Chapter 2

"Auntie! Come back! Please!" I shook Auntie hoping the furious movement would wake her.

"Evelyn, I'm right here!"

"What?!" I froze staring at the pale white woman on the floor. She was dead but she was talking.

"Evelyn!" the voice shouted again.

"Stop messing with me!" I shouted at the woman on the floor. "Just stop!"

"Wake up!" Someone shook me roughly, and I jolted awake screaming. A hand was clamped over my mouth. My breaths came out ragged, and I shook with relief when I felt warm, live hands hold me. My eyes flew open, but when I followed my arms I froze. I stared horrified at my hands. One of the people that were precious to me was right in front of me being choked. By my own hands! Kind, gentle hands peeled my fingers away from their neck, and pulled me into a hug. I sobbed on their shoulder struggling to breathe.

"I'm… sorry."

I held Auntie tight never wanting to be separated. She held me anchored to this cruel, merciless world. I would lose my sanity if I didn't have her here. Auntie whispered comforting me. "Shh, it's alright. I'm here. No one's going to hurt you." She tugged me to my feet. I fell against her trembling, almost knocking her over. My feet like concrete blocks, weighed Auntie down. Right now, I wished they were concrete, so I could drop to the bottom of a lake, never emerging. She sighed in sympathy and flung my right arm around her shoulder. I tried helping her when she started dragging me towards my room, but ended up making it more difficult than needed.

I lay in my bed lifeless. She looked at me. She wanted and expected answers. "I- I was walking out of school, and," *sniff* "I saw him across the street. He pulled out a knife and I screamed. Lysander was there to comfort me. He asked what was wrong, and I wanted to tell him." I really did, but I knew the consequences and agony that would accompany the truth. "But I would never put him, or anyone else for that matter, in this kind of danger. You know the rest." Describing the memory was just as bad as living it and I let the tears cascade down my face when I could no longer hold them.

Auntie stroked my head, humming a song I had known all my life.

Please don't run,

I will find you

Anywhere, anytime

I know your secret,

You know mine

Let's join together

Together, together forever

Always and forever

Whenever I was frightened my mom would sing this to me. Oddly enough, neither my grandmother, mom, nor I knew where this song originated from.

My eyes started to droop. This time I didn't stop them, for when I awoke, I knew would be safe.

When my eyes opened, they closed quickly. I just wanted to go back to bed; whisked away from this small world, into the endless dream world. I launched out of bed when my alarm blared to life. I did my morning routine and headed off to school without my car. I didn't want to take my car because there wasn't going to be rain today, plus it needed gas and I was broke.

I arrived at the school five minutes before the bell rang. I gathered my books from my locker (because the school was cutting it close on its budget).

My first period was with Lysander and I slid into the free seat next to his. I gave a small wave in greeting and he responded with a nod. His eyes pierced my back as I rummaged in my bag for a writing utensil. His staring was making uncomfortable and I shifted slightly. I pulled out a pencil smiling awkwardly at him. When I met his gaze all I saw was concern; no doubt from yesterday. He opened his mouth to say something, decided against it and closed it.

I turned to the board as the teacher started to explain a paper that we had to do. I swept my eyes to Lysander and whispered, "I'm sorry about yesterday, but I'm all better." I gave him a fake smile to prove my point.

He didn't believe it. "I don't entirely believe you," my mouth instinctively opened to protest but he continued, "But don't hesitate to come to me if you need someone."

"That's a-," I quickly changed my response, "Wait, I can't." Agreeing to what he suggested would put him in danger.

"Why?" he inquired.

"Please, I'd prefer if we didn't talk about it," I said trying to keep my voice from quivering, but unfortunately I failed. If you looked at Lysander you could never tell when you hurt him, but when you stared deep into his eyes, the barriers failed to hide the emotions that were trapped there. He was hurt that I didn't tell him, but he would've been in more pain than he was now if I told him. The teacher suddenly came to our tables giving a stern glare, and setting the paper we had to do, on our desks.

I hastily finished the paper and I was permitted to leave early. Even if this was my third day I could find my way to the courtyard, as easily as I could add.

Sitting on the bench when I entered, was none other than Castiel, and of course he was smoking.

"Smoking isn't healthy for you. I hope you realize that," I commented as I sat on the bench next to him. He took a long drag from his cigarette, and purposely blew it in my face. I desperately waved at the smoke so I wouldn't inhale the putrid toxin. "Second-hand smoke isn't healthy either."

