Disclaimer: I do not own the Darkest Powers Series.

Chapter Four -

After finally getting into the school, I sat in the hallway and did my homework as I leaned up against my locker. It turned out that I had hardly any homework and there was really no point in showing up this early for it at all.

After finishing a worksheet for Physics, with some difficulty, I thought about sleeping in front of my locker, but by then a decent amount of the student body was already milling about the hallways before their first hour.

So I quickly grabbed my book and notebook for Pre-Calc and made my way to the second floor.

As I entered the math hallway, I realized I had left my calculator in my locker, and for a moment I thought about grabbing it, but those thoughts were halted by none other than Derek Souza. There he was, looming in the hallway.

"Is he really that big?"

He was leaned up against the lockers and yet he towered over them by half a foot at the very least. And he was slouching! On my best day I can only just barely reach the top of my locker, I've never seen it though. He really was a large boy. And not in the chubby kind of way, more of he just was massive. It's hard to describe really.

Then I realized that I was staring. And that I was being caught staring.

Again.

I took a step forward and opened my mouth to say something, but realized he was obviously thinking deeply. I mean other world, doesn't know where he is, deeply. He clearly hadn't noticed that I was staring at him.

Does that mean he was staring first? Or maybe he just hasn't noticed yet? Or maybe…

Immediately I felt my face heat up. Lately it seems that happens all the time. It's starting to feel like that's just how my face is. My face is going to be stuck this way. Ugh.

Sighing, I realized that I had the perfect opportunity to observe him, that is, until he realized that I was watching him too.

Taking another step forward, I observed him from a director's point of view, like I was trying to understand how my actor was portraying the character that had been given to him. The only problem being I had no idea what kind of character he was to begin with.

Deciding to start with his body language, I noticed that he was still tense, maybe from earlier or maybe not. Either way he was definitely trying to hide a tightened fist and the slight grit of his teeth. Yet, he didn't seem angry, mostly frustrated. He looked almost confused, to be honest. Like he was trying to figure out a math problem, but was missing half the equation.

I narrowed my eyes a bit, and that seemed to be when he noticed I was staring back and quickly looked away, busying himself with the locker in front of him. Yet he made it look like that was what he had intended to do all along.

The hell.

Then, before I could lose my nerve or decide I could just be seen as a massive bitch by him, I pressed my things more firmly against my side and walked up to stand beside him.

I waited, for what seemed like forever, for him to acknowledge my presence.

"What?" He almost sounded defeated.

"Uh. I-I j-just w-wanted - "

"Spit it out already." There was the harshness again. It just made my so…angry! Irrationally so.

"Well, I was going to apologize for being rude before, but now I see that really doesn't matter. You're ruder than I think I could ever be, so I'll just call it even."

I turned around quickly and made to walk to my class in a huff, but he snatched at my arm again. I almost cried out, but then he lightened his grip, so he was barely touching me.

"What?" I asked, exasperated and voice hoarse.

"Sorry."

I swept my eyes back to him to see his face. To see what expression was on his face before it was gone, because I couldn't determine anything from the tone in his voice.

His eyes were wide and pleading, a strange look to see on him for sure, but the rest of him was already guarded.

It felt like my voice was stuck in my throat, because all I could see were his big green eyes, confused by what it saw and what was going on in his head, like he was at war with himself. 'I get that.'

I wanted to say something encouraging and wise to him, but nothing came to mind, so I settled with a "Don't worry about it" and was on my way to class after lingering for a moment when he released my arm.

The week went by quickly. Simon and Derek both helped with the preparation for the Haunted House, and they did a great deal of the work too. I was surprised to be honest. We still had until next Friday, yet they worked like it needed to be finished immediately. Not that that was a bad thing. It was fantastic really.

Simon helped finish major projects that needed serious painting and creativity added to them, and when it turned out we needed to add a new hallway than what we had originally planned, he came up with this hanging, ruined toys and puppets idea, making it a cheap fix.

What was even more surprising was Derek. The boy knew how to do anything and everything. He helped with everything from sound, lighting, and tech, to building the last few walls for the set, and coming up with a contraption for the last room that would work every time without fail. It was amazing really.

When I'd be explaining plans to kids so they could start up the work or finish a project, I could feel one or both boys watching me, but as soon as I turned, Derek would be busy with whatever it was he was doing, from cutting up some wood to putting together a wall. Simon would wave though, as if he had been trying to get my attention the entire time.

