Disclaimer:Yes, I realize I am not Kelley Armstrong, and I hope you do, too. I don't own her books, or her characters. I am but a lowly fan, writing fiction.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I know that the books aren't written in third person, but I decided that third person would be the best for my story.

Chloe woke up with a pounding headache; something she was sure came from her lack of sleep. She'd barely gotten any. As many times as she reminded herself, You're safe. Nothing can happen to you now, a feeling of dread would not leave her.

Now, as she sat up in her bed, she could see the affects of nights of sleeplessness.

Chloe swung her legs over the side of the bed. Tori was asleep in the twin next to her. She had her blankets twisted around her at an odd angle, a sure sign she hadn't gotten much sleep either.

Chloe got up from her bed and crossed the room. It wasn't yet seven, but Chloe had given up on going back to sleep.

She'd gotten so used to being on the run and not caring if she looked good or not that she barely glanced at herself in the hallway mirror. Her eyes were rim-red, and her hair was tangled, even after her shower. Chloe sighed sardonically. If this is what I look like now, what will I look like in two weeks? She asked herself as she splashed water on her face. Hopefully clean and healthy.

As likely as it was that Andrew would sort this whole mess out for them, a feeling of unease had stuck inside her. Would we be safe and healthy in two weeks, or even three? Chloe couldn't help wondering.

Chloe couldn't hear anyone moving about downstairs. She paused on the top step, listening. She didn't want to have to talk at the moment. She could still not hear anything, so she made her way down the steps, pulling a jacket on as she went.

Chloe surveyed the safe house. Now that it was light, she could make out odd quirks that set it apart. The living room seemed to be pretty normal, but in fact on closer inspection, the books were not the average kind you'd see in a small townhouse. Chloe peered at one of them.

"The Otherworld, Book Two: How to Keep a Ruse."

A superhuman textbook? That's sure what it looked like.

"I see you've found our library," A voice from behind her said kindly. Chloe spun around, heart pounding. It was only Andrew. Why had she gotten so freaked?

"Hungry?"

"Um, a little," Chloe conceded. She followed Andrew into the kitchen.

Chloe didn't feel comfortable around Andrew. She hadn't known him very long. Despite Simon and Derek's good feelings about him, how could she, an outsider, trust him. Something about this whole thing….

Stop, Chloe told herself. Andrew handed her a glass of milk. Stop thinking like that.

"Thanks," Chloe said. Andrew shrugged.

"Sure thing." He cracked an egg into a skillet on the griddle. Chloe sat down at the table.

"I mean for everything," She explained. Andrew was about to answer when he looked up behind her. Chloe guessed it wasn't Simon or Tori because of how elevated his eyes were-and the dark look on his face.

Chloe swiveled around in her chair and craned her neck back to smile a polite greeting at Derek. Maybe a few days ago, when they'd been on the run, he would have smiled back, but they'd slipped back into their usual relationship.

"Good-morning Derek," Andrew said, taking on a friendly tone. Chloe still couldn't get the look on his face out of her mind though.

"Morning," Derek said gruffly. Besides his usual deep voice, there was a scratchiness about it. Had they all had terrible nights?

Andrew slid the scrambled eggs onto a plate. He handed them to Chloe.

"Want them?" He asked her.

"Sure, thanks," Chloe said with a smile.

"Do you want any, Derek?"

Derek was squatting by the refrigerator, looking through it. He shook his head.

"Nah." This time his voice seemed rough.

Derek poured himself some orange-juice. He sat opposite Chloe.

"Are you OK?" She asked. Andrew glanced back at him, but didn't say anything.

"Just a bad night," Derek shrugged.

"It sounds like we all had them then?" Simon's clogged voice preceded him even before he entered. "'Cause I did."

"Good-morning, Simon," Andrew said with a far more genuine tone then he'd greeted Derek. It bothered Chloe.

"Hey, Andrew, Derek, Chloe," Simon greeted. He patted Chloe on the shoulder.

There it is again, Chloe thought. He treats me like a baby-sister.

The next second Tori came shuffling into the room, a look of pure hatred on her face.

"So, anyone else want eggs?" Andrew asked, the picture of happiness, all sign of any wrath gone from his face.