CHAPTER 2
They drove around the entire town looking for Claire and Michael. When they had been driving for an hour, Shane finally pulled over near a house in front of an alley. He rested his head on the steering wheel, feeling like crying. Eve rested a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Where are they?" his voice was gruff and he abruptly flung back into his seat and punched the middle of the steering wheel. The blaring horn pierced through the night. He opened his door and jumped out. In desperation, he began calling. "Claire!" he cupped his hands around his mouth. "Claire!" No, no, no, no, no. this was not happening. Not to Claire. He noticed Eve standing behind him.
"Shane. You need to be quiet. What if they hear?"
He whirled, ready to scream at her, but she looked so small. Her arms were wrapped around herself and she was pleading him with her eyes. She tried to look so strong, but it was too much for her. Shane walked to her and hugged her, smoothing her hair comfortingly. "You're right. I'm sorry. "I just wish--" he was interrupted by a small yelp. Shane jerked away from Eve. "Claire?" he completely forgot Eve's earlier warning in his anxiety. "Claire! Claire, where are you?!" He ran into the nearby alley, just barely aware of Eve's pounding footsteps trailing his.
Then he saw them. Claire and Michael. Michael and Claire. Eve stopped next to him, out of breath. She gasped. Shane was stunned. For just a moment he couldn't move. He really couldn't believe it.
Michael was holding Claire in his lap and her neck was exposed. He was bent over her, and it was all too clear to see what he had been doing. With a wordless scream Shane regained mobility and lunged at him. Michael dropped Claire and stopped Shane with one hand on his chest.
"Stop Shane! It's not was it looks like, man!"
"It never is, is it?" Shane was crying, deep, deep sobs. "I told them you would change, but they wouldn't listen. Now Claire is dead."
"She's not dead, Shane. Listen to me!"
Shane just hung there limply. Michael loosened his hold, and then even he wasn't fast enough to predict what cam next. Shane punched him in the nose, breaking his steel-like bone. He fell to the ground. Shane knelt and he just kept punching him. Over and over. Michael was bleeding and Eve was screaming. Claire was still unconscious. Michael wasn't moving, and was sprawled on his back. Shane grabbed a stake from the band of his pants and poised it above Michael's chest. Eve screamed and screamed. So intent on stabbing Michael, Shane did not notice the figure flying at him through the night sky. Before he knew it, Shane was lying on his back and he felt two pricks in his neck. The last thing he heard was Eve's shrill scream, still extending through the silence.
