Running usually helped Sora clear her head, but running after Katie in the streets of Darkwood made her head pound until it felt like it was on the verge of exploding.

Sora was surprised at how fast Katie could run, especially for someone who had never run a day in her whole life. As she ran, Sora desperately tried to figure out what she would say to Katie if she did catch up to her. Admittedly, she wasn't trying exceptionally hard to catch Katie because she wasn't ready to relinquish the truth to her friend. Sora was even unsure herself as to what the truth really was. She stopped when she reached the spot where they usually met each day to go to school to catch her breath. She had two choices: go to Katie's house and face her or go to her house and let her friend calm down a little bit.

I've had enough confrontations today, she thought as she decided to go home. Katie needs to calm down, and I know I definitely need time to decide what I am going to tell her.

Sora leisurely walked the rest of the way home, relieved that she had a reprieve from a painful conversation with her best friend. When she arrived home, she was ready to unwind. She tossed her bag on the floor next to her bed, spilling out half its contents across the room. She uttered a loud curse as she bent to retrieve her stuff.

She paused when her hand brushed over a small white piece of paper amongst her scattered things. That's not mine, she thought and quickly flipped over the scrap of paper. On the other side there was a note. The words were small and written in haste.

"I know what you are. Meet me at the burned part of the forest near the school at midnight. I can help you. I have all the answers you need." She read the letter over and over again, desperately hoping to glean more information as to who the author was and what they knew. The repeated readings revealed nothing further, and Sora was as confused as ever.

She sat down and began trying to determine who left the note. Drake was the first person who came to mind. He said that he needed to talk to me, she thought but then another name entered her head. What if it was Mo? What if he found out what happened at the fire and wants to tell me?

The more she thought about it, the longer her list of suspects grew. What if it's a prank from Mia or even worse Ben? I really pissed them off today. What if it's someone else completely?

And then there were the cryptic words of the note. "I know what you are," she repeated. "What is that supposed to mean?" She considered it might be the mysterious person who saved her from the fire. Was the stranger now accusing her of arson?

She stared at the note one last time. "I have all the answers you need." She crumpled the paper and tossed it aside. "I had no questions that needed answers before you showed up," she screamed at the note.

After a few hours of considering every possibility, Sora knew the only way to find out the truth was to go to the meeting.

***

The air was brisk and cold and it nipped at her skin. The naked forest was no longer able to provide protection against the icy wind. Sora checked her phone for the hundredth time. One minute after midnight. She hated waiting, especially alone in the dark of night away from any civilization in the remnants of the charred forest, that she may or may not have accidentally burnt down.

I am out of here, she thought and turned around to leave.

"You're early," she heard his voice before her eyes were able to discern who was speaking. After a few seconds and a few lost heartbeats, Sora saw a tall, dark figure leaning languidly against a lone standing tree.

Drake.

"You're late," she said. She had no idea how her tangled tongue was able to create any coherent words. Her knees were trembling and weak, and she feared they would give out at any moment. Her mind was in overdrive as a hundred thoughts flashed through her head. What does he want?

He smiled and moved away from the tree into the moonlight. Sora was grateful earlier when she left the house, for the brightness of the full moon, but now seeing Drake bathed in the moonlight, looking mysterious and dangerous, she shuddered and wished for darkness.

Drake closed the gap between them, stopping in front of a blackened fallen log covered with deep cracks. He nudged it with the tip of his foot. "That was pretty amazing," he said assessing the log. He dropped to his knees and ran his hand over the charred surface. "When I saw all the damage, I was a bit surprised, but I guess sometimes it is to be expected."

Sora was watching him carefully. She was terrified of being out here alone with Drake, and worried that he would accuse her of starting the fire. She was so wrapped up in her thoughts, that she almost missed the quick flicker of soft light that emanated from the spot on the log that he had touched once his hand drifted away. For a brief moment, Sora thought the wood was on fire again, but the light quickly faded. She swallowed hard, blinked and drew in a deep breath, trying to shake her growing anxiety. Drake stood and moved toward her once more.

"After all, you were definitely out of control that night," he said with a small grin.

Ohmygod, he knows! she screamed inside her head, but on the outside she only widened her eyes as she desperately tried to contain emotions and not give herself away. Don't panic, she ordered herself.

