Hey guys, breacrazybates here. I'm sorry it took me so long to upload. I've been disconnected from internet and now classes have started back so yeah :/. I should be able to update more frequently. I'll try to update at least once a week. If you have any ideas for me or just want to talk or something, send me a PM. You guys are awesome. As always, R&R and thanks for reading!

Chapter Five

Claire's POV:

I wake up the next morning exhausted and sore. I was woken up four times last night, each nightmare worse than the next. Shane got less sleep than I did. I understand what Amelie meant when she said that it would only get worse since he was already inside my head.

I get out of bed and take a quick shower, getting dressed. I decide not to go to class today. I don't feel well at all. Hopefully I'll be able to take a nap today to make up for the lack of sleep last night. Shane is gone when I go downstairs. There's a cup of hot coffee and a not on the counter when I get downstairs.

Claire,

Try to get some rest today. I'll be home for lunch. I love you.

Love,

Shane

I smile and take a sip of my coffee. It tastes perfect. I hear the creak of someone walking down the stairs and I turn, shocked. It's Amelie. Great, just what I needed today.

"Claire," Amelie says, cocking her head slightly as she looks me over," You do not look well."

"I couldn't sleep last night," I say, giving her a pointed look. She nods as if she expected that answer.

"Than it has already started," Amelie says grimly," I will tell you everything you need to know about Marcus but I need something from you in return."

"And what would that be?" the question slips out before I can stop it. I take a sip of my coffee, feeling myself slowly wake up.

"I want you to use this information to come up with a machine to suppress Marcus' ability," Amelie says, sitting on my couch. Amelie sitting on my couch seems comical to me somehow, especially since it's a bit beaten up and used.

"Deal. I'm sure Myrnin and I can come up with something," I say, sitting in a chair next to the couch. Amelie's head turns so fast that it surprises me. The look in her eyes is blazing and I can feel her anger from here.

"Don't tell Myrnin," she says, staring straight at me.

"Okay? Why?" I say, hoping I'm not making her angrier. She relaxes slightly.

"Marcus was created by the same vampire as Myrnin. Many of us thought that he was dead. Myrnin will not react kindly to the news of him being back and I cannot afford for him to throw a tantrum right now. He is needed to keep up the perimeter, among other things. He may know about the project but he must not know why you are working on it. Do you understand me?" Amelie's tone is sharp. I nod," Good."

"What can you tell me about his ability?" I ask, reaching into my backpack, which is sitting on the floor next to the couch. Someone must have brought it over. I grab a pen and turn to a blank page.

"The ability and mental and slightly peculiar. Very few vampires can keep an established contact with the mind of someone else, but Marcus, much like Naomi, can. Once he makes contact with someone's mind, he can make you see things whenever he wants, and can even control your dreams. The ability to hide something is also a part of this but that one is more taxing and will falter many times," Amelie explains as I scribble in my notebook," So far, the only person he has made that connection with is you."

"I hate to ask but do you have any idea how to reverse it?" I say, biting my lip. Amelie's expression is hard.

"If I knew that information than this would have been taken care of a long time ago," Amelie snaps, standing. She gives me one last look before heading back up the stairs. I stare down at my notebook. I am way out of my league here. What in the world can I do to fix this?

I shake my head. I can't start being negative now. I curl up on the couch under a blanket and turn on a movie. I'm asleep almost immediately after pressing play. I don't know how long I'm asleep but it must have been afternoon by the time I got up. I turn off the tv and run a hand through my hair. I look up and scream lodges itself in my throat.

Hanging from the ceiling is Shane, a noose around his neck. Written on the wall, in blood are the words:

You're Next...