learn what you’re up against.”

            “How do you suppose I do that?”

            “I think you know…”

Jenna gulped. She stood before the decrepit old house, weighing the pros and cons. She made the final decision. She quickly ran up on the porch and pushed the door open.

            ‘I hope that psychic was wrong’ she thought.

            She walked around the interior and avoided most of the spider webs. She spied an antique record player with a huge bell and then the two chairs by the fireplace. Then, the old newspaper caught her eye, but right before she could read it, she heard pounding coming from below her and it was getting closer, and closer, and closer. She made a mad dash for the door but was plowed over by Balto.

            “What the, Jenna? What are you doing here?” asked Balto.

            “Well… this might sound crazy but… wait, why are you here Balto? Does Boris know you’re here?”

            “Umm… Not exactly. But  I was just goin’ to tell him. He’d probably have a conniption if I was gone for fifteen seconds.” chuckled Balto nervously.

            “You didn’t answer the first question still.”

            “Okay fine. I’ll tell you. I had this weird dream last night and now I know exactly why these things are attacking me-”

            “What things? I came in here and had nothing happen. Are you sure you just didn’t imagine it?”

            Then that strange anger bubbled up inside Balto again. He felt like if he didn’t let it out that he might explode.

            “What! You’re sayin’ I’m some kind of nutcase!?” Balto yelled.

            “Huh?” Jenna asked, clearly taken aback by his sudden outburst.

            “How could you treat me like I’m a fruit-loop? Huh!”

            Jenna started to speak quietly. “Maybe you should just relax a bit.”

            “Relax! We’re tired of you saying that! Ya know what? Get out of our life!” and then Balto slapped her right a crossed the face with a heavy paw and stormed out.

            Jenna put a paw to her face and winced. “Balto, why?” she meekly asked.

“Balto?” Jenna asked. “Are you okay?”

            “Huh?”

            Balto had reappeared right back to when he had first bumped into Jenna.

            “Are you okay?” Jenna asked again.

            “Uh, yeah, just fine.” he lied.

            “Well let’s just get out of here. This place does creep me out though.”

            “Okay. I don’t know why I came in here anyways.”

            The two wasted no time getting out of the house.

            “I didn’t find anything weird in there. I knew that that whole “fortune-telling” thing was just a con.”

            “Yeah. Sure. I bet-better get going. I don’t want to hang around here much longer.”

            “Okay Balto. But,” Jenna moved closer to Balto, “please be careful.”

            “Whatever… Bye.”

            “All I need is peace and quiet.” Balto said half-way down the street.

            “Hi Balto!” Star joyously called from behind him.

            Balto shot into air and turned back at Star. “Don’t you Ever! Do that again!” Balto growled deeply.

            Star cowered down in fear. “I’m-I’m sorry Balto. I didn’t mean it!”

            Balto, realizing he had scared his friend, tried to calm down. “I’m sorry. I just wasn’t in a good mood. What did you want to say?”

“I-I-I wanted to tell you that the latest word on the street was that you were crazy and I wanted to help, but I…um… oh… yeah… I should probably go right about now. It’s… uh… mid-afternoon-morning-later-post-post nap… uh… lunch time! Bye!” and with that, the husky had run off and disappeared over the horizon, not even looking back. Balto was now even more enraged, but sad at the same time. He wanted to let go of what Star had said before, but couldn’t. Then, his rage boiled to the point of wanting to kill Star, but yet he really didn’t want to. He was beginning to feel that if he didn’t make a decision now, he would split like an amoeba. He decided to let go of his anger and go home, but before he could move himself, something else was already moving him.
            Suddenly, the world in front of him was replaced with the same scene where he killed George. The parlor, the urge to kill, and the lack of control over himself. Only now instead of George standing there, it was Star. Balto tried to stop, but couldn’t. He tried to warn Star, but couldn’t. It was a one-way ticket to disaster. Just as Star began to look at what was following him, Balto pounced on him and aimed for the neck. He sent his jaws plunging towards the jugular, but something stopped the entire scene. Everything was still, and then faded away to darkness.
            Balto now found himself below deck in the boat lying down next to Jenna, who was sobbing. Boris stood nearby shaking his head at something, and walked away with a disgusted look on his face. Muk and Luk were holding each other tightly and crying. Nikki and Kaltag stood watching over something, but he couldn’t see what it was. When he finally regained the strength necessary to move his head, he looked in front of him and saw the body of Star, which was covered in blood. Jenna walked up to Balto and blocked his view. She turned to look at him.
            Jenna looked surprised. “Balto, you- you’re awake! Y-you almost killed Star, you know. I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but I don’t like it one bit at all! Balto, if you don’t want to stop this madness, then I…I can’t be with you anymore!
            This broke Balto’s heart into a trillion tiny pieces. His world was over, and all because he didn’t want to ask for help. He was ready to cry, but a voice told him something that seemed to make all the sense in the world.
            “Kill them! Kill them all!” the voice in Balto’s head began to cackle maniacally, and he felt the inexplicable urge to join it in a chorus of laughter.
            “Balto? Balto, what are you doing?! Stop staring at me like that! Stop laughing!!!” Jenna’s cries sent a wave of pleasure through Balto. He knew something was wrong, but he didn’t care. All he wanted to do was kill.

Balto’s voice began to change again. “You like putting an end to relationships, don’t you? Well, we like to end things, too. We like to end… lives!” Jenna ran off at this comment, and Balto switched targets. “We’ll teach you to make fun of me!” Balto was now heading for Nikki and Kaltag, who were now cowering in a corner.

He ignored their cries for help, and lunged for them both when he was knocked over by a large ball of fur. Luk had successfully pinned Balto, and as the others ran away, Balto struggled harder and harder to get Luk