The half-moon shone, one side white while the other black. I was running. That's all I was doing. What I was running from? I had no idea. But I knew it's malicious intent. Eventually, I came across a river. On the other side was a being wrapped in light, beckoning me over. I could tell the river was too deep to walk through, and even if it wasn't, I'd get swept away by the current. Turning around, I saw the creature, wrapped in shadows and darkness. I closed my eyes, jumped into the river…

And woke up in my bed, drenched in sweat. I looked around and saw my closet door was ajar. Sighing, I stood up and went to close it, the carpet soft under my feet. I looked in my mirror and saw my eyes, wild and bloodshot, my dirty blonde hair unkempt and knotted in a few places.

I walked back to my dresser and grabbed my blue-rimmed glasses, the glass smudged. I wiped them off on a rag and put them on. Opening a drawer, I pulled out my clothes for the day: a pair of black jeans, a green t-shirt and a purple hoodie. I slipped on my orange sneakers and went into my bathroom. Pulling out a makeup kit from behind the mirror, I applied a bit of lotion to my hands before grabbing my backpack, ready for the day.

Stumbling down the stairs, I sat down at the table, my grandmother making coffee and my mother in the living room. My father had left when I was seven, and I barely remembered him. "So, Dylan. How'd you sleep?" My grandmother, Eurice, asked me. "Fine, Grandma." I replied, pouring cereal into a bowl. Sitting down in a seat, I start munching on dry cereal.

After breakfast, I walk outside and wait for my bus. When it comes, I step on and walk to my normal seat in the back. The only bad part: I had to walk past my crush, Isyss Mylea. For some reason, I always began stuttering and tripping when I'm around her. When I got to my seat, my friend, George, was already there. "Hey, G." I said, putting my bag next to me as I sat down. "Hey, Dylan." He said, turning his freckled face to me. "What's the haps?" He asked, looking worried. "Had a messed up dream." Was my only reply.

When class had started, I could tell my day was going to be horrible. My eyelids started closing about fifteen minutes in as I fell asleep…

I was at the river again. I could make out more features the figure across had. His hair was brown, and his nose was crooked, like someone had broken it; just like mine. The figure wrapped in shadows was still behind me, yet I could make out a few of their features. His hair was black as night, and his eyes were glowing crimson red. It suddenly was in front of me, it's hands on my shoulders. I could now make out pointed ears. Letting out a cry, I swung my hand…

And I was back in the classroom, my classmates staring at me. "Mr. Grey, are you okay?" I heard my teacher say,

"Yes, ma'am." I replied, my voice shaky. "Can I please be excused?" I asked, "Yes, you may." I ran out of the classroom after that, not knowing the true horrors…

When I had gotten home, I set my bag next to the door, my hands flying to my forehead the next moment as a splitting headache occurred. I stumbled into the living room and flopped down on the couch, just barely missing my grandma. "Dylan dear, why are you at home so early?" She asked, worry in her voice. Looking up, I said, "I don't know, Grandma." When she gasped, I knew something was wrong.

I ran to the bathroom, throwing the door open and looking in the mirror. "What?" I whispered incredulously. My left eye had was its' normal soft blue, but my right eye was a piercing green. My skin had turned pale, while my hair had somehow turned to a darker shade of blonde, almost black. "What?" I asked again, my hands running through my hair.

Walking back to the living room, my grandma had gotten up and was rummaging through a drawer. When she turned, she held a key in her hand. "Grandma, what's that key for?" I asked, walking towards her. "There is something your mother and I must tell you." She said, hobbling over to me.