This chapter means a bit more to me due to the fact that my mother, whom I love so very much, helped me revise and fix it up a bit. Also, thanks to all those who have taken the time to give me comments about it. You guys seriously rock! Just a handful of those people are Darcy, Aubree, Chris, Yendor87, Aromero1tolkien, Carradine, Matt, and my baby sister!

So with that said, the rest of this story is dedicated to mum. Je t'aime, ma mere. I hope one day all my actions and thoughts make you proud!

Annie cuddled closer against the toned body next to her that belonged to Tristan and tried not to think of what she had just witnessed. Sure, she could watch movies with blood and gore, but when it was real and in front of her it was different. Not only that, but Tuan was a classmate and even had hit on her a couple times. (Annie was convinced it was due to a certain "endowment" she possessed)

And Hao. . .She was only a freshman, only a few years older then her little sister, Leah, and the same age as her best friend. So, why her? Annie could easily put in a guess.

Hao was a gentle spirit, much like the senior Lilian she was traveling with, and had probably been walking through the school halls when she saw the first victim. Maybe it had been a friend, but anyhow, Hao most likely became concerened and went to help. Only to become entangled in the web of man's abomination.

"You alright?" Tristan whispered and held her closer to him as the group continued their cautious venture to the locker rooms.

"Yeah, great," Annie responded and looked up at him with a false smile. Tristan grinned back at her, though inside the mystery of the situation and the death gnawed at his warm insides.

"Annie, you aren't a very good liar," Tristan said with a slightly genuine chuckle.

"I'm sorry. Its just. . . everything," Annie mumbled and tore her eyes away from Tristan's only to have his hand raise her head to his level again.

"I am not going to say that its all going to be okay because I don't know. But, I am going to say that what ever happens, happens. Just remember that I am here for you and to stay that optimistic girl that I like so much," Tristan said with a smile. Gosh, that amazing smile of his could reduce her to mush. Annie could only smile back.

"Darn you and your perfectness!" Annie laughed. Although they put on happy faces, devastation still tossed and tumbled through their minds.

"The locker rooms are right around the corner," Lilian announced.

Confused, shaking, and feeling a sudden pang of reality, Kidd wiped her hands over her tight jeans although there was nothing on them. Her skateboard was slowly floating away and only the chain link fence stopped it.

The thing lying on the floor, dead for the second time in the same day, caused to her feel dirty all over. Its hungry moan had taken her back to her childhood nightmares. To a place where the tooth faerie preyed on helpless children and Jolly ol' St. Nick murdered people in their sleep while they dreamed of presents and candy.

Kidd backed away from the motionless body, her hands slowly coming to a halt.

Was she a murderer?

Of course not! The thing that had came at her intending to do harm! It was self defense! But still. . .

Quickly, she shook the thought out of her head. It wanted to hurt her, multilate her, consume her. She had bashed its head to a bloody pulp instead. With her skateboard, which was just sitting by the chain link fence surrounding the school pool. But she was NOT a murderer. Yes, it was alive at one time, but not anymore. Or, it had to have been sick. She had done it a favor!

Yes. That was it. End of story. Finished. Fini. Close the book and leave it to gather dust for the next decade.

Death.

Kidd felt a shudder go through her body and her fists tightened.

"Leave me ALONE!" Kidd yelled to the dead undead. Its only response was silence as it continued to kiss the ground with it's cold and dead lips.

She walked over to her skateboard ( which still had a clump of the attacker's hair at the end) and ran to the door of the girls' locker room. The fact that safety was so close was comforting and Kidd had a smirk as she opened the door and stepped inside.

"Who are you and what are you doing here?!" a voice resonated in her ears.