I screamed my whole body flying up, and shaking in fear. Gasping for breath, I took the chance to look around. My eyes landed on a sight I will never unsee, "Landon?" I whispered silently praying for an answer. His esophagus lie to his right and the sight of his bloody neck was terrifyingly familiar to my nightmare from a few nights before.

I stepped forward trying to get to him, but I couldn't move. Looking down I gasped at the sight of shackles wrapped tightly around hands. "Okay. Okay, Laya you got this. Come on," I whispered encouraging words to myself preparing to break free. A low growl emitted from my lips, and I screamed putting all of my force into getting out of my bindings. I couldn't do it. I could feel the tears brimming my eyes 'Hope. Hope, please I need help.' I waited for an answer until a small part of my brain felt like it was literally screaming at me.

"Hope." I knew she wouldn't be able to hear me, but my body was weak, and it was beginning to feel like my brain was enlarging and pushing onto my skull. 'Hope.' No answer. I leaned back not knowing what to do, I'm gonna die out here. Hopeless, and alone next to my best friend's dead boyfriend. Maybe I'll die in my sleep, peacefully. My eyes were getting droopy. I tried to peel them open to keep them from being shut, but I caved in, and surrendered to the darkness.

I sat next to Rafael in the main hall, a school meeting was called. My fingers naturally twiddled together in a futile attempt to stop my raving mind. I never really liked holiday's. It was always a time to remember Hey I don't have a family to go home to! I can't complain, I'm not the only one. It's just a sad reality of being supernatural.

"Alright everyone, listen up. Absolutely no one leaves campus, unless your in the custody of your guardian." Most times Dorian would take me home for holiday's. It was fun, last year he took me on a fishing trip in Texas. This year, he's leaving me behind to help find this urn.

"Now, with the full moon approaching, this rule especially applies to our wolves. Unless your a magical hybrid who can control their powers, you know the drill. Vampires to your dorms. Wolves to your bunkers." I liked to hear that Dr. Saltzman believed I had control. Although, I've had some issues with my 'capabilities' I've never had a problem on the full moon.

"Absolutely no exceptions." He used his right eye to wink at me causing me to laugh by accident. "Just because we have a cure for werewolf bites, doesn't mean they won't hurt like hell. Now, for this of you who are staying behind, we have some activities planned to ensure that your..." M.G. placed a yellow index card on the podium. "Vacation will be the..." Dr. Saltzman picked the card up to read it aloud while M.G. made a face. "... Dopest, coldest... spring break ever! Alright, here's M.G., everybody."

I laughed as Dr. Saltzman stepped down and M.G. took his place. "Are your mom and dad... dead?" My breath unintentionally hitched, but I gulped it down when I watched Rafael wrap my hands in his.

"No place for you in human society? Does being alone leave you triggered? If your answer to any of these is yes, it's okay. The Holiday Committee has your back." M.G.'s voice faded out when Kaleb tapped the shoulder of Rafael causing both of us to turn around. "Hey, guys. I need you to me a favor. Can you look after him while I'm gone on this trip with Dr. S?" I'll admit I was a little salty I didn't get invited, but Hope promised me she'll tell me everything when she gets back.

"M.G.'s doing this little 'happy act' thing, but... he gets really weird around holidays." Rafael's eyebrows knit together confused. "Why?" They both turned to me causing me to sigh I didn't want to give them to much information because M.G. trusted me with that secret. "His family... they... they... never invite him home." Kaleb nodded with a solemn face like he already knew.

"So you know, just... hit up his little events." I nodded already down, I mean it's not like I have have anything better to do. "And..." Rafael groaned "Come on man, it's-it's the least you can do. Especially after getting down and dirty with the love of his life." I hoped no one would notice my burning cheeks that were probably hot enough to pop popcorn. Rafael turned to Kaleb surprised.

"Oh yeah, everybody knows." Rafael turned the other way slightly pulling our entwined hands to the side "Oh yeah, them too. They know." Rafael sighed slowly turning back to the head of Kaleb which sat in between Rafael's and my shoulder's. "So..."

"Alright, uh, whatever bro. Me and... Lan will hang out with your boy, alright? It's not like we have anything else to do." Kaleb nodded "What about your girlfriend?" If my cheeks could've gotten hotter, they did. Rafael turned to me, even his cheeks were tinted a light shade of pink. "You wanna, uh..." I laughed "Yeah. I planned on it." Kaleb stuck his hand out and Rafael shook it before me. This would be fun.

