I came up with the idea for this chapter, and just HAD to write it! Hope you like it!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything… *sigh*

Lies and Secrets

Blood. It seeped through my clothes. I could see it. I saw myself with the bullet in my torso, the blood flowing out. Zach was still fighting the man who had taken the shot. I looked at myself, and all I thought was, I'm dead. No heartbeat. I won't have a family. I won't be able to become a professional spy. I won't be able to tell Zach I love him. I'm dead.

Violent, blood curdling screams filled the air. I didn't realize I was the one shrieking until I felt someone covering my mouth with their hand. I sat up quickly, tears pouring out of my eyes. Zach released me and eyed me. The first thing that popped out of my mouth was, "I'm dead."

"What?" Zach asked confusedly.

"I'm dead."

Zach raised an eyebrow, probably questioning my sanity.

I shook my head and crossed my arms. "It was a dream."

"When did you start having crazy nightmares?" Zach asked timidly.

"The day I jumped from a cliff into the waterfalls."

That was when I realized Zach's arm's around me, squeezing me tightly to his chest. I could tell he was worried about me. It was in his eyes. He was anything but timid then. "Are you okay?"

I shrugged. Then I yawned. "I think I'm going to go back to sleep."

He raised his eyebrows. "Think?"

I rolled my eyes at him and pushed him off the bed. "Go to your own bed, Goode."

Zach smirked at me before climbing into the covers of his own bed. I fell back asleep easily, but then the nightmare just continued on. I could see my soul float out of my body and suddenly I was standing out of the bleeding figure. No one could see me though.

Ear piercing shrieks filled the air. I turned to see my one of my three best friends, Macey, tied with her hands behind her back, pinned to a wall by the second man dressed in black. No one was helping the lifeless girl on the ground. Zach was fighting, Macey screaming. That was when I saw Bex's figure running from a masked man. She knocked him to the ground, and easily took Macey's guy out. She was getting even better than the last time I saw her.

She saw my bleeding, motionless body and kneeled beside me. "Oh my God."

What's happening? Why can I see everything that's happening to me while I'm dying? I thought.

Zach finally finished his man out. I saw a thousand emotions flash over his face when he saw me. "This is my fault." He stated to Macey and Bex.

No one listened to him. They were too busy calling 911. That was when I saw him. A man running out of the shadows with a gun in his hand, pointing at Zach. He pulled the trigger. The bullet was in midair when I realized I was screaming in my dream, and in reality, because I felt Zach's hand over my mouth again.

I opened my eyes to see Zach's worried eyes staring into mine. "I don't think you're okay."

I sat up and one tear turned into hundreds, as I sobbed in Zach's arms. "Why? Why?" I managed to croak out. He brushed the tears out of my eyes.

"What's the matter?" Zach asked. His voice was filled with anxiousness.

I thought of the images of blood covering me. It reminded me of when Aunt Abby had been shot. I stared into Zach's worried ones with my own puffy ones. I closed my eyes and managed to say one word before the images started to fill my mind. "Blood." Then I started shrieking again. He had to cover my mouth again.

"Sorry." I muttered, sinking back into the covers.

"You don't need to apologize. Go back to bed. Please don't think of…" he trailed off. I didn't want him to finish anyway.

I lay my head on my pillow for awhile, thinking. "You're not sleeping, Gallagher Girl."

I nodded and sit up again. He walked over and sat next to me. He gave me a sweet kiss before going back to his bed. But before he did, I grabbed his arm. I must have been desperate. I just needed to know I was okay. I needed to know I wasn't insane. I needed to know I was safe. I needed to know I wasn't dead. "Please… stay."

Zach must have not been himself either, because he just nodded and lay in the covers with me, his arms around my waist and my head lying on his chest. It was like we fit together. I felt safe. I haven't felt safe… ever. "Sweet dreams, Gallagher Girl."

That night I slept with no dreams. All I ever felt the whole time, was safe.