Authors Note: If I wasn't so sore from volleyball conditioning right now, I would jump for joy. Thank you veeerryy much for the reviews (: I'm uber happy now! You deserve another update! (Why do I use so many exclamation points!)

Chapter Nine:

Twisted

"Fancy meeting you here," they drawled, leaning lazily against the brick wall. Their expression, however, was serious.

"Fang."

I couldn't seem to process the situation properly. I was still too shocked. What was he doing here! The coincidence was a bit too . . . coincidental for me to believe. How in the world had he tracked me down here?

"That would be me." He smirked.

"How . . .? Have you been following me?" I demanded. My eyes narrowed as I squinted up at him. I wasn't used to people being taller than me, but he had a good three inches on my five eight. It kind of ruined the demeaning effect.

His smirk grew more profuse, almost to the point where it was a smile. "And what makes you think you're that special?"

"You did save my life," I pointed out.

The smirk slipped off his face, being replaced by a hostile glare. I couldn't help but shrink back slightly. Never before has someones gaze alone frightened me, but his dark eyes were instilling that fear quite nicely.

"Yeah, and what do I get in return? You running out on me as soon as my back was turned," he growled.

I opened my mouth, an indignant retort on the tip of my tongue. One look into those midnight eyes though, and my thoughts evaded me. They were fathomless and mysterious. I found myself wanting to know more.

"Well?" he asked harshly. "What do you have to say for yourself?"

That seemed to snap me out of my hypnotized state effectively.

"What I do is none of your business," I snapped, shoving past him. I didn't spare him another glance, forging on ahead. This whole thing was just too weird for my liking. He wasn't going to let me off that easily, though.

"And why not!" he snarled, grabbing my arm. I tried to yank it from his grasp, but his strength was like iron, and I couldn't escape.

"I don't even know you!" I shouted, spinning around to glare at him.

He seemed at a loss for words, so he settled on giving me a penetrating stare, that made me want to squirm on the spot. The intensity in his gaze was unparalleled by my own. There was something about him that scared me. He made me want to run far, far away . . . yet there was another part of me that found him allusive and alluring. I wanted to know all his secrets, but I couldn't for the life of me figure out why.

"Why do you even care?" I asked breathlessly, my arms going slack at my sides. He didn't let go though, seeming to think I would run at the first sign of defeat. He was smart in thinking that.

His brow furrowed. "I don't know," he admitted.

"Then let me go," I whispered, and something in his eyes flashed, but his face stayed impassive as ever.

"At least let me drive you home," he insisted.

"No," I stated, my voice deadly.

"It's not safe for you to be walking around! I saw Dylan," he informed me, and my eyes widened. "He looked horrible, but he was up and running around with his little pack."

"Already?" This was not good news.

"So let me drive you home."

I hadn't even realized Fang was slowly steering me towards the car parked at the side of the rode, but as he spoke he lifted the passenger side handle, pushing me down gently onto the seat. I was still partially frozen in shock (and maybe a little fear), so I didn't put up any resistance. I just stared numbly at my hands folded in my lap, my expression grim.

"It's going to be okay," he assured me quietly, assessing my position with a keen eye.

"How do you know?" I mumbled, peeking up at him through my hair.

"Because I'm not going to let him hurt you again," he replied, easing out onto the street; one hand on the steering wheel . . . the other resting dangerously close to mine.

"Why?" I inquired. I was still puzzled at why he seemed so intent on making sure I was safe.

"You don't deserve to go through that pain," he replied, keeping his eyes on the road.

"How do you know?"

"I . . . I don't, I guess." It seemed he was just as confused as I was, which meant I wasn't getting answers to my many questions anytime soon. Not if he didn't know himself.

We lapsed into silence then, each pondering our own thoughts. Fang didn't look at me once. His focus was entirely on his driving, and I wondered how mad he really was. I studied him, noting the way his jaw was clenched, and how his hand was practically suffocating the steering wheel, he was clutching it so hard. Yet even though I was blatantly staring at him, his eyes never once strayed to mine.

"Who are you?" I asked suddenly, without even realizing I was about to do so.

"Um . . ." he mumbled, puzzled. "I'm Fang, remember?"

I sighed. "I know that! I'm not stupid . . . but Fang's just your name. Who are you really?"

"Maybe I'll show you sometime." He smirked, the corner of his mouth twitching.

"What makes you think we're going to see each other again?" I inquired nonchalantly, though I was more serious than I probably let on.

