Two weeks...... two weeks since these nightmares began. Why can't they just go away and leave me alone. Everynight they get worse, I can't sleep, I can't eat; everywhere I look I see those eyes and hear those screams, I can't take it anymore......it's killing me every single time I hear those voices and their pain. All of the men, women and children and their cries for help.......I can't do a thing about it! No matter how hard I try!

Why are they calling out to me?!

I've gotten so nervous lately, jumping at even the slightest bit of noise. I'm always tense, escpecially in crowded areas (then again who isn't?). Don't even get me started on the shadows......they're mocking me.

God I must be insane to think that.......

Why? Why me? Did I do something wrong in my life, what have I done to deserve such nightmares.......oh god it must be from that night......

That fateful night only a few years ago; helpless as my sister was poisoned and all I could do was stand there frozen like a statue.....finally I actually was able to move and get her to the hospital. I'm such an idiot, a poor excuse for an older brother, I don't even deserve to be related to Sophie (technically she's only my half sister but that's not the point). Why she ever forgave me I'll never know.

Even so was this such a sin as to curse me?

I raised a hand to my forehead as a terrible migrain began to settle. Just another thing to top off my day........

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He sat there, still in deep contemplation of events past and present. The wolf didn't even take notice of the beautiful day that surrounded him. His mind was too plagued with thoughts to even care for the bright blue sky, or the beaming sun. For now Ryland was too focused, in deep concentration as he sat beneath "his" oak tree.

Technically it wasn't his tree, but he liked to think that. It was at this oak tree that his sister Sophie named in his honor....

"Come on RyRy, you've gotta see this!" the small silver wolf giggled as she ran across the emerald green grass, her midnight blue eyes shining in childhood amusement. Her brown sundress ruffling in the wind. "RyRy" followed closely behind, trying his best to keep up with her.

"Wait Squirt. I'm not that fast you know!" he called back, rolling his eyes playfully. Finally the pair came to a slow halt, stopping in front of a rather tall and rather large oak tree.

"This is what you wanted me to see?" Ryland questioned, raising an eyebrow at the tree. Hearing this made Sophie nod.

"Uh huh, isn't it cool?" the 8 year old asked with an adorable smile.

"Uhh well it's....unexpecting to say the least......"

"I'm gonna name it after you." Ryland looked down, giving a rather confused look towards his sister before she explained. "This tree reminds me of you. It's strong and supporting....and it helps me feel happy because it's protecting me from the rain." the small wolf explained.

Ryland looked in shock at her, regarding what she said for a moment before smirking.

"Thanks Squirt."

"Hey don't call me Squirt!"

"Oh? And what are you going to do if I don't?"

"This!" the fragile wolf exclaimed before jumping up and tackling Ryland down in a hug.........

Ryland's memories were turned away when he heard a small ringing of a cellphone, his cellphone. He sighed, sounding rather annoyed before finally reaching into his pocket and grabbing the cursed device.

"Hello and what is it?" He paused listening to whoever it was speak. "Yes this is Ryland Braveheart...." another pause. ".....what about her?" There was a long and eerie silence before it was broken once more. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN THAT POISON DID MORE THAN YOU THOUGHT?!"

By now Ryland had jumped to his feet, a fierce growl evident in his voice as he said that. Listening more into what the person on the other side of the line was saying his emotions changed. Slowly his temper began to fade, turning into confusion and then slowly into shock.

"......failed?......" he whispered barely above his breath, his eyes wide and his mouth agape as the person continued to speak.

"Mr. Braveheart?.....Mr.Braveheart?"

Ryland couldn't hear him, he couldn't hear anything; he felt asthough he was becoming numb and as if a piece of him had been torn apart.....ripped to shreds before his very eyes.

Ryland's grip on the phone decreased dramatically until it slipped from is fingers, falling silently onto the grass beneath him....the person on the other line completely forgotten.

He stood there, unsure of what to think....unsure of what to feel. It was as if his whole life had been drastically changed.....and it had. When it had all finally settled in he broke down, falling to his knees and screaming to the sky in both anger and sadness.

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A raccoon bursted through a pair of large wooden doors leading into a small office like library filled to the brim with books. The windows were covered by velvet green drapes allowing no light to enter the room. The only source of light was the roaring fire from the fireplace, illuminating the stained oak desk on the other side of the room; it's swivel chair having it's back to him.

"Well? Did you succeed in finding out?" a sudden voice erupted into the room, coming from the chair that faced away from the raccoon. Who ever's voice it was....well lets just say it wasn't the most pleasant voice in the world.

"Yes sir, she died some time around 10 o'clock this morning and he just found out about it." the raccoon quickly explained to his superior, or better yet...his boss.

"And was he devastated?"

"Yes."

"Good...that it's all going according to plan...." just from the tone of his voice it was easy to tell that a malevolent grin was forming on the so called boss's face; he was pleased to hear this, very pleased. "Soon enough he'll have no more ties to his world and he'll have no choice but to join us....." slowly his glowing yellow eyes shined in triumph at the thought. "Soon he'll become just like me...."

To be continued.......