'Abort. Abort. Abort.' The voice of reason from deep within me warned. I wanted to ignore it; I almost did, but a split second before I gave in to my unexpected desire, my eyes fell on my phone.

Seven twenty-nine, the screen informed, piercing the haze of lust invading my body.

I cradled Junjun's face and caressed it. He hummed and pulled back, smiling. "Is this what you really want?" I asked softly.

The smile fell from his lips, and he drew back like I was poison. His eyes drifted to my lips and stayed there, "I-I don't know what's wrong with me." he replied, terrified.

"I didn't mind. In fact, I enjoyed it. I am sure many would kill to be in my place right now." I said, trying to lighten the mood, "Do you know anything else about your kind, the shifters, I mean?"

"So, are you saying that you believe me now?"

"Yes, absolutely. One hundred percent." I answered and watched a fond smile bloom on his rich, plum lips.

"To be honest, when I was a child, I was kept away from the shifter talks," Junjun air-quoted the phrase before smiling impishly, "But I did catch a few things here and there. Like, how we were the last of our kind and our blood could save lives in the right hands. It could also heal wounds left by silver," Junjun pursed his lips, "It's detrimental to those weaker than us."

"Like you? What does that mean?"

"Ummm." The boy hummed, contemplating for a few seconds. Then, "Yes! I remember now. We are not the only 'changed humans'; I think most changed humans are allergic to silver. That's what makes us valuable. Maybe that is why I heard my Grandfather was called 'The Guardian of The Reach' or something."

Guardian of The Reach!? Could it have something to do with 'The Reach' that had been popping up in all my attempts at finding the truth?

"To my tween self, all of it sounded like a tale straight out of a fantasy novel. Obviously, I couldn't understand why being special warranted that we keep a low profile. I was often reprimanded because I loved to boast about it. Ma always warned me not to mention it outside our estate." The idol furrowed his eyebrows, "It's strange,"

"Elaborate, please."

"When I was about eleven, one day I was picked up from school and taken somewhere… I can't recall the place. But after returning, I had forgotten about all I had heard in secret or by chance. How is it that I can recall it now!?"

I shook my head, but if I had to guess, I would bet my money that it had something to do with Junjun shifting after getting injected by whatever the fuck that was. Nonetheless, I didn't want to voice my thoughts lest they perturb the idol who already had too much on his plate. I changed the subject, "Did you find anything?"

He flicked his temporary phone open and began hesitantly, "I went as far back as a year. I found a user, Xi007, who seemed more interested in my family and birthplace than my music. That was about six months ago. There is nothing after that."

Over the next few minutes, I hacked into their profile and arrived at a dead end with one name staring back at me: The Reach.

"The Reach. What is that?"

I shook my head, "I don't know." I threw my phone at Jun, gesturing to him to read his brother's messages, "Tell me if you find anything strange."

I gave him a few minutes to go over the texts while I served us dinner: a couple of energy bars and a bag of classic salted chips.

Yes, I know. I know. That is not what I should be feeding my charge. But I reckoned that Junjun was a shifter and could probably make up for the lack of nutrition genetically.

Junjun didn't complain. Without looking up from the phone, he called me over, "The first one sounds like him, but I am not sure... "

"Just tell me." I urged.

"The tone is urgent...desperate. The way his second and third messages are phrased sounds rude. He is not like that." Junjun's eyes snapped up, "Do you think he is in trouble!?"

I squared my shoulders and crossed my arms over my chest. "I don't know. And there is only one way to find out."

***

My Lavida, as it moved through the sharp curves to reach its destination, gleamed. It was the first time since Junjun had entered my life that we weren't joined at the hip, so to speak. I felt lonely and stole a glance at the empty backseat.

Before I knew it, though, I was pulling my car into the visitor's parking lot of the wildlife reserve. It was abandoned and seemed like it didn't get much traffic.

Contrary to what I believed, the Katakam Reserve was privately owned. The owner was none other than The Reach. Was I surprised? I suppose not. Was I intrigued? Hell yes!

Why? Because I wanted to know who had the sort of power it required to bribe the government officials to give up a protected land. Moreover, if the ground was bought, why had nothing about it been leaked to the public?

After watching the changes Junjun was going through, I was more concerned about what else lurked in the dark? After all, Junjun had mentioned that they were a dying breed. Dying, not dead.

Were werewolves real?

What about vampires and mermaids?

I got out of the car and covered the rest of my journey on foot. It took me about fifteen minutes to get to the location Haoyu had texted.

Still, even after being fashionably late, I found no one there to welcome me, with extended claws or otherwise. I scanned the area with my flashlight to confirm that I was indeed alone and came face to face with...

Jayjay!?

"Hey Zan-Zan, long time no see. I missed you." The most irritating of my peers greeted me with the fakest smile ever.

I reciprocated with an equally fake one of my own and patted his back, "Sorry, bro, I would be lying if I said that the feeling is mutual." I glanced behind him, hoping to see Haoyu, but it seemed that he had come alone. "Where is boss-man? Isn't he coming?"

"He got held up. I am here on his behalf." He shrugged, "I don't see him. Where is the boy?"

I sighed exasperatedly and let my shoulders slump, "That fucker ran away as soon as I told him who I was working for."

Jayjay narrowed his eyes, "Do you expect me to believe that he outran you?"

"No, I don't. But I am sure Haoyu will. There are things about him that you won't believe even if I told you."

Jayjay's lips fell open at my admission. "Tell me everything," he demanded, closing in.

"No, can't do. Our boss is very protective of him. You can go, I will tell him myself. Chao!" I waved, turned around, and started walking towards my car when clawed hands came up from behind me. Grabbing my throat, it lifted me a foot off the ground.

I gasped for breath; struggling, I threw my elbow back and caught claws in his jugular.

A pained howl followed my move, and I was dropped to the floor unceremoniously a heartbeat later. I twirled around and watched Jay stagger back. He growled and crouched down; his claws scraped the ground, leaving inch-deep intents on the forest floor.

Fuck.

"That was a mistake, Zan-Zan. I was going to let you live, but now-"

The overconfident fucker missed me flick the safety switch on my gun off, but he heard the loud bang that echoed through the reserve.

Another howl, a more terrible one than the last, ripped through him as my bullet pierced his skin and lodged itself next to his heart.

Gotcha!

I walked over to his withering form and gave him a once over, "I hope you are not allergic to silver."
Fear and panic fought for dominance on his ghastly face, which was, as Junjun would have probably put it: mid-shift. "Oh, it looks like you are!? That sucks... for you. Sorry." I apologized, adding salt to his wounded ego.

"Zhao Zan, please. We have known each other for years." Jayjay's voice sounded like it had been dragged over tar. Rough. Gravely. Kinda sexy.

"And yet, you attacked me, that too, from behind. Is that how you treat a person you have known for years?" I asked rhetorically and shook my head disapprovingly. Then crouching next to him, I demanded as sympathetically as I possibly could: "You know, I wouldn't give a flying fuck if you died right now, but since you brought up our relationship, however miserable it was, I want to give you a chance at life." I fished out a vile from my jacket and dangled it in front of him.

I knew Jayjay was a coward. The fact that he was one of us had always surprised me. So, it was a given that I wasn't about to let this golden chance pass me by.

"How did you know?" He asked, eyeing the tiny vessel hungrily.

"Do you really want to waste the precious moments you have left catching up on-"

"No!" He exclaimed, placing a hand on the front of his work jacket, a replica of mine, and winced, "I will tell you everything I know... just give it to me. Please."

I chuckled, "How much of a fool do you take me to be, Jayjay? Give me what I want, and I will decide if you are worth saving."

He tried standing up but gave up halfway through, "I promise, I am useful."

This was what I was waiting for. I pinched the injured villain's cheek and smirked, "Then prove it."

[Chapter word count: 1676;
Word count so far: 28436]