It's getting dark, and I'm sitting in a tree. Suddenly, I heard voices calling my name.

Great, my parents sent out a search party. I sighed; I knew they would do it eventually. I was just hoping they'd wait awhile.

The voices were getting louder, so I climbed higher into the tree. I looked down through the branches, to the forest floor below, I stopped breathing automatically. I watched until I saw a group of people and a few dogs gathered directly under the huge pine tree. I immediately saw two people I would always recognize. My parents. Both my mom and dad had tears streaming down their faces. I also saw my 15-year-old brother. It looked like he had been crying also. My beat-less heart was filled with pain at the sight of them. I wanted nothing more, then to jump down and comfort them. Of course I knew I couldn't do that, which made it worse.

"I'm so sorry Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, but it's getting too dark, we can't keep going. We'll start again tomorrow." I recognized the voice of the local police chief.

My mother just nodded, my dad said, "Yes, we understand. Come on, dear"

My dad put his arm around my mom's shoulder and turned the opposite direction. He passed by my brother and put his other arm around him. I wanted to cry. But I couldn't. Must be a vampire thing.

I watched helplessly from the tree as the search party slowly made its way back to the mouth of the forest. That might take awhile. I was pretty deep in. I just listened to them, until I could hear no more. I was silently forming a plan in my mind, as I climbed back down the tree and went to go hunt.

~~0~~

I stared down at my sleeping parents. I could tell they'd been crying before falling asleep. I was almost surprised to see that they weren't crying in their sleep. My mom had a picture of me in her right hand.

"I'm so sorry" I whispered, trying to suck in as little air as possible.

I bent down and kissed my mom on the cheek. She flinched in her sleep a little at my cold lips. I crossed over to the other side and kissed my father's cheek as well. He too, flinched slightly in his sleep.

I left the bed and went to the doorway. I turned looked at them one last time. My heart ached.

"Good-Bye. I love you." I whispered, before turning around and walking out of the room.

I walked into the hallway, the smell wasn't so strong out here, but it was still there.

I turned into my little brothers' room. He was sleeping deeply and it looked pretty peacefully, considering the situation. I went over to his bed. We had never been very close, but we had talked, and got along really well. I hoped he would find happiness someday. And my parents. I kissed his cheek also; he apparently was very deeply asleep, because he didn't flinch like our parents had.

"I'm sorry, Chase." I whispered. The burn in my throat seared painfully with the small breath I allowed myself to take.

"I love you"

I walked out of his room and went to mine. My room was just as I had left it.

I suddenly realized I didn't know what day it was, or how long I'd been 'missing'.

I sighed. My bed was made, but I had left random things strewn around it. I just ignored it and went over to my dresser and opened my jewelry box. There, I took out the $100 I'd saved up and stashed there. After pocketing my money, I went to my closet and found an old back-pack. No one would notice it was suddenly missing. Then I found some clothes I didn't usually wear, that covered as much of my body as possible. I found about four pairs of clothes, and put them into the bag. After putting a few other things that no one would miss in my bag, I turned and looked at myself in my full-body mirror.

Despite the darkness, I saw myself perfectly clear. My normally tan skin was pale white. My strawberry-blond hair that usually lay neatly on my shoulders was matted with blood and had bits of twigs in it. My shirt was dirty, and the front was soaked in dried blood, both from me and the animals I'd hunted. The front of my jeans also had some blood on it. Besides my clothes and hair, I was beautiful. I reminded myself of a Greek goddess. I shuttered. I had liked myself perfectly fine. I turned away from the mirror and found another pair of clothes.

I changed and put the blood soaked clothes into my bag. I also found another pair of sneakers and put them into the bag. I brushed my hair, and thought about taking the brush with me. No, since it was out in the open mom would notice, she's too perceptive. I put my hair into a ponytail with a hair-band and then zipped up my bag. I put it on one of my shoulders, and then headed down stairs.

I un-locked the front door, and opened it. The blast of fresh air felt good. I stepped outside, and then closed the door silently. I found the spare-key from its hiding spot in the bushes. I re-locked the front door. I re-hid the key and then walked down the two steps and onto the walk-way to the sidewalk and then turned around. I took one last look at my home. I sighed and turned and walked away. I wasn't sure where I was going; I just knew I was leaving.