Hey everyone. Sorry for taking sooo long to update. But school started for me, and I just couldnt find the time. Thanks to all those waited, and to those who read and reviewed. Here's another chapter.

Chapter 8... And At Night His Face Lit Up A Tinted Blue

It's now or never.

Thinking quickly, Peyton picked up a sharp rock from the ground, and threw it as far as she could towards Ian. As soon as the stone left her hands, she turned around behind the tree again, her breathing heavy, her back scratching against the rough tree's surface. She had heard the rock hit the ground somewhere. It sounded like the sound of someone throwing a rubber ball against a glass window. Now all she could do was pray to God that it had distracted him.

Bevin had heard a strange thud-like sound outside. She had dropped the diary, and almost stumbled outside, when the side of her left eye saw a figure in the distance. It was a man. A stranger.

What if it's a killer? I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die… What's going to happen to Skills if I die?

Bevin was lost in thought as she tried to glance through the open creak in the door.

As soon as the rock had hit the ground near him, Ian knew something was up. Someone was here. Was it her already? No, it couldn't be. She's not that brave, he thought. But it was someone. And he was going to find out who it was. He grinned and looked towards the patch of dark trees, walking closer towards them.

"He can't be dead. He just… can't." Lucas could barely speak. They had taken the body from the bathroom and laid him on one of the sofas, covered with a white sheet. The blood through his neck made a deep red spot over the pure cloth. Haley still hadn't stopped sobbing.

"We have to get out of here. Now," Nathan announced, standing up, a nervous look in his eyes.

"Oh yeah?" Asked Lucas, suddenly offended. "Someone fucking killed Skills, and you wanna get out! What about his murderer?! What about him?! We just never find him?" Lucas seemed as though he was going to punch Nathan in the face, but Mouth held him back, and he fell back down slowly on his chair.

"Lucas, I know… I know, this is not what you wanted to hear. But there is someone out there. Someone who wants to kill us. We can't risk anything right now."

Rachel, who'd been quiet until now, spoke up. "What about Bevin, Peyton, Chase and Brooke!" She pointed out the window towards the sky. "It's nightfall. They could be anywhere. And there's a killer loose in the woods. We can't leave without them. We've got to find them, and quick."

Nathan stared blankly at his friends. He didn't want to admit he was scared out of his mind. His friend had just died. And four of his other friends were somewhere in the woods in the middle of nowhere. But they couldn't give up.

"Okay. We're doing this quickly. Mouth, you come with me. We're going to find Brooke and Chase. Lucas, you try and find Peyton and Bevin."

Haley was a little startled by all of this. She looked up to Nathan and asked, fearfully, "You're going to leave me and Rachel alone in the house?"

Nathan looked grimly at his wife. "Someone has to stay here incase any one of them comes back. I didn't want it to come to this, but there's no choice." He stepped towards one of the cupboards and took out a key from his pocket. The cupboard consisted of small drawers, all with locks. No one had cared enough to put anything in them, since they didn't need to. Nathan pushed the small key into the topmost drawer, and opened it. He reached in and took out a 9 mm handgun, brushing the dust away.

He handed it to Rachel, who looked to Haley and said, "I don't wanna make you afraid, but when your stable husband takes out a pistol, you know we're fucked."

Haley looked to Nathan, doubtful and surprised that he had a gun. "Where did you get that from…?" She questioned.

"Mom. You know, just incase…" He didn't complete the sentence.

Nathan, Mouth and Lucas walked outside the house, only to find Brooke collapsed a few yards away, near the trees. Mouth rushed to her and tried to wake her up, and she did, blinking slowly and coughing. "Ch-chase… he's… gone… there's a killer…" Nathan and Mouth knew what had happened. Just like that, another one of their friends was forever gone. They took Brooke back to the house hurriedly. But had to leave with her soon, since she was the only one who knew where the carnival was. They couldn't leave without finding Chase, irregardless of his being dead or alive, and they wouldn't.

Bevin had seen the stranger walk away from the cabin and towards the forest. She knew that Peyton was there. Saving her. Quiet as a cat, she slipped out the cabin door, and ran in the opposite direction, tracing the trees, but away from the stranger. She could see Peyton far away in the distance, her back leaning against a tall tree. Bevin paced stealthily near her, and yelled out silently. Peyton, even though perplexed and frightened, saw Bevin in the distance. She ran towards Bevin, reassured for just a second. But the bushes and barks beneath her crunched, and she knew Psycho Derek would hear her. As she caught up to Bevin, they both escaped through the trees, to the muddy shore.

Panting as they ran, Peyton mumbled, "I'm so sorry Bevin. I should have told you…"

Bevin just stammered, "Its okay- Peyton – its – not – like- we're – dead – yet!"

Peyton couldn't even manage a smile, even though she wanted to let Bevin know how thankful she was. Staggering but picking themselves up, their shoes half-soaked in muck, they made their way towards the boat. Peyton looked back to see no one was behind them. Not yet anyway.

They started rowing quickly. About a minute or two later, she looked to Bevin and said, "Bevin. I just wanna say – thanks. I really wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for you." Bevin beamed as usual and said, "I wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for you." They both hugged, but the moment ended abruptly as Peyton heard the loud voice of someone from the shore. It was him. And he was laughing.

Well thats all. I hope you liked it. Please tell me what you think... Thanks!