Note: Unfortunately, this chapter is short, because the longer version had been deleted somehow. However I'm gonna make it up to you by uploading the rest of the chapters right now, so keep checking back. c:

Chapter XXII

I woke up the next morning thinking about what Ariel had said the night before. Then the thoughts of Mr. Crepsley returned, and I was more upset again.

"Just.. Be careful, okay?"

Her warning repeated itself in my mind once more, but I pushed it back and decided to focus on being mad at Mr. Crepsley.

I was being stupid, and the bad part is that deep down I knew I didn't have a good reason to be mad. I was caught up with the things that didn't matter, and ignoring the things that did.

Evra noticed I was upset about something. While eating breakfast he asked me what was wrong, but I told him I didn't feel like talking about it.

"So, uh.. Still not drinking any blood, huh?"

I grunted and shook my head no. He was just trying to bring up a conversation, I know.. but I didn't feel like talking right now. Especially not about my protest with blood.

"You know.. I haven't seen Ariel at all today. Have you?" Evra asked. It was the first time we had spoken in about an hour or two.

"Nah, she's probably out playing with Valinty." I replied as we both picked up a bag of garbage.

"It's weird though, she never came back to the tent last night." He murmured as we started over toward Rhamus's van.

"She didn't..?"

He knocked on the car door three times, and then opened it. We placed the bags down inside, and were then immediately on our way.

"Never mind, you're right Darren- it is probably nothing."

"You think so?" I asked, concerned.

He nodded. "Yeah."

Later that afternoon I received a request to pay a visit to Mr. Crepsley. At first I was going to stay mad at him, but then I figured if he was awake at the moment, then it was important- because the sun hadn't completely set yet.

I ran over to the van and hopped up the steps- two at a time- and knocked on the paint chipped, metal door, twice. I then turned the door knob and opened the door ajar, just enough to stick my head in.

"You wanted to see me?"

"Yes, come in." Mr. Crepsley replied. He was sitting at a small table, with an empty chair on the other side- across from him. I walked in, closed the door behind me, and sat in the empty chair.

Once I sat down, I immediately turned my chair toward the wall, and crossed my arms, looking away.

Mr. Crepsley tapped his fingernails onto the table for a moment. "You are still upset with me."

I didn't reply.

"Very well. Is Ariel with you?"

I sighed, and decided to cut my act. I was still mad at him, but it would have to wait. There had been something very wrong, that had been with me the whole day whether I realized it or not, but now it was nerve racking.

"No, she's not." I said, standing up. He seemed surprised in my sudden change, and didn't say anything as I started for the door. "Something is very wrong, and I have to go find her."

I quickly left, and started to run toward the woods where we Ariel would usually be. I had been tired before, due to the lack of blood, but pure adrenaline rushed through my body and performed like wings. My arms flew, knocking tree and branches out of my way.

Every now and then I paused for a brief moment, looking around. Vines covered in thorns wrapped around my ankles, but were ripped away from the earth whenever I ran.

"Ariel?" I shouted, cupping my palms around my mouth. Seconds felt like hours as I continued to search, leaving no stone unturned. The anxiousness was driving me crazy.