"God, you sound like Lys. Acting like my mother." Again he blew smoke towards me. "What happened yesterday?"

I opened my mouth in disbelief and immediately regretted it. I gasped and coughed for air as I inhaled the smoke. "Nothing happened," I croaked.

"That's not what I saw. The fear in your eyes was far from nothing," he retorted, and much to my relief, put his cigarette out.

"Fine, I was scared. Nothing else." I confessed. I came out here to get away from the stuffy school and instead I'm being interrogated, plus the continuous prodding would soon affect my mood.

"Of what?"

"Nothing."

"I'm not stupid. I do not believe a word you just said. Now tell me before I make you," he threatened.

He grabbed ahold of my wrist, as I stood up to leave, and yanked me back down on the bench. I swiftly turned to him to confront his actions. A single sound left my mouth but it wasn't a sound of protest, it was the sound of surprise and repulsion.

The courtyard morphed into a dark room. The wallpaper was peeling, and a lone light flickering. And Castiel wasn't Castiel anymore. Why is it always him?! A body was lying motionless on the floor.

His hair, long gone of its sleek, glistening color, was dull silver, clothes were wrinkled, and his confident, purposeful demeanor had all vanished, leaving nothing but a beautiful human lying unrecognized on the floor. No one knew who he was, except him, and people in this town; even they didn't show much courtesy to the boy had a unique sense of fashion and striking features. They always judged him saying, that he was weird, odd, and full of himself. They judged him, making it seem he was a bad person. What did he ever to them? No one understood the real truth, not even I recognized the truth, but I never judged him. If they even knew a sliver of the truth, they would be groveling at his feet, I'm sure of that. But Lysander would never stand for that; he would politely tell them to stand up and have a nice day. Something that was like Lysander and it would always be kind. Staring at him sprawled on the floor just made me furious and distraught. I was scarcely familiar with him and here he was, on the floor most likely never to move again, all because of me.

I sprang my body so I landed right next to Lysander. I didn't even consider the pool of blood until my hands splashed in it. My hands slowly lifted from the crimson liquid scrutinizing the liquid drip off my fingers. Not comprehending whose blood it was I softly rolled the boy onto his back. I wretched as my eyes followed the gash that was just below the bellybutton. Slit so perfectly and professionally I knew who had murdered Lysander. My index finger traced the slash resulting in movement, in the previously thought dead Lysander. His multi-colored eyes were endlessly filled with pain, but he managed to talk. "Lyn? Why are you here?"

I struggled to answer. "To-to find you." Long, slender, slightly unstable fingers pulled my hand away from his wound, up to his mouth, where his cold but heartening lips pressed against my shuddering fingertips.

Bang!

Lysander's fingers slipped from mine. I watched him drift away from this world, from me, the people who loved and cared for him, everything and everyone. He was never coming back. He would be left alone until other people came to join him. I held his face hoping I would capture the last bit of warmth and love he possessed, but no begging and pleading would fulfill my wish. He was already chilled to the bone and empty of any emotion. "Why? Just tell me why? Why him?" I whispered my voice quivering with resentment and hatred. My hair was hanging down my face brushing Lysander's, and I was shaking with anger.

"You know the reason," he responded, paying no attention to my tone of voice. He knew I was angry; he wanted to get me worked up.

And let me tell you, it isn't that easy to get me angry, and even if this was a vision, he succeeded. "I just met him!" I screamed. "He didn't do anything! You took an innocent boy's life-"

"Shut the hell up!" his voice raised causing me to shrink closer to Lysander. "He's not innocent!"

"What did he do?" I asked exasperated throwing my hands in the air. "If I'm correct I met him yesterday."

"Everything!"

"I-I-I don't under…stand," I trailed off my eyes filling with tears. Glancing down at the unmoving Lysander had me overflowing with anguish and I couldn't comprehend that he was dead. I forgot the real world, being misled that this was real. My mind was vacant of anything except for Lysander and the man sitting behind me. Hot tears began falling down my cheeks.

"What is going on?!" a voice boomed in my head. I hugged my head whimpering. When the voice spoke it was softer. "Lyn, are you alright?" The voice brought me back. This wasn't real, just something trying to hurt me. This vision wasn't real.

"Who is that?!" the man shouted. "I'll kill him too!"

"NO!" I yelled looked up to give him the fiercest glare I could muster. "Just leave people I care for alone!"

"Who are you to stop me?"

