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I’d discovered something over the past month. The world was much more dangerous than most people thought. It was full of monsters. Creatures with no heart or soul, seeking out your flesh and blood like the animals they were. They were driven by primal instincts, and they were subhuman. People were hunted like livestock, and they didn’t even know it. Mysterious deaths? Unsolved crimes? These were the doing of supernatural beings. Werewolves. Vampires. Demons. Others too.

What was more, I was the only person in the world who knew this. I was alone in the special ability to sense these creatures when they were near. No one else had any idea the danger they were in, and it was up to me to save everyone I could from evil. It was exhausting, especially because no one could know. They would never believe me because it sounded crazy.

But I wasn’t crazy. I knew it for sure. And maybe that was what a crazy person would say, but it was also what a sane person would say. And what else could explain how certain the chill of death was. What else could explain the undeniably thick feel of warm human blood felt on my skin? And why else would these people threaten to kill me and the people I cared about if I revealed their secret? And what about the incredibly real transformation of a werewolf I’d seen? They couldn’t be delusions, there was no doubt in my mind.

It was hard to think about anything else. I couldn’t help but worry and worry that someday I or Howie would be the victim of something horrible.

“Mac! Hello?” I realized Howie was shouting at me.

“Hm?”

“Are you okay man? You keep zoning out, and you smell.”

“Is it okay Howie?”

He blinked.

“Is what okay?”

“Never mind,” I muttered.

No one could know, not even him. I checked the air for any hint of something bad. I noticed a slight disturbance, but I couldn’t tell where from. I started to look around. I didn’t see anyone. Was… was Howie evil? No. There had to something hiding somewhere. Right?

“Hey, what are you doing? When was the last time you had a shower?”

I glared at Howie.

“I don’t know, why does it matter? More important things are here somewhere. Not more important. Worse.”

Howie stared at me blankly.

“What?”

“Look, I’m fine, just mind your own business.”

Howie narrowed his eyes a little,

“Fine. I’m just trying to help you know.”

I noticed the air was thicker to the east. I knew it was East because I had because that was the way the wind moved. I almost forgot to respond.

“So am I. Look, just be careful. I’ll see you later.”

As the scent grew stronger and I headed down the hall, my heart started to race. They were here somewhere. They couldn’t hide. I had to know where they were so I could warn people.

Later that day, I got a call from Howie. I was in my room, pacing. It had looked like a perfectly normal person. I didn’t know what it was, but I was sure it wasn’t human. “They’re coming for you,” it warned me. It shook my shoulders and told me, “Prepare.”

My door and window were both locked, and there was a chair positioned in front of my door. I stole the rifle in my mom’s closet and hid it under my bed. I lined my windows and doors with salt too, and I had made myself a garlic-clove necklace.

They were coming for me.

I didn’t know why or what, but they were coming for me.

I knew the gun wouldn’t kill a monster, but maybe it would slow them down enough for me to unlock the opposite entrance they used and escape.

I realized the phone was still ringing. I answered.

“Where are you? I thought we were meeting at Wendy’s, I’ve been waiting for half an hour. And I already texted you like four times. What the hell?”

I swallowed.

“I… I can’t come. I’m uh, taking a shower. You should go home, and be careful.”

Howie paused.

“ taking a shower, really Mac? That’s your excuse? Are we even still friends? What happened? Why are you being such a jackass?”

I had heard him, but I had no idea what he just said. I couldn’t think very well these days. I didn’t answer.

“You know what? Whatever. Call me when you want to apologize. Until then, stay away.”

Howie hung up. I was at a loss. Why had he hung up? It didn’t matter.