***Concerning the last chapter- Sorry Chloe's a little OOC in my story, Chloe Fans. But an impulsive Chloe makes for more action and better Chlerek moments :)

Back to the present story…

Chloe is still on the run from her friends and they are all really (and in Derek's case: adorably) worried about her.

Crossing the creek had left me cold, wet, and miserable, but at least it ensured Derek wouldn't be able to track me. That was almost worth it. Of course, afterwards I lost all feeling in my toes, but they weren't that important anyway.

Climbing the tree was the next smartest thing I did. I scrambled up a branch hanging low over the creek so I would never have to set foot on land where he could follow my scent. Clambering up was the easy part; it was swinging from tree to tree that proved to be difficult.

It was so Tarzan-like I was almost tempted to let out a wild cry, but knew that'd likely be the last sound I made. And truthfully the actual branch-swinging wasn't nearly as Tarzan-like as I would have hoped. No fast easy gliding from tree to tree for me. It was more of a creep-to-the-absolute-edge-of-the-branch-and-hope-it-can-support-my-weight-and-then-scurry-to-the-next-branch. Rinse and repeat.

Each time I was in danger of falling and breaking my neck, and I could just imagine what Derek would say about this, and it was colorful. He seemed to frown upon unnecessary risking of my life. Anyway, he wouldn't be happy with me now that I was going to such lengths to deceive them. Or that I ran away at all. Over all, he'd be furious with me if I ever saw him again. And honestly? I was kind of hoping I wouldn't. At least not until the tracking chip was gone. I wouldn't be responsible for putting them in that danger anymore.

Below me the leaves rustled. It may have been just a squirrel, but I still froze for a few minutes. Then I kept going in my deadly treetop dance.

Eventually my frozen limbs couldn't safely grip the branches anymore and I was forced to stop. I huddled at the top of my tree, feeling like a little monkey among the leaves. I was tired, but I didn't dare close my eyes for fear of what would happen if I did. It would be just my luck if I managed to raise an entire forest of dead creatures. Not to mention falling out of the tree…

Unfortunately, staying still wasn't helping me warm up. Just the opposite in fact, I felt the feeling slowly leaving my toes and fingers. I curled up in a ball as if that would help. My stomach was growling, I hadn't really thought about bringing food and I hadn't had an appetite yesterday.

I decided staying where I was was counter productive and began to climb again. Dawn's rosy fingers were just stretching towards the horizon at this point. I settled into a routine: climb, rest, climb, rest, climb, rest. I kept going like that for the rest of the day, fortunately not hearing any Edison group members.

It was in one of my resting periods, the sky starting to fade once again to dusk, when someone spoke directly into my ear. "You lied."

I jumped and whirled, almost toppling off the branch. Beside me Liz was perched as if she had been there all along. Her friendly eyes were glaring at me accusingly.

"Liz! Are you trying to scare me to death?" I hissed, hoping no one had heard my sharp intake of breath at the scare.

"You promised you wouldn't do anything stupid." she crossed her arms.

I sighed. "I know and I'm sorry. I just couldn't stay there knowing every second I was putting them at risk-"

"Oh, like now they're totally safe?" she rolled her eyes, voice dripping sarcasm.

"Well now they can escape without being tracked-"

"You know they won't escape. Not until they find you."

"They aren't stupid, they'll save themselves-"

"No they aren't stupid. Which is why they aren't going to just leave you here."

"They should run-"

"Yes they should but they won't."

I sighed again, knowing she was right but wishing she wasn't. "Are they really that worried?"

"Bordering on triple heart attacks."

"But they can't find me, can they?"

"Not alone, no…" now she turned her eyes away from mine to study the ground several feet below us. I waited patiently for her to continue. After a moment's silence, she looked up at me again, an almost guilty look replacing the hard glint in her eyes. "I'm going to help them find you."

Her betrayal hurt. Of all our little group, I was probably the closest to Liz (although that may have had something to do with the fact that I was the only one she could really talk to). "But why?" I said at last. "I thought you were on my side!"