I've almost killed myself trying to prevent him from killing the people I love, and he realizes this. No matter how much I try, I seemed to fail. He did it on purpose. He would let me get so far, and then when he got bored they were dead within seconds. Each time someone was executed a little bit of anger was added onto the mountain that had been formed. The mountain collapsed. I lunged for his throat snarling like a beast. He effortlessly dodged my attack and seized my wrist. I writhed in his grip while he cackled saying how pathetic I was. "Stop! Please!" I cried. "I'm sorry!"

Suddenly the laughing stopped and I was pulled into a firm chest. My hands were trapped between my chest and the rock solid body. There was little room for movement, but I still managed pounded my fists on their chest. I squirmed in the persons arms. They squeezed me tighter and I sat there huddled in their arms. Breathing heavily, shaking to the bone, with tears still streaming down my face I heard them whisper, "Lyn, calm down. You're scaring me." I plopped my head onto the chest making them chuckle. "Good, you're not screaming anymore." I recognized the gruff voice and I was surprised that Castiel hugged me.

Wait, I was screaming?! Everybody must have overheard me!

His arms went slack for a split second, and that was just enough for me to escape. I ran into the school quickly stopping right when the door slammed shut. I bent over my hands on my knees. My legs turned to jelly and I collapsed in a heap on the floor. I lay on my side but jerked up when I felt liquid hit my cheek. I jumped to my feet. Dripping off my fingers, face, and clothes was… blood! My hand was concealing the blood-covered body. "No…" I croaked my voice barely coming out as a whisper. "Oh God no." I covered my face with my hands. Warm fluid slid down my face. Pulling my hands from my face I inspected them. No! It has to be a hallucination!

A hand slid over my shoulder and I heard the chillingly familiar laugh in my ear. I screamed, stumbling away from the Victorian style dressed boy laying on the floor, and ran blindly through the school. I was insane! I was far past crazy. I had been haunted all my life. I thought it would stop but it only got worse as I got older. I ran and ran. It was permanently stuck to me. Wherever I went, it would follow. Like everyone says, "You can run but you can't hide." People said that for fun, for games, but for me it was real. I would run-

"Lyn?" a voice exclaimed as I collided with them. I could smell pine and cinnamon as they wrapped their arms around me. Why does everybody hug me? I pushed away from them not caring who it was. Comforting. That's all I needed but I wasn't complying with anyone. As much as I begged and urgently needed it I wasn't taking what was offered.

A flash of silver was at the corner of my vision as I sprinted away. Away from the horror of the courtyard, but I desired to be away from the horror of my life. I'm scarred, the scars will never fade, but it reminds me that if I've made it this far then I can make it farther. Just a little bit farther.

I randomly picked a door to fling open. I slammed it shut behind, slid to the floor, and pulled my knees to my chest. My eyes spilled over with tears. I was full on sobbing not taking breaths. All the pain I had endured was sliding down my face. If only the memories would be this easy to erase. Just slide down my face, to the floor, and evaporate into nothingness.

"Evelyn," a soft voice spoke above me. I screamed in terror and hid my face in my knees. "What happened?" The owner of the voice slid down the wall and sat next to me snaking their arm around my shoulder.

"Courtyard… Castiel…" I trailed off my throat closing up.

"Of course," the gentle voice that I liked instantly became menacing. I pulled away in shock and looked into the golden eyes that stared back equally shocked. "I'm going-," he stood up.

"No! Don't leave me alone!" I jumped up and threw my arms around Nathaniel's waist pulling him back to the floor next to me. "I'm scared!" I sat between Nathaniel's legs my head shoved into his chest. He sat there rubbing my back and murmuring relaxing words, all the while I was crying my heart out. "It wasn't really Castiel's fault."

"Huh?" he glanced at me dazed. "Oh. What was the real cause then?" I looked down deciding on whether I should tell him about my predicament. I mean, I wanted someone to know so I wouldn't be alone, but then again I would be alone after they "disposed" of Nathaniel. Without realizing it I dug my nails into Nathaniel's back. "Ow!" Nathaniel gasped and pulled away from me in pain. Glancing up at Nathaniel I saw his face twisted in pain. Hm, I wonder what's wrong. He didn't complain about anything until after he asked what happened. I got angry because if I told him- I know it! His back! I prodded his back lightly to see if my suspicions were correct and when he yelped again I knew I was right. Poke. "L-Lyn…" Poke "Lyn! What the- Lyn stop!" I decided to stop torturing him even though I was barely putting pressure on his back. His back definitely did hurt him.

