Chapter 5: A Problem

Hailey wasn't at school the next day. I had rushed out the door after her but she had simply disappeared. I had even gone to the office and asked for her home number, but of course they said no.

Chris sat down in front of me and waved his hand in front of my face.

"What?" I said as I looked up at him.

"Dude where is your mind today?" he exclaimed, " you look stoned man."

Maybe that would have been the best way to deal with this…or not.

"Sorry Chris," I ran my hand through my hair, "hey man, do you know where Hailey lives?"

Chris arched his eyebrow, "Oh I see what's going on. You doin her or what?"

I clenched my fist and smirked instead of doing what I wanted to do. And at that point I felt like knocking out every perfect white tooth in his big mouth…

"Nah man, I just need to talk to her about a school project," I lied.

He shrugged, "Sorry man, I have no clue."

The tone went and everyone grabbed their bags, heading for second period. I sighed and stood up, looking over at Hailey's empty desk.

Where was she?

Did she run from Kevin again?

Or was she in some kind of trouble…

Heading to my locker I checked my watch. I had five minutes before second period started.

When I got to my locker I twisted the combination and opened my locker. When I opened my locker and looked inside, I almost screamed.

"What the fuck!" I exclaimed.

On the walls of my locker was a message:

STAY AWAY FROM HER…

It was written in red. When I touched it with my hand and brought it back to my nose to smell if a almost puked. It was blood…

But who's?

…………..THAT NIGHT………

I lay in my bed that night, wide awake, staring out my window.

I had gone home sick after the incident with my locker. My face was so pale that even the nurse believed me.

"Damnit," I growled as I got up, "where the hell is she?''

Putting on a black long sleeved shirt and dark denim jeans, I opened my window. Back in Carmel I would have just used the front door. I mean who would have stopped me? My grandfather? He was a vegetable… though Suze seemed to think differently. But back here in Seattle I would have to go by Jack's room. I couldn't risk having him catch me. He would tell our parents for sure.

I climbed out the window and jumped the few feet onto our front lawn. When I made sure that I secured the door so that it would stay open, I turned and slapped myself in the head.

"Duh Slater. Shifter you idiot!" I cursed.

Why the hell had I jumped out the window when I could have just shifted out? God, I am such an idiot…

Shrugging to myself I ran across the street to the park where I would normally run into Hailey.

It was deserted. A few stray papers blew across the open park and I shivered.

"Hailey!" I called out, cupping my hands around my mouth so I could amplify the sound.

Nothing.

Out of the corner of my eye I noticed something moving. When I turned to look, it was gone.

A shiver ran down my spine…someone was watching me.

And I had a pretty good idea who…

"Kevin you fucker!" I yelled into the darkness, "show yourself you coward!"

A cold laugh came from behind me and when I turned, there he was. He had a stupid smirk on his pale features and I could feel the power ripple off him. He may look calm, but damn was he pissed. Like a bomb ready to go off.

"You called me? What is it you needed?" he asked.

"Don't give me that bullshit! You know why I'm here! What the fuck did you do with Hailey?" I fumed, balling my fists until I could feel a small trickle of blood forming in my hands.

"Hailey?" he tapped his chin as if he was thinking, "I don't know who you are talking about."

"Bullshit! I know it was you who left the message in my locker! Hailey told me all about you, you bastard!"

He laughed again and started to play with a lighter that he pulled out of his pocket.

"Oh yes, now I remember," he smirked, "she wasn't being a very good girl, running away from me and all. I had to… re-educate her on how she is supposed to treat me. She didn't seem to be very happy when I asked her to help me with that message in your locker.."

"What are you talking about? How could she have helped you?" I asked, confused.

He looked at me and lifted an eyebrow.

Oh my fucking god…

My stomach twisted into knots.

"It was real blood," I gasped, "her blood…"

"I see that you aren't as dumb as I thought you were Slater," he laughed again, "yes, I know who you are. I know all about you. I like to make a point of knowing the people Hailey is messing around with. You are originally from Seattle but you moved to California for two years. You went there for a girl, another shifter, but when she dissed you, you ran back home like a scared cat."

"Where is Hailey?" I asked, ignoring his comments.