Pain flashed across her face but she didn't look away again. "I am. As your best friend, I am telling you you're being stupid. Totally and admirably brave and selfless, but stupid. Do you really think you'll be ok wandering out here alone? I mean, I know you're already starving," she saw my mouth open in protest and hurried to cut me off, "don't deny it- I can hear your stomach growling. And it's a miracle you haven't reopened the bullet wound."

"I can look after myself," I muttered, though she did have a point.

"For how long?"

"As long as I need to until I can figure out some way to get rid of this tracking device. Speaking of, how did the sabotage attempt go yesterday?"

She grimaced. "Not great. I wanted to steal it or break it or something but I think they were expecting me to try that. Of all people they had Margaret holding it." I could see her problem. Margaret, as a fellow necromancer, would be one of the few people able to see Liz if she tried to approach them.

"That's ok. Thanks for trying. Any ideas on how I can get rid of it?"

"I don't know, but you should probably ask Derek. From what I've seen, he's pretty good at making up plans and stuff."

"But I'm not going to see Derek because he's not going to find me."

"Sorry Chloe," she shook her head with regret, "but I think you're making a mistake. I know you're mad, but I'm really trying to help."

"Please Liz, don't go to them. Why don't you help by staying here with me? You can help keep lookout and scout ahead…" I tried to disguise the desperation in my voice. It would defeat the entire purpose of running away if they were still able to find me; they'd still be in danger. Not to mention the fact that they would probably kill me when they found me…

"Sorry Chloe," she repeated, form flickering. "But I have to do what's right. Bye."

"Wait! Liz-" But she was gone.

I took deep breaths, hoping to quench the despair welling up inside me. Of course they would find me if Liz was helping. I knew from experience that she would be able to track my necromancer glow from almost anywhere.

I couldn't help but glance down at the pendent dangling around my neck. It was more of a yellowish color than purple nowadays. I had had it since I was little and never thought it was anything more than a superstitious protection charm, but now it stood to symbolize my new life as a necromancer. I was tempted to fling it away to be lost in the forest, discarding my supernatural heritage. My fist even closed around it, tensing to rip it off the chain it hung on.

I shook off the feeling with a resolute snap of my head. What was I thinking? Not only was it one of the only things I had left from my deceased mother, who I probably would never even see as a ghost again, but hadn't we figured out that it was serving to stifle the full extent of my powers? I was always much more powerful without it on. Throwing it away would have the opposite effect of what I was aiming for.

With grim determination, I resumed my climbing. If there was no way to dispose of my necromancer glow completely, I would just have to hope I could put enough distance between us that it would at least be diminished.

SPOV

"Can we leave now?" Derek growled, pacing up and down in front of the kitchen.

"You said it yourself, we should wait until dark to look for her." Simon looked up from where he was doodling a picture of a petite blond girl trapped in an iron cage. He covered the picture with his hand so no one else would see it.

"Changed my mind. Let's go now." Derek made to move towards the door.

"At least let's wait for Liz to come back," Simon argued. When they had fled back to the house after running into the Edison group, Liz had written that she was going to go look for Chloe alone so she wouldn't have to worry about the rest of them bumbling through the woods after her. As a ghost it was easy for her to sneak around unnoticed.

"Well how do we know if she's back?" he snapped.

"Um…by that?" Tori pointed at the floating pencil.

"Liz, did you find her?"

"Yes." she wrote on the pad of paper on the table. The three living supernaturals crowded around the table to read.

"Is she ok?"

"Yes."

"Did you ask her to come back?"

"Yes. She didn't listen."

"No surprise there," Tori muttered, but the other two shushed her.

"Why not?"

"She thinks she's putting you guys in danger."

Derek cursed.

"So now can you help us find her?" Simon asked.

"Yes. I'll be more careful to watch out for Edison Group members this time so we won't have to turn around again."

"Let's go."

Sigh. I wish I could be as brave as Chloe…

Anyway, please review!