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But how did he know about it? How had he found roup of animals--some of the! No one special! Actually, that wasn’t true I was nothing and no one important--had been my whole life But special? I could turn into an animal at will

I was beyond special

I lay onseconds scrape slowly intofor the hour when they would co

I don’t recall feeling sleepy--I was exhausted, but not sleepy--when a noise jerkedof stars spattered the sh e of theand barking I ju it quietly shut and locking it

In darkness I stood and listened, peering down at the shadowed ground, searching for anything that would warn me, would confirm my suspicions that the hour had arrived

Shadowsto and fro, both low to the ground and standing tall A howl bellowed through the night and I juainst the cool glass An inky black face appeared, peering right into lealass I fell backward, scooting away from the , my fist pressed into ht I wanted them to come for me--wanted it all to end But noas too terrified to face theister anything besides fear, but it did My blood ran cold as a thought occurred toMrs Carpenter, I had not locked the exterior barn door

I jumped to my feet and sprinted out of my room The barn was pitch black, darker, even, thanand flapping their wings I slowed and felt my way down the steps

Shapes--distorted and hunched and blacker than the blackness--filled all the corners of the barn I prayed they were shadows ortricks on ht the shaft of charcoal turned to a rectangle of gray as the barn door eased open A bulky darkness stepped through and the door shut

I could justtoward the stairs leading up to led with the chicken noises I scuttled toward the other side of the barn

Crouched low to the ground, I watched the shadow’s progress, watched as it climbed the stairs and made it to the entrance of ive me the chance to bolt for the outside door But it stopped, a black huular door frame And then, as if this shape knew exactly where I was, it turned toward ht to rabbed my hair

I didn’t screa and claith nails on the brink of turning into razor-sharp claws But then I recognized the s so desperately to ward off ie! Stop it!" he hissed, clutching both er?" I whimpered

"Shh Yes, it’s rasp and threw ainst his bare chest His arms encircled me arer was now likely to be added tolist of dead and injured people My body stiffened in his arht have iet away from here Now Can you walk?"

"No! You can’t be here You--" His finger was onme

"Do not make another noise" His voice was hardly louder than an exhaled breath

I pulled his finger offto kill--"

His palm clamped down onainst my ear "You have to trust me Now Shut Up"