8. Hunt.

The world was spinning at an alarming rate. I knew I had to pull myself together for my sister. But missing? I had been with her only a few hours ago and now she was gone.

"What happened?" I asked but my voice sounded far away.

"I don't know Anna just phoned me. I'm in the car now." I was vaguely scared that she would crash but we both had bigger problems.

"I'll get over there now and see if anyone here will help me to search." I felt my legs wobbling and I didn't know how much longer I would be able to stay standing. Daniel moved behind me and put his cold vampire arms around me. I didn't struggle away from him instead pulled his arms tighter around me. It felt nice. Right.

"Ok hun, she will be all right won't she?" She was desperate for some reassurance that we would find Gabby safely.

"Yeah mom. I promise." I cut the call off and wondered how much of what I had said was a lie. I leaned back against Daniel and felt the tears fall. Jack and Jasmine were already moving towards the door.

"It'll be alright. I promise." Daniel whispered. I gave him a weak smile before I moved up the stairs with his hands holding my shoulders. Jack had turned the stereo off and everyone was staring at him.

"LOOK EVERYONE WE NEED YOUR HELP. GABBRIELLA SWAN HAS GONE MISSING IN THE RESERVATION FROM MY HOUSE. WE WOULD APPRICIATE IT IF YOU WOULD HELP US FIND HER. PLEASE CAN YOU TAKE YOUR CARS AND HEAD TO THE RESERVATION AND HELP US SEARCH THE WOODS AND THE BEACH!" He called out and instantly everyone headed for the doors. That was what I loved about this small town; everyone would help everyone else no matter what they needed. I felt Daniel steer me back towards the garage.

"My cars fast." He said in way of explanation.

"Like your legs." I didn't know where my sarcasm came from but maybe it was my way of coping with such a horrible situation. He grinned at me and took it as I meant it. That I was ok with what he was. This situation had showed me that you couldn't take anything for granted. Especially not people who cared about me.

"She'll be fine we will find her. We can use our vampire abilities." I nodded my thanks to him and he led me towards a black Mercedes which was parked between a pink motorbike and a royal blue Ferrari. Ever the gentleman he opened the car door for me and I slid in grateful to be sat down before I fell down. Unsurprisingly it had a leather interior and all the latest modcons. I didn't notice him sit down in the driver's seat and start the car. I was in my own little nightmare of what was happening to my little sister. I only noticed when I felt his cold arm come around my shoulders and gently rub my arm. I turned and gave him a weak smile. We didn't speak at all during the drive to the reservation. When we got to Jacks house it was swarming with life. There were hundreds of cars already parked outside Jack's beach house. As I got out of the car I saw a police car parked on the driveway. Instantly panic rose in my throat as I saw for the first time just how serious this was. Daniel was stood next to me with his arms wrapped around me. Slowly we walked up the driveway and through the open door. Anna was in tears holding Neil close to her. When she saw me she stood up and pulled me close to her whispering how sorry she was.

"Where is my mom?"

"She will be here soon but she had to come from work." I took a deep breath before asking:

"What happened?"

"They were playing hide and seek. I told them to stay indoors and I was keeping an eye on them but then Billy phoned. I turned my back for five minutes, I swear. When I got off the phone I went to find them and the back door was open. Neil was outside searching the beach for Gabby. They had decided to go outside. I searched everywhere but i couldn't find her. I think she has got lost in the wood or had an accident or... or..." She broke down as she thought of the horrendous things that could have happened to my sister.

"She will be ok." A friendly policeman said. "We have lots of volunteers who are already searching the beach and the wood for her."

"We will go and help." I said desperate to be out there doing something.

"Are you sure. You should stay in here." The policewoman pointed out.

"No I need to do something."

"I'll stay here and wait for your mother. I feel so awful." Anna looked like she was a breaking point.

"It's not your fault, Anna. You know Gabby she is too adventurous for her own good." I tried to reassure her but knew that I had failed miserably. "Tell mom I am outside. And that I'll find her." With that Daniel and I left.

Outside on the beach the police were organising people into small groups that would split up and search the beach and the wood around the reservation. After all how far could a little girl wonder? But why would she walk off and not come back in the first place? No one was dwelling on the latter question. It was too painful. The turnout was amazing. All of the reservation and most of the town were already here and she had only been missing an hour at most. I was shocked at who was not there though.

"Where are Jack and Ephraim and Hannah?" I could hardly believe that they would not show up to help find my sister when complete strangers had.

"They are already searching. The pack and my family are using our powers to find her. It will be quicker for them to look. Plus they can go further afield." He explained.

"Then why yare you here with me?"

"You answered the question yourself. I wanted to stay with you." I had to take a deep breath to stem the flutter in my heart that was caused by his words.

"Come on. Let's search the woods." I started to walk towards the huge group that were leaving for the woods. I reckoned that she would be in there as if she was playing hide and seek then the woods would be the best place to hide. We walked into the familiar forest and I stopped.

"What's wrong?" Daniel asked.

"I'm thinking. Which way would she go?" I looked in all directions trying to figure out which way she would take. Anna's house was to the left so if they went out the back door and into the garden then they would come from the left. I turned so I would face the way she had come out. Now, to my left was the beach, straight ahead was the forest and later on was the road to Daniel's house and to the right was dense wood which eventually lead to the mountains miles away. "That way, do your spider- senses agree?" I said pointing to the right.

"Yes the right sounds good." We walked in silence for a bit listening to my sister's name being screamed throughout the forest. Daniel had his head down and was sniffing and listening.

"Anything?" I asked at last.

"It's hard. Your sister has been here so much her scent is everywhere and the rain is taking away any fresh scent." He explained as he leaned down and smelt the bark of an oak tree.

"GABBY!!" I screeched, praying that her little voice would call back. I wasn't that lucky.

"Where would she go?" Daniel asked before kicking a tree which came crashing down. It was the first time I had ever really seen just how much force he had. Compared to this the garage was nothing. I thought for a minute. She went into the woods a lot but only ever with Neil in the daytime and that was only if they stayed close to the house. What had I told her to do if she ever got separated for him or lost? I could vaguely remember walking threw the woods with her and telling her what to do if we got separated. Don't panic, Gabs. That's the main thing. Try going back the way you had come and if that doesn't work then walk towards the sun if it is mourning and away from it if it is afternoon and try and find a landmark like a river or a railway and follow it until you either get out or see something you remember.

"The river or the railway line. That's where I told her to go."

"Ok, where shall we go first?"

"You are the vampire with the vampire senses. What do you reckon?"

"Railway line." He decided. Then we herd the rumble of the eleven o'clock train hurtling towards the town.

"What if she went on the line?" I asked as the horror dawned on me. Daniel grabbed me and threw me onto his back. Then he began running. It was scary and exhilarating at the same time. He must be doing a hundred miles an hour. Or more. I felt sick as the wind whistled past in my ear.

We were there in seconds. Running by the line as Daniel's eyes searched for her. I could see nothing but a blur when I looked up and when I tried to call out my voice was taken away.

"There!" He screamed. Coming to a stop. I jumped off his back and ran towards her. She was sitting on the track crying.

"Gabby!" I cried.

"Help, Caz. My leg is caught." It was then I saw it. Her leg was broken and caught under a wooden rail. I pulled and she shrieked but her leg wouldn't budge. Gabby screamed again. I turned to see what she was staring at but was blinded by the bright lights of the train hurtling towards us.