"They've found us!" Mikey's mother yelled across their small apartment, holding a phone to her chest. "We can't let him be taken, Jake." She grabbed Mikey protectively and rushed toward the closet that held their luggage.

  "Wait, wha—slow down, Angela. Who was on the phone?" His father asked, appearing from their only bedroom.

  "It was Mogrin. We need to leave."

  "What did he say?"

  "The Verdaat know where we are, which means my people will, too, if they don't already. I won't let either of them use Mikey. The Accords won't last."

  His mother started frantically packing while still trying to keep Mikey close. His father reached out and grabbed them both in a big hug.

  "You know I won't let that happen. I have a friend who has a cabin up in Watertown. I'll call him." Jake nodded reassuringly. He pulled out his phone and headed into the kitchen.

  In Mikey's five years of life, he'd never seen his mother this shaken. "Mommy, who found us? Are you okay?"

  "Yes, sweetie, there are some people that want to take you away from us. But we won't let that happen," she said.

  "Why do they want me?"

  "Because you are very special. One day, Mommy and Daddy will tell you all about it."

  Mikey didn't know how he was special but nodded as she kissed him on the head.

  "Okay. It's all set. It's about a five-hour drive from the city to Watertown. If we leave in the next hour, we should still be able to get there before daylight," his dad informed them.

  Soon after, they were on the road. Mikey was in the backseat trying to sleep, but his ears pricked up at the sounds of his parents' whispers.

  "Did Mogrin say how they found us?"

  "No. He overheard Magnus talking to a few elders who claimed to be coming for you and Mikey in the city. Your father terrifies me, Jake."

  "After six thousand years, Magnus still terrifies me, too."

  It was the first time Mikey had ever heard his parents talk about their families, let alone his grandpa. He wondered why they would be scared of him. Grandpas weren't supposed to be scary.

  "Also, Mogrin said he'd transfer funds into our account to hold us over. I don't know what we'd do without him."

  "He has been a part of our family for over a century. Our people would not run without him. We've always been close."

  Mikey wanted to stay quiet and listen in more, but his bladder wouldn't have it. "Daddy, I have to go potty."

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  "Okay, bud. I saw a sign up ahead; you can go there."

  They pulled into a rest area surrounded by trees and parked in front of a tan brick building. A single streetlamp illuminated the empty lot.

  "Alright, man-cub, let's go." His dad opened the back door, reaching out a hand. Mikey loved it when he called him that. It was from his favorite movie, The Jungle Book.

  "I'll stay here and guard the fort," his mother gave them two thumbs up as they walked to the bathroom. Mikey walked in and pointed at his chosen urinal. His dad laughed as Mikey pulled his pants all the way down.

  "You don't have to pull them all the way, remember?"

  Mikey never listened when he told him that. More chance for messes.

  "Why don't you ever have to go?"

  "Um, Daddy has a different body than normal people, so he doesn't have to go like you and Mommy do."

  "Is it cause you only drink tomato juice?" Mikey asked, walking to the sink. The knobs were too high, so Mikey stuck his arms out to signal for help.

  Laughing, his dad obliged, turning on the faucet and patting him on the head. "Yep, it's the only food I need. Luckily, you can have yummy regular food."

  His dad's head suddenly jerked towards the door; then he turned off the water to listen. Mikey almost laughed as his father sniffed the air like a dog.

  Is he playing a game?

  "What the—why would they be here?" His dad looked confused.

  A loud crash outside made Mikey jump. Then he heard his mother scream. "Stay here! Don't come out unless me or your mom come get you!" his father ordered before rushing out the door.

  Something was definitely wrong. At the sound of glass shattering outside, Mikey dashed underneath the sink, pulling his knees to his chest. He covered his ears to block out the monstrous, inhuman growls and screams. The building shook as thunder rumbled outside. Then, almost as quickly as it began, everything went silent.

  BOOM!

  Mikey screeched as something pounded on the metal bathroom door. He was too scared to move as the banging continued. With each boom, the metal creaked and groaned in protest. He screamed as the door finally gave, ripping from the hinges to fly across the tiny bathroom with a deafening clash.

  His expression morphed into horror as a grotesque creature stood in the doorway. Mikey could never have imagined a thing so terrifying in his worst nightmares. Black, leathery skin reflected off the dim bathroom light. The hulking monster was hunched over, accentuating its elongated arms. Its clawed hands seemed to drag across the floor.

  The creature sniffed the air before cold, glowing eyes focused on Mikey. He froze as a massive limb lifted him by his clothes. The monster threw him over its shoulder, carrying him to the carnage outside.

  Mikey searched frantically for any sign of his parents among the glass and rubble, though his view was limited. He cried out at the sight of his dad on the ground. Something was sticking out of his neck, his body still. Mikey was filled with emotions he didn't know what to do with.

  He screamed and punched the creature's back as hard as he could. "Daddy. Daddy, get up! Get up!"

  The creatures were everywhere, and the nightmare was getting worse. Mikey saw his family's burning car lying upside down on the grass. Then her, his mother, next to it, blood pooling underneath. Her arm was outstretched towards the bathroom as her lifeless eyes stared at him.

  "No, Mommy. NO!"

  Warm, leathery hands covered his mouth. A fury unlike any he'd ever known overcame Mikey as the air around him shifted. He began to feel stronger. Better. Energy welled inside him, so much that Mikey thought he would explode. The monster holding him began to shake, and Mikey fell, hitting the ground face-first. But he didn't feel it. There was only the power and anger.

  The creature's glowing eyes grew wide as its skin began to shrivel. It slumped to the dirt, shrinking until nothing was left but ash. All around him, the monsters collapsed, and the nearby plants wilted. Mikey stood there, screaming at the carnage the creatures had wrought. But the building pressure inside of him became too much. It exploded, hurling him backward into the woods. Then, his world went dark. Everything within a hundred feet of where Mikey had been was blackened, shriveled, and dead.