I do not own Gallagher Girls.

This Chapter is dedicated to Savi001, because she wrote the basic plot of this chapter and helped cure my writer's block for all the rest of the story. Thanks, hun!

Cammie POV:

As I drag myself out of the car, I can feel my already torn up leg being ripped at even more so. Everyone else is shaking and getting out of the wrecked car slowly, so I grab a sturdy-looking branch and stand up slowly. My leg is on fire, and it's the worst pain I've felt in all my life. But I have to make it up that hill, and get help for everyone else. I practically crawl and stumble up the hill, but I eventually see the red flashing lights of an approaching ambulance, sirens blaring. It doesn't make sense, though because I know that I still have a bit to go before I reach the road. The sirens get louder and the lights get brighter even though my legs are still. It's becoming overwhelming, and suddenly the lights and the sirens are all I know….

I jolt up in bed, and I realize that the sirens and lights are not from the ambulance in my dream but of the real world. And it's like a ton of bricks hitting me in the face.

A Code Red.

My hands fly about, throwing the sheets off of me and pulling on my robotic leg. My combat boots come next and I grab a hunting knife that I keep sheathed and under my mattress. I run out the door of my room, and run down the hallway, banging on all of the teachers' doors to wake them up.

"CODE RED, I REPEAT, CODE RED!" I holler as I make my way towards the kitchen.

And suddenly I hear it.

A scream coming from downstairs, probably from…

Oh gosh.

Liz's classroom.

I race towards the stairway and practically through myself down the stairs. Students are starting to come downstairs, and so I yell up to the teachers higher up,

"GET THE KIDS INTO THE ENTRY HALL!''

I throw open the door that leads to one of the hallways of classrooms, the place where I heard the scream. I try to open Liz's classroom door, but it's locked. Motioning the teachers approaching my spot to stand back, I pull my foot up and back and kick open the door with one swift motion. It goes flying across the room as I stalk inside, unsheathing the knife. The room is in a disarray, with beakers and microscopes all broken and strewn across the floor. The large windows have large holes in them, and some of the jagged pieces of glass still in the frame are bloody. My blood runs cold as I spot a note on one of the counters. I snatch it up and read it quickly.

Dearest Cameron,

I apologize that we had come at such an…. inconvenient time, but it was necessary. You see, we knew each other for quite a while, but you have most likely long forgotten me. But I have not forgotten you. And I've tolerated you and your life for so long only because of the fact that you have not caused me any trouble. But now that you've gone and gotten in my way, I can't overlook you anymore. Of course while you felt completely comfortable, you would not meet me. And so I took someone very close to you. Your friend, Liz, will be in the best of hands with us. FOR NOW. If you want Liz to stay….. out of the wrong hands, you and you alone will meet me on the shores of Lake Michigan at the abandoned hotel on the North side.

Sincerely hoping you'll consider it,

A Single Guy

The letter flutters out of my hand to the floor, and my blood boils. My vision bounces from regular to DEEP BLOOD RED because I'm confused on whether to laugh at how irony like to mess with my life and people close to me or go into a complete rampage and track down this smart-aleck ''Single Guy''. I slowly bend down and pick up the letter, and the teachers behind me are holding their breathe. I try to compose myself, but it's hard. I turn just slightly and shove the letter towards the nearest teacher. I step lightly out of the classroom and see a few students starting to come towards the classroom.

''Our teacher told us to go over here and ask you if you wanted her to evacuate the students,"A big guy without a shirt on asks in a deep voice.

I clear my throat, and hold my hand so that the first students stop in their tracks.

''It's okay, just stop there and turn around. Go back to the entry hall and tell your teacher it was a drill, and that everyone was perfect. Goodnight,''I say with a forced smile.

The students nod, and head back to where they came from. I stand there and wait there 10 minutes before the teachers that were in the Entry Hall are standing in front of me with faces that scream they don't believe whatever crap I just spurted out to those students they sent.

"Liz's classroom,'' I say quietly.

They give me worried looks, and hurry over to the classroom. A few seconds later, I hear footsteps behind me and feel a tap on my shoulder. I turn to see Ian there, sadness evident in his eyes. I throw my arms around his torso, and bury my face in his shirt, almost hoping I'll suffocate.

''I. Am. So. Sorry.'' Ian whispers fiercely.

A lump begins to grow in my throat, but I ignore it because I must not show weakness.

''It has to be a sick joke, Ian. First it was my mom, then it was Bex and Zach, and then it was my friends. It's got to be a bad, out-of–control joke," I hiss.

He rubs my back one last time, and leads me back into the classroom. In the doorway, I clear my throat to catch everyone's attention.

''Now, here's the thing. If you read the letter, you know that Liz has been kidnapped. But the students cannot know of this event. It's critical they do not know, because they will want to come with and help, and in turn get hurt. That cannot happen. So while you can speak to other teachers about this, do not talk to the students about it. Say that Liz went to go visit her dying grandmother. We will get her back, and so don't panic. Just get rest tonight and don't worry. Go on up to bed,'' I say calmly.

The teachers all nod, and give me apologetic looks on their way out. Ian stands there for a few minutes after everyone leaves, and then says softly,

''I'm not going back to bed and I don't want to leave you alone because… well… people do stupid stuff when, well, you know…."

I nod, and sigh.

''Go set up one of the private practice rooms with a punching bag and boxing gloves. I need…. '' I say, trailing off, knowing that he understands what I need.

He nods, and gives me a quick hug.

''It'll be okay, Kodak. You'll see…''

I listen to his receding footsteps, and then grab for my hunting knife. I start turning it around in my hand, looking over the room. My blood is heating up, and I get even more angry at every moment because not only has someone messed with my life once, not twice, but three times, not including this time. I am interrupted in my thoughts as I hear someone clear their voice behind me. I spin around violently, knife clutched murderously in my fist, ready to scream at anyone.

Finding out the person behind me is Bex doesn't help my mood.

''What could you POSSIBLY WANT?'' I snarl, my knife rested on her chest.

Her eyes are teary and wide, and she stammers.

''I just… I just… I'm sorry, Cammie!'' She blurts out.

My nostrils flare, and I see red.

''SORRY DOES NOT FIX ALL THE TEARS, SORRY DOES NOT FIX ALL THE HURT AND PAIN, SORRY DOES NOT CHANGE THE NUMBER OF TIMES I HELD LIZ WHILE SHE CRIED! YOU SHOULD NOT BE APOLOGIZING TO ME, REBECCA BAXTER! YOU SHOULD BE APOLOGIZING TO LIZ! SHE HAD IT EVEN WRSE THAN ME! YOU HAD YOUR LAUGHS, WHY CAN'T YOU JUST LEAVE MY LIFE AND MY FAMILY ALONE?'' I yell at the top of my lungs.

She winces back, and I take deep breathes.

''I know it doesn't do anything, Cammie, but it's the honest to God truth. I'm going to help you get Liz back if I die trying,'' Bex whispers, and turns and runs out of the classroom.

I flee the room, heading to the private practice room Ian s setting up.

Author's note:

Hey guys, it Ever. I know this took a while, but I lost my mojo! Thanks to Savi001, who gave me the basic plot of this chapter, I now know where I going with this and I'm pumped! Watch for another update soon!

1,460 words!

Love ya' for holding on,

~Ever