Chapter 2:

Stay or Run

Fred was there when we got back, but he didn't look so hot. He motioned for us to come quickly, so we did. My vampire instincts kicked back in, which was kind of a bummer, but feeling human was also being vulnerable, and vulnerable got you killed. I couldn't be vulnerable, no matter how much I wanted to.

"Gotta go, like, now." Fred said through his teeth, starting to lead us into the woods swiftly. I was confused, I tilted my head. What was going on? My gaze met Diego's, and he asked Fred that question for me.

"What's going on?" Diego asked seriously. Fred stopped in his tracks and quickly turned to us, his eyes staring into Diego's like a wild cat.

"Follow me, we have a lot to talk about, but right now we gotta get outta here or were all toast. Like, literally."

Man, Fred likes to say like a lot.

So, we did as we were directed and we ran like hell.

Not even a mile away we heard an explosion from behind, and not long after, the strong smell of smoke. Diego and I met eyes for a split second, and without even mind speaking, we both knew what had happened.

He blew up the freakin house. He knew some of us would back out of the fight. An even better reason he needed to die. Riley was dead meat in my eyes.

We ran for what seemed like miles, and every few minutes, Fred would stop to change directions as well as other things apparently.

"We can't let them follow our track, no matter who it is. If anyone else strayed from the fight we just can't, they'll leave an obvious trail that, if were not careful, the yellow eyes or if riley is still alive, will find. It can only be us now."

He explained all this as he found stray animals running about, and spilling there blood to create a diversion. Then we further continued.

Finally we hit pavement; I wasn't sure where we were. The road was beaten up out of use, and there was a dense overlaying fog that seemed like it'd been there for years.

Not that I was scared.

Fred suddenly halted to a stop, swiveling his head around as if someone were watching us, then he turned to us.

"Colorado." He said, seeming to be pondering the idea quietly, his breath cutting through the thick air.

Diego and I were behind him listening intently, and for the first time since I've been human, I felt the cold. That's when my instincts kicked in once again.

Diego must've sensed me tense, because the next thing I knew his fingers were entwined with mine, squeezing mine, trying to assure me. We met eyes, and once again, his eyes were glowing blue through the mist. His eyes told me: it'll be alright. He thought to me.

Where were we?

"Were way outside the city, right Fred?" I asked foolishly, I should know where we are.

"Yea..." He said aloud, "But im not exactly sure where we should go from here."

I thought for a moment.

Face the fight… or face me.

That Quote ran through my head, and even started giving me a headache, and Diego must've heard me. I felt my dead heart beat for that second.

We can't let him find us. We both thought.

"Fred, we gotta keep moving." He said swiftly, getting Fred's attention.

Fred seemed lost in his thoughts. I tried pushing into his mind for a moment, and what I caught was a sense of fear. I put my hand on his shoulder for a moment getting him to focus and met his gaze.

We can't let them follow us, Fred. Focus. I spoke into his mind. He's never done this before. He's always been so focused. He's never let anything get to him. He closed his eyes for a moment, refocusing his thoughts.

Fred said nodded his head once, and started running again. And we followed, Diego and I still hand in hand.

And for some reason, he led us to a coffee shop in Montana.

And for some even more odd reason, we talked about what had happened in the past 24 hours of our crazy newborn lives.