"Is your back okay?" I asked.

He twitched suddenly at my question and he became defensive. "What are you talking about?!"

"Your back."

"It's just sore."

"Then it must be really sore," I said standing up and stretching. "I'm okay now. Thank you Nathaniel for not being intruding or leaving me alone."

"It's no trouble except I want you to follow me," he said as the bell rung. "Looks like the release bell for second period just rang.

"I missed an entire period? That is unexpected," I said looking for my stuff. "Nathaniel, I believe I left my things in the courtyard. May I go retrieve them please?"

"Yes but I will accompany you since my third period is near the courtyard and you also need a pass," he said holding the door open. We walked into the crowded hallways and almost immediately every pair of eyes landed on us. I kept me head lowered letting Nathaniel escort me. I could hear whispers directed at us. "Ignore them," Nathaniel whispered leaning down towards my ear. "All they want is gossip and this is how they get it." He then commanded the students around us. "Come on, get to class!" We both noticed a few grumbles in protest and Nathaniel turned to them smirking. "What was that?" The students cast their eyes downward causing me to giggle.

We entered the courtyard and caught a whiff of lingering smoke and freshly cut grass. I walked over to the bench, my gaze avoiding the spot where Lysander was "dead." I grabbed my things and headed back over to Nathaniel. Just as I reached him a silky voice halted me in my tracks. "Why were you crying?" Crying… Oh! He was the other person I ran into.

"She doesn't want to talk about it," Nathaniel spoke for me.

"And who are you to judge that?" an arrogant voice behind Nathaniel and I asked. I sighed in defeat on the inside. Everybody is here! Next thing you know Amber is going to be here!

"I'm pretty sure she doesn't. Am I right?" Nathaniel asked his gaze sweeping to me.

Castiel watched me as I prepared to answer. His glare, fiery gray eyes, and the anger radiating off him instantly flip-flopped. "Are you okay?" he asked softly. I nodded. His frown returned when he turned back to Nathaniel. It was amazing how quick his mood could change in the span of five seconds.

Now that Nathaniel and Castiel were occupied I spun around to meet Lysander. "Are you sure you're alright? Castiel told me what happened, and I find that quite odd. Was it a nightmare?"

"Yes it was. A bad one at that." He hooked his hand in its famous position: under his chin with his other arm supporting the elbow.

We stood there in contented silence. That was until Castiel shouted, "I'm tired of you! You're a stuck-up asshole!"

I spun around just in time to see Castiel's fist come in contact with Nathaniel's stomach. Nate doubled over in pain, clutching his stomach. He coughed and stood up to full height meeting Castiel's evil smirk. He was about two inches shorter than Castiel but he was not about to give up. "You want more?" Castiel asked sarcastically. He drew his fist back and aimed for Nate's face.

I've had plenty blood and violence! This needs to stop! My body reacted on its own, and even I was surprised when I caught Castiel's fist. Just to let you know it still hurt like hell. "Enough!" I raised my voice an octave. I let go of his fist watching it drop back to his side. I observed the two boys' face go slack. "I'm heading to class. I suggest you head there also," I threw over my shoulder as I walked away.

"Wait your pass!" Nate said clutching my shoulder. I thanked him and took the paper. He headed the opposite way while I headed to third period.

I handed the slip to the teacher not uttering a word and settling in the back next to a window. The teacher began the lecture but abruptly stopped when someone walked in. "Castiel you're late...again." The teacher sighed annoyed. I'm taking a wild guess and presuming that all the teachers had to deal with Castiel being late a lot. He smirked taking pleasure in the teacher's frustration. I kept my eyes on him as he walked down the row of desks. He stopped at a desk adjacent to mine, looked around pretending to spot other seats, and finally plopped into the seat when the teacher huffed and basically shouted at him to sit down. He shielded his laughing mouth, though it proved useless when everyone could hear the muffled laughter. The teacher red-faced yelled at Castiel to shut his trap.

"Fine." Castiel sunk into his chair sulking.

I drifted away from the mind-numbing lecture observing the garden outside. In the middle was a fountain. (So the school can afford a continuous water-spouting structure, but they can't afford netbooks? Where is the logic in that?)Wrapped around the stone structure were green vines with light purple flowers tied around the vines. The water cascaded down an umbrella-shaped top. About a foot away from the fountain blue stargazer lilies were growing in a ring around the perimeter of the fountain. In the right corner were a cluster of magnolias trees. It was hard to notice but behind the trees was a path leading to some place that was probably much more beautiful than what I'm marveling at now.

