The words burned in front of me. I reread them.

[OBJECTIVE COMPLETED:] Find the Entrance to the Darkness

You have found the [Entrance to the Darkness]

You have received a [New Objective]

[NEW OBJECTIVE:] Enter the Darkness

I cleared my vision. The floor's shiny tiles reflected a faint light from the hallway. It was quiet. Too quiet, as the saying goes. There was only one way the man could've gone after entering, so I followed the corridor.

At its end, a set of stairs led downward. Was this it? Was this where I'd find the Midnight Hunt and the Darkness, whatever that was?

Before I could summon the courage to take the stairs, a blur of flesh darted past me, slamming into my shoulder as it went and nearly causing me to careen down the stairs. I spun, but he was on me in an instant.

I have to admit, I didn't like the gleam in his eyes or the set of razor-sharp teeth in his mouth.

"You want to tangle, young cub?" he asked.

"I don't want any trouble," I said.

The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. He wore all leather, like a biker. But he looked more like a biker possessed by the most badass demon ever.

"Like it or not, you found it," he said, flashing rapidly growing fangs.

"I didn't come here to fight," I said.

"No, you came here to die." He hissed like a tiger right in my face, and the smell of blood on his breath made me... hungry.

Gross.

"This your first time, little pup?" he asked. "You a virgin to the hunt?"

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. I needed to be smart, careful. He was right. Despite the last day and night's events, I had no idea what I was involved in.

POTENTIAL DANGER. ENTER [WEREWOLF] FORM?

"Yes! Yes!" I shouted.

"That's what I thought," he said, leaning in.

But he was suddenly thrown back as my bones began to crack inside my body. I couldn't see it, but I sure as hell felt the sharp angles of my vertebrae bursting through the skin on my back. A feeling like goosebumps rose all over my flesh, and hairs jutted everywhere. My gums bled as razor-sharp canines tore through them, sending a fountain of blood gushing down my throat. Though it sounded disgusting, to me, it was glorious.

In an instant, I was nearly seven feet tall, towering over the vampire with my clawed hands raised for battle.

You have entered [Werewolf] form.

The vampire's entire demeanor changed in a heartbeat.

"Oh, you're gonna make this fun?" he said.

I growled low in my throat as I took a step forward.

"Come and get me," he said, rushing down the hall.

That was when I learned how fast vampires were.

He burst through the door and bounded into the air, landing on a branch in one of the courtyard trees.

Barely able to control my rage, I followed him. That was when I learned how high I could jump. I grabbed the lowest branch and propelled myself up like a squirrel. But he was already near the top and, by the look of it, ready to leap to the bookstore rooftop. So I scurried upward and upward. He practically flew the distance between the tree and the building—a good twenty feet or so. When I reached the top, I catapulted myself outward, arms outstretched.

But it was too great a leap. I landed on the grass with a hard thud.

[Warning:] Health at 25%!

"Great," I muttered. Then I rose and darted around to the front of the building, but he was nowhere in sight.

I sat on my haunches, and something primal in me tore free. I threw back my head and howled—actually howled—at the moon.

Then, out of what seemed like thin air, the vampire appeared, flying toward me at breakneck speed.

I caught him and tossed him back toward the courtyard. Part of me said to run, but every other fiber said to fight, to tear that thing apart until nothing was left.

I listened to the urges and bounded on all fours, following the trajectory of my throw. He rose and lowered into a lurching stance, circling me.

"You're strong," he said.

"You're fast," I said.

"You're right," he said, turning into a blur again. This time, he struck me three times before I could even see where he came from or where he was going.

The blows didn't hurt much, but it clearly showed I was overmatched.

Why had I chosen [Intellect]?

Then, all at once, my brain kicked into overdrive. I saw everything around me in vivid clarity, including a thick branch that had broken and fallen to the earth during our climb up the tree. Quick as I could, I sprang for it and brought it up as I spun onto my back. As expected, the vampire had launched himself into the attack once more, but this time, he was met with the pointy end of my makeshift stake.

The wood drove through his heart. He had moments to process it before what I could only describe as a silent, brilliant orange-red explosion sent him devolving into fine, silver dust.

You have reached Level 2 [Werewolf] - Cub!

It took a bit to realize the battle was over. But when I did, I shifted back into human form. Reversion wasn't nearly as painful, though I couldn't call it comfortable. My shirt hung in tatters. My pants, what was left of them, looked like some new fashion out of Italy. Shoes and socks? Gone. I stood there, barefoot and practically naked, wondering what the hell I'd gotten myself into.

You have returned to [Human] form.

I glanced around, thankful the grounds were devoid of life.

I slowly approached the vampire's remains and let the dust filter through my fingers.

You have found [Vampiric Dust]

[New Item:] [Vampiric Dust]

[Vampiric Dust:]

The remains of a vampire contain highly potent and valuable properties.

I needed to consult my HUD now that I'd reached a new level, but I couldn't stick around here long. Who knows if anyone heard the commotion. The campus police could be here any minute, and I don't know how I'd explain my current situation.

The tree—school property—had been given the worst trim job possible. Dozens of minor cuts littered my body. I'm sure there were other signs that I'd been involved in a scuffle, and I doubt anyone would believe that the pile of ash before me was the other participant. For now, I'd head home and try to get some shut-eye before class tomorrow.

More and more, school seemed to be the least important thing in my life.