-1God. So sorry that this took so long. I can't believe I forgot about it. Again. Hope there's still some interest in this fanfic. Here we go.

Chapter 10: Shelter

Sharpay was pressing her fingertips against her temples with force, trying to subside the headache that was creeping upon her . The wrecked car was still ablaze; she could smell the gasoline - and flesh - burning in the distance. Kelsey was sitting on the edge of the porch, the flames illuminating her tear-stained face. Chad stood with his back to her on the other side of the porch, looking out across the fields of grass and other plant life. How could this have happened? I thought. Oh, right, it was that son of a bitch in the black hood who blinded me with his goddamn bright headlights. God, this is all my fault. I can't believe so many people I love have died. Just like that. I need to take it upon myself and protect those I have left.

She came out of her thoughts and, with her arms folded, walked over to Chad. She touched his shoulder lightly, making him flinch.

"God," he said, "you scared me."

Sharpay folded her arms again, looking away. "Sorry," she managed to whisper. Kelsey looked over. She had difficulty standing up, and then she joined Sharpay and Chad. "So, what now?" Kelsey said weakly, her voice trembling from both fright and cold. It was dark and no one had jackets, or any warm clothes at all.

Sharpay looked back to the door that lead into the rustic old house. "We've got shelter staring us right in the eyes," she said, gesturing. "Only problem is, we don't know if we can trust these people." She paused. "Make that two problems. That freak killer knows where we are now."

"I say we take the chance and ask for help," Chad suggested. "Better than staying out here and being cold, or worse, killed." The girls nodded in agreement, and together they walked toward the door and collected themselves. Sharpay was in front. She took a deep breathe, and exhaled. She reluctantly knocked on the door, which caused a banging noise that was louder than she would have liked. After a few moments, the door creaked open to reveal an elderly old woman.

"Yes?" she asked slowly, with wide eyes that suggested she was afraid or curious. Perhaps both.

"We were wondering if -" Sharpay began. But the woman interrupted her and said, "No, I don't have any money. Sorry."

"No!" Sharpay called, reaching out to stop the door from closing. "Listen, we really, really need your help. Really. Desperately." The woman opened the door a little wider to get a better look at them, and then she noticed the flaming wreckage in the background.

"Not again," she whispered. "Come in, come in," she said, waving them in in with urgency. Before she closed the door, she looked around, making sure nobody was watching or waiting in the shadows. Seeing nothing, she closed the door.

"I'll make some tea," the old woman called from the kitchen. The woman put a kettle on the stove, filled with water to boil. She set some cups and teabags on the counter, then joined her guests in the living room. "You poor things," she set, sitting down on a stool.

"We were being chased by some psycho," Sharpay being after a silence. "And stupid me ran ourselves into a freaking tree. Now one of our friends is dead." She looked at the many paintings the woman had around her house. Sharpay thought they were lovely. They were of young women and men, happy together in the woods, having picnics or dancing.

The old woman frowned, "Tragedy is all too familiar out here."

Chad looked up at her. "This has happened before?" All three teens were staring at her, frightened to say the least.

"Mm, no. Not exactly," the woman said. "But there have been reports of brutal murders - all linked to a man described as wearing a cloak with a hood that shadows his face. I don't worry about him much, because so far, all of his targets have been teenagers. A sicko, he is." They looked worried, sharing glances between each other. "And you, missy," she said, looking Sharpay over. "Don't you blame yourself for what has happened. This is that psychopaths fault and no one else's. As long as you're here with Mama Judy, you're safe from harm." The kettle began to whistle loudly, interrupting Judy from her speech. "Oh! Tea's ready!"

Mama Judy hurried into the kitchen to prepare the glasses of tea. In the living room, the teens began talking. "This is really freaking me out, guys," Kelsey said. Her eyes were pink and puffy, burning from tears and smoke.

"We're all freaked out, Kelse," Sharpay said. "I hate to freak you out even more, but that killer most likely knows where we are now. He wouldn't expect us to running off in the dark."

"Oh, God!" Chad muttered. "Isn't that just perfect!"

Sharpay glared at him. "Look, Chad, I know this isn't the most ideal situation, but it's what we have and you're going to deal with it, alright?" Mama Judy returned with a tray of four piping hot cups of tea. One for her and each teen. Sharpay took her cup and let the steam float up toward her face, inhaling through her nose and let it warm her. She pulled the cup to her lips to take a drink, then paused. Nuh uh, she thought. I've seen this before. Poison drinks in horror movies. It's too easy.

"G'head, sweetie," Judy said, smiling. She herself took a sip of the hot tea and then smiled again, keeping her eyes on Sharpay. Sharpay glanced and Chad and Kelsey who had already taken sips out of their cups. Sharpay noticed that nothing had happened to them. It must be safe. She pulled the cup once more up to her face and drank, letting the hot liquid roll smoothly down her throat and into her stomach. It warmed her inside, a nice feeling.

"This is really good, Mama Judy," Sharpay said, sipping some more. "What flavor?"

"Chai, with some other spices thrown in." Judy smiled. "I don't want to ruin the moment, but could you explain to me your entire situation? I'm just curious is all."

Sharpay looked to Chad, and he nodded. "Oh, gosh. Let's see," Sharpay sighed. "It started off with our friends Troy and Gabriella. They were first. Then our friend Taylor. Then my… brother." She was fighting back tears now. "He just won't stop. He won't leave us alone. Everywhere we are, he's there, no matter where we run to."

Mama Judy came over with a box of tissues and gave one to Sharpay. "There, there, darling," she said soothingly. "It'll be alright now. I know it's hard right now. There's no denying that. But you've got to make the best of what you have - and that's two friends. Two. Mama Judy won't let anything happen to you. Not in this house. You can count on that." She rubbed Sharpay's back.

"We've got your back, Sharpay," Kelsey said, trying to smile. Chad actually did smile.

"Yeah," Chad agreed, "we're all in this together, right?"

"All in this together," Sharpay said. She smiled weakly. It was hard for her to feel positive about anything after what had happened over the course of these few days. She felt like this would never stop. Ever. At least, not until he had gotten every single one of them.

"Now, not a single one of you will be hurt," Mama Judy reassured her. "Come on. I'll show you where you can sleep for the night - or however long you need to stay here."