Yeah, I know I took a long time...but I've been pre-occupied. But I got it done, and there's some parts I really like in it. Thanks for my reviewers...Yeah, this chapter is called THE FIRST NIGHT.


I gasped quietly, and blinked and rubbed my eyes, not wanting to believe what I was seeing.

It was a small cavern, perhaps as big as my bedroom back home. Which, by the way, was about the size of three and a half king a mattress. There was another doorway on the other side. But what amazed me was what was inside.

A silent pool about the size of a twin mattress lay to the east. Stumbling, I sat down beside it. My throat itched with thirst, so I cupped my hands and dipped them into the water.

The water was amazingly cold and refreshing, and my skin pricked with Goosebumps.

I brought it to my mouth and tipped my hands to my mouth to lick up the water. As soon as it hit the water, I felt…weird.

In a good way, of course, but the coldness of the water- the icy freshness- wasn't what startled me.

What it tasted like is hard to explain. Like liquid star juice, like the feeling of safeness and being watched by some unworldly force draining through your body. Reaching every part and making you feel like nothing in this world could harm you, even though you know differently.

I felt revived from a pain I hadn't known I'd been going through. It was magic, I decided, like they had said. Magical Healing Water. I blinked, and just to make sure, I dipped my sore ankle in the water. The waters seemed to leap toward it and a beautiful mix of blues and purples swirled in the water as a light silver mist rose from the pool. My skin seemed to glow and I gasped as I heard the faintest whisperers in my ear.

Too quiet to decide whose voices it was, but the message was clear enough.

"Welcome Alex…" It whispered and I shuddered, wondering who had been waiting for us. I lifted my ankle out of the water gingerly, and the pain ceased.

I looked around, the moon now pouring in through a hole in the high ceiling, undoubtedly where Camden and Kyle fell. It seemed like it had always been there, the dwindling moon fitting perfectly.

The shine from the moon bounced along the walls, and they seemed to glow intensely and as I came forward, I saw tiny quartz stones in patches along the wall. It looked like a light frost, just as Erik and the rest had described it as. I touched it, and it was just as cold as the moon water that lay to my side.

The same feeling washed over me, and I heard the voices louder now.

"This is a holy place indeed." I murmured to myself.

I scurried back over to Kyle, and his expression was triumphant.

"Cool, huh?" He asked and I nodded.

"I'll take them to the tunnel," I started and was cut off by Kyle.

"It leads to the main room, the biggest we think." I nodded, trying to hide my annoyance.

"Right." I said breezily, "You watch. Have no one take any of the crystals or drink the water." I explained to him. I saw his confused expression.

"Look Kyle," I paused, "It's like in church. Although you know the holy water and the cross are always there- do you take the cross or drink the holy water?" I asked him.

"Well…no."

"The pool and the crystals are just as holy as those things. Therefore, same rules apply."

"Okay. That makes sense." He agreed.

He ran to the side of the pool, so he could easily see everyone. I popped my head into the small room, and motioned for Effie- the first in line- to follow.

She followed me, and I heard gasps followed by 'oohs' and 'ahhs'. I heard Kyle a few times herding people away, but most seemed to listen to him.

As I lead my people down the curved path, I saw a figure waiting. But when I blinked, the person who I had thought was at the hole of light was gone. I assumed it was a trick of the light and plowed forward, not watching my feet.

One of the crutches I had given to Camden flashed out and before I knew it, I was on the stone ground. My hands stung and I lifted one to see a faint red scrape. But what hurt more was my pride.

"Oh, Alex!" Camden's surprised tone implied he thought we were someone else, "I'm so sorry!"

He was at my side, and he grabbed my hand to help me up. I could feel his hands were hot with embarrassment, and I flinched slightly.

"You okay?" He sounded worried, "I didn't hurt you-did I?" He asked.

"No!" I hissed, irritated, "What the heck was that for!"

"I thought, you know…" he started awkwardly and I rolled my eyes.

"That we were the souls?" I asked raising an eyebrow, "Yes, yes. I've heard that before." I sighed.

"Did everyone make it okay?" Camden asked, sliding the crutch back under his arm.

"No." I shook my head, and I saw the fear in Camden's eyes.

"Who?" He asked quickly, "Please say it's not Kelly or Chad." He murmured to himself. I looked at him with surprise. Never before had he shone such an interest in his siblings. They were lucky if he even noticed that they were there.

"No…" I sucked in a breath, "Two people died."

I watched as his face turned ashen and he gasped, running his fingers through his hair.

"Died?" He chocked. I nodded, and Camden turned to look at the stone.

"Who? Please!" He begged me. I paused, and looked around the wide room he was guarding. Just then, Meghan saw me and a cheer rose up and Brittany came to drag me away.

"You'll find out soon enough." I managed to tell him before she dragged me away.

"Alex! Omg it was uber scary waiting for you! Is Kenzie okay?" Her words came out in a rush and I frowned.

"Yeah, Kenzie's okay." I muttered and Brittany led me to a big rock right in the middle of the stone room.