••••

"Survey says—— you just got owned." I smiled at M.G. I didn't care if we as wolves were loosing, he was happy, and it was contagious. "Don't be mad, this stuff is in my blood. My dad's a trivia god. We play games like this all the time." And there it was. Everyone who's been through anything did it. The happy memories come back when your happy, and then your sad again.

"Uh, we used too. You know, before the..." I sent M.G. a warm smile throwing my arm around his shoulders. "Wait, so let me get this straight." Landon sat up and I knew this wasn't gonna be good. "You died, and then became a vampire, and then your dad just... ghosted you?" I sighed slowly mouthing the words Shut up in repeat to the curly haired boy.

"Pretty much. Uh, I hear from my mom all the time, and she just says like, he's busy. Either way, we don't talk." Hope, and I, we're close because we bond on the fact that we both understand what it's like loose all of your close ones. M.G., and I, we're close because we bond on the fact that we both understand what it's like to have family that doesn't want you.

"Maybe you should." I shook my head, and Rafael stood up. By his face, I could tell he agreed with my thoughts. Landon needs to shut his mouth. "Or maybe some things are better left unsaid, right, Lan?"

"Sure. But, I mean, the whole point of having a family is so you can..." Rafael sat back down next to him "Be an actual family." M.G.'s hand latched onto mine only making me feel worse, and hoping Landon would just shut up. "Look, what I'm trying to say is, if you want answers... I hope you find them. Because I would do anything to avoid another round of Faction Feud."

I jumped up again, momentarily forgetting my surroundings. Why am I not remembering how I ended up here. I need to know. I closed my eyes focusing on slowing my breath. Dorian taught me how to focus on one thing, it was supposed to help me access more of my brain, because half of it is memories from Hope.

"For the record, I didn't know grand theft auto was apart of the plan."

"It's not stealing, it's just borrowing without asking." M.G. walked next to me with his hood up, and sunglasses on. "Yeah, well tell that to Dr. Saltzman." Landon didn't mind M.G.'s excessive worry, he scanned our surround. "You got some viscous street gangs around here." M.G. kept his head low.

"Why do you think we parked in an alleyway?" I laughed when we came to a stop in front of a tall, white Victorian style house. "Everyone thinks I'm dead. I can't be seen here."

"You never mentioned your dad was a politician." Just on time my sight fell onto a sign that Landon must've already noticed. "He's not."

"At least he wasn't. He's running for mayor?" I gulped "Maybe Raf's right, maybe this was a mistake." I couldn't call it a sixth sense, but it was like my subconscious was trying to tell me something bad was happening. "No, the truth is never a mistake. Took me a long time to figure that out." I felt bad for not telling Landon about his mom, but I couldn't now.

I watched helplessly as he pressed the doorbell button.

"LANDON!" I opened my eyes just to find him in his previous position, dead. I couldn't do this anymore, I'm tired of people dying. I let my eyes change, to draw power from my wolf, "Remove haec carcerem" the chains flew away from me with a blinding blue light, and I darted over to be by Landon's side. "Okay." I placed my hand on his chest "Sana." Nothing happened. I groaned in disgust picking up his esophagus and pushing it back on his place. "Come on." I grabbed both of his hands holding them tightly.

  "Sana." This time it was a little louder, but he wasn't moving. I couldn't help it, I started to cry leaning over his dead body. Landon can't be dead. I should've been there. I should've helped him. Slowly, painfully slow I began to fall asleep lying on the body of my best friend's dead boyfriend.

"I'm sorry, but who are you, and why are you here?" Landon, and Rafael stood in front of M.G., and I. "Hey, it's okay." He nodded with a sad smile and pulled off his glasses, "Uh, hi, mom." I pushed Landon to the side "Milton." His mother didn't look very impressed to see him. "I wasn't expecting you."

"It's spring break." M.G.'s grip got tighter on my hand which I was starting to regret giving to him as a stress ball. "Yes, I know, but I thought we agreed it would be best for you to stay at campus."

"Well..."

"Uh, Mrs. Greasley. Hi, I'm Landon." He held his hand in the air like a wave, but never moved it. "Kirby. Uh, my brother, Rafael, his girlfriend, Laya and I we're new at this school and-and we didn't have anywhere to go for spring break, so we sort of... uh talked your son into a spontaneous road trip." Why did he call me Raf's girlfriend? It only makes things worse for me.

M.G.'s mom looked angry as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Which now seems like a hasty decision." M.G. gulped "We obviously came at-at the wrong time, so I'll just say hi to dad, and we'll be on our way. Where's he?"

"Your father's not here. He's..." I scoffed quietly "Visus mihi." My wolf eyes covered mine, but turned into more of x-ray vision, so I could see into the house. "Running for mayor." M.G. replied. "The governor thinks he has a great shot at winning." No one was in the house "Y'all know the governor now?"

