from the drugs they gave her when me and your father arrived there so I didn't speak to her but... she looked horrible."

Tears fell from her eyes and I found myself unable to think about all that has happened between us. I pushed Dobby away telling him to go lay down as I sat down and wrapped my arms around her.

My mind went to Nancy thinking back to her attacking me out front and at the Wolves Den. She certainly had a temper and was more than capable of doing this but for some reason I didn't think she did. That just left Jake but would he do this? His dislike of Joann he never failed to keep hidden but why not just come after me? It didn't make sense. Maybe it was just a wild animal and I'm just jumping to conclusions. A feeling I had said otherwise.

I continue to hold her for several minutes till she seemed to get her tears under control. It pained me to see her like this. She was always so strong oftentimes seemingly uncaring but right, it was clear she did.

"I'll go get dressed."

—-

We made it to Lakeside hospital just over an hour later. I didn't think my mom was in any condition to drive so I drove her car as she stared out the passenger window in silence.

She was right, Joann looked horrible with bandages all over her. My dad didn't even seem to know we entered the room as he held her hand. It seemed to be about the only part of her not wrapped up.

My mom sat in a chair on the opposite side of the bed from my father as I took a chair against the wall feeling completely empty. Joann could drive me nuts but I loved her more than anything. If anything was to happen to her...

About an hour later a doctor came in and checked on her and he confirmed that it had been done by an animal but it was unlike anything he'd seen. The claw marks were much larger than anything he could think of. Another weird thing was the fact there was no bite marks on her. It had to of been a werewolf. My mind went to Nancy and again something told me she didn't do this. She might be able to help find out who did. And for some reason I found myself missing her.

After about another hour the scrapping sound of a heavy chair across the floor pulled me out of my thoughts. I looked over to my father to see him staring at me with murder in his eyes. I didn't sense it directed at me but that didn't make me feel any better.

"I need you to drive me someplace to rent a car then come back and stay here with your mother. I'm going to go and track down the thing that did this and make sure it never does it again."

"Earl, it could of been anything. The police have-"

"I don't care, Ann! I can't take just sitting around here not doing anything. I feel so fucking helpless!" He said cutting her off. His voice was a mix of anger and hurt. He managed to keep his voice down thankfully

"Your not healthy enough for that, dad. If you go out trying to hunt that thing down you'll probably just give yourself another stroke. You think that will help Joann? Let me do it. I still got that Remington 721 you gave me."

I could tell my words hurt him. Hunting has always been a part of his life and now here I was telling him he's unable to do it even to help Joann. We use to go together when I was a kid. I never enjoyed the hunting part but I loved getting to spend time with him.

"You remember anything from those trips together?" He asked with an expression that hinted that he was asking for more than just to decide if I was cut out for this.

I wasn't sure how to answer that so I just nodded. He seemed to be thinking this over when my mom spoke up

"Let her do it, Earl. Think of Joann."

He glanced over to her before nodding.

"You need money for a car or do you have yours?"

" I'm good. I have a friend here in town. And something tells me she's also a real good hunter." I told him as I headed out.