I noticed faintly that there were doorways on either side of me, to where I couldn't tell.

"Get up there! Everyone will be waiting to hear from you!" Brittany squealed. I forced a smile and nodded, and sat on top of the rock.

A rush of memories from under the school flooded back into my mind. I smiled slightly, as I saw everyone venture into the room, eyes wary.

"This is our home now." I whispered. I looked especially for the people carrying Jonah and Honor. As if they were reading my mind, they stayed to the shadows, making sure that no one saw the bodies. I wanted the people to know, just not quite yet.

It had begun so easy for me to calculate who was and wasn't there, that now with just a quick swipe of my eyes over the crowd, I could instantly see that everyone was here, sitting together in groups.

"Quite down everyone!" I called and the talking quieted. I could feel the nervousness and fearful anticipation coming off of people. Some looked back and fourth, as if expecting an enemy that couldn't be seen. Some bit their lip, holding their knees close to their chests. Some leaned on others, and the littler kids coward with panic.

"I know that you'll all wary of what lies in these caves," I started, looking at everyone, "And to make sure that we are safe, before we go to sleep, I will assign ten guards to stay up and watch over us." Even before I got done with the sentence, I could feel waves of relief in their instantly relaxing positions.

"But before we go any further, I'd like my council to come up here next to me please." I asked.

I saw that they were surprised, as they got up to stand under the rock.

"What are you doing Alex?" Kenzie hissed.

I ignored her, and fished around in my pack for a crumpled piece of paper I'd been keeping for a while now.

"Rose, Kenzie, and Effie…" I started looking down at them, "Do you remember making your choices for the new council members?" I asked them, waving the sheet.

"Well…we didn't know who we were picking." Rose muttered and I smiled.

"Exactly," I said, turning toward the crowd, "You see, nearly half of you turned in papers with answers to try and be in the council. I read your answers to these three girls, and they picked the people they think would be best suited. Just to make it fair, they didn't know who's paper it was." I paused and chuckled, "Only I knew that."

"Now the time has come to announce the new members, so as I call your name please come to stand beside the other members." I asked.

My hands shook as I brought the paper to my face. I had actually memorized who had made it in, but the effect of the paper was priceless.

I saw most people hold their breath or cross their fingers, eagerly waiting for their name to be called. But not everyone could be picked.

"The first of four is…" My eyes scanned the crowd for the person, "Monica."

Monica's face instantly turned to shock, as she was momentarily stunned.

"Monica, get up there!" Meghan gasped and Monica stiffly got to her feet. I looked down to see people's expressions.

Monica had been a quiet girl- up until seventh grade. That's when she came tall, sporty, pretty, and popular. But still some of her younger version lingered. Like how I could see that she was still the little girl I had meet in kindergarten, just by playing 'horses' with.

I saw the approving expression of most of the people that didn't put in an entrée. Monica was popular and I had a feeling her addition to the team would be greatly valued.

Rose greeted Monica enthusiastically, jitter moving aside to make a place for her.

"And for the other girl," I smiled, knowing that this person would bring mixed reactions, but she would be a good member, "Meghan."

Unlike Monica, people whispered nervously, and looked at her. Meghan's tanned face flushed red when she didn't seem many looking approving.

"Are you sure that adding her is wise?" Kenize's voice was a bit disgusted, as she said the words everyone was thinking in their heads.

"Completely!" I said with out hesitation, and I saw a look of relief from Meghan, "Why wouldn't it?" I asked, testing Kenzie.

"Well," The answer this time came from someone in the crowd, Josh to be exact, "She's just-" He was cut off by Meghan's look of fury.

"What? Not good enough? Just because I don't like you like I did once? Is that your reason?" She spat, and Josh flinched under her gaze.

"No…" He stuttered, and then looked at her, "Never mind." He said admitting defeat. Kenzie was still looking at Meghan with anger.

"Look! You chose Meghan because of her answers! This is why I didn't tell you whose paper was whose." I said. Meghan got up and hesitantly picked her way over to us. I smiled. We would just have to keep Meghan and Kenzie separated, but it would work.

"Now on to the boys." I said grinning. They boys hooted and the girls looked annoyed, most because of not being chosen.

"The first boy is Kyle." I said, and I tried to ignore the rolls of the eyes.

"Of course she would choose Kyle." I voice whispered and I shook my head.

"I did not choose these people!" I hissed angrily, "I had no said!"

Kyle looked glad as he joined us up front, but I couldn't help but see a quick warning glance from Jasper in his direction.

"And the other boy is a boy who had suffered a great lot, and has still had strength," I smiled at Camden, who was at the edge, standing looking at he one left spot hungrily, "Camden."

"Go Camden!" One of his friends called and Camden looked ecstatic as he limped up to stand beside us.
"This is my council. But I did say that there were some people that nearly made it in, but something was off. Sometimes these people I will list will be able to join us in our discussions. These people are…Anna, Josh, Lauren, Tyler, Dominic, and Ripple." I smiled. Now people couldn't be mad at me for only choosing people in my grade…almost.

