I know, I know, you're all Screaming at me saying: BEJO, WHAT TOOK YOU SO CALGONITLY LONG! My Excuse: Jet Lag. If you don't know what that is, go ask someone who goes to a Different time zone a lot.

If you don't believe that one: The Mutant Green Worms from the planet Zorton came and up-doed my hair. Take your pick, I've got more.

Anyway, sorry for the delay, and hope this will hold you over for the time being.

Chapter 2

"So, Kassidy," Ian said, walking up behind her, "What's new?"

She smiled and said, "Ian, you've asked me that for the last two days. It's gotten old." She replied. Then she walked ahead, scanning the snow.

"Found anything?"

"Nope. Man, Ian, is this an interrogation or something?" Ian looked at her smiling face. She was right. He sounded like an army interrogator. Secretly Kassidy would have given up information to him, but she wasn't about to say that.

Suddenly Ben yelled, "I found something!" Kassidy swung her metal detector over her shoulder, and ran over to where Ben was. Or, at least she tried to get over to Ben. Naturally, when you run, you feet hit the ground harder then when you walk, therefore, with all of her rousting about, the snow beneath her, ahem, caved in.

All of a sudden, she was in up to her neck in snow. It was uncomfortable. She heard someone laughing behind her. It was Ian. Then there were hands under her almost buried armpits and pulled her upwards. Riley stood to her left, smiling. Through the quiet resentment, she wasn't really mad at him. Just like you are never really mad at your boyfriend, or brother.

Once she was on firm snow, she looked down. True enough, there was a five foot deep hole where she was. Ian chuckled softly as she shook out her coat. A rather disturbing amount fell out.

"Kass, maybe you should go sit in the truck." He said. Kassidy nodded and turned around, walking through the snow (and carefully around the hole) and trudged her way back to the truck. Slipping into her seat, she took off her gloves. Then she snuggled down in her seat and went to sleep.

She woke up when the car started, and then was knocked forward in her seat as an explosion knocked her forward in her seat. She looked up and around and said, terrified, "Ben what was that?"

Ben didn't answer. Ben wasn't even in the truck. Ian looked back at her. She looked over at him. Narrowing her eyes, tears fighting against her, suspicion rammed into her mind like a battering ram.

"Ian, where's Ben?" Her voice was filled with fear, mistrust and tears.

His face was a mask of sadness, "Kassidy, I'll tell you when we get home. Now is not the time." He reached back and patted her hand. She pulled my hand away and turned toward the window, knowing that what ever it was, it was not an accident, and that two of her best friends were dead.

Sorry for such a short chapter, but I hoped you all enjoyed it, and thanks to all of our reviewers (yes, Manny, I'm including you). Hey. We seem to write sad stuff. Drat it. Well, just so you know (or to inspire false hope), we will try to make the story happier. --Elbows Manny-- WON'T we?

All the best,

BeKaMaJo