I DO NOT OWN MOST OF THE CHARACTERS!

Chapter 1- Ryan

Ryan Andrews was a flame- bringer. He had heard the name while visiting Bixby, Oklahoma, and for the first time, meeting someone different like himself. For years, he could never understand the mystery of why he alone in Mountain Side City, California could enter the mysterious midnight hour. Then, he made the decision to head out to Bixby to visit an old friend named Lucas. It was there that he encountered Rex Greene and his friends, and all became clear.

Ryan was sixteen years old. He had straw- colored hair, and almond- brown eyes. He was also very scrawny for his age, giving him the appearence of someone younger. At the age of twelve, his mother had been killed when her car exploded. In his grief, his father David had taken to the bottle and become very abusive to his son. Ryan had eventually run away, and was taken in by the Andrews family, who fought for custody of him, and won.

Beside him in the white sportscar was a seventeen year old girl with white- blond hair and piercing blue eyes. Emily Glass had no family of her own. Her parents had died in robbery when she was fourteen. She had been taken in by a group of fellow midnighters who were living on their own. But Emily soon realized that this group was no good, and took off, arriving in Bixby.

Now, Ryan and Emily were returning to Mountain Side City together, entwined by fate. Emily shot a quick glance at Ryan at a stoplight. Her mindcasting abilities allowed her the privilage of knowing that he was thinking of Lucas, who had died in an accident while in Bixby.

"Are you going to be okay?" Emily asked.

Ryan seemed to have just awoke from a trance. "Wha-" He realized what Emily was doing. "I would really appreciate if you didn't read my mind, Em," he said quietly.

Emily shrugged as the light turned green and drove on. "I don't exactly get to pick and choose what I taste, Ryan. But anyway, don't worry. Rex and the others said they would take care of Lucas's body. I wouldn't have left if they hadn't. He was my friend too. Dess said she would call us back for the funeral."

Ryan nodded. "Yeah... great."

Lucas too was a midnighter. He was a bender- someone who could "bend" into the blue time at will. In a desperate attempt to save his friends from one of midnight's own nightmares, Lucas had lost his life.

They drove on for about another hour into a large town. Emily could see in the distance a towering mountain. "Mountain Side City," she said. "Jee, I wonder how this place got it's name?"

Ryan laughed. "True. Whoever founded it certainly wasn't the most creative person in the world."

Emily stopped the car in front of a two- story white house. The duo got out and made their way up to the front porch. A blond woman with bright green eyes nearly tore the door open in her desperate attempt to get to her adopted son. Emily stood somewhat awkwardly as Leslie Andrews pulled Ryan into her arms. "Oh Ryan, I'm so glad you're back!" She sobbed. "How was Oklahoma?"

"Interesting," Ryan muttered. He heard Emily snort.

Leslie clearly heard her too, and finally released Ryan to see her. "Hello. You must be friend of Ryan's."

"Name's Emily," Emily said, purposefully not taking Leslie's proffered hand. Leslie withdrew it awkwardly, and turned back to Ryan. "Come on in, dear, the others are waiting."

"I'll be in in a sec, Mom," Ryan said. "Just need to grab my bags."

"Do you need any help?"

"It's okay, Mrs. Andrews. I can help him," Emily said. Ryan noticed that she suddenly seemed tense.

Leslie nodded, and went back inside.

"What's wrong?" Ryan asked.

Emily turned to him, her face grave. "We're not alone."