Police cars surrounded the gleaming white hospital building. Lights were flashing, sirens blaring, and there was the crackle of speakers as they spoke to one another through walkie-talkies.

Red. Blue. Red. Blue.

The place wasn't taped off yet, so Rex turned his lights off and parked inconspicuously in a space near the back. He had excellent night vision.

"Come on," he muttered, opening his door semi-silently. Deron surveyed the midnighters, and noticed that all but he and Aris were wearing black. Her skin would stick out like a beacon. And Deron's white shirt would glow with unearthly luminescence.

"Maybe Aris and I should stay here." He felt pretty proud of himself for speaking out. Usually he was too nervous to talk around people that awed him.

Rex whipped his head around and pulled down his sunglasses with a finger. Why the heck was he wearing those at night anyway?

He looked at them. He sniffed.

"You stay. Or you can change your shirt."

And then he got out of the car.

Deron felt awfully stupid. Considering that he had set out on a long journey tonight, of course he had an extra shirt. He glanced at Aris and wondered if Rex hadn't heard her name.

However, Rex was much more experienced than Deron. He knew what he was doing. Most likely.

Dess, Jonathan, Aris, and Deron climbed out of the car. Aris had ridden shotgun, so it was much easier for her than it was for the passengers in the back.

When everyone had gathered themselves, Rex led them across the way to the hospital. Deron shivered. His past memories of this place (which weren't too old) were anything but pleasant.

At least the blue moon of midnight wasn't shining down on them, and the receptionist wasn't frozen. But that turned out to be a problem.

She was talking to two men, both of which were in blue uniforms. Walkie-talkies buzzed at their belts, and bright floodlights shone in from the windows. They were questioning her.

The rest of the room was lit in a sort of twilight, destroying their chances of sneaking up the stairs to Melissa. Of course everyone was worried for her. At least, Deron was.

Something major had happened. All of the police of his town were out here, with guns and lights and even dogs.

Rex looked at Aris. "Go on."

Jonathan raised an eyebrow.

Aris closed her own dark eyes and sighed deeply. Her chest heaved in again and she clapped her hands together, quietly.

The policemen and lady at the desk didn't seem to notice anything. But Rex could see the blue streak of midnight wrap itself around them, and freeze them in place.

"Whoa," said Dess, interrupting the sudden silence. Deron turned away, frightened of Aris' power.

"Come on," said Rex for the second time that night. He didn't wait for them as he rushed up the stairs.

Maddeningly impatient, that one, thought Deron as he rushed after the others.

"Stop!" he cried suddenly as they flew up the stairs. The group came to a standstill.

"I hear voices upstairs," he whispered, glad to be actually helping.

Jonathan snickered. "You hear voices." Snicker, snicker.

"Shush it up," said Aris, surprising them. She hasn't spoken in all of the ten minutes they had known her. It was an icy tone, as if she didn't care to speak to them, and wished she wasn't.

Deron strained his supernatural midnighters powers, as well as his ears; trying to get a hint of where the sound was coming from.

"About two floors up, I think," he finally announced.

"Melissa's room in on that floor," Dess said worriedly.

"Let's go," said Rex, racing off.

Jonathan glowered as they went up the flights of stairs. He didn't like Rex just assuming command after months of separation. Jonathan considered the team a democracy now, where no one was leader, and everyone had a say.

He actually helped us by going away. Haha. Jonathan thought as the group entered Melissa's hallway ever so slowly.

Three policemen stood outside her door.

Dess managed to hold in a gasp. Rex waved a hand at Aris.

She nodded and clapped her hands again. This time, the freezing happened a lot slower. She instantly seemed tired, and slumped down on a waiting bench. Her pale skin became even paler, and her long black hair folded in curtains around her face.

Deron didn't like the way Rex was abusing Aris' power, but he didn't say so. It was another topic for another time.

Rex waited for the others to enter Melissa's room.

What a wimp. Deron thought.

Dess went in first, and then Jonathan and Deron. Rex went last, leaving Aris out in the corridor.

All the lights were on. There were all kinds of forensic equipment in the room. Areas were sectioned off, and tape strung itself from every possible space.

Melissa, however, was not there.