AMBER'S POV

I'm growing frantic and impatient. Where are they? They've been gone for almost an hour. I wish I could go find them, but at the same, time I'm terrified for my safety. But what if they're hurt?

I'm so conflicted.

I stand alone in the corner of the gymnasium while Beck fetches us punch. When i glance at my nails, I see I've chewed away most of my new manicure. I don't even care; I just want my friends back safely.

"Amber," Beck whispers in my ear as he returns with the punch. "You needn't worry. Your friends are find. I promise."

'How can you say that?" I demand. "They're not safe! They're battling an evil deadly Egyptian god!"

I feel myself hyperventilating. My vision blurs, and I feel as if I'm going to faint - or throw up.

Not on the shoes, I pray. Not on the shoes.

"Amber! Amber, are you ok?" Beck assists me erect once again. "Hey…"

His voice fades out. His eyes close and his face nears mine. His hot breath radiates on my neck as his soft lips touch mine. The kiss starts off light, but quickly grows more deep, more passionate by the second. His hands lace through my hair as his lips trace mine.

Beck pulls back. "Are you ok?" he asks me concernedly.

"I want to know my friends are safe."

Beck and I stand in silence. His hands are cupped around mine gently as he gazes into my eyes. Oh his eyes. They're just so beautiful.

"Hey, Amber," Beck says as if recalling something. "Remember on Halloween, on the stakeout, when you heard me mumbling about someone named Lacey, and I wouldn't tell you who?"

"Yeah…" Crap. He has en ex-girlfriend.

"Lacey, she… she was my sister. Last year, she was murdered, and the police still haven't figured out who killed her. She was only 7. It was devastating. My parents saw how distraught I was and they sent me here to escape the pain of her absence for a while. I guess that night I was dreaming about her and it woke me up.

I think about her all the time. I miss her."

So no girlfriend. This is much worse.

"Beck, I… I don't know how to respond to that. That's dreadful."

Beck's gaze lowers and his expression darkens. I see tears welling in the corners of his eyes.

"Don't worry about it," he says through a forced smile. But I see through the grin. He's putting on a facade to look strong, resemble bravery. I've had enough of people in this school hiding their emotions, keeping themselves locked away in a cage.

But what can I do? I can't simply tell Beck to cry or let the world know his story. I respect his decision, but one of these days, I pray that someone will let their dams break.

"AMBER!" I hear someone cry. Nina rushes towards me. Her hair is mussed up and frayed, her arms and legs bruised and cut.

Nina throws her arms around me in a hug of rejoice. "Eddie did it. Eddie stopped Set!"

My mouth drops in shock. "By himself?"

"Yeah… I'm not exactly sure of the details… you'll have to ask Cassidy."

I squeal and hug her again, bewildered at the thought this trauma has ended.

"Nina, go and see Fabian over there," I whisper.

"Why?"

"Do I really need to explain? His first love arrived out of nowhere, and he got to see her for a second. His girlfriend, KT, she broke up with him when she saw how happy you two were together. Go dance with him. The world is saved for another day - this calls for celebration!"