Something's wrong. I don't know what it is, but something's wrong. Maybe it's the fact that I can't open my eyes or how my body feels dead tired all throughout. Maybe I was just losing my mind.

I felt myself take a deep breath, and I tried again to open my eyes. This time was successful, but I quickly closed them right after. It was pitch black.

Have I gone blind?

I pulled myself off the ground slowly, my eyes open again, though I still couldn't see anything. After successfully standing, I patted my pockets like an idiot before I found the box of matches in my back pocket. I was in the same clothes from last night.

Last night.

Oh shit. Maybe I was dead.

I clutched the box and opened it gingerly, fingers grasping at the familiar little sticks. I dragged the head down the side of the box a few times before the flame was lit.

So, I wasn't blind.

The match barely lit anything around me, but it was enough. I was in the cave, but it seemed like I was in a deeper area. I couldn't see any sunlight. Why did they bring me back here?

I did a quick check of myself the best I could, but it looked like most of my injuries were healed again. How did they keep doing that?

I turned around a few times before finding a hole in the wall, but by the time I had, I had to light another match. I did so quickly and climbed up a few steps to the hallway. Making my way down the hall, I stopped when I was met with two different ways to go. I could tell, even with my minimal light from the matches I kept lighting, that there were more turns down each, and I felt my stomach drop.

I was lost. The walls felt like they were closing in on me, and I didn't know how much longer I would be stuck in here. A part of my mind told me that the boys knew where I was, so it wouldn't be too long before they would get me, but it was still terrifying to think that there was a chance I might just be stuck here.

I turned around and made my way back where I came from. When I made my way back into the little area, I slid down to the ground, letting the match die out. I sighed, trying to stop the pressing feeling in my chest.

It let myself sit in the dark for a few moments before I pulled out another match and lit it. I watched the flame take over the wood, letting my breathing fall to a rhythmic pattern. I had gone through the whole pack faster than I thought I would, and I was succumbed back into the darkness. It was a strange feeling, not being able to see anything.

The silence was deafening. I could faintly hear water drip somewhere, but that was it. I could practically hear my heartbeat in my ears. It felt like hours before I heard some noise. Footsteps.

Was that the boys? Or an enemy?

I moved closer to the wall as the beam from a flashlight entered the room soon followed by a person.

"Ivy?" It was Marko. Thank the fucking heavens, it was Marko.

I pulled myself into a standing position, and the flashlight moved to me. I couldn't see him since he shined the light straight into my eyes, but I honestly didn't care. "Marko? Shit. Why the fuck am I back here?"

Marko laughed a bit and moved the flashlight so it was pointed at the ceiling, making the room bright enough to where we could see each other. "What's with the language, doll?"

"I was fucking scared! It's my natural reaction!"

Marko took the few steps forward to reach me and wrapped his arms around me in a hug. The kind of hug where I could wrap my arms around his waist and put my head on his chest and fall in love with him a bit more kind of hug. "Sorry to scare ya, princess. We, uh, had to do somethin' to ya last night, and we couldn't figure out where we could put you so the sun wouldn't hit you. Didn't think you'd wake up before us."

I felt myself tense up as my thoughts reeled. "What- what'd you have to do."

Marko ran a hand down my back and bent down slightly, picking me up by the backs of my thighs. I complied with his actions and wrapped my arms around his neck instead of his midriff, laying my head on his shoulder.

"Is it bad, Marko," I whispered as he began walking.

Marko rubbed his thumb against my thigh in some sort of soothing gesture. "Depends."

I sighed and kissed the side of his neck. "Is it what I think it is." Was I a vampire? Is that why he didn't want me in the sunlight?

"I can't read your mind but probably."

I huffed again and relaxed completely into his body. "Okay."

A few seconds later, I was in the main cave, the place already lit from the burning barrels.

'I need to buy more matches,' I thought to myself. I could already feel my fingers itching for one.

Marko walked us over to one of the couches and carefully placed me down. I felt someone's arm wrap around my shoulder as Marko pulled away from me and turned to see Paul, a worried smile on his face.

"Hey, Paul," I said, leaning my head on his shoulder as he pulled me closer to him. Paul grumbled something inaudible and pulled me onto his lap, placing his head on my shoulder. I patted his head before grabbing one of his hands to hold while his other arm wrapped around my waist. "You okay?"

Paul turned his head, his eyebrows furrowed, and lips pushed out as an 'are-you-really-serious-right-now' kind of look. "I'm pretty sure it's supposed to be the other way around for that question, Ivy."

"So, we're using my first name now?" I pressed a kiss to his temple and felt him relax against me. "I'm fine, Paul. At least, I think I am. Marko wouldn't tell me what y'all did." At that, I turned toward the other boys. Dwayne was sitting on the couch with Marko laying on his lap, and David was perched in his wheelchair. Their eyes turned to me as I turned to them. "What did y'all do to me anyway?"

"What we had to do to keep you alive." David leaned forward in his chair. "We had you drink."

I faltered for a moment. The drink I knew they were talking about was a jewel-encrusted bottle filled with a mix of their blood. Apparently, it used to be filled with their old sire's blood, but after he was killed in a way they hadn't explained to me yet, they filled it with their own blood.

"Does that mean," I trailed off. Dwayne didn't want to meet my eyes, and Marko nodded while David responded.

"You're a half-vampire now, doll."

After a long bout of explanation that I only halfway remembered. I knew that it wouldn't hurt to go out in the sun or eat garlic or anything, but it definitely wasn't recommended. Paul had apologized about a million times until I made him shut up by kissing him. For about ten minutes. But that didn't matter.

