Chapter 22

Kris

Sleep was killer. Not only did the images of Emmett, Brady, and Harry pop up in my mind whenever I closed my eyes, but Cam stayed up all night trying to sooth said characters, making my dreams all about Brady, Harry, and Emmett.

When I opened my eyes in the morning, however, all was quiet. I think Cam finally went to sleep. I sighed and sat up in bed, rubbing my eyes. I was shocked to find fresh tears drenching my face. Was I crying all night?

I sniffed the air. Usually, Clara would be cooking breakfast. Or, at least she'd be making a fresh cup of coffee. I yawned and walked downstairs.

"Morning, Clara," I grumbled, shuffling into the kitchen. I got a mug and poured some coffee into it. I stirred in some creamer and took a sip. I spat it out immediately.

It was cold! I poured out the old coffee and looked into the dining room. Nothing. Nobody was there.

Fearing the worst, I ran up the steps and crashed through Clara's bedroom door. It hit the wall, cracking the drywall. I winced. Clara is gonna kill me for that.

"Clara?" I yelled, frantically pulling at Clara's many covers. I finally got to the bottom, where only pillows and a note lay.

Missing something?

Oh, God, no... I recognized the handwriting. Dillan.


Brady

I heard Cam screech and ran upstairs.

"Cam? What's happened? Kris?"

Cam shook her head.

"It can't be... Dillan... Kris, she... Oh, God..." Cam sputtered, covering her mouth.

"What happened? What's wrong?" I demanded, pulling her hands away from her mouth.

"Dillan took Clara," Cam whispered, staring at me with tearful eyes. "And he may still be lurking around the house."

"Oh, God," I yelled, running out of the room. I passed by Emmett and Edward, but I was in too great of a hurry to pause and inform them. I replayed the scene in my head for Edward's sake, though.

"Emmett! It's Kris, her ex-boyfriend kidnapped Clara!" I heard Edward inform him as they chased after me. I heard their feet barely touch the ground as they caught up to me. I yanked off my clothes and phased, not even bothering to place the clothes in the string around my ankle. I heard Jacob, Seth, and Brady phase, too, but I ignored their questioning thoughts and pushed myself forward, towards Kris' house.

I heard a gunshot and an ear-piercing scream. Then everything was silent. Oh, God, Kris!

I ran for the house. Kris was running towards the woods. My relief didn't last long, though. That meant... Clara! And Kris was heading straight for Dillan!


Kris

I heard a wolf growl behind me and suddenly his head went right underneath my legs, pulling me swiftly onto his back. The wolf turned me around, heading for my house again.

"Brady, dammit, take me back!" I yelled, pulling uselessly at his fur. He shook his head. I punded my fists on his neck and head. "Brady!"

"Brady, I have a double in the Cullens' house, waiting for me to die anyways. Dillan just shot at my sister! I want to kill him as much as you and Emmett do!"

Emmett was leading Brady through the trees, but turned around, surprised. His face was alight with anger.

"As soon as you're safe, we're going back to kill him," Emmett explained. "Edward just left with the other wolves to settle everything back there. Nobody's killing anybody until we get back there."

"No... don't kill him literally!" I screamed in frustration. "Just prove to him that he's in big trouble and throw him in jail!"

Brady paused. Emmett stopped.

"That's not gonna happen," Emmett said after a minute. "He killed my other great neice. He deserves to die."

"Will you be willing to sink to his level? To kill for revenge? That's what he's doing right now, Emmett, and you'll be no better than him when you're through!"

Emmett sighed.

"Fine. What do you suggest we do?"

"Cam," I said simply. "I can bring her back afterward. But she can play the decoy."

I will not.

Will too, Cam. You have to.

Nope. Not happening.

Fine. I'll die and you won't have a mind or body of your own.

It'll happen anyways.

Exactly, so what's the point in arguing?

I didn't like this world to begin with...

"Cam is on her way," I said. "She doesn't like this world anyways."

Emmett grinned. Brady growled.

"Brady, would you rather there were two of me?"

Brady looked up at me and shook his furry head.

"Didn't think so."

Cam came over ten minutes later, wearing pajamas identical to mine and her hair messed up like mine always is in the morning.

"Alice wanted me to look authentic for my death," Cam explained grimly. I nodded.

"Let's go," Emmett murmured, hugging Cam and me tightly before heading for Dillan's general area.

"Whoa," I gasped.

It was mayhem on the battlefield. Edward was quickly dodging bullets. Jacob was tending to Clara. The wolves were confusing Dillan, making him shoot more.

I hid behind a tree as Cam, Emmett, and Brady entered the small arena.

"Dillan? Baby?" Cam called out. Dillan dropped the gun in surprise. He scrambled to pick it up and pointed it at Cam's heart.

"D-don't move, Kris, or I swear I'll-"

"Kill me?" Cam purred. "Sugar you couldn't do that."

"Don't you dare come closer!" Dillan yelped. "I swear, Krissie, I'll kill you!"

"Sweetie, I left you because I had enough. It doesn't mean I don't love you anymore."

"St-stop it," Dillan sobbed. He cocked the shotgun. His hands were shaking.

"Dill, put the gun down. You're scared," Cam egged him on.

"I'm not scared! I can shoot your damn brains out, bitch!"

"Language!" Cam sneered, loosing her sweet side competely.

"I'll pull the trigger!"

I was slowly walking around, so that Dillan would be right behind me. I lifted a rock big enough to knock him out and slowly entered the battle site. Cam nodded softly, almost as if she were thinking to herself, but I took it as a "wait for it" signal.

"Dill Pickle, Dillan Pie, Honey Bear," Cam taunted. "You don't have the guts to shoot me!"

"That's it!" Dillan screamed, pulling the trigger. Cam smirked. Her final expression. I felt the tingling sensation in the back of my head disappear. She's a part of me again.

"Hello, Dillan. I'm back," I snarled. Dillan whirled around to get a face full of rock.

"Oops," I sneered, tossing the rock to the side and rushing toward Clara.

"K-Kris," Clara sighed. I felt faint when I saw where the bullet left it's mark. Her blood was dark, and I knew she wouldn't survive this type of injury.

"Clara," I sobbed, holding her hand.

"Krissie, Jacob here explained everything. I want you to know that I'm happy if you're happy, no matter what creature you love," Clara wheezed.

"No, Clara," I sobbed as her hand went slack. I sttod up and headed for Dillan's unconscious body, ready to bash the rock into his head some more, but warm arms held me back.

"Shh, Kris, it's okay, shh..." Brady whispered. "It's okay, baby, calm down."

"It's not okay! He killed my sister! He killed the only family I have! My grandmother's dying, I have no father, no mother, and now no sister! Dillan deserves to die!" I wailed, giving up and turning, pressing my face into Brady's chest. I cried out loud. I wasn't ashamed. More hands hugged my shoulders.

"I'm your family, Kriten," Emmett said. "I'm your family."

"Emmett," I sobbed, turning to hug him.

"It's gonna be okay," Brady promised, hugging both me and Emmett. Emmett hugged both of us back. I heard him sob almost silently to himself.

AN: Next chapter will be the funeral, and Dillan's trial. Be sure to check out my new fanfiction, too, called Isabella X. I'll be very pleased if you did and reviewed.

Note for Noel Ardneck: I will be creating a character for you shortly... She isn't born yet! But she'll definately appear in the series, and you can send me a review telling me exactly how you want her to behave! (Tomboy, girlie-girl, Goth... etc.) She's gonna appear any day now, so keep on reading and being my best author chum.