I'm back baby, and this is a whole new game. Omen.

That name played over and over again in Kai's mind as the word tarnished the paper like deadly nightshade. Omen was back. The letter shook in Kai's hand, falling from his fingers and floating less than gracefully to the floor.

"What the fuck?!" Tala shouted in disbelief, "There's no way! There's no freakin way! You shot him! This has got to be a sick joke! That Zane fuck! He's been out to get back at us, this is probably his doing!"

"It's him Tala," Kai said quietly, "He's alive…"

Kai's eyes suddenly ripped from the note which now lay on the floor, to the door. He ran around the table and out into the hallway, seeing Hilary and the others sitting on the floor near the door. Hilary looked up at the sound of footsteps and saw Kai skid to a halt beside them. He seized the door handle and shook it, trying to open it.

"It's locked Kai," Hilary whispered, "We can't get out."

"Like hell we can't!" Kai said angrily, "You have to get out of here, there's no way I'm taking him on while you're in the building!"

Kai stepped back then ran at the door, throwing all of his weight against it though to no avail. He repeated the harsh motion again and again until Tala ran down the hall and joined them with the crinkled note in his white-knuckled hand. He threw the letter at Ray and Tyson before joining Kai in trying to break the door down. Ray scanned it quickly and the colour drained from his face like water down a drain. Tyson snatched it from him and read it, his entire body trembling by the end. Kai stepped back from the door, rubbing his shoulder and looking around, his senses on high alert.

"Max is out there," Ray managed to whisper, "He ran off without us…"

"Shit," Kai cursed.

"Kai?" Hilary stood up and took his hand, staring at him through her large, fear taken eyes, "What's going on? Who did that to Shana?! You know something! Tell us!"

Kai stared hard at her for a moment before looking to the other girls. Trixie and Mariah held each others hands and stood beside Hilary, staring him down with tearful eyes.

"Don't panic," Kai started, knowing that those first words were going to be no more than a waste of breath, "The person who did that to Shana… was Omen. I didn't kill him, he's still alive."

Hilary stared at Kai, transfixed to the spot with a mixture of horror and disbelief. The look on Kai's face told her it was the truth, yet her mind was screaming denial. She shook her head slowly as the screams in her head began to give way, strangled off by the cold, stinging truth and harsh realisation. She stepped away from Kai, her tears starting again and not even realising that Ray and Tala were already holding Mariah and Trixie who had already completely broken down. Kai stepped towards her.

"Hilary?" he asked delicately.

"He's back…" she managed to choke out, "Shana… he did that to her… and all the townspeople… he killed them too?"

Kai nodded then suddenly ran to Hilary's side as she dropped to her knees, completely overwhelmed with grief and terror and shaking like a leaf in a cyclone. Kai grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her into his strong arms, holding her tightly.

"I'm not going to let him hurt you Hilary!" He whispered to her, "But I need you to keep it together for me. I need you to go with Ray and Tyson-"

"No!" she suddenly shouted, grabbing hold of his shirt, "Please don't leave me!"

"Hil," he pulled her hands off him gently and cupped her face, forcing her to look straight into his eyes, "You have to go with them. Tala and I are going to go find Max and we're going to put an end to this. Properly this time. I won't be able to fight if I know that you're in danger. So please, go with them?"

Hilary threw her arms around his neck but nodded silently. Kai hugged her back before pulling away and looking around to Tyson and Ray.

"First off, see if you can call the police. Take the girls down the hall and see if you can get out into the courtyard then down to the sports field. Tala, you and I are going to find Max and end that sorry son of a bitch. He's going to wish he had died."

Tala nodded and gave Trixie a kiss before joining with Kai. Hilary rose on shaky legs and made her way over to Trixie, holding her hands tightly and trying to be strong for the both of them.

"Find him Kai," Ray said quietly, "Find Max before we have to bury another friend."

"I will," Kai said before looking at Tala, "Let's go."

Tala nodded and the pair ran down the hallway, desperate to find Max before Omen did.

