My feet pounded against the asphalt as I raced through Brookfield's streets. The buildings flashed by until they became a blur and I was certain, I've never run that fast before.

My mind flashed back to the thing on the autopsy table that was once a human being. Then back to the night I was attacked. I may not be able to remember what attacked me but I knew for sure it had to have been the thing that killed that man.

And they found the body so close to my home, where my mother and brother slept soundly at night. That, above all else terrified me to no end. So, I ran. Harder and faster than ever before. I had to get home, I had to be sure.

It didn't bother me that Noah didn't believe me.

That's a lie.

Okay, so it bothered me a little. I poured out my heart and told him everything he wanted to know, but that still wasn't good enough. Deep down I knew, I couldn't actually blame him but I still wanted him to believe me. That's exactly why I didn't want to tell anyone about it, I didn't want them looking at me like I was a monster. 

I raced through town in a blur, my speed accelerating as I saw my house come into view.

Mom's car was parked in the driveway and I knew she was home. What surprised me, was the blue Honda parked behind her car. I tried to get my breathing back to normal as I pushed open the front door. 

"Syd, it that you?" My mom called from the living room.

I didn't miss the slight worry in her tone.

"Yeah mom, it's me."

I walked to the living room and stopped in my tracks. The man standing up from the couch looking at me and a small smile pulled at his lips. Blue eyes so close to my own stared back at me but he remained quiet.

"Dad? What are you doing here?"

Mom stopped my dad before he could say anything "Where were you? The school sent you all home because they found a body and you thought today would be the perfect day to stay out late?"

I frowned "It's not late mom!" I looked at the clock and saw that I had spent almost two hours with Noah after they sent us home, "Besides the curfew is only six pm."

 "I don't care, you were supposed to come home or at least call and let me know!"

"Okay Andrea, calm down, she's home now." my dad said. 

I held my breath as anger flared in my mom's eyes, but she quickly masked it as if it hadn't even been there. She took a deep breath and turned her gaze towards my dad. 

"You know what Tom, you're right. Why the hell would I have to worry about my daughter when they just found a body in the woods?" sarcasm dripped from my mom's words and I even flinched. 

She and my dad had been divorced for nearly eight years now and all I could remember from their whole relationship was fighting. Day in and day out, until my dad finally called it quits. 

My dad's eyes went wide "That's not what I meant, Andrea and you know it."

I waved my hands around to get their attention and their eyes snapped to me. 

"Please just stop fighting! Mom, why is dad here? And where is Leland?"

My mom walked to me and placed a comforting hand on my shoulder.

"Syd, your dad and I thought it would be best for you guys to live with him for a while, at least until they find out what happened to that man..." 

"No, you can't do that! I have half a year left, I'm not going to a new school now! Why did you guys even..."

My mom held up her hand signaling the end of my tirade "You didn't let me finish"

I felt my ears buzz as a new fear set in. Moving now was out of the question. Firstly there was school, I had half a year left it didn't make sense to move now. Secondly, my dad lived in the city three hundred miles away from any wildlife, which would not bode well with my ever-growing hunger. What if I accidentally ate the neighbor's dog? I was also not about to leave my mom here alone with that creature. 

My dad took a step closer but stopped cold when mom sent him a withering glare, "We know that honey, that's why Lee is going to live with your father for a while. Just until they catch whatever did this but until then you have to abide by the curfew."

I let out a relieved breath. I was still sad that I would have to say goodbye to Leland but it was better this way. He would be much safer out of town. It did seem like mom was going a bit overboard with sending him to my dad but in all fairness, no one in Brookfield has ever dealt with something like this before. 

Mom helped Leland pack his things, he threw a level ten tantrum at having to go and I saw mom tear up more than once. I got the feeling that this had more to do with something else than the body in the woods. I made a mental note to ask mom about it as soon as my dad left. 

My dad and I didn't have the best relationship and that was partly my own fault. I always blamed him for the divorce since he was the one who walked out. I knew deep down I was being irrational, it usually took two people to make a relationship crumble. But I saw what it did to my mom, I was old enough to remember how she almost fell apart.

When dad and Leland left a lonely stillness settled in the house. Mom grabbed her blue parka from the couch and walked over to the kitchen. The downstairs of our house was open plan and had high archways. It consisted of the kitchen, living room, dining room.

"Mom?"

Mom turned around and I saw her handshaking.

"Yes, Sydney?"

"Why is Lee really going to dads I mean I get the whole dead person thing but doesn't this seem a bit rash?"

Mom sighed "Syd, please not now, we'll talk about it later, okay?"

I stopped asking but I still wondered. Mom walked around the kitchen island and grabbed her phone off the counter.

"How about we just get pizza for dinner tonight? I don't really feel like cooking."

