Disclaimer: All the characters from this book belong to Rachel Caine — Rachel you are awesome! These books rule!!!

I woke up panting, my bed soaked with my sweat. I slowly edge to the side of the bed and get out. Being weary not to wake my little brother, who shares the same room as me, since he turned 4 last year. I walk to my battered old closet which was about to fall apart and start to rummage through it, my hand hits something rough and course, I tug at it until it comes out, it's my hessian bag, which my brother gave me last year. On it, it has my name in black and red bold writing. In the bag it holds all my valuable stuff I started to collect since the 4 years. I grab the bag and start walking to the door, quickly but quietly. I finally reach the door, my hand out stretched to turn the door knob, when I smelt a horrid smell coming from underneath the door. I grab the knob and pull the door open, pulling the door of the hinges at the same time. I have to remember to watch my strength. I step out into the hallway; it is pitch black; I can feel the soft carpet under my bare feet. I creep forward, carefully not to let anyone know I am awake. I was about to turn around and go back to bed but I know I can't. So I keep walk forcing one foot in front of the other. The silence wraps around me like it is trying to strangle me, when suddenly I heard glass shattering in the down stairs kitchen. They're here. I know it. I can feel it. They have come for me once again and once again I shall fight. I run down the stairs going down two at a time, I am about to turn left when I remember the gun which Dad leaves in hallway cupboard, I run upstairs and retrieve it and quickly get back down again. I see a black shadow crouching in the corner. I point the gun at the figure. The figure must have heard the gun because they quickly spun around on foot in one fluid movement. I started to squeeze the trigger, as I close my eyes, time starts to slow down.

"Whoa Shane, watch where your pointing that thing, are you trying to blow my head off."

"Mmm ……………….. MIA, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE, AND WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO YOUR FACE, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU WENT IT TO A PAPER SHREDDER!!!!!!!" I scream at her.

"Gee, thanks for the compliment" Mia replied, her voice sounding like she might start crying at any second.

"Mia, I didn't mean that your face is ugly or anything it's just you have blood everywhere. What happened and no jokes" I replied, trying to make my voice sound, soft and warm. Mia started to waver as I was talking, so I take her right arm. Her long black hair gently touches my hand as I guide her to a seat.

"I, I, and, they, couldn't, dead" Mia started to say, her big blue eyes starting to fill with tears. I sit down next to her and wrap my arms around her. I can feel her whole body shaking. After about 10 minutes Mia is calm, I think she's asleep, when she says, "They came out of nowhere. If it wasn't for Taylor's reluctance to go, I would've been able to get help. There was blood everywhere. I'm so sorry Shane" her blue eyes looked up at me, to see if I'm mad, but I'm not.

"It's okay, I'm just glad you're safe" I said squeezing her tighter. Mia started to relax, when there was a noise upstairs.

"They are here, I have to go, bye" Mia rushes out the back door. I didn't have enough time to realize what was going on before something thumped me on my head. It feels like forever to hit the ground. Before I fully slip under consciousness I hear someone say, "I'm so sorry Shane, it's the only way".