---[Prologue]---

It all started with a pick axe and a bottle of whiskey on a heated summer evening. Friends and family gathered around a large bonfire set off by one of the older men in the gathering as the horizon, glowing bright with its beautiful pink and orange hues as the sun set slowly to the East; disappeared behind the thick trees of the nurturing forest surrounding the large cabin home. Wisps of cool air filtered through the thick branches and swirling almost lovingly around the crowd, cooling their skins from the heat that sweltered the afternoon air. Small children ran about playing and throwing what looked like mud at each other that they managed to make with a bucket of water and dirt. Family members cuddled together, some leaning on their significant others shoulder as they watched the flames dance within their isolated ring of brick and rock; the darkness of the night creeping upon them as the moon rose from its glory signalling the end of a day, and possibly their lives.

---

[Chapter One:]

(P.O.V)

I stood and watched as my family and their friends all huddled about with one another around the bonfire that evening. My eyes catching only a few glimpses of the flames themselves as I isolated myself into the back of the gathering, curling an old wool blanket around my shoulders for added warmth. I closed my eyes as my face got assaulted by what I could only assume was a million tiny little flying insects the size of fruit flies; hovering just near my face close enough for me to swat at the offending intruders with my hands making me drop the blanket in a short heap upon the grass. I gave up after a few swats, noticing it did nothing to affect the insects too long before returning. With only an aggravated sigh I moved to the cabins porch, not bothering to even pick up the blanket as I left the buzz of the gathering to sit alone on the porch swing in the dark. My legs curled to my side as my body leaned against the wooden frame of the swing. Almost in awe, I watched the moons reflection upon the still water of the lake and how its full round face seemed to glow brighter than most nights and in that instant, I felt almost happy.

I was only alone for a few minutes when I heard the wooden boards that held up the porch creak and moan from extra weight. Turning my head left to right I saw no one and shrugged off the sound as something someone would hear being alone in an unfamiliar place. I could still hear the mumbles of conversation and even some laughter from the big group that were still around the fire place, the children from earlier now running about with sparklers in their hands waving them franticly around as they chased one another around the group. I couldn`t help but shake my head at them, so happy and carefree that it almost made me sick. Mother always said I was a special child growing up, I never wanted to play with other children and always kept silent and closed off from the world around me. Now as I enter my Twenty-Second birthday, I am still the same, a killjoy at birthdays, weddings and yes even social gatherings such as this. I was given medication from the family doctor, hoping it would elevate my mood and make me more enjoyable to be around, but after only a week of taking them I threw them out of a window.

Since then my mother never really talked to me, and my father left us to go off after some younger woman he worked with. After he left, she would throw things at me, yelling and cursing my name as if I was the reason, the sole reason he left. It only made me grow more into my shell, causing a sleeping disorder and uncontrollable acts of violence that I would have no memory of doing.. And I had the scars to prove it. I knew I was different, that some memories were locked away deep within my mind that I would never reach.

*Creak.*

(3rd Person.)

She turned her head towards the sound, her pupils dilating enough to take in the shadowed shape of what she would only hope was a man. The moons glow only reached his waist, as if he could bend the shadows itself to his will, concealing the rest of him and his face from her view. A sudden gasp slipped past her lips as her body went rigid with fright. Chest heaving with panic stricken breaths she stood from the porch swing and back up to the wooden post just before the stairs to the grass. She couldn`t take her eyes off of him as she fumbled her hand along the wooden railing to steady herself from falling backwards; the man only standing still as a statue as tears rolled down her cheeks. Her voice only coming out within a whisper.

"..Wh-Who are you? What do you want? "

***

Her words soaked into him like water in dried soil. He had been watching her since the sun had disappeared behind the horizon and like the moon he rose to greet the darkened sky. Her words were laced with fright and panic, and the beast within him purred with pleasure; finding her fright most delicious and soothing.