Notice! THis is a work in progress. I will not be posting everyday, though I will try. If you do review it make sure you remind yourself that it is nowhere near being finished.

I sat up straight, thinking I had heard Tori whispering in the hotel bed next to mine and my Aunt Lauren. I looked over to her just as she snorted in her sleep and rolled over. I groaned inwardly. Not now. Please. Why can't I have one night without hearing a ghost? I laid back down and closed my eyes, praying the whispering would go away. I was wrong, it got louder. I sat up again, clutching the necklace my mother had given me. The whispers faded, but were still there. I swung my legs over the side of the bed gently and stood up. The floor groaned in protest, but I ignored it and slid my shoes on.

I looked around the room and didn't seen anyone. Where was this whispering coming from? A ghost obviously, but did this ghost want to be heard? Or was it a residual ghost? I shuttered when I thought of the girl's ghost in the words. I'd seen her a couple of week ago as her murdered played like a broken record in the woods. I shook my head to clear it and stepped across the room. I reached the side of the room with the door and listened. The whispers were in the hallway outside of our hotel room now.

As a movie buff, I knew that this would only be trouble but I had to find out if this ghost was real or not. I opened the door and stifled a scream as I stared into my own face. I had completely forgotten about the mirror that was positioned on the other side of the hall. My hand gingerly touched my cheek as I got closer to the mirror. Underneath my right eye was the scar the homeless girl in the alley had given me. It had healed up nearly a week ago but I would most likely have a small reminder for many years to come.

The weeks we'd been on the run had really taken a toll on my appearance. Not that I am superficial or anything like that. I bit my lip as I my fingers touched the hollow part of my cheek bones, weeks of eating scraps and energy bars can really change someone appearance. I ran my fingers through my hair, grimacing. Derek had promised new hair dye but money was hard to come by. A few weeks back we had decided that I was one of the main targets for the Edison Group and so we dyed my hair black. It wouldn't have been so bad if I wasn't pale and the dye wasn't a flat color. Derek had apologized over and over again, but at least I wasn't recognizable.

I looked to my right when I heard the whispers again. I closed my eyes and let my feet follow the whispers that were steadily growing louder. I stopped suddenly when I almost ran into the maintenance closet door. I pressed my ear against it and strained to hear what the whispers were but I couldn't make anything out. I closed my eyes again and tried to concentrate, but the voice was nearly inaudible. I put my hand on the door handle, as if it would help me hear the voice better.

"What are you doing?" A voice whispered in my ear. I jumped a mile high as Derek put his hand over my mouth. I yanked it off and glared up at him.

"You gave me a heart attack!" I whispered furiously. I put my hand on my chest above my heart, it was beating five times faster than it should. Derek looked down at me, his face somewhere between amusement and regret. I continued to glare up at him and his face softened.

"I'm sorry, Chloe. You're just so easy to scare." He said, a laugh playing in his voice and on his lips. I rolled my eyes and looked back to the door. The whispers had stopped. I turned back on him.

"Derek! You jerk! You made the ghost go away." I pouted, glaring up at him again. Derek's face hardened and he looked around the hallway quickly.

"What ghost?" His gravely voice sending shivers down my spine. I know I should be focusing on the fact that I heard a disembodied voice in the place we were staying, but having Derek so close to me was intoxicating. Ever since last night when we kissed, I couldn't keep my thoughts from straying back to him. I shook my head and put on a straight face.

"I woke up and heard someone whispering. It sounded like Tori at first but she was asleep." I looked up at Derek as his hard eyes gazed down into mine. I wished he would forget the ghost and kiss me like he did last night. But no such luck. It was like he had forgotten all about the kiss. I frowned and looked away. It must not have meant that much to him.

Derek looked around the hallway again, as if he could see ghosts. "And you decided to go investigate it? Did you completely forget the last ghost you decided to follow? He could have killed you, Chloe." He looked down at me, furiously.

"I'm not a child, Derek. I know what I can handle. Did you completely forget that I got rid of that ghost?" I shot back at him. He was making this romantic setting not very romantic.

"Yeah, but if Liz hadn't been there, you wouldn't be here." Derek said. He set his jaw and I stopped short. I hadn't thought about it that way. If Liz hadn't shown up I probably would still be back in the woods behind the mansion, dead by blunt force trama to the back of my head. I hated that Derek could one up me.

"You know what? You're right. I'm stupid and I can't fend for myself. I'm a poor defenseless necromancer. A damsel in distress." I said the last part through my teeth. I knew that Derek would get mad with me for saying that. I had accused him of using me to get what he wanted more than once.