Then, I explained all I knew about the forest people which wasn't a lot, but it was a start. Dwayne had immediately taken to his library collection, looking for anything in any of his books that could help. David had practically stormed out in the midst of a silent tantrum, and Marko and Paul refused to let me out from between them.

I was currently pressed between the two on a palette of blankets and pillows on the floor. I wasn't sure where the found the material, but I couldn't complain. It felt nice to be between them. Especially with the music playing in the background, Led Zeppelin if I was correct.

I pressed my face against Paul's unclothed chest a bit more, a content sigh escaping my lips. Marko mumbled something and placed a kiss on my shoulder.

"Marko," I mumbled, turning my head so I could talk better. "Marko, I have to stop by my house sometime."

Marko grumbled and pulled me closer to him. "Why do you have to go."

"I have to let my aunt know I'm okay. I didn't really go home last night. I know she won't be that worried, but she's still going to want me home sooner or later."

"We don't want you to leave," Paul grumbled against my shoulder. "It's not safe out there for you."

"Then you guys can come with."

"But I'm comfortable," Marko whined. "I don't want to leave."

I let out a groan before rolling over onto Marko. Paul let go without a complaint and laughed a bit. I sat up slowly, sitting on his waist and looking down at him. He stared back up, his eyebrows raised and a small smile on his lips. "We have to, though. I'll ride your bike if you want."

"But I want you to ride my bike, Ivy," Paul whined, sitting up on his elbows.

I shushed him with a wink before looking back down at Marko. "Please…" I pulled a pouty face and leaned closer to him. "For me?"

Marko let out a loud sigh and turned to Paul. Paul laughed at him, and Marko groaned again before looking up at me and nodding. I gave him a big smile and kissed his forehead before jumping up.

"Come on, then. If we get there fast enough, then we can get back fast enough. If they let me back out… I mean, if they don't I can just invite you guys inside, right, and you can sit in my room with me. Then, we'd have an actual bed."

"We have actual beds here, doll," Paul responded, pulling Marko up from the ground who seemed to not want to get up at all. "This used to be a hotel, y'know."

"Then why didn't you put me in one instead of a fucking cave earlier?"

The boys both faltered and looked at each other. "That's a good question," Marko mumbled.

I rolled my eyes and giggled a bit. "Well, either way, we need to leave now."

So, I jumped onto Paul's back who caught me after stumbling for a moment, and the three of us made our way up the cliff and to the bikes. Then, I lumbered onto Marko's bike, and we took off down the path that had become oddly familiar to me since I had moved to Santa Carla. The familiar hum of the bike, even though it was moving incredibly too fast, was becoming a calming sound, and soon, we had pulled up to my house.

As I began to climb off the bike, though, Marko grabbed my thigh and pushed me to sit back down.

"Marko?"

Marko shushed me and turned off his bike. Paul followed his lead, and I watched them both sniff the air like dogs. I took a deep breath and tilted my head as a sweet scent filled my nose.

"What's that," I questioned the boys.

They both looked at me before Marko hesitatively responded. "Blood."

"Blood," I questioned. Why would it smell like blood? It took me a few moments to think before I finally came to the realization that should have only taken me seconds. "My family!"

I pushed Marko's hand off of me and jumped off of the bike, sprinting towards the front door. Both of the boys called out to me, and I heard them running after me, telling me to stop, but I didn't. I flung the door open, pausing as the same sweet scent overcame my senses.

"Mom," I called out, my voice shaky as I took a step inside. "Mom? Aunt Jane?" Another step.

Someone put their hand on my shoulder. I turned a bit to see Paul standing behind me, his eyes somber. "Maybe you should wait outside, and Marko and I'll go look for them."

I shook my head quickly. "No. No, I have to find them. I have to. They're – they're fine. They have to be fine."

I stepped away from his hand and made my way into the living room, looking around at everything, absolutely terrified at what I might see. I called out their names again, but there was no response. I could feel my heart sinking in my chest.

I had circled the entire first floor and hadn't found anything. I could feel the boys following me, only a few steps away. They had called my name quietly multiple times but had given up when I continued ignoring them.

Now, I stood at the bottom of the staircase, the dread growing. One step up and my hands were shaking. Two steps and my breathing was speeding up. Three, four five, six, tears were gathering in my eyes. The smell was becoming stronger.

The last steps seemed to go by entirely too fast, and then, I was standing on the second floor. Only one door was closed. The one to my bedroom.

"Ivarella," Marko whispered. "Ivy, go back. You don't want to see this."

I shook my head. "Marko," my voice cracked, "I have to. I have to see it for myself."

Marko whispered my name again, and I silently grabbed his hand from my shoulder, interlacing our fingers. I stuck my other hand out, and Paul grabbed it, holding it to his chest. After taking a deep breath, I walked towards my room. I could hear my heartbeat in my eyes, and the smell kept getting stronger and stronger until we reached the door.

"Paul," I whispered, and Paul stepped forward and swung open the door.

As soon as he opened it, I froze. I knew what I would see, but it still made my heart drop. I swallowed harshly. I couldn't move. I could barely blink. My mother. Oh, my poor mother was laying on my bed, throat slit open and eyes wide in terror. My aunt was slumped against the wall near the window. It looked like someone had bashed her head against the wall until it had split open if the blood was anything to go off of.

I took a deep breath and then another, and then, I was hyperventilating and sprinting out of the house faster than I thought I could be.