Okay guys this chapter will be a little longer. I did wind up condensing two of the chapters so the story will be eight chapters, not nine, but it wound up flowing better that way. Thanks and again, I hope you enjoy.

Before she could say anything their eyes met, and she felt an intensity she had never known before. Not giving her a chance to say a word, Todd turned around and started to leave. Blair couldn't let him leave, not like this. He had just saved her life! There was more to him than what everyone had said, and she just had to find out what it was. It wouldn't be easy, but she would get to know the man beneath the scar. Those eyes… they told a story, and she wanted to know more.

"Wait…" Blair ran after him, and he did not bother to look back. So she continued to follow him, even as she picked up on the fact that he did not wish to be followed. She was not one to back down from a challenge, and that he definitely was. How could someone-or something, whatever he was, that saved her life be as bad as the town claimed he was? Whatever the case, she knew she couldn't just let it drop now. She had to investigate further. This was the kind of thing that had always gotten her into trouble in the past, but she couldn't help herself. She had to thank him for saving her life, she owed him at least that much.

It wouldn't be easy to find him- it was clear he didn't want to be found. It was hard not to get lost herself in the scenery of the shrubs and the bushes, among the sounds of birds and other small animals. It was actually quite peaceful, if not a bit mysterious and somewhat creepy- that much the townspeople had right. Blair was lost in thought looking at one of rows of trees when out of nowhere something grabbed her arm, frightening her and jarring her back to reality.

Screaming, she looked up and realized it was him.

"What do you want?" he growled at her.

"Nothing…nothing," Blair repeated as she tried not to stare, but it was hard not to. Her imagination ran overtime as she tried to picture what had happened to his face to put such a mark on it like that.

Sensing her look, he turned his head. "You want something from me or you wouldn't be here. Did you come to tell a tale- you survived the beast? Do you want me to give you something to write about?"

"No…you wouldn't do that anyways," she said, pulling away from his grip.

"Don't tell me what I would or wouldn't do. You don't know me."

"I know you wouldn't cause any harm to me."

He turned around. "And why are you so sure of that?"

"Because if you wanted to cause me harm you would have let me drown. And you also would have done more than just take me by the arm the second you saw me on your property. So tell me what would you think if you were me?" Blair smiled.

"I think you're a bit too trusting for your own good. That can be a deadly mistake."

"Oh so now you're playing big bad wolf?" she laughed.

"Don't. You don't want to make me mad."

"What are you going to do- kill me?"

"So you think I'm a monster like everyone else does." He turned around.

"No. I don't." Blair walked around and looked him in the eyes. She reached over to touch his face but he grabbed her arm, blocking her.

"What are you doing?"

"I want to know you."

"You really are stupid," he muttered.

"I've been called many things but never that."

"Well maybe you just don't get out much. But maybe you should keep it that way. You don't know me. You come here and you think you can save me but I don't need saving, not from myself or the world or from anyone else. So take your do-gooder attitude and get off my property. Now!"

Blair looked at him for a minute. "Come on. Why don't you show me around? I think it's a safe bet to say that you never have company. You know I'm not here to hurt you. It will be just you and me. Just the two of us. What's the worst that can happen?"

Todd looked at her skeptically. There was a lot that could happen, none of it good. None of it good at all.