He cursed, "Shut it, Chloe. You know that's not true." Derek looked down at me angrily. I looked back up at him just as angrily. I could feel my body heating up as my temper worsened.

"I'm going back to bed. Before I say something I'm going to regret in the morning." I said, I turned on my heel and stomped back to the hotel room.

"Chloe, I-" Derek tried to follow me but I shut the door in the middle of his sentence. I kicked off my shoes and climbed into bed next to Aunt Lauren.

He was only trying to help. You know he's right.

Great, now my inner voice was taking Derek's side. I pulled the covers up to my chin and rolled over onto my side, towards the wall. I could hear Derek shuffling his feet out in the hall and I smirked to myself. He hated making me mad, even if it seemed like he did it as a hobby.

I closed my eyes just as the whispers started again. I put my pillow over my ears and tried to concentrate on the sound of my breathing. I took a deep breath in and let it out. In and out. In and out. Shortly after I fell into a dreamless sleep.

The next morning, Aunt Lauren brought me breakfast. Apparently the scary looking motel we were at had a hot continental breakfast. She brought me one of my favorites, biscuits and gravy. I sat criss cross on the bed as Tori plopped next to me. Ever since we had broken out of the laboratory she had been warming up to me. Tori was still out of it, though, because she had watched her mother die not even 48 hours before. Tori ate a piece of toast in silence as I dug into my meal. I looked over at her, but her long, dark hair was a curtain between us.

"Hey, Tori." I placed a hand on her shoulder. "Are you okay?" I asked as gently as I could. She just nodded. I wondered if Mr. Bae had given her any medication. Back in the Lyle house, Tori was usually heavily medicated so she wouldn't become angry and burn the place down with a swing of her hand. I glanced back at her one more time before I stood up, finished with my food.

"Dang, Chloe. Hungry much?" Tori snapped at me. It wasn't as enthusiastic as she normal insults me, but it was better than nothing. I blushed, just to give her something.

"Sorry, Tori." I said, trying to fake the part of helpless Chloe.

"You don't have to apologize to me, Chloe. I'm not like Derek." Tori said, in her normal bitchy tone. She was back.

"Okay, Tori." I said, smiling to myself. I threw my plate away in the small plastic garbage by the bed. I knew we would have to get going soon, but I really didn't want to face Derek after last night. He had to have been out there for almost an hour, pacing the hallway.

He wanted you to come out there so he could apologize. Now he's probably too mad to apologize.

I grimaced again. I hated when my inner voice was right, which it normally was. I walked around the room, picking up the bedding, folding it, and laying it on the bed. I was restless because I knew I would be seeing Derek soon enough.

There was a knock on the door. I looked around the room for Tori, but she must have gone into the bathroom. I walked up to the door slowly, stepping on my tip toes to look through the peep hole. I saw a head full of blonde hair and a pair of almond eyes. I smiled to myself and opened the door.

"Hey, Chloe." Simon said, kind of awkwardly. I smiled warmly at him and motioned for him to come inside.

"Hey, Simon. What's up?" I asked, hoping he wasn't here on Derek's behaf.

"Dad says we should probably head out soon. I don't feel comfortable leaving during the day, but Dad's good at this whole being on the run thing." Simon said, his hand rubbing the back of his neck. There was something else. Something he wasn't telling me.

"What is it Simon?" I asked, sitting down on the corner of the bed. He sat down gingerly on the other corner.

"Derek said that you heard a ghost last night." Simon said. I knew he was just trying to lead me into the real issue.

"Yes, I heard a ghost last night. But your brother scared it away." I snapped at him. "I'm sorry, Simon. I didn't mean to take it out on you."

"It's okay. I think Derek deserved getting the door slammed in his face." Simon gave me his goofy, lopsided grin.

"I didn't slam it, he's over exagerating." I said, rolling my eyes. I stood up and started pacing the room. I could feel Simon watching me. Again, he hadn't said everything he needed. "Simon. What's going on? There's something you aren't telling me."

"Well, Derek wanted me to talk to you about last night." Ah. And so the truth was out.

"What about last night, Simon?" I asked, stopping in the middle of the room. I looked down at the floor.

"You followed the ghost, didn't you? Chloe?" Simon asked from across the room. I nodded, feeling a lecture coming.

"Simon, please don't preach at me. Your brother did enough of that last night. I know it was stupid, after what Royce did. I know that I wouldn't be here if Liz hadn't saved me. I know that I'm as weak as everyone says I am. So, please. Please, Simon. Don't lecture me." I said, taking a breath.