"A lot has changed since you... died."

"Yeah. I can see that." She seemed taken aback "You know we love you very much, Milton. But the world thinks your dead. If someone were to see you walking around, in your old hometown..."

"Then let us in. I just want to see dad." His mom raised her eyebrows at him, "Your father doesn't want to see you. His faith is everything to him. There's no room in his belief for people dying, and coming back to life." Uh how are you a self proclaimed Christian and don't know about Jesus?

"Except for Jesus." Landon replied looking down. "And Lazarus." I chuckled softly, but I don't think anyone noticed. "He'll come around. It's just gonna take some time for him to get used to the idea." I scoffed "That's his loss then." Rafael replied "Let's-lets just go man, come on. Come on." We pulled him away knowing he needed to leave the house.

The scene changed M.G. Was in the car, and Landon, Rafael, and I were standing outside. "I mean lol at him. Just take it from somebody that's been kept in the dark his whole life. At least he knows the truth," I scoffed "And take it from somebody who knows what it feels like to have her father hate them. The truth hurts." Rafael kept my hand in his and now it was beginning to feel like a game.

Who needs the most comfort? "You know that better than anybody." Rafael added. "Hey. His dad is religious. If hector and Maria taught us anything, is what? Religious people aren't to flexible about their beliefs." M.G. leant out of the window "Hey. Raf and Laya are right. My dad's not gonna want a vampire in his family. It is what it is."

"It is what it..." Landon turned back to us "Or maybe it's worse." Landon walked over to M.G.'s still open window "Look, I took that from your parents mailbox." He handed M.G. a newspaper. "Your dad became a prominent figure after he gave a sermon that went viral. A sermon about how he would give anything to have you back. It is one thing to cut you out of his life. It is another thing to use your memory to get votes."

"This isn't a good idea." I whispered in Raf's ear. He nodded and pulled the newspaper from M.G.'s grasp. Landon looked angry as he turned around, "We can come back another time. It's only a couple hours until moonrise.." "We can do both." I shook my head "Landon. I don't think you understand the severity of this."

He completely ignored me, and turned back to M.G. "Your dad is giving another speech tonight. An-and it's on the way home."

"Lan, please stop pushing." Rafael begged "Landon I don't know if I..." "Listen to me, I would do anything to ask my mom and dad why they gave me up. You actually have a chance to."

The scene changed again, and suddenly we were in front of the church. "After I lost him, everything in the world seemed bad. But I'm not going to let despair win, I am running for mayor because my son taught me a valuable lesson. Because I don't want us to forget all the good we can still do." He noticed us, you could see it in his eyes.

"What are you waiting for?" I slapped Landon on the shoulder, but he didn't pay attention, "For starters, I can't feel my legs, so..." M.G.'s dad's head flipped up "Someone there?" Wow he must really be old if he can't see us. M.G. walked forward "If you're so concerned with... doing good, you might wanna take the time to see your son. Mr. Greasley stepped off of the podium "Milton? Is that you?"

"Yeah, obviously." Mr.Greasley slowly stepped down the small set of steps, and Raf and Landon shared a look. "Good lord, my eyes must be playing tricks on me."

"It's me. Same son you're preaching about. Who's apparently gonna win all these elections for you. Who you haven't called in... almost a year." Mr. Greasley turned around and looked up, "Lord, if this is a test, clear my eyes, and let me see the truth." Rafael's eyebrows knit together his facial expression representing the same confusion that I felt. "Pops." Mr. Greasley turned to M.G. "Don't you love me anymore?" I gulped down a lump in my throat.

I asked my dad the same thing once. "My boy. My beautiful boy," Mr. Greasley pulled M.G. into a hug. "I prayed and prayed, and the good lord brought you back to me." I'm confused "Prayer's cool and all, but you could've just picked up the phone." Mr. Greasley was full on crying now as he pulled away from M.G. "I saw you, on that terrible night. With my own two eyes, I saw you. Now your here, risen. A miracle sent to me from our lord in heaven." He doesn't know.

"We didn't make it back in time." Things were starting to come back to me.

Third person p.o.v.

Landon tightened the chain on Laya's wrist "Is this too tight." She shook her head "Tighter." He nodded and continued to tighten the binding before pulling away. "I still don't understand why we're locking Laya up." She sighed " Because if I have an accident I could accidentally kill you." Landon's lips curled into a frown and he nodded causing Laya to laugh. "You sure this is gonna work?" Laya nodded "To be honest, my brother did it with me on my first change, but if anyone's gotta better plan, I'm all ears."

