Here's the next chapter guys! Hope you enjoy! R&R please!

~Mary~

I gulped and licked my lips, looking around. My head was still throbbing from our earlier adventure and I just wanted to lay down and sleep. But Mr. Carter was staring so intensely at me, I thought he was trying to blow me up with his mind. Do I want to be rid of this knowledge, or treasure it? I looked at Tyler and searched his face for answers, but all I saw was hope. Hope I would agree was my guess. I smiled a small smile and looked away at little Rosy.

She grinned up at me, a tiny little fang just visible below her upper lip. "Kitty!" She giggled. I was confused as to the new name when I noticed some of the band-aids had cats on them. I looked at and she smiled sheepishly, gesturing to Rosy with her eyes. I smiled and patted her head, then turned serious to . "I will keep your secret." I said strongly. Visible relief came over his features and he smiled softly, "good." Tyler practically howled in excitement and if it weren't for these bandages he probably would have picked me up in a bear hug.

The Carter family was in a roar of excitement. Everyone smiling or laughing. Except one person. Leaf was sitting quietly on the couch, and when noticed me looking at him, glared openly. I looked down and away, avoiding his glare. Why did he hate me so much? What did I do to him? I tried to think back to all our encounters, but in all of them, I never said anything harsh, or at all for that matter. I tried to think on it more but was distracted by Tyler's gentle hug. I hugged back and smiled. Forget it, I'll think about it later.. I thought. I just wanted to enjoy this moment.

The joyous atmosphere was dieing down and people started dispersing to do different things. Tyler remained with me and was talking about me living there for a little longer. I was thinking about it when came walking back in, eating a cookie. "She has to stay here. Now that they know where she is they'll come for her. We have to be ready, she's apart of our family now and we will protect her." He smiled warmly at me and I nodded in agreement. I remembered Tyler saying something similar during the fight and smiled to myself.

"But what about my grandparents? I mean my real ones? Those names that those people gave, that's their real names. Even the names I called them when I was little. They can't have just guessed those!" I took in a deep breath not even realizing I didn't take a breath that whole time. had walked in with a plate of cookies during my speaking and was now looking worriedly at . "She's right, Joseph, they had to get that information from somewhere." 's brow furrowed in concentration as he sat down in the arm-chair. "Joseph, you know what this means.." said, sitting on the arm after placing the plate on the coffee table.

looked up at then at me. What does it mean? I wanted to shout at them but remained in quiet, staring at them. sighed, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose. "Melinda we aren't going to send one of our kids out there to test that theory," He said sternly. "I never said to, I'll go. I'll take Andria with me and you and Mark stay with the kids." was about to protest sending his wife out to do whatever it was when she put a finger to his lips, "You know it's the only option. We will be back in two hours." I looked away respectfully as she kissed him and stood. He nodded and watched her walk of the room.

Moments later I heard a car pulling out of the adjacent garage. I looked to Tyler for answers, but he was looking at his father. "What's going on?" He asked. I looked to , waiting. He sighed and ran his hand down his face, grabbed a cookie off the forgotten plate and took a bite. We waited while he chewed; He swallowed and sighed. "We, or your mother, thinks they might-Might! have..taken your grandparents as bait for you." He said this last part so low, I almost missed it, but the words sunk in and I fell back against the sofa, staring blankly into space. Why do they want me so bad? how could they do this, oh it's all my fault! What if they're dead?! Old people are fragile aren't they? They're after me and they took them it's all my fault, I should just die!

I could hear a noise that was so far away I doubted I was hearing it until it got louder. "MARY!" I looked to the source seeing Tyler with his hands on my shoulders and inches away from my face. I instinctively jerked back and shook my head, "It's my fault..they're gonna die because me of me.." I could hear the despair in my own voice and bit my lip to keep from crying. Tyler shook his head, "No they're not, not if I can help it." "Wait, Mary, You remember your grandparents?" asked, still in his chair. I thought about it, I only knew their names and that I had them, their appearance was unknown to me other than that picture. Kinda like that third cousin everyone has, that they know their name but not who they are.

I shrugged, "A little, just their names and that they're my grandparents. The only appearance I have on them is that photo." He nodded, "Do you remember anything else?" "No, nothing before the beach incident." "Do you know how old you are?Where you're from? Small things count, like street names, schools, grade. Anything like that?" I lowered my eyes and stared at the floor thinking. " I'm seventeen years old, my drivers license says East Tennessee on Emory Rd. Apt.21D.. I'm...going to be a senior.." My head begun to hurt from thinking. "Don't push yourself, so Tennessee, huh? Thats an awful long ways."

I nodded and frowned. Why was I here? Was I living with my grandparents? I shook my head and decided not to worry about it right now. Tyler stood up and sat beside me, a hand still on my knee. I didn't shake it off, it felt nice it being there. I wanted to sleep and leaned my head on Tyler's shoulder, closing my eyes. "You've been through a lot today, you deserve sleep." He said, gently rapping an arm around my shoulders. That was pushing it. He still lied and for all intents and purposes kidnapped me. He was alright but on probation. With my eyes still closed i used my good arm and gently lift his arm and sat it back in his lap. I heard chuckles from them both and smiled, "Don't push it." I got another chuckle for that and let out some air.

I hadn't noticed I had fell asleep until I was awoken by a slam and found myself in Tyler's bed. I began to slide out of bed when my injuries crept back into my brain and pain shot through me. I carefully lifted the cover and used my good leg and arm to inch off the mattress. I saw some crutches leaning on the wall and figured Iris left them there. I'd have to thank her later for that. I hopped over to them and began to make my way out of his room to see what the noise was. It was a challenge to get down the stairs, but I managed without hurting myself. I hobbled into the kitchen to see everyone crowded around the table. Tyler was the first to notice me and regret, fear, and pain flashed in his eyes. My face fell and I looked at the table for the first time to see a man.

He was covered in blood and torn skin. The sight was revolting. His clothes were in torn shreds and his hair was white and black from dry blood. He was missing a shoe and sock and his clothes were soiled in blood: New and old. His chest rose and fall slightly, signaling he was still hanging on to life. The biggest thing though was his face. His once soft features now contorted in agony. The crutches fell from under me, making a big noise that got , Iris, Reed, and another man and women, who I presume is the ones they called Andria and Mark,'s attention. I fell to my knees and was about to fall forward until Tyler rushed forward and caught me. "Shhhhh It's okay, It's alright.." He continued to try to soothe me, but how could I? When the man on the table had come to life from my picture. The man, my grandfather.