Simon stood up and crossed the room, stopping a few feet from me. "Chloe, you aren't helpless. You are getting stronger each day. I know that you know what you can handle. Derek's not use to not having to take care of someone and so he thinks that you need to be taken care of. He likes having someone rely on him because it makes him feel important. Like he isn't a total screw up. It's silly, I know. But it's how he is, Chloe." Simon said softly.

"He's being ridiculous though. The ghost wasn't even strong enough for me to hear it completely." I said, setting my jaw. I could be stubborn when I wanted to be. "I know that's how he is, Simon. But that's not who I am. Not anymore."

Simon nodded, "I know, Chloe. I know. Do you want to tell Derek, or should I?" Simon smiled. He knew that I didn't want to talk to Derek.

"I will. It should come from me." I said. Simon looked up in surprised. "I told you. I'm not like I use to be. I can fend for myself."

Simon laughed, "I'm gonna have to watch this." I rolled my eyes and pushed him to the door.

"You're gonna have to go. I still have to get ready." I opened the door and pushed him into the hall.

"Let me know when you break the news to Derek." Simon laughed as I closed the door.

"Sounded like you two are back to being buddies." Tori said, stepping out of the bathroom. She had taken a shower and put on some makeup.

"Yeah, we are. Do you have any makeup I can borrow?" I asked, trying to change the subject. Tori nodded and laughed to herself.

"You're not very good at that, you know." She rolled her eyes and pointed to the bathroom. "I suggest you use it. Don't want to smell like a garbage can for your new boyfriend."

I felt my face heat up as I stepped to the bathroom. "Do I really smell like garbage?"

"No, I'm just kidding. Grow a funny bone." Tori said, pulling a shirt over her head. I nodded and closed the bathroom door.

I stepped out of the bathroom, fully dressed. I didn't touch the makeup, I didn't usually apply makeup before and I wasn't sure I wanted to start now. I pulled my hair into a ponytail and opened the door to the hallway. We were suppose to meet up in the boy's room. Aunt Lauren and Tori had already left and so I was alone in the hall. Again. I looked down the hall to the maintenance door, that had to be signifigant. I walked over the boy's room. I could hear Simon and Tori bickering, Mr. Bae and Aunt Lauren talking about routes we should go, but I didn't hear Derek. That was either a really bad thing or a really good thing.

I looked over my shoulder, just to make sure he wasn't behind me. He wasn't. I walked straight to the maintenance door and touched the door knob again. Almost instantly I could hear the whispers again. I turned the knob slightly, feeling no resistance. I turned it a little more and pushed. The door opened without so much as a sound. I stepped inside and closed the door behind me. I was surrounded by darkness, but I wasn't scared. I felt around from the light switch, but I felt a string on my face. I pulled it and the small room was engulfed in light.

It looked like a janitor's closest, there were mops and brooms in one corner and a shelf full of cleaners. The whispering was no louder in here than it was in the hallway. I looked around for any indication of a ghost, finding none. Just the whispers.

"Hello?" I whispered back, hoping that whoever was whispering would answer me.

The whispers stopped short and then started again, right by my ear. I looked toward the sound but saw nothing. I frowned, afraid to summon anything. I shook my head and set my jaw.

"If you want to talk to me, you're going to have to actually talk to me." I whispered again. The whispers stopped again.

"Hi." A clear, little voice sounded directly behind me. I turned around slowly, not wanting to frighten it. I looked down and saw a little girl. She had white blonde hair with light blue ribbons decorating it, her blue eyes were flat with no life in them. She stood about 3 or 4 feet, her blue dress reminding me of an old show I used to watch. Little House On The Praire, that's it.

"What's your name?" I asked, softly. Looking at her, I couldn't see any wounds that would explain her death but the flatness of her eyes gave away the fact that she was dead.

"Rebecca Shaw." Her soft voice sounding like windchimes.

"Why are you here, Rebecca?" I asked. I didn't want to know the answer and yet I had to know. It was like watching a horror movie where you wanted to look away from the screen because you didn't want to get scared but you look anyway.

"I don't know. My mommy and daddy were here but they left me a long time ago." She said, the sadness showing on her face.

"Can I call you Becca?" I asked, she nodded. "Becca, I'm sorry your mommy and daddy left you. My mommy left me too." I said, trying to relate to her on her level.

Becca looked up at me in surprise. "Your mommy left you here? Like mine did?"