"A better plan would've been not leaving the school at all." Laya nodded again "Amen." Landon hurried over to the back of the tree trunk to adjust Rafael's chains. "Well excuse me for wanting to help M.G. Or you." Laya's eyes turned a bright stele blue "Death." She whispered to herself. "On the night of the full moon, there will be death. INEVITABLE DEATH!" She was scaring the boys as she repeated the words to herself. And then...

She passed out. Her last words before unconscious were "Inevitable death." Landon sighed "School for supernatural, I can get used to eventually. That I will never get used to that. Rafael nodded "I don't think she will either." They sat in silence awkwardly staring at her. "We're screwed. If anyone could help us, it would've been Laya, Lan. All because you-you couldn't find your parents so you... you made M.G. get answers from his. And now, now Laya's out cold . That's not right."

"Answers that made his life better. And this is coming from the guy who won't even have the conversation." Landon yelled storming up to Rafael's face. "What conversation?"

  "The conversation you have been avoiding all week. And, hey, look at that. I have the key to the padlocks, so... we're having it."

Landon tossed the key off to somewhere else. "I don't know what your talking about." Landon sighed "Raf. Come on, man." Rafael was confused "What?" He questioned starting to get slightly annoyed. "Look...  we both know you have feeling for Hope." Rafael sighed leaning back, "That was the slug talking."

"The slug lowered inhibitions, but it didn't do anything you didn't already want to do." Rafael internally groaned "Whether or not I have feelings, it don't matter, 'cause I would never act on them. I would never. Besides, I think I like someone else." He turned to Laya "And I think she likes me too. She- she's perfect too." Landon smiled watching Rafael stare at Laya with the same love dancing in his eyes that Landon felt when he looked at Hope.

  "I know. Of course I know that." That statement angered Rafael. "Bro, then why did you just make  me say that?" Landon still stood in front of Raf. "Because, Raf... I have seen what happens when you bottle stuff inside. Sooner or later, that bottle's gonna  shatter, and I hate seeing you in pain. It would almost be worse if you take it out on Laya because she's good for you. She makes you better." Rafael grunted jumping back he clutched his head. "Whoa. What do I do? What do i do?" Rafael's bones cracking could be heard vividly.

  "You got to get out of here. Grab M.G." Rafael's eyes were glowing "and steer clear of the woods till morning." Landon wasn't having it, "No. There's no way. I'm gonna stay right here. We're gonna get through this together, like we always have." A loud growling came from behind Landon in the woods causing him to spin around, "What was that?" Rafael stood up, "I don't know." The growling continued, it was all around them. "Lan. Lan. Look at me." Landon turned to his best friend "You need to run."

  "Not without you." Landon grabbed the key from the ground which he recently tossed it on to and went to help Rafael our of his chains. When Landon got to his best friend, Rafael's spine cracked and he fell backwards "I said... Run!"

  Laya's p.o.v.

It didn't make sense, how could I see all of that? Apparently my ditzy self passed out. Hope. 'Hope?' 'Laya? Laya where are you?' I did my best to remember, but couldn't figure it out. I imagined Hope and I having a conversation, what would I say? 'I don't know.' She never answered causing me to groan in frustration. "Okay, I got this." It didn't work last time, but I took a nap so...

Landon's blood stained my hand as I took his back in mine. "Come on. Come on. Sana! Sana! SANA!" It was the only healing spell I knew, and yeah, it didn't work, but it's more meant for  bad scratches, and stuff. I don't know how to heal a dead man. I couldn't do anything, I couldn't leave Landon. I don't even know where we are. Maybe, someone will find us.

There's that ridiculous Hope. I held onto Landon's hand terrified for my friend. I should've been there to help him. If only I knew what I should've been helping him from. Time droned on, and I sat there, not knowing what to do. I concentrated on Hope, and suddenly I was standing in front of Rafael. "I remember now. The elixir, his face. Being back here... I remember who the mister was." My vision blacked out and I groaned.

I gotta do something, I can just sit here. Okay? What would Hope do? Oh, god. I don't know. Then it clicked my brother taught me a spell, something that could be useful. "Okay, Marcel if you can hear me. I hope this works." I gripped Landon's cold hand's harder. "In memoriam mihi familiaris  meae." I repeated the words over and over I my head.

When I opened my eyes, I stood in a bright white room. "Laya?" I jumped spinning around "What is this place? How is this possible? Am I dead?" It didn't make sense. Landon was trapped in his own mind? "Landon. Right now, that's not important. What happened on the night of the full moon?" He shrugged "I tied you and Rafael up and then-" he was cut off by the loud bang of filing cabinets dropping onto the ground in front of us.