The people I called had a look between shock and excitement. My sister of course wouldn't have been my first choice, but she had spirit, and it wasn't me who had decided to hold that decision in my hands. I had given it to Kenzie, Rose, and Effie.

"Now, I suppose I should tell you some devastating news." I started, my heart heavy with sorrow. People looked around, trying to spot something to indicate what I meant.

"Two people have died." I was mostly addressing the younger kids, because us older kids already knew. Well, except for Brittany and Camden. Camden looked afraid all over again, just like by the entrance.

"First off, Jonah had died." I started, and I couldn't help but feel angered for the lack of sympathy. Most people looked somewhat pleased that he was gone, and maybe a year ago-I would have to. But being leader and seeing how it happened opened my eyes to see that it could have been anyone…

"And the second is Honor." I said and I received confused looks.

"Thank god." Rose scoffed beneath her breath. I shot her a stern look. Yes, she had always had displeasure for Honor, but this was no way to treat her.

"What was Honor doing here?" One asked.

"It wasn't really Honor…it was a soul using her body." I explained and the hushed murmurs grew louder.

"Before anyone asks, what happened is that Jonah ran in on Honor and she had a gun. In self-defense, we think, she accidently shot him. In his dying breath, he killed her with his knife." I explained, trying to keep it as PG as I could.

"Are we going to bury them?" Anna whispered quietly and I nodded.

"Yes, once I find a softer patch of land." I said dipping my head.

"I can help with that!" Erik spoke up, "When we were sort of exploring, I found a large cave with soft land."

"Good!" I exclaimed, and jumped down beside him, "Show me! The rest of you, stay here!"

The crowd eased back as I walked through them. Erik led me, his eyes flickering ever so carefully over the rough walls around him.

"Worried?" I murmured quietly. Erik blinked as if he just noticed his wary stance.

"Sure…we all are." He answered tensely. He led me back down the way we had came in, but stopped next to a black hole I hadn't even noticed the first time.

"Here it is." He said, rocking back and forth on the soles of his feet.

I placed one hand on the entranceway, and took a good look around.

The room was filled with a soil like scent and I swooped down to swipe my fingers on the ground. Unlike all the other rooms, where as it was hard rock, this was soft peaty soil.

It was large, big enough to be a graveyard for quite a few generations, I guessed.

"This will do." I whispered.

"Cool…" Erik said a bit in awe.

"Go get a friend- find long sticks, stick them in the ground around here, an light them on fire." I instructed. Erik nodded and bounded away quickly. I took longer back, and when I reached the cave, I called for my larger council.

Erik was not there, but I saw him and Charles running around the cave, thick sticks in their arms.

"Kyle, Jasper- grab Jonah and Meghan and Monica grab Honor." I instructed. They dipped their heads and ran off, reappearing with the rest of us a few moments later.

The crowd parted again, and more of the littler kids strained to see the bodies we were bearing.

"Stay here." I told the crowd, pausing at the place leading to the graveyard, "I'll come to get you in a moment."

Then I walked down the seeming chillier twisting way. I noticed Josh and Erik were already lighting the thick sticks around the whole place. The light flickered, reflecting against the walls and ground.

"Who brought the shovel from the condo?" I asked, looking around.

"I did." Dylan said and without being told, he ran out to retrieve it. He handed it to me a minuet later. I started to dig two graves, next to each other.

My council watched with ashen faces, the fire flickering the shadows on their faces.

When I had two graves a good deal deep and wide, and I looked over at Rose and Kenzie, lead the rest of the kids into here. Erik, I saw some sand by the entrance go and collect as much as you can in your shirt. Bring Jonah and Honor's bodies here." My voice was hoarse but they did as they were told.

Erik returned first, soft white sand in his tee shirt. I found a rock with a chipped away inlet.
"Pour it into here." I instructed. I watched with a calm expression my face as the white sand poured down like water.

I could hear the murmuring of the kids waiting making their way down. I looked up to see the group trying to fit into 'graveyard'. I had no doubt that they could…the 'graveyard' was nearly as big as the main cavern.

I raised my hand for silence and they ceased talking. I looked around, all their faces serious.

"Lay Jonah here first." I told Kyle. He set Jonah's limp body down into the first hole.

"I think it would be a good thing to say a few things about Jonah. I will start." I grabbed a small handful of the sand in my fist, "Jonah- when you really were calm, you were a good kid. I for one will miss you. These caves could have used your strength." I let the sand slowly trickle through my fingers and onto his body.

"Anyone who would like to say a few words, do the same as I did." I said.

No one seemed to want to step forward. But then Danny did. He grabbed a handful of sand.

"You were a good friend, buddy. I'll miss your company." Danny said slowly, and let his sand go.

This seemed to trigger something. After came Mark and Copper, a high school girl named Paige, and then surprise of surprise- Meghan.

There were gasps as the girl stepped forward, letting Monica hold Honor.

She took a smaller handful and when she spoke her voice was quivering, "I never really like you Jonah, but you were okay. It will harder here without your strengths." She admitted, and let her sand go.

After her, no one else stepped up.