"No, my mommy left me back where I live. In New York. Do you know where New York is, Becca?"

Becca nodded, I smiled. "What's your name?" She asked me, a small smile creeping on her face.

"My name is Chloe. It's nice to meet you, Becca." I said. She gave me an outdated curtisy. "How long have you been here, Becca?"

"Um, I don't know. A long time. But that's okay. I like it here. Some kids who come to stay here can see me, I like to play with them. It isn't so bad being here by myself, I just wish my mommy and daddy would come back." Becca said, shrugging.

I nodded, "So you're safe here, Becca?"

She nodded and gave me a big smile. "There is an old lady here who has a necklace like yours who keeps the bad people away. The bad people who look gross." I nodded. There was another necromancer here.

"Is the old lady like you? Has she been here a long time?" I asked.

Becca nodded, her blonde curls bobbing. "She's been here since before I was here." Becca said.

"Okay, Becca. Was that you that I heard last night?" I asked.

"Yeah, I'm sorry I woke you up. I was just playing pretend in the hallway." She said, she looked sorry.

"There's nothing to be sorry about. You were here before I was, this is your place. I'm sorry that my friend Derek scared you last night and made you go away." I said, I was definately going to talk to Derek about that.

"It's okay, he looked scary at first but he had a pretty color around him so I knew he wouldn't hurt you." Becca said, smiling up at me.

"Pretty color? Can you see auras, Becca?" I asked, facinated.

Becca nodded. "That's what my mommy called it. She said I was special because I could see peoples aur-auroras." She struggled with the word.

I nodded. "You are special, Becca. I have to go now, but hopefully I can come back and see you." I said, smiling.

Becca nodded. "I would like that very much. You are very nice." She smiled and then vanished.

I stood up straight, my back popping. I opened the door and closed the light and stepped into the hallway.

"There you are, Chloe." Derek's voice sounded from up the hall. I could see him as he walked over to me, glaring the whole way. I grimaced and stood my ground as he loomed over me. I didn't look up at him even though I could feel his gaze as it pierced imaginary holes into me. I looked down at the carpet that went down the hall.

"You found me." I said darkly. I was not going to bend over backwards to make him forgive me. I had done nothing wrong.

"Yeah, after looking everywhere. You had everyone worried." Derek said, his voice hard. I caught myself before I looked up at him. It was what he wanted.

"The others know that I can handle myself. Did you hear me screaming for help? Did it sound like I was in trouble? Because I wasn't." I said, I knew I was pushing him.

Derek didn't say anything. For once. I couldn't help but look up. I wanted to kick myself as soon as I did because his face was full of guilt.

"I know you're not helpless." Derek half-whispered. I bit my lip and nodded. Last night's kiss was replaying in my memory.

"Then stop treating me like I am. Please, Derek. I know that I use to be the damsel in distress but I'm not like that anymore. I'm stronger." I said, finally breaking eye contact.

Derek placed his hand on my shoulder and I instantly got goosebumps. I looked up at him and he gave me a small grin. "I know that you're stronger, Chloe."

I nodded and looked down. "Than why do you treat me like I'm still the weak girl you met in Lyle House?"

"I'm not sure." Derek said softly. I looked up and gulped. His face was inches away from mine. Maybe last night did mean something to him. All I had to do was step up on my tip toes and I could find out.

"Derek?"

"Hmm?"

"Did yo-"

"Hey guys! There you are!" Tori shouted from down the hall. Derek pushed me away from him so fast you would think I was diseased. I tried not to look as hurt as I felt as I looked over at Tori. She knew that she had interrupted Derek and I, I could actually see the fact that she was sorry on her face. At least she is getting better. She gave me a look that asked if everything was okay and I rolled my eyes, confident that Derek understood nothing about the female communication system. Tori nodded slowly and then grimaced at Derek. He looked at us both dumbfounded and rolled his eyes. He pushed past Tori and I, opening the door to his room. Tori and I followed in silence.

"I found her." Was all Derek had to say before everyone in the room started talking again like nothing had happened. I looked around at the people in the room with me. Derek, Simon, Tori, Aunt Lauren, and Mr. Bae. I would have to get use to seeing these faces everyday. I looked through them again and then stopped at Derek as I realized he was watching me watch everyone else. I looked away quickly and focused on Tori and Simon bickering again. I wasn't sure what they were arguing about, but it wasn't important. I looked back at Derek and sighed a breath of relief when I saw that he was looking out the window. Looking back down to my feet I decided right then that I would prove to him that I didn't need to be taken care of.