The Shadows: Book 1

2. The Blood Bath

   I found my street about an hour later, the whole time I thought of my power, Shadows, me getting hunted down, and -- the boy? I don't pay attention to boys at all if you know me, so this is a bit scary.

   I knocked on my houses door and my Father answered it. "Hi honey," he said without looking at me. "Hey dad," I said and slipped into the house. What I love about my parents is that they don't hover. They care about me, but the really don't care about my life. But they love me with all there hearts. My Dad didn't even seem peculiar when I got home so early too.

   I opened my bedroom door and slammed it. I paced my room, running my hands through my hair. Who was he? What does he mean? Am I some kind of mutant? Why do I have this power?

   I stopped when I saw myself in the mirror. I was very pretty, even though I didn't seem to notice.

   I sat in my chair and looked out my window. Do I even belong? I always wondered why I felt different. Now, I knew.

   I didn't even noticed until a drop of water ran down my face. I was crying. What will I do now? Im such a freak. No one even knows what I'm going through, I'm just the shy girl.
   I wiped my tears and went to my bathroom to wash my face. My mascara was running down and I looked like a death child.

   When I came back, I sat again and gazed out my window, when I saw something that caught my eye. A boy, my age, was staring up at me. Ugh, what does he want? When my vision focused, I realised it was the boy from the closet and math class. I gasped and closed the curtain. I turned my back against it and shook my head. I'm crazy and a freak, Great.
   When I got the guts to look out again, he still stood there. I finally got the chance to examine him.

   He wore blue jeans and a black hoodie, the hood over his head in a punkish cute boy way. His electric blue eyes gazed up at me, thinking I was Rupunzel or Juliet that was going to come to him, the Prince Charming. His dark chocolate brown hair covered his forehead and one of his eyes. His face was calm and soothing, as if telling me to calm down. I tore my eyes away from him. He's a stalker, I'm a freak. Even better. I rolled my eyes at nothing and closed the windows, unable to look at him anymore. Then I groaned, remembering I had school tomorrow. I had to see him.

   I went to bed early, not even thinking about homework. Today was a tough day, or is this just a dream? I shook my head and fell into deep sleep.

-

   I woke to my alarm clock. I groaned at it and said a quiet, "Can you please shut up for once?" I rolled out of bed and crawled to the bathroom, the light was too bright for my drowsy eyes.

   I grabbed a long, grey sweater and some black jeans and took a quick shower. Then I brushed my teeth and did my makeup. I didn't bother with my untamable hair.

   I grabbed my school bag and trekked downstairs. My Mother seemed to have just woken up, because she grumbled a "Good morning," and cupped her coffee. Mom and I understand each other. While Dad was up early, Mom and I loved to sleep in. So it was a surprise to see my Mother this morning, fore she would be sleeping in at this time on a regular basis.

   I grabbed a bagel and said a quick, "Good bye." I headed for school with a frown on my face. I was frustrated to go back to school to see him. But at the same time, I was excited to see him again. Why am I feeling this way?

   Once I was in the school parking lot, I put on my hood from the sweater I was wearing. It covered my face, revealing no part of my features. I grasped my bag and bagel and headed to my locker.

   No one dared look at me, they never even knew I was there. I slipped away from gossiping, to pointless conversations. Like, Are werewolfs real? What if I had a superpower? It sucks, I said in my head.

   I reached my locker and pulled it open, while grabbing my books. I already felt awkward, someone was staring. I looked to my right, and saw the boy. The boy that won't stop staring at me. The boy that will find all my hiding spots. The boy that follows me home and stalks me. I don't even know his name.
   I looked back at my locker, not daring to stare at each other again. Once I closed my locker, I turned right and started to walk. He wasn't there to stare at me, which gave me comfort. He's scary.

   I passed my lunchroom where he found me and I felt someone tug my wrist. I tried to scream, but my captor had its hand over my mouth. It pulled me into the closet and put there hands on my waist. "Taylor, listen," said a husky voice. I was so scared, I didn't even recognise the voice.

   A light came on and I was face to face with the boy. Our faces were so near each other I immediately pulled away. He realized too, and lifted his hands from my waist and messed with his hair.

   "What do you want?" I said in a whisper. He looked at me in the eyes, and said, "I need you to trust me. Your not safe here. You need to come with me. Please." I looked at him, and gave him my best I just met you and you want me to come with you? face. He sighed, as if frustrated.

   "Will you trust me if I tell you my name?" He said, his voice deep and rich. I nodded quickly. "Tyson," he said. "Alright Tyson, I don't know you. How could I trust you? You pulled me in a closet! You followed me home! How do you know about me? Why am I so important?" My words flowed out, finally giving in. "Ill explain later, just-" he was cut off.

   A blood shrilling scream echoed the hallway. Fear boiled my blood and I couldn't help but move towards Tyson, my hands slipping into his. He looked at me in a strange way, but I could tell in his eyes that he was enjoying this. Enjoying my fear? How creepy could this guy get?

   "What was that?" I asked, my body was quivering. Tyson looked at me and said, "Something's happening outside. We have to check it out." I froze. I was never apart of these things. I just hid and looked somewhere else.

   Tyson was first to take a step. I couldn't help but follow. His grip suddenly squeezed my hand, and I squeezed back, saying I'm fine. For now.

   I opened the door, and it squealed. I flinched, this never happened with this door. There was no one in the halls. Everyone must be in class then. So Tyson and I walked slowly to the sound. I let go of his hand, as if he was making everything more harder.

   I smelt it. A rotten to the core, and dying fish smell. I instantly covered my nose with the sleeve of my sweater. "Do you smell that?" I asked him. "Yes, and I know that smell," he said, in a very awkward tone. We walked a bit more and around the corner until we both saw something red splattered on the walls.

   "Its the smell of death," Tyson finally said. I gasped and looked away while closing my eyes. "Who did this?" I said, while still closing my eyes. I heard Tyson walk towards the body, and I had no choice but to follow.

   I opened my eyes. My shocked face read something on the wall. Written in the body's blood, it says, 'Taylor Stephens, I'm coming for you.' I looked at Tyson with my shocked face. He put a hand on my shoulder, "See? Someone is hunting you down. I have to protect you."

   I nodded and looked at the ground. "We must leave. The student that was killed was a girl named Lidya Parker. She had no power, no secrets, my best guess was that she was running to class late, and was a perfect victim," said Tyson.

   My head had its own conversations too. You should go with him, he seems nice and protecting. My other side scolded, your just asking to be killed! He could be the one that killed this girl. Then my other side yelled, he knows more about you than anyone! Just go with him!
   My head was causing me a severe headache, so I decided I would go with him. I looked back at the girl, then the message in her blood, and then to Tyson. He held out his hand again, and said, "So, you coming with me?" I sighed, and excepted the hand.