On Friday night, Cory and his father worked out all the details as best as possible. Frustration often left Derek angry, and Cory remained helpless – but still he refused to tell them anything. With his parents unwillingly helping him, Cory found the strength to endure the last few days he had with them. That evening, when he said goodnight and made his way to bed, exhausted, he tormented himself over the details for hours.

When Cory woke before dawn, his eyes were sore and his body heavy from lack of sleep. Once again, his father slept on the chair beside his bed and Cory squeezed his eye shut, fighting back tears. He hated the situation he was in, but there was little he could do. Unable to return to sleep, Cory watched his father until his mother came in to check on them after the sun rose.

After a quiet breakfast Sarah placed the large suitcase on Cory’s bed and together they packed.

“The weather in Italy this time of year is warm but pack warm clothes in case.”

“Thanks, Mum.”

Sarah took every opportunity to hug Cory, and he made sure he was never the first one to let go. Every moment he spent with his parents tore away another piece of his innocence.

In the afternoon, Molly came to visit. Cory and his parents had discussed before her arrival if she should be told. They agreed to say nothing until after he'd left.

When Molly arrived, the pain Cory experienced was unimaginable. It was as though hands had wrapped around his heart, squeezing and crushing his soul. The pressure on his parents to pretend was too hard and Molly suspected something immediately. Cory sensed her concern, but he said nothing. He'd never forgive himself if Molly became involved. It was bad enough that his parents were caught up in it.

The entire night the strain was evident, to Cory at least. Every emotion his family went through tormented Cory. When Molly decided to stay the night, relief consumed his mother. The inner conflict Cory had endured all night exhausted him. The evening was still early when Cory excused himself and returned to his bedroom.

Cory sat on his bed, his suitcase packed and ready by his bedroom door. A sense of surrealism engulfed him. The full moon was upon him and Cory’s senses had amplified, allowing him to focus on what might distract him from his plight. He closed his eyes and listened. He heard his mother talking with Molly as she prepared the bed for her. His father was in the kitchen, washing up the last of the dishes. Further away, Cory heard their elderly neighbours, both snoring in their asleep. Beyond them, the rest of the street, and further still, the nocturnal animals scurrying around unseen.

The knock on his door distracted him. Disappointment once again engulfed Cory, followed by anguish, when he sensed Molly outside his door.

“Come in.”

Molly peered around the bedroom door. “Hey. Can we talk?”

“Sure,” Cory replied.

Molly entered his room, coming to sit beside him. Cory gave her a small smile. “What’s up?”

“I don’t know. I thought you might tell me.”

“What do you mean?”

“Come on, Cory. I’m not stupid. Something's going on.”

Cory stared at his sister and wished he were able to tell her the truth. She of all people would understand the most.

“It’s nothing. Something happened with a friend and I got involved. Mum and Dad are worried about what will happen.”

“So, what happened?”

“Now’s not the right time to talk about it. As soon as it blows over, I promise I'll tell you.”

While they talked Cory noted the moment Molly saw the suitcase by the door. She eyed it, before asking, “It’s nothing bad is it?”

“No, nothing bad.”

“But you will tell me?”

“Yes, I will. Promise.”

Molly dragged her eyes from the suitcase and looked back to Cory.

“So longs as you’re not in any trouble or anything.”

“I’m not, Scout's honour.”

Molly looked at Cory sceptically. Cory did his best to give her a reassuring smile, but she wasn’t convinced. Before she stood, Molly leaned in and hugged Cory. It took all his strength not to cry as he hugged her back.

“It’s all good,” he told her. When Molly pulled back, her expression was grave and Cory didn’t have it in him to comfort her. Instead, he stood and walked Molly to the door.

“We’ll talk again soon,” he told her.

“I’m here if you need me.”

“I know.”

Once the door was closed, Cory listened as Molly returned to the kitchen. She questioned their parents who refused to tell her anything. Cory lay down, turning his back to the door and cried. If his leaving was the only way his family would be safe, Cory had to go.

The following morning Cory woke alone in his room. Indentations in the carpet beside his bed told him someone had spent the night watching over him.

Wrecked with emotions over the last twenty-four hours left Cory numb. Yet his abilities now dominated his body. The driving emotions of despair now fought with his bodies desire to control. A conflict battled deep within, leaving Cory’s thoughts on the verge of fighting for his freedom.

He listened beyond his bedroom and the voices from the kitchen. Cory reached out to touch his parent’s presence and their fears caused him to flinch. His heart clenched in pain and Cory remembered why he had to leave. His instincts to fight were ignored as Cory stood.

Then he sensed it and a ripple of dread coursed through his body.

They were coming.

Without hesitating, Cory flew out of bed, quietly dressed and grabbed his suitcase. He darted towards the kitchen and at the door, his parents turned. Seeing the case in hand and fear etched on his face, they froze.

The wave of terror from his parents hit him hard.

“We have to leave. All of us, we have to leave now.”

Sarah and Derek looked at each other.

“I’ll get Molly. Derek, you and Cory go,” Sarah said, throwing the towel she held into the sink. As she reached Cory, she embraced him tightly and Cory’s tear fell as her emotions overpowered him. He held her tight, fearing if he let her go he would never see her again.

“I love you... Now, go,” she stammered through teary breath, pushing Cory towards his father.

Cory’s pain was immense. His breathing laboured and his focus lost. Derek came forward, removed the case from Cory’s grasp, and guided him out the back door.

Through his parents intense fear Cory found strength in another emotion, one that encased their fear and became stronger – their determination to protect their children.

Derek threw the suitcase in the back seat as Cory jumped in the passenger seat. Derek climbed into the driver's seat as they waited for the roller door to rise.

“We need to head west.” Cory sensed their approach from the north.

“The freeway?” Derek asked.

“Yes,” Cory replied.

Derek reversed out of the drive and they saw Sarah running out the front door with a dishevelled Molly tumbling out behind her. Cory saw the determination in his mother's face and the look of distress on Molly's as they drove away from the house.

Cory slumped against the window watching as the world blurred past him as he realised he hadn't had the chance to tell his mother he loved her too.

Derek drove west towards the South Australian border. Four hours after leaving home they arrived in Horsham where they stopped for food and fuel. From the moment they left home, Cory had been using all his strength to hide his presence from those seeking him. This had its disadvantages. Cory didn’t know if doing so made it easier to be found, nor where they were. But he was sure if he used his ability to seek them out they would know where to find him.

This left Cory a mess.

Derek said little but Cory sensed his emotions and this gave him hope. Yet guilt weighed heavy on Cory and nothing he said would take away his father's fears.

From Horsham, Derek drove north. The scent from the national parks surrounding the small towns they passed enticed Cory. His instincts, now at their peak, were difficult to control. Never had he previously experienced such torment during a full moon. Before he had rejoiced at the delight in having his abilities. Now, his body screamed for release. The dangers he was facing fuelled a fire within that he barely contained. His desires to fight were becoming difficult to resist as his father drove on.