Chapter 12: Rescue

I began to recognize where I was and I noticed that Suze's uncle's house was only about seven blocks from where I lived. Heading in that direction I made sure that I kept away from the street lamps and remained in the shadows of the houses. I suspected that the Gemini were still out looking for us.

As I turned onto my block I headed straight for the park where Hailey and I had first met. I don't know why I went there, but it was almost like I was drawn toward it.

It was almost pitch black and I had to walk rather slow to make sure that I didn't run into anything. When I found the park I sat down on one of the swings and sighed.

I must have sat there for at least an hour.

Suddenly I heard footstep approaching me from behind and I began suddenly alert, allowing my power to flow to my finger tips.

Concentrating on a plastic bucket that was probably left from the day I lifted it up using my power and flung it in the direction the footsteps were.

I voice cursed as the person sunk to the ground.

"Damnit Paul! There was sand in that!" the voice hissed.

"Chris?" I spun around to see Chris's silhouette approach.

"What do you want?" I growled.

Chris brought his hands up, "Whoa man clam down. I'm here to help you."

I laughed, "Bullshit. You are one of them, how do you expect me to trust you?"

"I don't. but I figured that you wanted to rescue Hailey," Chris said softly.

I froze.

He knew where Hailey was…

"Where is she?" I asked.

"Dimitri has her hostage at the old abandon church a few blocks away from our school." Chris spoke as though he was afraid someone would hear.

"Why are you telling me this?" I arched an eyebrow.

"What Dimitri is doing to mediators and shifters has never sat right with me man," he ran a hand through his hair, "My cousin was a mediator. We were really close. When I joined the Gemini, Dimitri found out and killed him."

I nodded, "Thank you."

And before he could respond I pictured my school and shifted.

Bursting into a run, I ran the few blocks to the old church.

I knew it pretty well. I use to go there with Chris and we would hang out behind it, burning stuff.

As I approached, for some reason, I thought of Father Dom. I could just picture him…

'Remember that you are a force of good Paul. Do not let your emotions get in the way of your better judgment…'

I pushed his voice out of my head.

Screw that… I was gonna kick some ass…

Looking in through one of the windows I noticed three men sitting around a table. The all were drinking from beer bottles, and I noticed that they were already pretty drunk. It would be easy enough to get around them…

I noticed that in the corner of the room, there was a figure leaning up against the wall.

It was Hailey.

Her chin rested on her chest.

She was unconscious and I could see a small spot of fresh blood on the side of her head.

I could feel my blood begin to boil as I looked at her lying helpless on the floor. These bastards were so gonna pay…

Shifting into the room I immediately caught the attention of the three men. The all got up and charged at me.

Using my power, I hurled a chair at one of them, knocking him onto the ground. He lay there, holding his head and groaning. I punched one of the men in the jaw and he went flying into the wall, making a dent in it.

The third guy started to head to the back room.

Concentrating on the air around the man I willed it to make a shield.

"Please work," I whispered.

Suddenly the man ran into the invisible wall. I approached him slowly and willed the barrier to close in around him so that the space become smaller and smaller.

"Let me out please!" he yelled, beating on the walls.

"Where is Dimitri?" I asked.

The man shook his head, " I don't know! Please let me out!"

Glaring, I continued to make the space smaller until all four side pressed up against him.

"Tell me where he is!" I yelled.

The man struggled to breath from the pressure on his chest, "He's not here! He and that Kevin ghost guy left about an hour ago after they dropped off the girl! They told me to watch her and make sure that she didn't regain consciousness for to long!"

I clenched my fists ,"you hit her?"

The man couldn't answer me, he had run out of air and was now gagging.

I could let him die…

Make him suffer for what he did to her…

I let the barrier fall and the man crumpled to the ground.

I couldn't do it… I'm just not like that…

Rushing over to Hailey I carefully picked her up. She was like a rag doll in my arms as her whole body fell limp against me.

"Hang on Hailey," I whispered into her ear.

I closed my eyes and pictured Suze's uncle's kitchen.

When I opened my eyes, I was there.

Suze came rushing out of the room, followed by Jesse.

"Where the hell were you!" she exclaimed, "You told me that you were going to get a drink!"

"I had to find her," I said softly as I carried Hailey to the master bedroom where she could rest without everyone else around her.

Suze followed me, and Jesse came soon after with an ice pack.

"I found this in the freezer," he handed it to me, "perhaps it will help."

I looked at him, "thanks De Silva."

Maybe Jesse wasn't as bad as I thought he was…

Sitting beside Hailey on the bed I placed the icepack on her forehead.