"Monica?" I asked and she set down Honor's body in the second hole. I started again.

"I didn't know you to well, Honor, but I think we would have been great friends if you were still alive." I ignored the annoyed hiss from Rose as I let the sand go.

More people stepped up to say their respects. Rose had an annoyed expression on her face the whole time, but didn't say much.

The last one to go was a boy that had come to our school from somewhere in South America. Tanned skin, black hair, thick accented and named David.

"You always had a crush on me, Honor," He started in his thick Spanish accent, "I ignored you. But now that you're gone…I think I liked you back." He let his sand go, and you could practically hear the sound of jaws hanging loose. David finished and went to stand back by Danny, a pained expression on his face.

I then buried them, but didn't fill it all the way, "So we can tell where they are." I explained, my throat choking painfully.

After that, everyone trickled out. I soon was the last one left. I looked down at the two graves, falling onto my knees.

"Two people dead…" I whispered, "How many more? How many people will we loose in these caves?" I whispered. I felt my heart thud, "What if it's someone I truly care about next?" I murmured, my voice thick. I shook my head.

Safety, that's what we all were striving for in the first place, Survival…survival and safety. Those were my main points. Not anything fancy, not being comfortable…just making sure to keep the death rate down as much as possible.

I came into the caves a second later, and Rose was at my side.

"Are you okay?" She whispered. I grimaced.

"Safety, I need to keep everyone safe." I looked up at her, "I can't have any more deaths." She blinked in understanding, dipping her head.

"We'll stand behind you, Alex." She promised. I made my way back up to the rock where my council was sitting waiting for me.

"Girls, give everyone bedding sets. Boys make a huge fire in the middle of the cave." I told them.

"But won't they see the smoke?" Jasper asked.

"It's night, we'll be fine." I assured him. He frowned; obviously still a bit mad at me.

"Of course, Alex." He said, a tone of mock in his voice and spun of his heels. Everyone looked shocked. Except Kyle.

I had already suspected he knew what was going on between Jasper and I. He was just looking at Jasper's back with incredible fury.

"Well, get going!" I snapped my mood darkened by Jasper's. No one seemed particularly upset, but murmured to himself or herself as they wandered off to do what I had told them to.

When they were all gone, I ran around to the side of the rock where no one was and slid down into a sitting position.

I put my head in my hands, feeling a tear on my hand. I wiped it away quickly. No way was I going to let Jasper discourage me!

But it made miss the days when Kyle wasn't such a threat to Jasper we couldn't be friends. When Jasper was content with nothing more than being friends and would happily spend his time chasing after girls who weren't worth it.

But that's how we liked it. It kept everything in balance. I wanted to be Jasper's friend…and if he were willing to make up, I would forget everything in a heartbeat.

But Kyle was mine, to say, long before I met Jasper. Three years to be exact. He had to understand that I would love him as a friend, but nothing more.

It hurt as the image of his mocking face appeared in my mind. I didn't know if I could keep my tears at bay if I saw much more of that.

I brushed myself off. I was being silly! I had better things to worry about than my needs. Safety and survival. That's what I had promised to give these kids, and that's what I needed to focus on.

Plus, it gave me a reason to push those upsetting thoughts from my mind.

I was quite glad to see the orders I had given were being carried out with ease. Nearly everyone had his or her beds and an impressive log fire was being made in the middle. It reminded me of my days at camp when all the counselors would pitch in to make a fire easily taller than any one of them.

"Exactly how are we going to light this?" Kyle questioned, coming up on my left side.

"Some one HAS to have a match somewhere." I drawled, "Ask around…get Jackson the pyromaniac to help you. He'd be more than glad." I suggested. I knew my brother was all to obsessed with fire and such.

"Sure, I'll do that." Kyle gave a curt nod before running off to find my brother.

Soon, the girls came up to me, just enough bedding in their hands for the council and me.

"Where should we set up ours?" Kenzie asked.

"I would prefer it if you set up behind the high stone, I have a feeling that the bedding sets won't be put away again." I grimaced.

"Sure." Rose agreed, and skipped behind the high stone.

"Who gave her caffeine?" Kenzie muttered. I shot her a glare, although I wanted to laugh out loud.

"Kenzie, you were in charge of the food- how much bread, butter, and peanut butter do we have?" I asked her.

"Quiet a lot," She answered, "Why?"

"I was thinking dinner would be pudgy pies tonight…I KNOW we have five pudgy pie makers." I explained. Kenzie nodded and looked over at the fire.

"That's why the fire is for?" She guessed. I shrugged, "One of the reasons. The other is that it's a bit chilly in here."

"Go and get the food stuff- I'll set up your bedding stuff along with my own." I said, taking the two sets from Kenzie's arms. Kenzie seemed to relax.

I knew Kenzie was a good friend, but honestly sometimes she was the weakest person here! It was just bedding! Even I had strengthened up by being leader. She scurried off like a little mouse.

I turned to see Effie standing behind me.

"Hey, Ef." I greeted and started walking behind the high rock, and took in the bed settings.

