Young Jacob Johnson was just like most other boys his age. He did well in school, enjoyed playing his guitbox, and hanging with friends. “Hey you guys,” Jacob shouted to them one day, “Pirates of the Caribbean comes out in five days!”

“I know, dude! I’m so excited!” Jameson’s hands trembled.

“Aw!” a look of misery engulfed Oran’s face, “I won’t be here! I have to go to some lake.”

“Man, I feel terrible!” Jacob consoled, “Let’s go get some Grape Grog (Pirate Sobe). It’ll make you feel better.”

“Gee, thanks, Jake,” the color returned to Oran’s face. And so the three set off to Smith’s grocery store in search of the awesomeness that is Grape Grog. After 10 minutes of intense searching, the treasure was unburied at last. Jameson stood in line waiting to purchase the beverages. He let the condensation slowly trickle down the side of the bottle and weave its way in-between his fingers.

“Ahhh…” Jamie let out a happy sigh.

“Let’s go to Stacy’s to eat pizza!” Oran suggested.

“Grape Grog!” Jacob agreed. They headed over to Stacy’s house to show off their prizes.

“Does this make us vain?” Jamie wondered aloud.

Annie, Addie, and Stacy were all at the house. All having had sips of the Grog, they nearly fainted from its deliciousness. But they didn’t. Oran raised the bottle to his lips for another swig, but stopped when he noticed Jacob hadn’t opened his Grog. “Jacob, are you all right, man?” Oran was concerned. This was not good. Jameson’s drink was nearly gone and Jacob hadn’t even opened his.

“I just can’t do it,” Jacob said, “I don’t think I could bear to break the seal.

“All right, I understand.” Oran said.

Later that night Jacob was alone in his room changing into his batman PJs. “Gosh, I love batman.” Jacob sighed. His bottle of Grape Grog sat firmly atop his nightstand in all its fruitful glory. Jacob clicked off the lamp and plugged in his night-light.

“Jaaaa-cob…” a voice called through the darkness.

“Who goes there?!” Jacob bolted upright in bed.

“Aarrgh! Drink me!” the voice came again.

“Grog?” Jacob wondered, “is that you?”

“Aye.” the Grog was silent after that. The temptation was so great that Jacob couldn’t fight it. He leapt out of bed, grabbed hold of the bottle, twisted the cap off, BREAKING THE SEAL, and guzzled the full 20 ounces.

“That was oh-so good,” Jacob whispered to himself in the dimly lit room. After a few minutes, he began to feel very funny. His tummy rumbled. “What’s happening to my body?” Jacob didn’t notice any physical change, but his senses and emotions were spinning. Jacob couldn’t hear anything but a monotonous whir which only got louder. His legs felt like jelly and refused to support him. The poor boy crumpled to the floor. All light slowly faded from Jacob’s visions as a wave of darkness washed over his frail body. He soon blacked out.

*
The couple laughed, staring at each other. Moonlight reflected off the lake, dancing across their faces. They managed a kiss through pretty, white smiles. The boy tasted blood that was not his own. It spilled from her mouth.

“Jacob…” she whispered, a distant look in her eyes.

“This can’t be, I love you.” he mumbled through cries.

The girl’s chest fell, ‘twould not rise again. Dark clouds rolled and tumbled towards them. Raindrops rinsed the blood from her face. The girl was torn from his grip in much haste.

“Nina!” he screamed as he sank to the ground.

Though his pleas were muffled by a thunderous sound.
*

Jacob woke up on the floor some time later. The purple solution still coursed throughout his body as if it were in his veins. The Sobe bottle lay beside him, empty. The young man sat up and ran his fingers though the curly, black tangle that was his hair. He felt curiously unusual this morning. “That dream…” he suddenly remembered. The one he’d had countless times since it had actually happened. A salty tear rolled lazily down his cheek. More followed. “Wolfhook…” Jacob left the residence of his tortured heart for the moonlight.