Hey, guys! Okay, I REALLY like this chapter, and I just finished it! And I'm glad to say taht I can work on it more because I have finished the Reception for Amber and Frenna!! Finally. I've been on a role, two new Poetry Corners, THe Reception, and now this! *irock* ENjoy!!

"This way."

"What way?"

"This way."

I grabbed Fang's hand and pointed my flashlight down the hall in front of us. Rain pounded on the roof and thunder growled in the sky.

"Where are we going?" He asked.

"To the basement. I already told you that." I said.

"Right. Okay, why?" He inquired. I sighed and told him about the voice I heard during the earthquake, and then my sudden epiphany of where the family fortune could be found.

We continued down the hallway of my Aunt's house. I left the rest of the flock back home, under Iggy and Total's care of course. We hurried down the first set of stairs, we had flown in through an open window on the second floor.

Fang stopped suddenly, taking in a sharp gasp, and grabbed my elbow.

"Did you hear that?" He whispered. His eyes darted around the room.

"What?" I questioned. He did a full 360, then shook his head.

"Uh…nothing. I guess I'm just hearing things."

I bit my lip, then nodded and continued across the first floor. I had no idea where the staircase to the basement was. I had only been to my Aunt's house twice, and I'd only been inside once, when Fang and I broke in.

Finally, we found the stairs in the hall by the kitchen.

"It's dark down there…" I observed. I shuddered, then turned to Fang beside me, shadows cast across his face, caused by the moonlight filtering in through the kitchen window. I had never been a fan of the pitch black darkness. Dark is creepy, dark is not my friend.

I know what your thinking, the great invincible Max is afraid of the dark. Well, you know what…Yes, I am. If I were put in a room with no light what-so-ever, alone, I would probably freak out, break down and cry.

Fang, who was the only person that knew of my dark fear, slipped his hand into mine and gave it a gentle, encouraging squeeze. He looked into my eyes and silently told me, "It'll be okay, I'm here."

I gave him one sharp, quick nod and began my descent down the steps. Fang followed close behind me, still holding my hand. When we reached the bottom of the stairs, I swept my flashlight beam across the room. Not seeing anything in the quick scan, I began to cross the floor.

I felt Fang tense beside me, his grip around my fingers tightening slightly.

"What is it?" I asked him quietly. I pointed my flashlight at his ashen, wide-eyed, frightened face, then followed his eyes.

I blanched.

Standing before us was the same middle-aged man that had shot my mother. The man that killed my aunts and my father. The man that was sent to kill me. George Martin. My mom's half-brother.

His hair had lightened from jet black to gray since I saw him last. In his hand he held a bloodied knife. His clothes were also splattered with blood, as if he hadn't changed since his last murder.

Behind him was my evil grandmother.

"Max, Fang." Grammy Martinez said sweetly. So sweetly it sent a shiver down my spine. Moonlight shone in through the only window, behind them, illuminating their faces and making them look even more menacing.

Fang gave my hand three quick, tight squeezes, our signal for 'run!'.

"One," Fang said so quietly I almost didn't hear him. Right as we were about to turn and run for the door, it slammed closed behind us.

So much for that plan, I thought.

"Your not going anywhere." A wicked voice said behind us. A wicked voice that I had come to know and hate. I turned my head slowly. My eyes settled on the image that had been haunting my mind for days now. My dead, deformed, translucent father. He stood in front of the closed door, glaring down at us, a sinister smile on his face.

I gulped as I saw that he, too, had a knife in his hand. He sauntered down the stairs towards us, at the same time George started to cross the basement en route for us as well. Both started closing in on us, knives raised, ready to strike.

Fang's arm snaked around my waist, pulling me close to him, and his other arm wrapped around my torso. Grammy Martinez let out a maniacal laugh as lightning streaked across the sky in the window behind her.

Did'ja like it? Lord knows I did! I'm REALLY proud of thsi chapter!!

BTW, Jeb is a ghost. Just thought I'd mention that.

Gah, this seems short...:(

R&R!! Tell me what'cha think!!