- - - -

Zane blew out a thin line of cigarette smoke and smiled as it dispersed into the atmosphere, leaving nothing but the smell of burning tobacco in its wake. He dropped the butt on the carpeted ground and stomped it out with the heel of his boot before looking around. He sat in one of the offices on the top story of the school with the door locked, a walkie-talkie, laptop and gun sitting on the mahogany table in front of him. There was a wire connected to the computer which leg to a large, thick antenna which stuck to the outside of the window.

"Hell of a night to quit smoking," he mused to himself, "Now, let's get this show on the road."

He cracked his knuckles and began typing rapidly on the computer, a thin smile adorning his features.

"Zane…"

Zane looked to the walkie-talkie, instantly recognising the smooth, malevolent voice. He raised the device to his mouth.

"Yeah, yeah Omen, I'm doing it already."

"Good, I'm counting on you man. Don't let me down."

"I won't," Zane smiled, "As long as you remember our deal. Trixie and that Tala shit are mine."

"Understood."

A box popped up on the computer screen and Zane smiled before pulling his last cigarette out of the carton and putting it between his lips as the walkie-talkie went silent after a short burst of static. He lit the cigarette and took the gun in his hand.

"It's done. No one can call in or out. They're all dead."

- - - -

Max staggered down the hallway like a broken man, bumping into the lockers continuously as he swayed like a repentant drunkard. Tears fell from his dull eyes as the painful gaping hole in his heart seemed to consume his entire being. He could feel the cold splotches of blood on his hands drying to him, not allowing him to even think that he had just dreamt the past twenty minutes. That it was all some terrifying and horrible nightmare. He put his back to the lockers and slid down them, sitting on the ground and looking up into space.

"Shana…" his voice was hoarse with grief yet he still managed to yell loud, hoping that the angels would hear him and answer his plea, "Come back to me!"

He sat there for what seemed like an eternity, before the dull sound of fists bashing the lockers reached his ears. He looked down the hall and listened carefully hearing a very muffled but clear 'help'. He got to his feet and ran down the hallway, stopping in front of a locker where the banging was emanating from. Max tried to open it but it was jammed. He took a step back and delivered a hard and precise kick straight to the lock. The door swung open and a person stumbled out. Max stood back until he recognised the person. He kneeled beside him and rolled him onto his back.

"Derrick?" Max asked, "What the hell are you doing here?! What happened to you?"

Derrick was covered in long deep gashes. Blood and scrapes covered his face completely and his leg had been half severed. He was already half dead. Derrick looked up at him, choking on his own blood.

"Help…" he choked, "He… killed the others… I escaped… He's after us… Because… because we tried… fighting him… We he first came… to our school…"

"Who?!" Max asked frantically as the cold chains of terror slowly wrapped themselves around his body, "Who is it?! Who did this?!"

Derrick laughed, his blood gurgling in the back of his throat and spewing over his lips as death started to mist over his eyes.

"You c-can't run! He'll get… you!"

"Who?!" Max seized Derrick by his blood stained shirt and pulled him closer, "Tell me dammit!"

Derrick grinned goofily and his head lolled back. His body went limp and Max began to tremble. He had died before telling anyone who had killed him. Max released the boy and let his corpse fall unceremoniously to the ground. Max forced himself to his feet, still watching Derrick's body.

"Idiot…" he whispered quietly, "Why didn't you tell me?"

Max pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and fumbled with the numbers. He cursed quietly then raised the phone to his ear. It rang twice before an automated message played in a voice Max knew all too well.

"Hello, the police are unable to help you now, though I'll be seeing you real soon. Welcome to my game. Enjoy your final breaths."

Max threw his phone across the room with an enraged roar. The phone hit the wall and smashed into the tiniest of parts as though it had been made of porcelain.

"Omen?!" Max shouted, "There's no fucking way! He's dead! Zane! ZANE! Where are you, you sick bastard?! I know you're behind this!"

Max looked around, his fury completely blinding him. Slow footsteps alerted him to another presence in the hallway. Max spun around and saw a teenager walking towards him. He was tall, thin and had black hair which covered his face. Max yelled in fury and ran at him with his fists clenched.

"Zane! I'll KILL YOU!"

Max launched himself at the other teen and thrust his fist forward, narrowly missing his speedy opponent though colliding with him and dragging them both to the ground. Max was on his knees over the boy and raised his clenched fist, ready for another attack when all of his muscles suddenly froze and the breath caught in his throat. His fist began to tremble as Max's vision suddenly registered the red glint in his hair and the scarlet iris's in his eyes.