"Come on Jesse," Suze said, "let's go check on the others."

Once they left I sighed and ran my hand lightly across Hailey's cheek. I noticed that a bit below her eye there was a purple bruise that stretched down to her chin. I clenched my teeth in pain as my power pulsed through me, eager to do some damage.

If I ever saw Dimitri again…

I felt my eyes begin to fall closed. God, I was tired.

Walking around to the other side of the bed, I lay down beside Hailey. I pulled her close to me and rested my head on her shoulder, breathing in the smell of her hair.

Her breathing was shallow and disoriented and I couldn't sense any of the shifting power in her.

What had Dimitri done to her?

Lifting myself up, I leaned over her and pressed my lips to hers softly. They were strangely cold and stiff. I closed my eyes a focused my power, willing some of it to flow into Hailey.

I could feel myself begin to weaken as power drained out of me. When I was satisfied that her breathing had become somewhat normal, I pulled away gasping.

My hands were shaking and the room around me was beginning to spin.

Laying back down beside her, I closed my eyes and let sleep take me.

………………THE NEXT MORNING………….

I woke up to find Jack sitting onto top of me, watching me expectantly.

"What happened to you?" he asked, "You look awful."

I pushed him off me and he fell to the floor with a crash, "Thanks."

He got up and looked like he was going to yell at me or something, but then he looked over at Hailey and his features became concerned.

"Is she gonna be ok?" he whispered.

I looked over at Hailey myself. She was breathing normally and looked like she was merely in a deep sleep.

"Yeah," I said, "she'll be ok."

Jack nodded, "You can take a shower now, I'll watch her."

Though I was reluctant to leave her, I pulled myself into the bathroom and looked in the mirror.

Jack wasn't kidding, I looked horrible.

My hair flew up in all sorts of places and my clothes were wrinkled and torn. Running my hand through my hair, I noticed that there was a small cut along my hairline. Probably from when Kevin knocked me out.

I took off my shirt and pants before I got in the shower and as I undid the buttons I noticed another bruise forming on my abdomen.

Damnit Kevin!

God…if ghosts could bruise…

Sighing I got into the shower and turned the water on hot. There were two bottles of shampoo and conditioner on the side, so I took them and used them generously in my hair.

There was a knock on the door and it opened a crack.

"Mom and dad did some shopping yesterday and got everyone new clothes. I'll set yours on the sink," Jack said.

"Thanks," I said.

Once I was finished showering I got out and put on the clothes.

"Not bad mom and dad," I said to myself in the mirror.

They had picked out a pair of dark denim jeans and a brown Abercrombie & Fitch t-shirt. It was a loose shirt but it still showed off just enough to make girls have a second glace.

I put some toothpaste on my finger and walked out of the bathroom, brushing my teeth.

When I went back into the master bed room I noticed that Hailey was still sleeping. I rinsed out my mouth with a glass of water and then kissed her softly on the forehead.

"Paul," Jesse said from the door way.

I turned and saw that he was in a pair of jeans similar to mine, and a white shirt.

"Yeah?"

"Your mother has asked me to tell you that her and your father went out to get brunch," he said and then turned and left.

I followed Jesse out into the living room where Suze and Jack were sitting on the couch, watching music videos.

Suze was wearing a pair of dark jeans with a pink t-shirt under a black hoodie. When she saw Jesse walk in she smiled at him, and then looked over at me.

"How's Hailey doing?" she asked.

"She's still sleeping," I said and poured myself a glass of milk.

After that I put on my jacket, "I'm gonna go for a walk," I said.

"Watch out for them Paul," Jack said, not taking his eyes off the TV.

I nodded and walked out the door.

It was a rather dreary day in Seattle. There was a thick fog and everyone in a while I could feel a raindrop on my cheeks.

Everything seemed to be happening so fast…

Just a little over two weeks ago I had moved back here, ready to start where I left off. But here I was, being thrown into a mess that really changed me. My parents now knew about my gift that I had kept from them since I was little. I met Hailey and she changed me more then I would like to admit. I was missing so much school that it's not even funny…

And now the people who I tried to leave in my past in Carmel were now here with me again.

And the funny thing was…

I wouldn't change any of it.

I looked up and noticed that I had walked about three blocks while I was thinking.

Turning back around I headed back to the house, making sure that I wasn't being followed.

Jus as I got back in the house it started to rain.

Good timing…

I entered the house to see that no one had moved from there spot, but know they were watching Fear Factor.

I threw my jacket onto the couch and went to go and check on Hailey again.

When I opened the door to the room I froze.

She was gone…