A/N:  A huge thanks to all my readers.  It's because of you that I'm writing this. 

Disclaimer:  The Animorophs belong to K.A. Applegate.  Hope, Sarah, Josh, Bade, and Alexandria belong to me.

~~Bade~~

Hey, it's Bade again.  It looks like I'm taking over the story.

I was walking back home, which was inconveniently located across town.  There really wasn't any reason for me to hurry up, so I was taking my sweet time.  I was just passing the sixth street light on Hope's block when I came crashing down face first.

"Hey!  What the-" I looked back to see who had crashed into me.  Then I blushed, "Oh!  Hi, Hope."

We got up and I realized she was panting and trying to talk to me at the same time, "Bade…we've got…to get…out…of here.  Now!"

"What is it Hope?" I asked.

"Hork-Bajir."

"Uh, Hope, Hork-Bajir aren't that uncommon.  Besides, they're very friendly."

"Bade…Bade…Yeerks!"

"But Hope, that's ridiculous.  They-" I stopped in mid-sentence.  Five Hork-Bajir we're running our direction.

We didn't need to say anything out loud.  We had both agreed on the same thing at that moment, like some sort of psychic connection.

We both decided to run!

Both of us were going as fast as we could, but the fact was that the Hork-Bajir were faster.  In about five seconds, the Hork-Bajir went from being 80 feet away from us to ten feet.

I kept focusing on running.  Faster, Bade, faster.

Hope tripped and went face first on the ground.  I turned back and saw the Hork-Bajir about to drive one of its sharp blades through her back.  I turned back around.  A blade was extended out.

I knew it was the end.  In a matter of seconds I would be headless.  I also knew Hope would be dead if she wasn't already.

You know when something scary happens time just seems to slow down.  Well, that's what was happening right now.  Everything was going so slowly.

Then I realized something, time hadn't slowed down.

It had stopped!

I couldn't believe it.  There was a blade, a centimeter from my neck.  But it didn't slash me.  I backed up a couple of inches and looked back.  Hope was there, also moving, but not very much.  I could see why.  A blade was only an inch away from going through her heart.  She slowly scooted forward until the blade was over a lower part of her back, then she slowly moved sideways.

"What's going on?" I asked her as I helped her to her feet.  She had many scrapes, including several on her face.  It probably had to do with falling on the asphalt and then scooting on it.

"I don't know Bade, I really don't know." She said to me.

I looked up, "Oh my, look!"

"What?" she asked.

"The bugs, they're not moving."

"You're right." She said.

"Time has stopped.  But who or what could do this?"

"I don't know.  All I know is that we are going to die when they start moving again."

Then we heard it, a voice that came from everywhere and nowhere.  It was more like an idea popped into my head.  I know that doesn't make much sense, but neither does time stopping for everyone except me and Hope.

YOU WILL NOT DIE.

"Who said that?" Hope started spinning around, looking for trouble.

The… whatever it was… did not answer our question.

YOU WILL NOT DIE NOW.  RIGHT NOW YOU WILL LIVE.

A/N:  Yes, I am so evil!  I have put in another cliffhanger.  Anyone who is somewhat familiar with the Animorphs will probably know who the voice is but for those who don't, I won't spoil anything.