Alright, as promised, a relatively quick update! Thank you EVERYONE for your reviews, as always! I hope you continue to enjoy this story, and I apologize for well of angst I seem to keep dipping into for it! These chapters are a bit shorter than the previous, and the next one is even shorter. To make up for it, I'll try to keep updates coming quickly. (I despise short chapters).

Reminder: I don't own the characters you recognize, am not making any money off this, and appreciate Roswalyn for betaing, and everyone else for their comments and support. :)

Avoidance by Death
by lightwarai
Chapter 5

April 17th
(approximately one week before the accident)

"No!" she cried out, running as fast as she could. In every tree she passed, she could see the faces of her family and friends, twisted in disgust at her. She felt shame wash over her like the chilly fog that she found herself quickly approaching as she ran. The disgusted looks turned to laughing, mocking expressions.

Behind her, she could hear the heavy breathing of her pursuer as he began to close the gap between them. She dared not look behind her, but she knew he had a knife in one hand. His other hand held something she could not see. And it was that unseen object that scared her the most.

Words began to echo in her mind. Words that seemed to come from all around her.

"You couldn't protect me!"

"It's all your fault!"

"Why are you running? You have to save her!"

"You've never appreciated me!"

"You'll regret…"

The voices trailed off as she approached a clearing. She stopped suddenly. Her blood ran cold as she stared at the body. Blood was everywhere. The stripes on her body continued to ooze fresh blood. Her skin was as white as snow. Her clothes were shredded.

But the eyes.

Nancy began shaking.

The eyes stared up at her, and Nancy saw the lips moving.

"Save me."

Nancy fell to her knees, gasping for breath. Her chest was tight, so tight. Breathing... I can't breathe! I'm going to die! The words echoed in her mind as she clutched at her shirt.

And suddenly, he was there, looming over her like a huge bear. She froze. Unable to move. Unable to run. Unable to scream.

He grabbed her by her hair, the unseen object dropping to the ground. The knife was pressed against her neck, and a slow cut formed from her neck towards her underarm. She could feel her shirt being cut away. She had one last breath, but the only word she could muster quickly trailed off.

Nooooo……

NDHB NDHB NDHB NDHB

Frank lay in bed, his arms folded behind his head. In the other bed, Joe lay, mumbling in his sleep, tossing and turning. But Frank had tuned him out hours ago.

His mind still focused on the case they had just closed. A missing woman, suspected of only running away. The family had contacted the Hardys, believing that the young woman had been met with foul play. Nancy had accompanied them at Frank's request. As the three had begun their investigation, without the help or support of local authorities, accidents began happening and threats started appearing. The trio quickly realized that there was definitely more to this than a simple runaway.

It didn't take long for authorities to step back in and officially reopen the investigation. One week later, the body was found. The discovery was shocking.

Frank shuddered, every detail engraved into his mind. The sleepy little town of Greenville would never be the same.

Keylee, age 29, daughter, sister, girlfriend, cousin, granddaughter, niece, coworker, friend, volunteer, church member, piano teacher. Raped. Murdered. Butchered. Buried.

They had found her in the woods, her once-beautiful blonde hair was caked in blood and mud. The rainstorm has washed away most of the blood, leaving her wounds open and visible to the unaided and even untrained eye. Her clothes, or what was left, were tattered, unable to conceal her body.

Callie, his voice echoed in his mind. She looks just like you… what if it had been you?

Frank turned over on his side in a feeble attempt to block out that memory. It wasn't Callie. She was still alive, and happily married.

After the discovery of the body, the local police took over the case completely. Luckily, DNA evidence was still attainable, and the culprit was soon caught. But the damage had been done. The family was utterly devastated.

The entire town shut down as everyone attended the memorial service. Her remains had been burned, and the memorial service was held at the small lake on the outskirts, where Keylee had spent much of her time during her summers off from school. Her ashes were released into the lake.

"Iola… stay…"

Frank sat up and turned to face Joe. He had one hand stretched toward the ceiling, and he was calling out Iola's name in a soft, but trembling voice.

The elder brother jumped up and went to Joe's side. His brother was soaked in sweat. Frank filled with dread, knowing what his brother was dreaming about – the accidental murder of his first steady girlfriend years ago. "Joe! Joe!" he called softly, not wanting to disturb Nancy in the other room. He knew better than to touch Joe when he was asleep and dreaming. The last time had resulted in a black eye for Frank.

Frank pulled the covers off Joe and continued to call his name, his voice gradually increasing, until his eyes popped open. Joe lay still for a moment, and slowly, his hand came down, bracing himself against the mattress as he struggled to sit up.

Frank sat down next to him. "Are you okay?"

Joe just sat there quietly for a few minutes. His brain was still being tormented with images of Keylee, Iola, and the explosion that took Iola's life. In the middle of it all, Vanessa, his second steady girlfriend, kept appearing. It was too much for Joe, and he couldn't stop the tears that burned his eyes.

"I'll live," was the only reply.

He stood up carefully, and made his way to the small bathroom in their hotel room. After a few minutes, he reappeared, having washed his face and taken some deep, calming breaths. Frank just sat in the same spot, looking sadly at the ground.

"This has to stop." Frank ran a hand through his dark hair, but he would rather have pulled it all out, if it made the pain they were feeling go away.

Joe was about to reply when they heard a muffled scream come from the room where Nancy had been sleeping. In unison, the brothers jumped up.

Frank headed straight for the couch where she was, slamming his shin into the coffee table in his anxiety. Joe flipped on the lamp sitting on the end table. They found Nancy writhing and kicking, clutching at her clothes and the blanket covering her. Frank grabbed Nancy's hands and called her name, trying to keep the frantic tone out of his voice.

"Nancy! Nan, wake up!" He shook her shoulders gently, and felt the sweat that had covered her and soaked through her tank top. Her eyes fluttered open, and she drew several ragged breaths, as if she had been unable to breathe the last few moments.

Frank sat down on the couch next to her, his warm brown eyes full of concern and understanding. Joe sat in the armchair, still trying to shake off the remnants of his own nightmares.

Nancy slowly sat up, swinging her legs around and adjusting the blanket around her. She shivered as the cool hotel air touched her sweaty skin. "I'm sorry for waking you guys up." She glanced at her hands, fully expecting to find blood on her. The nightmare had been too real. The pain and the fear continued to grip her and she still struggled to accept the reality that she was alive, unharmed, and sitting in the hotel room with two of her closest friends.

"You didn't. We were both awake." Frank replied, touching her forehead. Nancy peered at him, and then glanced at Joe. She saw the same tormented expression mirrored on Joe's face.

"I want to quit. I don't want my family and my friends to be hurt anymore. I don't want to worry them." She covered her face with her hands. "I don't want to end up like her," she whispered softly to herself.

Frank knew at that moment that her decision had been made. His stomach turned and his heart ached at her last words. He knew her decision wasn't made in any selfish manner, but that she feared for her family and friends, just like he and Joe did. As long as they were alive, they'd always be a danger to their families.

He wrapped his arms around her, kissing her forehead reassuringly. Joe joined them on the couch, and held onto his brother and his friend.

They were ready.