Maddy bolted and beelined for the second floor. He had the advantage of knowing this house better than Greyson. He looked over his shoulder only once to immediately find Greyson still counting. He grinned and continued climbing up the stairs two at a time. The alcohol in his system made him feel light and reckless.

The noose around his heart gave a small warning tug. The last time he played this game, he was ten and he accidentally bit Cindy Mapleton. He was unlocking different bedroom doors when the memory burst through his thoughts like a trapped air bubble.

“Please, let go,” Cindy’s voice cracked, and the sound forced him to meet her eyes. They were glossy and red, as if she was holding back tears. He thought about Carrie and her eyes. On really busy days, she would have the same look. Panic flooded his system as he remembered Carrie could never give him that look again.

What was he doing? It was something bad, he knew he was, the knot in his chest was tugging and tangling around the veins of his heart was telling him so, but a moment ago, they were fine. They were playing tag, he was it, and everything was fine.

He could fix this. His grip tightened around Cindy’s wrist, he shook as he spoke, “I- I just want to be friends!”

“No!” Cindy cried out. Her face twisted as she yanked free from his grasp. She started running toward the house.

His nose twitched and his eyes flashed as a strange hunger took over his body and pushed him forward. The noose around his heart was an iron grip squeezing the muscle, but the pain only made him hungrier. He caught up to her quickly, tackled her to the ground, and bit into her soft skin. Flesh split like a crushed cherry and blood pooled into his mouth.

Cindy cried out in pain, the sound rang through his head. He didn’t want this, but he couldn’t control his body. Her blood was like eating chips and chocolate together, mostly salty with the slightest sweetness. It shouldn’t have worked so well together, and he shouldn’t have enjoyed it so much.

“I found you,” Greyson’s words broke through his memory. They were cool and grounding. Wet sand at the beach. His silver eyes, penetrating his heart.

Indeed he found him, sitting on the banister of the second floor balcony. It was made of stone and wide enough to rest his whole leg up comfortably while the other one dangled over the edge. He’d been watching a group of classmates jump in fully clothed into the pool, screaming and laughing.

Watching them made him hungry.

He shouldn’t be around people. He shouldn’t be around Greyson. A cool autumn breeze brushed across his face and brushed a lock from his face. “Nice job.”

The smirk on Greyson’s face dropped. “What’s wrong?”

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Maddy looked over the edge once more and when he turned back Greyson was leaning on the banister only a few short feet away.

“The last time I played this game I bit a girl.” He paused. Not sure if it was safe to tell all this to him. But he wasn’t being smug for a change and actually seemed to be listening. “I couldn’t help myself. I’d been chasing her and she fell.”

He swallowed hard, trying to forget the taste of her blood on her lips. He looked back at the pool. A girl was yelling at her boyfriend for throwing her in and ruining her makeup.

“Needless to say, her mother was pissed. But Dee was there.” His lips broke into a gentle smile. “She actually told Cindy’s mother, ‘You’re a forty-year-old lady why are you picking on a ten-year-old kid?!’ I thought she was so brave. Looking back at it though her hand was shaking in mine.” Maddy’s nose twitched. The girl getting out of the pool had scrapped her hands and knees. He curled his hand into a fist. “I felt awful afterward. Tried to beg for her forgiveness, but it was too late. The damage was done and it didn’t help that it was her birthday and all of our classmates had seen it happen. Everyone except Dee saw me as a freak, a monster.”

He blinked away tears. It had been years since he last thought about Cindy Mapleton. He knew Dr. Tarkirk was suppressing his powers to hide him in plain sight, but had he also suppressed his memories? Did Nanabo reawaken them when they touched? He turned back to Greyson when he saw blood drip down from the girl’s ripped tights.

Surprise crossed his face when he saw Greyson looking back at him so intensely. It made his heart thump heavy in his chest. With a tired sigh he said, “I’m going to go. Could you tell Dee? She knows where to find me, if she needs me.”

Greyson’s eyes grew wide. He stood up and rolled his sleeves. “Wait. Where are you going?”

“There’s a park not too far from here,” Maddy explained. He should have left a lot sooner. “It’s where I go when I want to think… and be alone.” His gaze remained firm on those silver hues.

Greyson gave him a slow nod. “Are you sure I can’t change your mind to stay?””

He shook his head, hopped off the ledge, and headed for the house. “I’m sorry I ruined our game. Next time, will be more fun.”

“There will be a next time?” Greyson quirked a brow.

Greyson let out a short laugh. It did more for Maddy than he’d like to admit. “You remind me of my sister she loves this game.

“You have a sister?” He asked tilting his head thoughtfully.

“Yes,” He smiled slowly as if remembering something sweet. Maddy caught that look in his gray eyes again. Whatever he was thinking about quickly turned sour, but before he could ask about it, Greyson’s grin was back in place. “If you stay I can tell you all about her.”

“Learning you might actually have a heart under all that arrogance does sound tempting,” He shrugged. “But I’ve kind of set my mind up about freezing my toes and fingers off around some trees.”

He turned around and walked back into the house without looking back. If he did, he knew he wouldn’t be able to reject Greyson a third time. And the thought itself made him realize how much he needed to be alone right now. Far and safe from those gray eyes, pointy teeth, and devilishly handsome face.