I nodded my head, pizza was just about my favorite thing ever, and to be honest, mom wasn't the best cook. Later that night after mom and I had our fill of pizza, I sat in my room mulling over the day's events.

They found a body and the deer in the woods. Lee is living with dad for a while, maybe even until the end of the year. Then the one thing that has me on edge, Noah thinks I killed that man.

I jumped off my bed and started pulling out the boxes from underneath my bed. I knew it was a crazy idea. With the hunger setting in again and rational thought taking the back seat, I didn't have much choice.

I had to eat something before I went berserk, I had to get my memories back and I had to find out about the thing that attacked me. Before someone else ended up dead.

Pulling a few boxes from under my bed, I began to search the contents. Finally, I found my old pink barbie flashlight. I pressed the button on the handle on and off to see if it was working. The light beam shone a brilliant light and I smiled in triumph 

When a tap sounded from my window I jumped back a few paces. Staring at me from the other side of the window, Noah kept tapping the window lightly.

 I walked over to the window and slid the panel up. Noah quickly grabbed a hold of the windowsill. I narrowed my eyes at him and he just smiled sheepishly. 

If I pushed him out my window would that be considered assault?

I crossed my arms over my chest, "What are you doing here?" I whispered.

"You just ran off today and I haven't heard anything since."

"So you decided to sneak into my window. How did you even know where I live?"

"This is Brookfield, everyone knows everyone. Besides, I had to make sure you were okay." Noah's eyes flicked away from mine, "I also wanted to say I'm sorry. You told me everything and I just ended up accusing you."

"It's okay, Noah. I'm fine and you're forgiven. You can leave now." 

"Just answer this one question first, why did you run today?"

I looked at Noah, his eyes almost pleading with me "Fine, but only if you answer one of my questions."

"Does this mean I can come in?" 

"Sure, but if my mom catches you, I'm going to tell her you broke in," I said in a deadpan tone.

He pushed the window up and folded his lean body through. As his shirt rode up exposing the smooth skin on his stomach, I had to quickly avert my gaze. I felt a blush creep up my cheeks but shook it off. 

Don't be stupid! This is no time to be ogling the stalker dude!   

Noah ran his hand through his hair and awkwardly shifted around. His eyes scanned my room, it wasn't very big but it was cozy and I loved it. There was an old white dresser next to the window, with my closet on the other side of the room and my bed in the middle with a nightstand at each side. All my photos of friends and family were scattered around my room, some were framed and others were stuck to the walls with tape.

"Okay, so about my question-- " 

"No, my room and since you're the guest you can answer me first," I said before Noah could finish.

He looked at me and nodded his head once. I took a seat on my bed and Noah sat down at my dresser. He looked odd sitting on my small chair. I almost laughed out loud when I mentally pictured Noah's knees reaching his ears.

I cleared my throat, "So, you know what I was doing in the Coroners office that night but what were you doing there so late?" 

Noah's face went beat red and he looked away. 

He sighed, dropping his head in his hands "Okay you know my dad is the coroner, you also know I get called a lot of weird names at school." 

His eyes found mine and I frowned. I honestly didn't know, through high school, I didn't lend out my ears to the grapevine. My aim was to go to college and I knew my parents couldn't afford it. So that left me with a scholarship from Sunnyvale University. Every year they provided ten scholarships to the brightest students in Brookfield high and I have been aiming for it since the eight grade. It was close to home so I could easily see mom and Lee. It would also cost my motherless to nothing if I got accepted and they had one of the best literature programs in my state.   

"Noah, I honestly don't."

"Well, that's beside the point anyway. That day, my dad's car was being repaired so I had to drop him off and pick him up again."

I nodded my head, I remembered seeing Noah go into the coroner's office that day. I also knew his dad was the coroner but I didn't tell him that. 

He continued, "Well I went there after school to wait for my dad. He got off early so we could fetch his car. I left my school bag in his office and I didn't want to have to stop there in the morning so I went to get it." 

I didn't blink when I looked at Noah, "So, you caught me because you're forgetful?" 

Had this been a different situation I would have laughed, to think that if I had only picked another night, Noah would have never caught me and this situation could have been avoided.

"It's not funny!" Noah cried when I burst out laughing. 

"It's pretty hilarious." 

"Fine, whatever but I answered your question now answer mine."

I looked up and thought of his question. Why I ran. I had seen the body that That Rick had shown to sheriff Brice. when I closed my eyes I could still see the large bite marks and gaping holes, the smashed in the head, and the caked blood. 

"My family, I needed to make sure they were okay." 

I saw the boxes under my bed and the backpack I had stuffed with supplies. Talking with Noah it was easy to forget that I still planned to go out there. 

Getting up from the bed I slung my backpack on my shoulder and Noah gave me a quizzical look.

"Where are you going?" 

"Look, Noah, this was nice and all but I need to remember what happened to me. Before it's too late."