"Don't worry, I am here to help you. We can help you. My family has been doing this for quite some time now." For a moment, Sora noticed that he seemed concerned even sad, but then he quickly glanced at the full moon, before returning his black eyes to her. "I am like you," he said as he flashed her the most sincere smile she had seen from him. It made her feel like she could trust him, and she even began to feel safe with him, but then she carefully mulled over his words. What does he mean, he is like me? she thought.

"What do you want?" she asked confused. She thought he was there to accuse her of burning down the school and the forest, but the conversation had taken a strange turn.

"You don't have to hide it from me. I can sense you. Every time we touch, I feel a jolt of energy shooting through me," he explained. He swiped his palm in front of his eyes and then closed his fingers slowly into a fist before turning his attention back to Sora. "I know you felt it, too."

Sora thought that his words bordered on being corny, except for the fact that they were true. She recalled those strange electric shocks that had passed between them. Her pulse sped up. This conversation was weird and unexpected. She was scared, but determined to find out what Drake wanted. "I thought you wanted to talk to me about the fire?" she said, hoping that was indeed why he had summoned her here, if not Sora feared she was in deep trouble.

"Of course, it's about the fire," he said. He laughed softly, but to Sora it was a hard sound that caused a shiver to trace down her spine.

"About me setting the fire." She spoke each word slowly and cautiously. It was the first time she said it aloud, and she wanted to be precise with her wording as she presented her case.

He nudged close and offered his hand. She eyed it suspiciously and made no move to take it. "Don't worry I don't bite," he said. "At least not looking like this."

She searched his face for any sign that would help her make sense of all the craziness she was experiencing. His eyes shone with peace and contentment, but underneath there was just a glimmer of sadness. It brought to her mind the numb feeling she had every time she thought about her parents. She hadn't really noticed that in his eyes before, but watching him closely she realized, it had always been there, but she had failed to see it because of her terror. Ever since they first touched, his eyes had a certain sadness about them, a sadness that appeared to be directed at her, but she didn't know why, or if it was a good or bad sign. Sora finally relinquished and reached to take his hand. She tried to convince herself that her instincts were right in doing so. Oh, who am I kidding? I am too damn curious for my own good.

He guided her through the forest, the area that was untouched by the fire. The whole time, Sora felt the charge of electricity passing between their clasped hands. They walked for half an hour before stopping in a small clearing, illuminated by the bright moonlight that glimmered from behind the thick trees.

Drake let go of her hand, and she realized she had grew accustomed to the prickle of static electricity that accompanied his touch. She was surprised that she felt a bit empty once the sensation ceased.

"I'll show you mine if you show me yours," he said as he took a small step away from her.

"Huh?" She felt her mind suddenly blank. What is he talking about? Is he a pervert?

"Okay, I see you're shy. I'll go first," he said, shrugging off his jacket and then he started unbuttoning his shirt.

Oh, goodness. This is real pervert territory. "What are you doing?" Sora felt her cheeks burn, and she was grateful for the lack of light. Embarrassed, she hurriedly turned her back on him and fixed her eyes on the ground. Crap! she cursed. Never turn your back on a pervert. She tried to convince herself to turn around and face him, but she failed.

"Oh, sorry. I shouldn't have done this in front of you. I just got carried away," she heard him say, and then she heard him take a few short steps away from her.

She turned just in time to see him hide behind a tree; his jacket and shirt were already on the ground, his shoes, jeans and underwear trailed a short distance after them. Sora quickly assessed the situation and tried desperately not to freak out. She decided it was in her best interest to start running as fast as she could back to the safe confines of her room. And possibly stay there for the rest of her life.

"Ready?" he asked behind the tree.

"Hell yeah," she said more to herself than him. She whirled around and started running, but when she reached the end of the small clearing, the ground beneath her feet began shaking. A low, deep noise that sounded a lot like a growl reverberated in the woods. Terrified, Sora clutched the closest tree, trying to discern the source of the sound. It was coming from the last spot where she had seen Drake.

Her mouth hung open in disbelief, and her entire body was paralyzed with terror as her disbelieving eyes tried to make sense of the terrifying image in front of her. A huge red dragon was now standing in the middle of the clearing. Its almost transparent wings spread along its sides, and its long neck stretched toward the sky as is roared ferociously at the full moon.

After what seemed like hours, the dragon finally ceased its mind numbing roar. Its red scales glittered and gleamed, reflecting light in every direction. Sora held her breath as the dragon fixed its black eyes on her.