Rose and Dylan had set theirs up next to each other's, Jasper's was next to Erik's, Kyle's and Camden's (This greatly surprised me) Was next to each other's, Meghan and Monica's of course were facing each other.

"You can set Kenzie's up next to mine." Effie said, pointing to a lone mattress. I nodded and nicely made Kenzie's bed. Next I turned to the boys.

"What happened to making the fire?" I asked, "Why aren't you out there right now?"

"We left it in the hands of Jackson and Crew." Camden yawned, stretching out on his mattress, lifting his hurt leg carefully up.

"You left the job of making huge fire to 'Jackson and Crew'?" I mocked.

"Sure! I call 'em Jackson and Crew 'cause your brother has a group of people that follow his lead. And besides, I've seen him make safe fires in front of your house all the time. He'll be fine."

I shook my head. "Make my bed on top of the rock, Effie." I instructed with a groan, "I have to go and supervise my brother." I grumbled.

Effie dipped her head and I turned around to and strode into the central clearing. Everyone was making beds around the large fire, which I was pleased to see was coming along quite nicely. The frame was just finished when I reached it and I stepped back to admire my brother's handiwork. It was a brilliantly made one, at that.

"And now," I heard my brother saying, "To lit it!" There was a series of hoots and whistles of happiness and I hastened over to Jackson, Adam, Noel, Jake, and Tyler. My brother was holding up a single match and a piece of paper.

"Great job." I said to him. He nodded, and then focused his attention back to the match. He struck it on a rock and it lit with flames. He just barley touched it to the paper before the paper started to burn a sizzle.

He dropped the paper and the match onto the impressive monument, and it burst into flames- a small one- but flames all the same.

"Start spreading the flames! My brother instructed, handing each person a few pieces of paper. It didn't take more than that for them to start hurriedly lighting the fire in different places.

Before I knew it, it was burning warmly. It was big enough to make me feel all nice and toasty, but small enough so that I could sit and cook and the smoke wouldn't travel to far.

"Kenzie!" I called, "Did you find what I asked for?" Kenzie scurried over, her arms overflowing.

"Yep!" She said with a grin and let her arms go gently. A can of peanut butter rolled astray and I stopped it with my foot.

"Perfect." I chuckled.

"Yum, peanut butter." Jackson said, grabbing a can and started to unscrew the lid.

"Paws off!" I snapped, swiping the jar from his hands. He looked up at me with an irritated expression on his face.

"Why?" He hissed.

"Because we need it for dinner." I replied.

"Dinner?" Jake asked, "Awesome I'm starving." He grabbed for the peanut butter jar.

"Did I not just snap at Jackson?" I asked him.
"It's like talking to bricks." Kenzie said with a sigh and roll of her eyes.

"Agreed." I said.

"We're standing right here!" Jackson hissed.

"Oh, you know I love you." I grinned, and tried to hug him.

"AHH!" Jackson screamed, "GIRL GERMS!" He whipped his hands on his shirt like I had slobbered on him and then whipped 'girl germs' on Jake. Jake made a look of disgust and playfully hit Jackson.

"Can you do this somewhere else?" Kenzie asked, tapping an annoyed foot.

"Yes…go and lay down or something." I agreed. The boys ran off, giggling.

"What?" Jackson and Jake said in unison looking up.

"Go…to…your…beds…for now." I repeated slowly.

"Bricks." Kenzie commented, "Every single one of them."

"Ah-greed. Now let's make some food!" I said and looked at Kenzie.

"Hmm…Kenzie go and get…Jackson again, and get seven people from the council." I asked. She nodded.

"Got it!" And then she ran off.

I pulled my bag in front of me and opened the drawstring. I searched and found a hardcover book, setting it down on the floor. This would be the plate, just because I didn't want to go and search for one right now.

I heard footsteps and looked up to see Kenzie with Jackson, Monica, Meghan, Eric, Dylan, Jasper, Effie, and Rose in tow.

I knew, of course, why Camden didn't come, but I wondered why Kyle didn't? I reasoned that Jasper most likely offered first, so he was picked first…and it was a good idea that Kyle and Jasper weren't together.

"What are we making? I'm starved." Rose asked rubbing her hands together.

"Basically, roasted peanut butter sandwiches." I said.

"My third favorite peanut butter dinner!" Jackson exclaimed. We all looked at him strangely.

"I like peanut butter." He defended himself, raising his chin.

"Okay, listen," I said ignoring what my strange brother had just said, "You're each going to do a job. Kenzie, you will butter one side of two bread pieces. You hand those to Effie who will put the peanut butter on. You hand that to Rose who will put the two pieces in the pudgy pie roaster and lock it. Then you will give that to me, Meghan, Monica, Erik, Dylan, or Jasper to roast it. We want the bread golden brown, people! Then we give it to Jackson who is an expert of getting them out. He will put it on this book-which will serve as a plate- kay?"

"Sounds good." Rose said. I grinned at her. I handed Kenzie the butter and bread, and Effie the peanut butter and Rose the roasters.

"Let's cook!" I said.