"No…" Max whispered.

Omen grinned up at him, his eyes narrowed dangerously yet enjoying the terror that seemed to pulsate from Max.

"Long time no see Maxy," he whispered, "Did you get the present I left for you?"

Max suddenly punched at Omen's face with an agonised cry but Omen caught his fist and pushed him back. Omen got to his feet fluidly and stood over Max while his hand strayed to his knife hilt. Max watched him, unsure of whether to run and save his life, or stay and join Shana on the other side.

"You know Max," Omen took out his dagger and toyed with it, "You have real potential. You have more brains than anyone else in your group, except for maybe Ray. You have drive and you're tough. With a little training, you could be almost level with Kai. Sure you'll never be as good as him, but you might make it close."

"Don't patronise me you dick," Max said bitterly, "I know what you're doing. The last little speech before you finally kill your victim. Why not just get the bullshit out of the way?"

"Shana said the same thing," Omen mused quietly, "She kept saying I was gutless, that you would hunt me to the ends of the earth and that I was going to burn in hell. She was pretty brave… even as I was cutting her fingers off one by one, she never begged for her life."

"Shut up…" Tears sprang into Max's eyes.

Omen smiled and leaned closer towards Max, "She tried not to scream but she couldn't stop herself. Especially as I sliced pieces of her soft skin…"

"Shut up!"

"She was like a jigsaw puzzle! You saw in the box didn't you! Severed at every single joint! First the fingers! Then hands! Then arms and legs!"

"SHUT UP!"

"Her screams were like fucking music Max!"

Max roared in agonised rage and threw himself at Omen, managing to wrap his hands around the murderers throat. Omen choked a little and punched Max in the face before kicking him back. Max fell back but rolled onto his feet and put his hands into his pockets.

"Draciel!"

"Your beyblade?!" Omen laughed.

Max launched Draciel at Omen with as much power as he could muster. The beyblade shot past Omen, though cut deeply into his arm as it passed. He swore and looked back at it, expecting it to come back for a second attack. Max threw the beyblade launcher away as though it were trash and tackled Omen with one arm around his neck and his other hand gripping Omen's wrist to stop him from using the dagger. Max twisted Omen's wrist cruelly and the murderer dropped the knife with a grunt.

"Sneaky little bastard," Omen said through clenched teeth as Max's arm tightened around his throat, "I really wasn't expecting that. I thought you'd use your little spinning toy til the end but it was a diversion! Silly me."

"You'll pay…" Max whispered darkly, "I'm going to kill you…"

"Kill me?" Omen laughed, "If you kill me, you'd be just like me… a murderer."

"If I have to become like you to kill you then so be it!"

Omen grinned and twisted out of Max's grip, though not as easily as he had first expected. He grabbed Max's wrist and twisted it around before kicking the blonde's feet out from under him. Max groaned in pain but thrust boy of his feet up, narrowly avoiding kicking Omen and backwards rolling back onto his feet. He spun quickly to face Omen who stepped back with an impressed smirk.

"Good work Max," he said, "You've been working out. You're a lot stronger than you used to be."

Max said nothing. He could see Omen had not even broken a sweat, whereas Max was struggling to maintain his calm façade. He wanted to pant and breathe deeply, but he would not allow himself to show any sign of fatigue. He was going to avenge Kenny. He was going to avenge Shana. He was going to avenge every single person Omen had ever killed. Omen looked at his watch and shook his head, his smile fading a little.

"We're going to have to cut this short Max, I have places to be."

"You have Daichi, don't you." Max said suddenly.

Omen smiled again, "How did you know?"

"It's obvious," Max said quietly, "Tell me, is he dead?"

"Not yet," Omen grinned, "You know me. I always grab the weakest first. Last time I snatched I snatched Kenny first, this time it's Daichi. Who was it that I took after Daichi last time? Oh yeah, Tyson!"

"You stay away from the others," Max said dangerously, "I won't let you hurt them!"

Omen laughed and his face darkened sinisterly.

"I wonder who can get to them first, you or me?"

