Zack shot up from his sleep and gasped.

  "It's alright Zack, you're safe!" Shadow whispered.

  Zack took a second to catch his breath, then looked right at the other blond.

  Shadow gave him a concerned look. "You good?"

  Zack squeezed his eyes shut as he gulped. "I'll survive."

  Shadow patted him on the back and walked back to his spot. Zack hung his head low.

  God damn! The past is behind him, why is it coming back up? It's done, it's over!

  His father hated him, and wanted to kill him! Zack couldn't blame him for that...after all, he IS a freak! It was HIS fault that he chose this fate.

  "It's...my fault..." He mumbled.

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  "What?" Shadow said, as he got up and went back over to Zack. He tilted his head. "What's your fault? There's nothing wrong with you."

  Zack hesitated to speak. "It's my fault I'm a beast."

  Shadow shook his head. "No, it's not your fault. It's just.....fate." He reassured.

  Zack looked at him, and suddenly found himself asking, "How have you tolerate this all these years? Being.....something the world fears? I mean, there's two sides of you that's feared by all witches...how - how do you live with it? How?"

  Shadow hesitated to speak. He looked at the floor.

  Zack sighed. "I'm sorry I've asked."

  "No, those are good questions. And the truth is....I don't. I just....ignore it. Ignore the fact that I'm...." Shadow then sighed and looked at Zack.

  "Why do you ask? Is it because of what happened to you in the Village?"

  Zack nodded. "Yeah, but you broke the curse, and we were free, so they still fired their bullets..." He chuckled to himself. "It's in the past. I'm fine, don't worry about it. Just another bad dream."

  Shadow smiled and nodded his head, and turned back to his spot once again. Zack looked up at him and whispered. "Shadow?"

  The other blond looked at him.

  Zack continued. "I'm sorry you feel that way."

  Shadow shrugged his shoulder and lay down with his head resting on his hands. "Is what it is."

  Zack nodded and slowly fell asleep.