Later than sooner, we had enough pies for everyone to have one…

It hadn't been perfect making all sixty some pies…Kenzie's hands were slick and she dropped a few of the bread pieces; Effie when trying to help Rose with an exceptionally fat pie had accidently clamped it down on her finger, and it was red and swelling a bit by now; everyone roasting the pies had been burnt, not to bad, but just a bit at least once if not twice; and Jackson's fingers were all red and sore.

And then there was Rose. It hadn't even been two minuets in when it happened. She had managed to slice her hand on a knife, which is odd considering that she hadn't been one of the people to handle a knife. But she was Rose; the queen of hurting herself in ways that somehow wasn't even possible.

I had to take a ten minuet break to dress Rose's hand.

But nearly two hours later, we had made all that we needed with a bit of each supplies left.

"Dylan and Jasper, would you line everyone up please?" I asked. They nodded, Jasper with a hard glance at me, but he followed my instruction all the same.

Everyone practically leapt up when they heard that food was being given out.

"You all get in line," I told the people of my council, "Except Effie- Effie you can hand out the food- one each." I reminded her. She nodded.

"Sure!" She agreed and slid next to Jackson who was meeting his buddies in the middle of the line.

"Alex!" I turned to see Kyle walking to me.

"Hi Kyle," I greeted, "You can get in line for food now." I said, indicating with a nod of my chin to the long line.

"Sure, but first, Camden's bandages came undone- he's bleeding all over." Kyle informed with a shudder.

"I'll go and rewrap it, Rose- you'd better come to. I want a look at your hand." I told her. She looked longingly at the food.

"But...but…" She started to object.

"There will still be some when you come back." I said and she groaned but followed me back. I padded around the rock to see Camden on his bed, grabbing his leg and moaning.

"What did you do?" I demanded with a groan as I sat down beside him. I looked back at Roses, "Grab my first aid kit." I said to her. She nodded.

"Not much." He croaked, and I saw beads of sweat on his face. His face was etched with pain and there was a stream of blood from underneath his hands, which he held on the opening hard, "I just accidently tripped."

"Of course," I said and then nodded at his hands, "Pressure is good." I told him.

"Really?" Camden said sarcastically, his face white now, "Because the first thing I thought when this started spurting was 'oh let's put some pressure on it!" He snapped.

"Hold your horses." I said, "You're not going to die or anything."

"That is disgusting." Rose said from behind me. She leaned over and set the bag beside me.

"What's disgusting?" Camden asked, forcing a sly grin as he looked at Rose. Rose gagged.

"You are both sitting in a pool of blood." She panted. I looked down to see that it was staining my jeans, but not much else.

"Your just exaggerating Rose!" I snapped, "Now get down here and help me!"

"Do I have-"
"Yes!" Camden flinched.

"This really hurts." He said quietly. I turned my attention back to him.

"Of course, you'll be fine though." I said. I shot Rose a stern glare. She rolled up her jeans, flinching as she knelt down beside me.

"What do I need to do?" She asked, trying to keep her voice level.

"Search in my bag for some gauze, anti-bacterial medicine- it should be in tube form, and some pain medicine- that should be in pill form." I told her.

"Lift up your hands." I instructed him.

"What?" Camden asked, his face dazed.

"Take her hands away." I repeated. He flinched as he took his hands away. The blood came down in a more. I saw that the gauze had not been taken off, no- in fact the wound had reopened and there was a gash in the gauze.

"Great." I grumbled, "Just great."

"I feel sick." Camden gasped, looking down at all the blood pooling at his feet.

"Then don't look at it." I snapped, "Look away."

"Your grumpy today." Camden said, but closed his eyes.

"Yes, I'm grumpy because you 'tripped' and gashed your wound open!"

"It was an accident!" Camden insisted, shutting his eyes tighter. I rolled my eyes.

The blood was easing now, less of it coming from the wound.

"Rose get me the red towel in there." I told her. She had the rest that I asked for laid out beside her, away from the blood.

"Red?" Camden squeaked.

"It was bought red, Camden." Rose said with a roll of her eyes. I took the towel from her and pushed it against his leg. He yelped a bit.

I held it onto him hard until the blood ceased. I lifted it gingerly.

"The blood's stopped." Rose chipped in. Camden nodded, but didn't open his eyes.

I focused on taking off the gauze gingerly, unwrapping the ten or so layers of red, sticky gauze.

I handed the string to Rose who gingerly held it between two fingers.

"Eww…" She groaned, flinching as a drip of blood splashed against her white tee shirt.

"Of all the days I pick my cleanest shirt!" She grumbled, "This is just great."
"Stop complaining!" Camden snapped grimacing with every word, "You're not the one bleeding your life out! Then try not complaining!"

"Sounds as if you're complaining to me." I said, taking the gauze and the disinfectant and re-wrapping the wound. It was a cleaner, smaller cut than the first time, making it much easier.

"Rose would you give him a pain pill? Just one." I clarified as she searched the label. She nodded and held out one pain pill.

"Just one…" He scoffed sourly as he swallowed the pill.