That finally got him to look at me. He glanced over sharply, and I detected a bit of alarm in his expression. "We will see each other again . . ." Suddenly he didn't seem so sure of himself . . . "Right?"

"My house is just around this corner," I said, instead of answering his question.

He swerved quickly, taking the turn. His eyes only flickered from mine once, but they immediately returned, his glare heavy. I smiled innocently at him, looking out the front window shield with disinterest.

"Stop right here!" I shouted suddenly.

He slammed on the breaks to avoid totalling the car in front of him, as my breath caught in my throat. I swallowed thickly, watching in horror at the events unfolding before me.

There was a jam of vehicles backed up on the street, with a police officer slowly waving them through. An ambulance, lights and siren blaring, was parked haphazardly in one lane. People were standing all around the scene, their faces white masks of terror.

I fumbled with my seat belt, and once free of that, I yanked on the door handle, trying to get free. Finally, Fang came to his senses, hearing my frustrated cries, and unlocked the door. I was out of my seat in seconds, tumbling across the sidewalk. I pushed through the crowd, ignoring all the complaints. I felt Fang following closely behind. I managed to shove my way to the front, where the police had set up that annoying yellow 'caution' tape.

I caught sight of Nudge speaking in earnest with an officer, her face trailed with tears. My heart fluttered, stammering uncontrollably in my chest. Without hesitation I ducked under the tape, pushing those who tried to stop me away. Fang didn't seem to mind. He just stayed in pursuit of me.

"Nudge!" I screamed through the uproar, my throat tightening painfully as she turned to face me, her eyes clouding up with tears again.

"Oh my God, Max! I'm so sorry," she gurgled, new additions being added to her already tear-stained face.

"What happened!" I demanded in anguish. "Where's Angel!"

"I- I tried to stop her," she sobbed, dropping her head in her hands in shame.

"What happened!" I repeated.

"W-we were going to go t-to my house to get some m-make-up. She w-wanted me to give h-her a make-o-over. S-she ran i-into the str-reet, and the-en the c-car came around t-the corne-er so fa-ast. I couldn't st-top her," she wailed.

"Where's Angel?" I screamed, shaking her shoulders roughly. "Is she okay?"

"She's i-in the ambul-lance. They're a-about to lea-ave," she stammered. "I'm s-so so-orry."

"It's okay, Nudge. It's not your fault," I insisted, before turning away. I blindly made my way forward, Fang close at my side.

When the back of the ambulance came in sight I sprinted forward, seeing a flash of blonde. "Angel!" I cried agonizingly, my throat raw. I skidded to a halt, catching a glimpse of my little sister . . . covered in blood, her body twisted and mangled. Tears welled in my eyes, and I felt like screaming all over again.

"Ma'am, would you please step back?" An officer asked calmly as the paramedics hefted Angel into the ambulance.

"That's my little sister in there!" I howled, pushing against his chest as I tried to beat my way through. The pain in my side, nor the noise around me registered. All I could see was Angel's crumpled form. It was everywhere to me.

"You're a relative of this little girl?" he inquired, his grip loosening.

"Yes!" I shouted despairingly. "Now let me through!"

"I'm sorry, Ma'am, but the ambulance is all full. Is there any way for you to acquire a ride to the hospital?" His impassive expression was unnerving. Did he not care at all? Angel could be dying!

"I'll take her," Fang offered, putting a hand on my shoulder. The officer nodded before disappearing back into the crowd. Before I could take another step the ambulance doors had slammed shut, and they were racing off down the street at top speeds.

I sucked in another painful breath, a tear trailing down my cheek. I swiped it away, and it took everything in me not to break down and sob right then and there. I whirled around, my nose touching Fang's chest as he stood close to me. My lower lip quivered and I buried my face in his shirt, wrapping my arms around his waist. He stood there awkwardly for a moment, not making a move, before he slowly put his own arms around my shoulders, patting my back uncomfortably.

I pulled away, frowning up at him through the haze my unshed tears had created.

"That was the worst hug ever," I accused him. "My baby sister just got carted away in an ambulance and I'm emotionally stressed out right now, and you just gave me the saddest excuse for an embrace I've ever encountered in my entire life."

He stared down at me with a hooded expression, his dark hair flopping into his eyes. Without a word he pressed his lips tightly together, guiding me by the shoulder back to his car.

I sat in perpetual sorrow, the anxiety settling in like a torturous blanket over the night.

Authors Note: Would this be considered a cliffhanger? I think it might! Try for the same amount of reviews, pleeeeaaase! (: Who knows, you might get the next chapter tomorrow . . . AGAIN! (: