Shade woke up in a room that looked creepily similar to his own. He could tell he wasn't home, though. It was too dark.

Looking around, Shade stood up and immediately regretted it. His head was spinning. Falling back down, he quietly groaned, holding his head.

I'm still sick...

"Oh, so you're awake."

Shade jumped. "Who's there?" He was on his feet, ignoring the headache tearing his brain apart.

"Someone who is, in a way, like you."

The door opened, and Shade squinted against the light that was assaulting his eyes. Then, he eyes widened as he realized what he saw.

It was a giant werewolf.

The wolf had black fur and blood red eyes.

Those eyes, they're filled with bloodlust.

"You know, people with our colors are rare nowadays. We were all killed off years ago. There were few who survived. I never thought I'd find someone else with the colors."

"What do you want from me?"

"I want you to join me. We could kill everyone who hurt you. We could make sure people like us had a better life. We could ensure the safety of future genetprations wit black fur and red eyes. All I ask is that you join me."

It was tempting. We could get rid of Mother, Father, and Allison... but it would only enforce the stereotype that we're demons. I don't think it's a good idea.

"I won't."

"What?"

"I won't do it. I don't want to be responsible for the deaths of others."

"What about these two?"

Then, the werewolf held up the twins in one hand.

The twins were sleeping peacefully.

"If you don't help me, I'll hurt these two."

Shade felt himself tense up. Panic flared in him, and he stopped breathing.

* * *

He couldn't think. He couldn't feel.

All he knew was that he had just killed someone.

Taking shaky breaths, he stared at his bloody hands. Then, he looked towards his siblings.

They were still sleeping.

Taking another shaking breath, Shade got up and picked up the twins, making sure they were okay.

They weren't injured at all, except for Taylor who ad fallen and bruised her elbow earlier that day. They were fine.

Taking shaky steps, Shade found a bathroom and cleaned off the blood from himself and his siblings. His breaths were even more shaky as he saw how much of it there was. His tail was fuzzed up, and when he looked in the mirror, he noticed how small his pupils were.

Adrenaline...

Then, the feeling rushed back to him, and he keeled over. His lung was burning. He quietly whimpered at the pain. What's going on?

The door slammed open, and a hero rushed in to see the dead werewolf and the three children. She used her magic to see what happened, then her eyes widened and she gently picked the three up.

"It's okay, I'll protect you until we get you three home."

Shade's ears went back on his head, but he didn't have nearly enough energy to tell her he didn't want to go home.

He couldn't tell her he needed to escape.