"Pain is good for recovery." I said calmly. He frowned at me.

"Rose? Alex? Camden?" All three of us looked to see Dominic walking to us with three pies in his hand. He stopped dead when he turned around.

I could imagine what this must look like to him…blood all around us, all us dirty and red, and Camden with a look of pain drilled into his expression.

"Hi Dominic," Rose said and almost wiped her bangs back from her face until she remembered her hands were wet.

"Holy…" Dominic gaped, "What happened."

"Camden 'tripped' over a rock and reopened his wound." I said with a roll of my eyes. Camden opened his mouth to insist it was as accident, but closed his mouth with an audible click.

"That dinner?" Rose asked eagerly, "I'm starved."

"Yeah, after you didn't come back, I'd thought I'd bright you it…the only three left." He said. Rose jumped up and took the pie in her less bloody hand devouring it quickly.

"Delicious-totally worth slicing my hand open for." She said cheekily, waving her bandaged hand in Dominic's face.

"What?" he exclaimed, his deep brown eyes stretching wide, "How…what…are you okay?" He finally managed.

"It was just a cut Dominic, it's not like I caved open my leg." Rose giggled, looking back at Camden.

"Hey!" He objected, "I got this cut by finding this for us. If it wasn't for me, we could have been picked off by the souls by now. You should worship the ground I walk on." Camden joked.

"Of course, oh holy Camden." Rose giggled, "Because my cut is inferior and so much less compared to your slice." Camden opened his mouth but I spoke first.

"Speaking of which, I should probably re-wrap that…looks pretty grimy to me." I said. Rose nodded.

"Oh, and thanks Dominic." I added as I took the roasted peanut butter, to hungry to care that my hands were dirty. Camden made a gagging sound as the breed stained a bit red where I touched it.

"Oh shut it." I grumbled. Camden didn't answer after Dominic gave him his sandwich, which he ate perfectly fine despite the fact that his hands were drenched.

"Should I sit?" Rose questioned.

"Nope…I wouldn't want to get anyone else's bed dirty…or the floor for that matter."
"How am I going to sleep?" Camden chipped in his voice annoyed.

"I'll get to that problem in a second." I replied. I noticed as I started undressing Rose's hand that Dominic lingered, his eyes curious.

I got down to the cut.

"Looks better than before." I contemplated, "But you picked up a bit of grim and such, plus Camden's blood."

"That looks pretty deep." Dominic said, his brow creasing as he looked at it.

"Oh it's fine- not a bad as it looks to be honest." Rose said.

"Dominic- get me the gauze, the tiny tube beside Camden, a new white rag, and a bottle of water from my back." I said, shifting off my pack from my shoulders. He nodded swiftly and in no time at all, brought me what I wanted.

"Thank you." I said, first splashing a bit of the water onto the rag and gingerly started cleaning it. Rose flinched slightly.

"Are you sure you're not hurting her to bad?" Dominic asked worriedly.

"I'm fine- it just stings a bit." Rose said stiffly.

"I wouldn't hurt Rose, besides if it hurts- that means it's being cleaned well." I said, looking over at Dominic.

Rose tried not to flinch, I think more for Dominic's sake than her own, and it didn't take long for me to be done cleaning.

"Now this will hurt a bit more, if he remember from about three hours ago." I reminded Rose as I squirted out a tiny bit of anit-infection goop onto my rag.

"I know," She agreed, "its more reflexes than it actually hurting." She said, but I could tell from her tone, and that she was looking at Dominic, that it was implied for him.

He, hadn't heard, but instead was talking to Camden. Rose rolled her eyes.

She let out a squeak as it cleaned her cut, and Dominic snapped his head up- but didn't say anything, thankfully. It didn't take much gauze to re-wrap her cut, and she waved it in front of Dominic's hand when she was done.

"I'm perfectly fine!" She mocked with a grin, "See." Dominic didn't answer.

"Um, Alex?" Camden asked, "What am I going to sleep on? I mean- my bed is soaked with…" Camden gagged a bit, "Blood."

"Right!" I said briskly, and was a bit glad to see most of the blood on the ground had dried. But Camden's bedding material had been soaked…

"You can have my bed." Rose offered instantly. Camden's face flushed slightly.

"What will you sleep on then Rose?" I asked with a frown.

"She can have my bed set- it's a double." Dominic blurted. When Rose looked at him with a look of pure relief and thanks, his face turned a darker shade of red than the blood on the ground.

"It's nutin'." He assured, "I mean, I can probably ask to share with someone else."

I nodded. "Thank you, Dominic. But that still leaves the problem of Camden's bedding." I murmured the last part more to myself.

"We could soak it in the tiny pool in front." Dominic suggested.
"No!" Rose's eyes flew open, "Absolutely no!" Behind her Camden nodded vigorously. Dominic's gaze switched to mine.

"Not a good idea." I said slowly. Dominic shrugged.

"It was just a suggestion." He muttered.

