Author's Note: Hello readers! I'm assuming you share my love of the Hush, Hush series. And my love of Patch. This story has been so much fun to write. Anyway, here's chapter 2. Please review (:

Nora POV

Once I'm in my car, I breathe a sigh of relief. How did I get out of that one? I love Patch, but he's just so … Patch. Gorgeous and perfect and overwhelmingly stunning and all mine. But sometimes, I need to get away for a minute to myself.

I pull into the farmhouse driveway. I turn off my car and step into the crisp autumn air. After walking up my porch steps, I dig through my purse for the farmhouse keys. Just as I'm about to put my key in, the door flies open.

"Nora! What a pleasant surprise!" my mother says as she crushes me in a hug.

"Mom! Hi! I tried to call you, but there wasn't an answer."

"Oh, I left my cell at the office. I've been so busy that there isn't any room in my head to remember silly things like my phone! I'll get it back tomorrow."

"That's a relief. I though something happened to you." I walk inside, dump my things in a heap on the counter, and grab a seat at the island.

"Of course not Nora. But you look stressed. What's wrong honey?"

Oh God, she knows me so well. Too well. "Mom, I just miss you. I really wanted to talk to you."

"About what sweetie? Are things going well with Patch?" She still has her reservations about Patch, but I think he's grown on her.

"Oh, they're going well, I just… need some guidance." I bite my lip and look up at her.

"I'm all ears."

"You know that Patch and I have been together a long time now, right? Well, I just don't know what the next step in the relationship should be."

"You're not pregnant, are you?" She asks, raising her eyebrows.

"Mom! No! Ugh, let's not go there. I just meant… not that step."

"Oh, Nora. If you two are really meant to be together -"

"We are."

"Okay. Since you two are really meant to be together, things will all work out. Everything happens for a reason Nora. I have faith that you will figure it out."

"Thanks Mom. I needed to hear that. I've just been a little anxious about everything lately."

"You can talk to me anytime you need to. I'll always be here for you." She reaches across the island and takes my hand in hers.

After a quiet lunch and more talk, I decide that I should be getting back to Patch. He's probably wondering what 'girl talk' could take this long. My mother and I say our goodbyes, I remind her to bring her phone home tomorrow, and I head to the car. I hop in, slide out my phone, and send Patch a quick text: Coming home! Cya soon. –N

Putting my phone in the cupholder, I turn to get my seatbelt. That is when I see something out of the corner of my eye in the rearview mirror.

I freeze. Not daring to turn around, I flick my eyes to the mirror and see the outline of a figure sitting in the back seat.

That's the last thing I see before my world turns black.

Patch POV

Where is she? Nora has been gone for a long time. It is starting to get dark, and the days are getting shorter, which means that what little light we have, won't stay for long. I felt better when she texted me and told me she was coming home, but that was 45 minutes ago. I know the farmhouse is outside of town, but it shouldn't be taking 45 minutes to get back.

Just as I'm about to call her for the fourth time in a row, my cell starts ringing. Its Nora. Oh, thank goodness, she's okay. I hastily answer the phone "Nora? Where are you Angel?"

I can only hear heavy breathing, some shuffling, and a big thud. "Nora?" I ask, willing her to answer. When there is only silence for a few long seconds, I begin to panic. "Nora! Angel! Where are you?" I begin to pace, tugging at my hair and listening to the sounds of labored breathing.

"…. Patch." Nora says weakly from the other end of the line.

"Nora! Where are you? Are you hurt? Angel, please tell me you're okay! I'm coming to get you, just stay on the phone!" I frantically grab my Jeep keys off the counter and run to my car.

"… Patch… I'm ..." She groans into the phone and whimpers softly. I hear another thud and a mangled cry come from Nora.

"NORA! Hold on Angel, I'm coming to get you!" I yell into the phone as I throw the Jeep into drive.

Through my car's GPS, I activate the tracking device on her jean jacket. Thank goodness that she brought it with her, I don't know how I would have found her without it.

The GPS beeps and I look to see the destination: just outside of Bo's Arcade. What the hell? I think to myself. Why is she there? Who from my past is hurting her? Oh God, if anything happens to her, I won't be able to live with myself.

I speed and wind down back roads, passing cars and blowing through stop signs.

"Nora, Angel, are you still there? Angel?" I say into the phone as I narrowly miss hitting another car. I look at the screen and it says that the call was lost. "DAMN IT!" I scream, hitting the steering wheels with my fists. After another minute, I screech up to Bo's, leaving my car haphazardly in front of the entrance.

I run up to the bouncer. He recognizes me and is about to start conversation, but sees my look of distress and lets me go in right away. I don't even acknowledge him. I can't think about anything except Nora. Where is Nora. Where is Nora.

Call it intuition, call it a magnetic pull, it doesn't matter. But as soon as I began to run through the crowds, I knew that she wasn't inside. She would be out back, behind the Arcade in the alley. I pushed through the masses of people, through the gamblers and the drinkers, through the parties and the couples. Once I was at the back, I snaked my way through the back hallways, ignoring the people that I passed.

I finally reached the back door and nearly took it off the hinges. Once I was outside, I could see my breath and hear my heart beating. I whipped my head back and forth, and followed my gut by steering myself to the right down the alley.

No. No. This was not happening.

I had just passed a large dumpster when I froze. No. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a crumpled form on the ground, leaning against the brick wall. No. I rushed up to Nora and crouched in front of her, taking her limp and drooping head in my hands.

"Nora! Angel, please wake up!" I cry as I brush her matted hair from her forehead. There is a large gash on her forehead, a black eye forming, and a split lip. And that's only her face. I don't have time to examine the countless other injuries that she has. I carefully scoop her body into my arms and make my way back to my car as fast as I can, without hurting her.

"Patch?" she whispers softly. I shoot my gaze down at her and almost lose it. She looks so scared and her eyes are watering.

"Shh, Angel. I'm going to get you to a hospital and you'll be fine, okay? It'll stop hurting soon, I promise." I'm trying to keep it together for her, but there are so many emotions and thoughts running through my head. Anger, fear, love, despair.

Nora's eyes are fluttering and she looks weak. "… I think I'm just going to close my eyes for a little bit…" she trails off.

"NORA. Angel, you have to stay awake. You stay with me. Do you hear? Keep your eyes open baby." I nearly growl at her as I get close to the Jeep. "I'm going to lay you on the back seat now, okay? I'm sorry, this might hurt a little." The only thing she does as I lay her down is let out a soft groan.

I slide into the driver's seat and I throw the Jeep into drive, screeching out of Bo's. Think Patch. Where is the nearest hospital? THINK. I hear Nora groan from the back and I join in her sound of pain with my own sound of anguish. I twist in my seat, glancing back at her. She's bleeding profusely and drifting in and out of consciousness. I take the exit that points me to the hospital.