It was strange really.

Half the time he really did need me, for something like a paint color decision, or an addition to the original design, like adding a pattern to the knife throwers table, or reorganizing the positions of markings on the cannibals' meat table.

Once, I had Simon explain how he was making the blood splatter for the mock walls and how it was different for the plastic and cloth walls we'd made.

He explained by showing me. He'd have one of the painter kids come along with him and make up ways some people were killed or wounded and make the proper movements that would cause the blood to splatter on the mock walls. For those he used the fake blood we had in stock, which we thought was going to be used for all the fake blood.

For the plastic and cloth walls we had set up, he mixed a few different paints, I didn't really understand, it not exactly being my area, but it worked well. It made the set up for the cannibal clowns seem realistic. The whole thing was terrifying to be honest.

The entire time though, he almost seemed uncomfortable doing it. Like he was remembering things he didn't want to, or was uncomfortable with the idea of death all together.

Derek watched when that happened. I could feel it.

He'd be doing something off in the distance, like building a platform by himself or lifting a crate that was far too heavy for any other lone person to carry, but he'd keep an eye on us.

I was never sure if he was watching both of us, or just one of us though…

Anyway.

The two of them made it possible for us to be nearly finished almost a full five days ahead of schedule, which, by our "it might be done ten minutes before the show" standards, made them nothing short of amazing. Even if Derek seemed to be only comfortable with working by himself and Simon liked to basically hold an entire lesson on painting for nearly half the crew. I couldn't help but feel incredibly indebt to the two of them for all their hard work.

And then again it wasn't just that. I could feel them watching me outside of crew too. Both of them. It was the same as crew too, because I usually caught Simon. Derek though, I don't think I ever caught him. I could feel it all the same.

A part of me felt guilty that I was incredibly relieved at this. After that little episode with Liam, I felt super paranoid. I'd find myself looking over my shoulder whenever I was alone, no matter if I was at home or school. Sometimes I'd find myself doing it in class too, right in the middle of a lectured.

I suppose their always watching might have influenced that a bit too. It made me feel like they were waiting for something awful to happen around me.

At the same time, it made me feel like they'd make sure nothing would happen at all.

So, when Friday rolled around and we were nearly done, Ryan, our supervisor, and I decided a pizza party would be necessary to help us finish up the last few pieces for the Haunted House, and then set everyone up with their costumes and rolls. I couldn't help but feel excited, like I could thank them at some point, or show my appreciation through pizza, which was kind of ridiculous actually.

I came in early for the pizza party and the last night of set-up so I could help Ryan with setting up the back room for everybody to eat and make sure I had everything in order for tonight.

All thirty or so members were supposed to be showing up tonight, which was and enormous surprise and I had not expected such a fantastic turn-out. I had even talked to Simon who said that he and Derek would be coming to help finish up, even if it took some convincing on his side, they'd be here.

I was thrilled. The thought that my baby was ready to set up for its final stages of completion, and then it would be in running order, had me bouncing off the walls like I had eaten and entire bag of candy or drank too much Monster or something. Liz thought it was ridiculous that I was so excited, but knew that it was important to me all the same, and even though she wasn't sure what time she'd be coming in, she promised she'd come in time to have a bite of pizza and help with costume assignment.

I was so caught up in my thoughts and delight that I hardly noticed when people started showing up and that our little party was in full swing, with the pizza disappearing literally by the box. That is, until I saw Derek and Simon come in.

Simon came in first, with his usual brilliant smile in place, and Derek came in after him, a scowl marring his face ever so slightly. The two were so different it was astounding, and with the way they were acting, it really did seem like Simon had had to convince Derek to come too.

A felt a sharp pang of disappointment at that. Where it came from, I hadn't a clue. I just knew that I definitely wanted to know these two, no matter how big of a fool it made me out to be.

Staying in my little corner with my can of Coke in hand, I watched as Simon eyed the pizza warily and only took one piece, while Derek stared at the pizza boxes strewn across the table like the entire thing was a small animal that he needed to pounce on immediately in order to claim as his. He only took two pieces though. It was strange. I had seen kids take three to four pieces at a time, easy. I just didn't care to register any of it, but these two could barely take the same amount as a freshman in the back who had only been working on the project for a total of three days, each time talking the entire time.