"Well not one we're going to use." Rose replied and then turned to me, "When we were lounging around, I was really thirsty." She pointed to a cave opening to the left of us. "Through there, the second cave straight forward is a pool of water with a water fall in the back. Not very deep at first, but I wouldn't try all wading in. But it seems like a good place to wash stuff." Rose suggested. I grinned at her.

"Great job, Rose!" I congratulated her.

"It was nothing…but it's really clean water. I mean, I drank a bit."

"Good to know. Now Dominic- go and find a friend and wash of Camden's bedding stuff. Kay? When you come back, come back here…we'll be probably in a meeting." I said. He nodded. I handed him an electronic lantern and a bar of soap.

"Umm…okay." He grumbled. Flinching, but gingerly taking the mattress, blanket and pillow and then disappeared around the rock.

"Rose- I need you to gather the council, the reps as well." I added. Her eyes stretched wide.

"Everyone!" She gasped. I nodded.

"Everyone. The representatives are Dominic- who is cleaning right now, Anna, Tyler, Lauren, Josh, and Ripple."

"Got it." Rose said with a nod and hurried off, rattling off the names over and over.

"What can I do?" Camden asked. I frowned.

"You can arrange all the bedding in a circle. You don't want to strain that injury." Camden scowled, but started limping and making all the beds into a circle, muttering something about not getting to do anything useful.

I slipped into the shadows, grabbing my bag from the ground. Skirting along the edge of the main cave, I made it to the Cavern. I slid into the holy room, and took out a cup from my bag.

Carefully, I knelt at the pool and dipped the cup into the starlight water. As I brought the cup up, a drop splashed onto my hand and a shiver ran up my spine.

I dipped just a finger into the water, and put it into my mouth. The warming, but yet cold, sensation creped along my spine, reaching every part of my body. I let out a sigh. It gave me a strength that I would need for this meeting.

I was afraid- not just for me, but also for everyone else in these caves. I couldn't let anymore die…it was painful, and in a way- I felt responsible for the death. I wondered if all the great leaders felt that way when they lost someone?

I shook my head, scurrying back behind the large rock, surprised to see people still trickling in. Camden was sitting on what I presumed was Rose's bed, because his was nowhere to be found, and Dominic's bed, now Rose's, was sitting at the front of the circle.

"I switched them." Camden said, following my gaze. I nodded.

"Okay, but don't do that again-" I was cut off when he finished.

"Or I might hurt my wound even more." He guessed dryly, "I'm fine Alex."

I suppressed a sigh. "Here." I said, handing him the cup.

"What's this?" Camden asked, taking the cup of Cavern Water.

"It's from the pool in the front- I thought it might help a bit."

"Cool." Was all he replied? Then he downed it quickly, wiping his lips and giving a sigh of pleasure, "Tastes amazing that water. I tell you it's not normal." I snorted.

"Oh, I believe you." I said with a chuckle. I turned at the sound of footsteps and saw Rose leading mostly everyone back behind the rock. It seemed only three or four people were missing, including Dominic.

"Take a seat." I told everyone and sat down on one half of Rose's, "Oh, and this is your new bed Rose." She nodded and sat beside me.

"New bed?" Jasper snorted, sitting down on his as Josh sat beside him, "What happened to your old one?"

"That's not important." Rose said dryly. Jasper shrugged and stared talking to Josh.

The rest of the people trickled in, and Dominic burst in from the tunnel.

"Where were you?" Jasper asked.

"I had to clean up Camden's bloody mess." Dominic grumbled.

"Where did you leave it?" I asked him as he sat in the last remaining seat, next to Camden, knowing that he would get what I was talking about.

"Leave what?" Jasper asked. Dominic ignored him.

"By the pool in there." Dominic replied and I nodded.

"Leave what by what pool?" Jasper demanded loudly, and everyone turned to him, "It's just you guys never tell me what's going on."

"Don't worry, it doesn't concern you." I assured Jasper. If we had still been friends, he would have just shrugged and nodded, but seeing he was still mad at me, he scowled deeper and didn't answer.

I got up and turned on four lanterns, centering them in the middle giving us a bit of light. I checked my watch…12 o'clock midnight. I looked up, looking at each person's face, the light dancing up their skin, bathing them in a milky golden sheen. Other than a few lanterns we set up around the cave, this was the cave was pitch black.

"You all need to listen about what I'm about to say." I whispered and the talking amongst everyone around the circle ceased.

"What's going on?" Kenzie whimpered, "Alex- your tone is scaring me." A shiver ran down my spine.

"I fear…" I chocked out the words as they caught in my throat, "I fear that we are unsafe." I spilled. No one spoke.

"What do you mean?" Jasper demanded quietly, "I mean, we made it into the caves, we're perfectly safe." He bit his lip and looked at me, all his hostility for my rejection gone, "Right?" His voice quivered. I took a deep breath.

"No…no." I repeated quieter. I took a deep breath, closing my eyes, "Even here in the caves- we may be unsafe."

A/N- Yeah! Cliff Hanger! Why is it so unsafe? I guess you'll just have to wait until next time (Tee hee) Please, if you could answer some of the questions from the last chapter- at the end of the the last chapter that is...it would really help!