Omen suddenly turned on his heel and sprinted down the hallway, turning quickly and descending the stairs. Max instantly gave chase, his sneakers almost making him slide right past the stairs. He leapt down the fourteen stairs and landed on the small landing, stumbling only slightly before doing the same to the rest of the stairs. He emerged into the underground corridor which lead through the older arts and photography classrooms. He looked up and down the corridor but heard no signs of life, not even the distant clapping of Omen's boots against the linoleum floor. Max stepped back up the stairs, cursing vehemently. Following Omen into the dark, unfamiliar corridor was a mistake and even in his enraged state, he knew that stumbling around down there was suicide. Omen has said that he was going after Tyson next. If that was where he was going to be, the Max would have to follow him there. He wasn't going to let Omen get away. He raced up the stairs and ran back down the hallway towards the front of the school.

- - - -

"We can't call out," Hilary said sorrowfully, putting her mobile phone back into her pocket as they walked through the school towards the exit to the courtyard, "It's the same mobile phone block as he used in the forest. We can't call anyone."

Tyson and Ray flanked the three girls, their senses peeked and their fist trembling, not with fear but with anticipation. Kai and Tala had always been the ones to go after Omen. After everything they had been through, Tyson and Ray were ready for their turn. Trixie stood between Mariah and Hilary, holding both the girls hands as tight as possible, thinking only of Tala and whether he was alive, or if he had been chopped into pieces for her to find.

"There's the doors," Ray said quietly, "Come on."

They jogged up to the doors and examined them for any signs of tampering. Hilary walked timidly to the windows to see if there were any traps waiting on the other side for them.

"Let's give it a try," Ray said, taking the handle in his hands.

He pulled it a little before Hilary's scream stopped him in his tracks.

"STOP RAY! STOP!"

Ray released the door handle instantly and looked over to Hilary who was staring out the window with her hands clasped over her horrified face. Tyson ran to her side instantly, though before Ray could join them he heard what sounded like a small moan from the other side of the door. Tyson looked out the window and gritted his teeth.

"God…"

Sitting several feet from the door and tightly secured to a chair, was one of the students who had gone missing recently. She was an eighth grader and completely innocent. Tears streamed from her terrified eyes, trickling over her blood spattered cheeks and slipping over the duct tape over her mouth. Tyson bit his bottom lip. Secured tightly around her body and neck was glistening razor wire which then travelled in a taut line to the other side of the door and was secured tightly around both handles.

"We can't open the doors," Hilary whispered, "Not without killing her…"

"She's still alive…" Tyson swallowed, "We almost did kill her…"

He looked around the rest of the courtyard and his heart dropped, "There's people secured to every door… Every fucking one!"

"If we want to get out we have to kill people," Mariah said tearfully, "This is sick…"

Before Ray or Tyson could come up with any type of plan, a sudden sound clattered up the hall, causing the entire group to jump. Mariah clutched Ray's arm tightly and they all stared down the hallway.

"What was that?" Trixie asked, her voice barely above a petrified whisper.

- - - -

Kai and Tala ran down the hallway, the sound of music getting louder as they approached the Drama studio. The balloons and streamers along the walls had reappeared and lead straight in through to the main drama studio, a room which was half the size of the gymnasium.

"Do you think the others made it out?" Tala asked as they stopped outside the room.

"I doubt it," Kai said bitterly, "If this is really Omen, then he would have made sure there is no way we can escape. I don't like this…"

"If we go in there we'll be stepping right into his trap," Tala warned as Kai took the door handle.

Kai could feel the vibrations of the heavy metal music through the door handle and hesitated a moment before twisting it.

"What better way to lure out a spider than to step right into it's web?"

He opened the door and they both stepped in. They looked around the room and the colour drained from their face. Tala held one hand to his stomach and another to his mouth, forcing himself to look away. Kai's jaw dropped slightly as his stomach churned, every fibre in his body telling him within seconds that this in front of him was the most horrifying thing he had and will ever see in his life. He had never seen anything like this, not even when he was in the forest. The moment of impact had shocked him. He could not feel the floor beneath him, nor hear the music blaring around him as he stared at the irrefutable evidence of Omen's return…

Hayy all, hope you liked this chapter!!

I've got work in eight hours so I'm going to bed. Nighty Night!!

Xoxoxo