Chapter 5

* * * *

Back in the dining room, Conner expected to

see Rand sitting with his friends but the corner booth was empty,

the table already bussed. Brett stood at the register, paying the

bill, and when he saw Conner, he waved. “Dude, you okay? You look

out of it.”

Conner ran a hand through his hair. “I’m

fine. Where’s Rand?”

With a laugh, Brett asked, “Didn’t you hear?

He got sick halfway through his burger and left. I mean really

sick. Ran into the bathroom puking, almost.” Nudging Conner, he

winked. “You didn’t poison him, did you? Business at home too

slow?”

Conner shook his head. “I think there’s

something going around,” he said as his stomach roiled. He covered

it with one hand and waited for the nausea to pass. So Rand was

sick too? Maybe he’s right,Conner thought. Maybe I was

bitten by a werewolf, and now what, my body’s changing? Didn’t

Sylvia say something about a full moon tonight?Weakly, Conner

murmured, “Oh God.”