It was frustrating to say the least.

I wanted the two of them to enjoy themselves for all the wonderful things they'd done for me, even if some of it seemed to be without them knowing and the little fact that it still felt like Derek wasn't exactly fond of me. It felt like I owed them at least this much, mostly because I didn't know of any other way to repay all of this.

Once it was clear that a good amount of us were here and had eaten most of the pizza, I stood up and told everyone that when they finished to go to the auditorium to finish the stage set-up.

Trying to be a good example, I tossed my drink into the garbage and quickly made my way to the auditorium so I could clean up stray screws and such before it was necessary to give orders about and check up on everyone's work.

As soon as I pushed the door to the auditorium open, everything felt off. The hair on my arms was standing straight up, and my head gave a throb.

"What the hell…?"

I brushed it off as the air conditioning being a little over the top in the auditorium. It was a drafty place to begin with, but if the air conditioning was being obnoxious, which seemed to be happening lately, it would be worse than usual.

I went back to gathering screws on the floor. There weren't too many, but there were enough to have my hand full within seconds.

I found one stuck half under one of our mock walls, and figured it wouldn't be too hard, I could just pull it out from under it, besides; if it stays there it could leave a dent in the stage floor, that would upset Ryan.

I got down and gripped the edge of the screw that was sticking out with hand and used the other to wedge the mock wall up slightly so the screw wouldn't scrape against the stage and leave a mark as I pulled it out.

Once the wall was up about a half an inch, I started to tug on the screw, and could feel it biting into my hand, but tried to ignore it. I wanted this entire Haunted House to go as smoothly and perfectly as possible.

Biting out a hiss, the mock wall released the screw and I dropped it back to its original spot.

My grip on the screw still firm, I pulled away from the wall and stood up with a bit of trouble. Turning to toss the screw into a pile that was starting in a corner of the stage, I saw someone was standing there with their back turned to me, just a few feet away, but far enough that it was unclear who it was thanks to the stage's dim lighting.

"Hey! Done already? Wanna help me pick up these stray screws before everyone comes in?"

They didn't answer or show any sign of acknowledgement.

"Hey, are you ok?"

No answer.

I quickly ran up to whoever it was, and realized quickly that it was Liz.

"Liz? Hello. Earth to Liz." I waved my hand in front of her, but she just stared off into space, it was really strange. Liz was always ready to acknowledge anyone and everyone as cheerfully as possible.

I reached out to her, to ask her if she was ok and if there was anything I could do, but she turned to me then, and her eyes were wide and full of terror.

"Oh, Chloe," she whispered.

And then she screamed.

Panicking, I tried to cover my ears while trying to reach out to her and calm her down at the same time, but she collapsed onto the floor and started snatching and grasping at her middle.

That's when I realized there was blood.

So much blood.

All coming out of her abdomen.

"Oh my god!" I screeched, leaping to her and scraping my knees against the stage. "Liz! Liz what happened? How did this -? Oh my god!"

I pressed my hands together and placed them on her stomach, trying to staunch the bleeding, but there was so much. So much blood. It was oozing between my fingers and spreading across the stage.

Liz seized beneath me and blood was coming out her mouth.

Realizing the blood was coming too quickly and there was nothing I could really do to help her, I started screaming and sobbing, a part of me still not believing that this was happening right now in front of me.

Derek was there first. Right beside me, gripping me tightly and trying to pull me away.

Screeching and sobbing, I resisted until I saw her eyes go blank, then I let him drag me away.

I felt him pick me up, but it didn't register, and as he took me away and towards the exit off stage, I looked back to see her again. I just couldn't believe that this had happened. Here, too, of all places.

But she wasn't there.

Nothing was there. Only the screws I had tossed and the group of on watchers were there where I Liz had been bleeding out on the floor just a moment ago. For a second I thought that they had just moved her, picked her up already, tried to help her, so I struggled against Derek. Trying to see where she was and if she needed me, but she wasn't there.

I looked back to the stage floor and saw not a single drop of blood.

She'd never been there, not at all.

Author's Note:

So I tried really hard to not make this chapter feel rushed, but I don't know if I achieved that. This needed to happen so I could really get the story going and much more is still to come. So thanks for reading!

Any questions, comments, advice? REVIEW.