Sweeping my gaze across the magnificence outside I desperately wanted to be out there searching behind the magnolias. I jumped slightly when something hit the window. Before getting a good look at it, I assumed it was a bug, but when I inspected it I realized it was a raindrop. (Please don't ask me how I thought clear water was a bug.)

I reluctantly looked up at the incoming thunderclouds. No! No! Why today? I shut my eyes to prevent the clouds from awakening a disturbing fear. One of my defenses broke and the clouds and fears barreled into my mind. The lightning flashed behind my eyes while the thunder rocked my brain. The storms were relentless, igniting a long forgotten fear that still haunts me today. Replaying over and over in my head, I wanted to die right on the spot. Having this fear resurrected also revived a graphic nightmare I wanted to erase. I shoved my head into my arms suppressing a cry for help. I couldn't help but reliving it.

Standing out in the rain I was waiting for my mom to pick me up. That was the first time I saw the man. There was a thunderstorm and I was soaked to the bone. My mom will definitely get mad at me when she sees me like this. I stared at the ground but looked up when I felt someone staring at me. Right across the street from where I was standing was a man in a trench coat and tan hat. Sunglasses were covering his eyes, but I knew his eyes were on me. I stood there perplexed at why he was standing in the rain. I almost shrieked when he reached into his pocket and withdrew a handgun. He erupted in hysterical laughter at my disturbed expression. I was seven when that happened and he seemed to be around whenever I was alone. I was fright-

"Evelyn!" a voice whispered fiercely breaking me from the nightmare. "What the hell is wrong? You were whimpering and breathing really heavily."

"Did anyone notice?" I searched the class for eyes that might be directed at us but found none.

"What does it look like?"

"I'm sorry," I mumbled laying my head onto the table.

"You-"

"Alright class, it seems Castiel and Evelyn has something interesting to say," the teacher announced. All the eyes that were previously on the teacher were now on us. "Come on. What were you two talking about?'

My eyes met close to every pair of other eyes in seconds. Their stares were pushing us to confess. I stared back helplessly like a deer caught in the bright headlights of an incoming car. Too much attention!

"I'm not continuing class until one of y'all tells us what you were discussing," the teacher said.

"Leave her alone. I'm the one who bothered her," Castiel said. "I was explaining in great detail how dull this class is."

"Figures. Now may we resume the discussion?" the teacher asked no one in particular.

"You may." Again, Castiel made the teacher red in the face. A few snickers were heard around the room as the he spun around and roughly wrote something on the board.

With he was turned around I whispered to Castiel. "Thank you."

"Don't mention it. You owe me one though."

School progressed with no distractions, and if I had any classes with Nathaniel or Lysander, they didn't show. All the while I was anxious on how I would get home.

At the end of the day, I shut my locker. Looking around at the already vacant hallways I made up my mind. I would not allow the fear to take control of me. I pushed open the school doors and was met with a crash of thunder. I faltered back a little but immediately straightened myself.

Lightning illuminating my face, heart racing, I walked away from the schools protection. The darkness of the sky loomed ominously above me, but I stood proud. Just as quick as the lightning vanished thunder took its place. Ice cold rain stung my unprotected skin, lightning flashed, and thunder rumbled; a repetitive cycle. Never ending. The rain would evaporate, but it would come back sooner or later.

A thunderclap was so loud I was shocked out of my thoughts. Strings of wet hair were stuck to my face, but I was oblivious. My head whipped left to right searching for some life. There was nothing except for rain and fog.

I staggered back into the school letting the terror and dread swallow me up. It was manipulating my mind creating horrors no one wanted to see. I slipped from my wet shoes and toppled to the floor. I cried out in pain and curled into fetal position trying to block out the storm. I only made it worse. Without realizing it, I confined it in my mind. It was rolling and hurling destroying everything in its path. I gathered my strength and unsteadily stood up. I stumbled to a random door, opened it, and collapsed against the door as soon as it shut. Tears were sliding down my cheeks, but I couldn't hear anything. All I heard was thunder. I hauled myself under a desk and sat there huddled crying and whimpering. Trembling, I pulled my knees to my chest and prayed the storm would pass so this horrible nightmare could end.

There will be no romance between Evelyn, Castiel and Nathaniel. I hate posting late. I'm so sorry. Hope you enjoy this chapter! R&R

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