  There his memories.

  "Nocte et die plenæ lunæ reversus." One of the drawers opened and a folder flew out into my hands. It read, My first death. First? I shrugged it off and pulled the file open. When I opened my eyes back up, I was no longer in Landon's surprisingly clean mind. I was in the middle of the woods. The moon was full, Rafael was chained up, and I was passed out on the ground.

  Landon's p.o.v.

"I said run!" Rafael's eyes were glowing a bright fluorescent yellow, and honestly I wanted to bolt, but I shook my head. "I told you, I'm not leaving you alone." Rafael's eyes switched back to normal and I could hear screeching in the distance. I tumbled back grabbing the shovel, in case I need to use it. M.G. walked up and I sighed "Dang it M.G." I threw the shovel on the ground my heart still pounding.

"You s-scared the crap out of me." Rafael bent down "M.G. you can't be here.  I'm about to turn. It's not safe." M.G. Didn't answer he just kept walking. "For him," he was staring coldly at me, and suddenly it was Jed all over again. "'Cause I'm about to kick his ass."

"What? Why?" Man why's it always me? I didn't even see him step up, but he shoved me to the ground "This was your fault." I stood back up "You made me come here. You rang that doorbell. You showed me that paper. And you put all your crap on me." Rafael was struggling "Lan. Lan. Get me out of these chains." I crept closer to him, "M.G., I'm sorry. What happ..." M.G.'s fist came in contact with my jaw. "Lan!" Rafael screamed as I fell to the ground.

"Okay, I deserve that. Now calm down!" I wiped my mouth and groaned when I saw my own blood covering my hands. My blood was on M.G.'s fist. He was trembling as he smelled it, and his veins  under his eyes turned black. "Hey, look at me." I turned to Rafael with M.G. "M.G. You can fight this. You have to fight this, please." M.G. was crying.

"You don't understand."

Rafael groaned falling backwards. "I don't have anything left to fight for. My dad was right. I'm a monster." I shook my head "Your not." M.G. Was on top of me before I knew it, I couldn't feel anything.

Laya's p.o.v.

"Landon." My vision was blurry as I stared at the unmoving curly haired boy. "I promised I'd be there fo you, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry." I could feel Hope's grief already, she must be nearby. "I should've done something." I shook my head leaning back onto Landon. "I'm sorry."

I sat there for an hour, I counted the minutes. I heard rustling, but I no longer cared. If I was to die, at least it'd next to my friend. The rustling got closer and I gasped as I look it up. It was Raf. I jumped and ran over to him pulling him into a hug. I couldn't help, but sob into his shirt, I should've done something. Anything. I watched Hope walk up and tears streamed down her eyes. "Are you okay?" I didn't want to say yes, I wanted Rafael to hold me forever, but I nodded he needed to be with his best friend.

I was still crying when I crouched down next to Hope, and pulled her into me. She sobbed into my shoulder and I stared blankly at the dried blood covering my hands. Dr. Saltzman ran up. "Oh, dang it." I didn't mind Dr. Saltzman, but then I heard more sounds, and when I turned my head I watched Kaleb, and M.G. walk up.

Rafael stood up, "Raf." I whispered "Raf. Please Raf. I grabbed his arm and pulled him back leaving hope to grieve over her dead boyfriend. "Landon wouldn't want this. He wanted us to be better, give him that respect." He stared at me for a moment before nodding, "Respect." I repeated one last time before he wrapped his hands around me, crying. "Uh... am I still delusional, or do y'all see this?" I pulled away to watch Hope back away from her smoking boyfriend.

No, I'm not calling Landon hot. He was literally smoking. "Put him out, Laya." I nodded "Adiuutar." Nothing happened. "It's not working. I... Wh-What's going on?" I questioned turning to Dr. Saltzman "I don't know. I've never seen anything like this before." I turned back to Landon and soon the smoke erupted into flames. I stepped back surprised. His body turned to ash quickly, and soon the fire was gone leaving a rock in the form of his body.

"Dang." Kaleb whispered. "No. Not yet. Not yet." Hope ran over, but Dr. Saltzman, and Rafael stopped her. "I don't think it's over." Dr. Saltzman admitted. "What's not over?" She asked turning back to her rock boyfriend. "We've been wondering if he's supernatural. We have our answer."

"What?" There was cracking and the figure was starting to move. "Oh my god." I whispered as a hand came out of the rock. Another hand, and then his face. Landon stood up, a small smile playing at his lips.

"What's going on?"

"You ever heard of the legend of the Phoenix?"