I had thought that this guy was just possessive, but he was way beyond that. This guy was crazy!

His thin lips twisted into a tight smile and he seemed to be looking at something behind me.

Slowly, I turned my head to see what was happening. As I was turning I felt a drop of rain fall on my cheek. Crap.

"Hailey!" I yelled when I realized that it was her who had been standing behind me.

I ran up to her and grasped her hands. They were like ice. When I looked up into her face, it was like I wasn't even looking at the Hailey I once knew. Her eyes had lost their shine and were dull and lifeless. Her hair fell limply around her face and her shoulders were slumped inwardly.

I put my hand on her cheek and tilted her face to look up at me. She seemed to look right through me.

"Hailey?" I whispered, "It's me, it's Paul"

She flinched when she heard my name and an emotion flashed though her eyes for a brief moment then it was gone. I clenched my teeth when I recognized the emotion. It was fear. She was afraid. Of what? Of me?

I turned back to Kevin. By then he had moved closer.

"What the fuck did you do to her?" I seethed.

If he had touched her…

Kevin smiled, "When I found her running down the street the other night, all she could talk about was you Paul. Well I guess I can't say talk. More like screamed. She expected you to come and save her I guess. I'm sure she must have been very disappointed when you never came…"

I clenched my fists.

"If you hurt her…"

He laughed, "She didn't get anything that she didn't deserve."

And that was when I lost it.

Before he could move I tackled Kevin to the ground. He growled out loud and tried to get me off of him, but I punched him in the jaw.

The rain started to come down harder and my wet hair started to get into my eyes. Of course Kevin's hair was dirt dry thanks to him being dead…damn him.

"Get off me Slater or I'll kill her!" Kevin yelled.

Oh yeah…that'll calm me down…idiot.

Punching him square in the nose I smirked when I heard the bone snap. Kevin yelled out in pain, though I knew that he would rejuvenate in about two minutes. Rolling off him I jumped up and hurried over to Hailey.

"Hailey," I grabbed her hand and started to pull her away from Kevin, "we have to get out of here, now!"

She looked at me and a tear slid down her cheek.

I felt my heart twist in my chest. I had let her down. Who knows what he did to her…

Gathering her into my arms, I began to carry her out of the park when there was a shimmer in front of me.

"Shit," I said as Kevin materialized in front of me, his sick smirk long gone. His teeth were gritted and his fists white from squeezing them.

"Where do you think you are going with her Slater?" he said in barley a whisper.

I gripped Hailey closer to me, "You stay away from her."

Kevin lunged at me, knocking all three of us to the ground. Hailey was thrown to the side and Kevin landed on top of me. He wasted no time and kneed me in the stomach, and punched me in the jaw. Suddenly his hands came around my neck and began to squeeze.

I gasped for air. My vision started to blur as his grip got tighter.

Killed by those I was suppose to help…ironic.

Suddenly Kevin was tackled off of me and I grasped my neck, gasping for air.

When I looked to where Kevin landed, my eyes widen to see him and Hailey rolling on the ground.

"Don't touch him!" Hailey yelled as she clawed at his face.

She placed a barrier around Kevin and threw him off her. She kept her eyes on Kevin and slowly started to get up. About half way there she groaned in pain and sunk back to the ground.

I went to her side, "Hailey are you ok?"

She shook her head, "I think my ribs are broken."

A small bead of sweat formed on her brow as she fought to keep the barrier around Kevin who was fighting to get out.

"When I get out of this," Kevin yelled, "you are dead bitch."

Hailey's eyes started to flutter a bit. I could tell she was tired.

Suddenly Kevin broke out and lunged at Hailey, knocking her to the ground. This time, she didn't have the strength to fight.

Sigh…..I have to do everything

Just kidding.

Ripping Kevin off her I grabbed him around the neck.

"I've just about enough of you, you sick fuck!" I yelled.

I with that I transported the two of us to the Shadow Land.

"Where the hell did you take me!" he yelled when we appeared in the long hallway.

I steeped back from him and waved.

"Bye fucker!" I smiled brightly.

And then I shifted back to earth, Kevin's horrified scream ringing in my ears…