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Zoe stood on the dim sidewalk, staring at nothing in particular. She was rubbing her arms against the slight chill of the night. Her mind was still back at the asylum where Davis was, the boy with the cool grey eyes that seemed to see her for what she was. He knew she wasn't normal. It wasn't a question, or speculation. It was recognition; she was different. She could define the look that had been in Mrs Thornton's eyes now. She knew, too. That's what unsettled her, Zoe thought.

She was accustomed to people treating her like a goddess; she was used to them staring at her, because part of them knew she wasn't entirely normal, but there was always admiration in their eyes. No one had ever looked at her the way Mrs Thornton and Davis had. They knew she was different, and that it wasn't the 'good' kind of different.

Zoe shivered, and hugged her arms to her chest. She had wanted to get as far away from Davis as quickly as possible. Now she found part of her inexplicably longing to go back there.
The shadows had been waiting for her outside. She could sense them trailing after her, feel them watching her. She wished she could go back into that creepy building, free of the shadows, and sit in that small dodgy room with Davis. They wouldn't need to talk. She could just sit there. He wouldn't be afraid of her, and she wouldn't have to pretend anymore. A ridiculous idea, of course, but one she would have given anything for.

"So what did you think about Davis?"
Zoe blinked, and the warm golden-dreamy vision snapped off. "He's weird. But okay, I guess."
"He's good company." Haley said. "And a really good friend. So what did you guys talk about while I was gone?"
"Oh. This and that." Zoe said and shrugged. "Nothing, really."
"Sounds boring."
"Yeah..."
"Come on, Zoe. Davis is never boring." Haley chided.

"I don't want to talk about it." Zoe said curtly, and jumped when a shadow moved under one of the streetlights. "Did you see that?"
"See what?"
"There was something over there just a second ago."
"Probably just a cat."
"No." Zoe said, and felt cold chills tickle down her back. "Something has been following us. I thought I saw something at the Willis house, too. And it's not a cat."
"Do you think it might be the Umbra guy?" Haley asked, stepping closer to her.
"I don't know. It might be." Zoe said uncertainly.
"Well." Haley said, and folded her arms across her chest. She narrowed her eyes at the darkness. "Then he's a little stalker, isn't he? Not a very good one, since we know you're there."

"Haley, what are you doing?" Zoe asked, her eyes going wide in disbelief.
Haley frowned and turned to look at Zoe. "Well, he has no right. It's perverted. He shouldn't be following you."
They looked around quietly for a few minutes. There was no sound, and nothing moved.

"If he shows up again, you should call me and go straight to Davis. He's always at the asylum."
"Why?" Zoe asked.
"Because of the rune of restraint, duh." Haley sighed.
"No. I mean, why is Davis always there?"
"Oh." Haley's cheeks flushed. "He's not on good terms with his parents, or something. I don't know the details, though."
"That's too bad." Zoe said quietly.
"If you're anyone else. Davis doesn't seem to mind much. He's a bit weird in some of his ways." Haley licked her lips and leaned against the wall surrounding Vista Park. "I love him to bits." She said, then glanced at Zoe. "Just don't tell anyone I said that. Jess will not be impressed."

"No, Jess will not be impressed."
Haley started, and Zoe caught a shriek behind her hands. She stared, wide eyed, as a shadow detached itself from the wall very close by them.
A second later the dim orange light illuminated a golden head, and cool eyes that seemed to literally glow like blue coals at them. He was wearing dark jeans, an unbuttoned blood red flannel shirt with the collar up, and a black T-shirt underneath. His hands were in tight pockets, and he walked with the same eloquent grace that she'd seen Julian move with.
In fact, Zoe found it quite disconcerting just how much he resembled Julian in that moment. Unearthly. Surreal. Had she not met him prior to tonight, she would never have believed he was human. But that's just it ,isn't it? He's not, Zoe thought and tried to swallow down the wild panic boiling up inside of her.
In that moment, he was radiating menace. His gaze was narrowed at both of them. His anger rolled off him in heat waves. She would have turned to run, if her legs hadn't suddenly turned to stone beneath her. Hell, she thought she'd been so scared all day that nothing could really make her even more fearful than she already was. She was wrong.

Haley laughed. Zoe herself could scarcely breathe. She tore her gaze from him to stare at Haley wildly. Are you nuts? He looks like he's going to kill us!
"Oh, my guardian angel." Haley said with a tenderness in her voice that overshadowed the panic threatening to rise inside of Zoe. Her feelings for Jess is genuine, you know, Davis's voice echoed through her mind, and Zoe glanced at Jess. Haley's affectionate response didn't seem to have any effect on him whatsoever.

"You lied to me." Jess said coldly.
"About what?" Haley asked, still smiling.
"You swore you'd never set foot in the Willis house."
"I didn't lie to you." Haley said. "I fully meant it when I promised. But that was over a year ago."
"Promises don't have expiry dates." Jess bit each word off angrily.
"Are you sure I promised to never go there? I'm foggy on the details." Haley said, her smile fading.
"Don't play with me." It was a warning. Zoe took a step back, glancing from one to the other.
"I could say the same to you." Haley straightened up, and her voice was nearly as cold and hard as his. "You think I'm just like everybody else. Really, Jess? Do you really think that I can't resist you?"
Jess didn't respond. His eyes flicked to Zoe.

"Well, seeing as you believe that, maybe I should prove you otherwise." Haley said angrily.
"You're only human. That's what I meant." Jess looked at her.
"Bollocks." Haley snapped. "Your ego is in need of some good bashing, Thornton."
"Maybe." Jess said, surprisingly, and glared at them. "Who is this Umbra guy you think is following you?"
"Oh." Haley said, and fell silent. She looked at Zoe. Zoe looked back at her quietly. "Don't worry about it."
"Mmm. Familiar words, Haley. You always say that when you're in trouble."
"I haven't done anything wrong." Haley said defensively. "What are you doing here anyway?"

"Your mom sent me to check up on you. She got a call from your brother that you've run off."
"Wonderful. Does that mean she's coming home?" Haley blew out her breath.
"No. She and my dad needs a bit more time out there."
"What are you guys doing out there, really?" Haley asked suddenly.
"Hunting. What we always do." Jess said, and gave Zoe a sidelong glance.
"You know, one day, I am going to find out the truth." Haley said.
Zoe shifted uncomfortably under his piercing gaze. He didn't look away from her, but he replied to Haley.
"Do you really think you want to know the truth?" Jess asked, and added in a quiet tone, "Do you think you can handle it?" Zoe felt that he meant the last for her.
"Hey, if I can handle you, I can handle anything." Haley said. "That's my dad's car."

And just like that, he was gone. One moment Zoe was staring back into those blue eyes – eyes that she recalled being pretty in daylight but had harboured something dark and writhing in them tonight – and then nothing. Like somebody had flipped a switch and he disappeared instantaneously. It happened so fast that Zoe nearly fell off balance.
"Wh... how did he... where did he go?" Zoe gasped.
"Back to camp, I suspect." Haley said, and grabbed her arm to steady Zoe. "I... it's weird, I know, I don't know how he does it either. Come on, here's my dad. And don't mention Jess."

A silver Chrysler pulled up to a halt next to them. The windows were dark. Zoe felt wary climbing into the car. She'd never accepted rides from strangers before – not even from her friends' parents unless her own had given consent.
Mr Locke was a handsome man. Neat and polished, with a rakish grin and a charming personality. The kind of dad you could walk around town bragging about; the kind when if you told someone else that your dad could beat up their dad, they wouldn't argue. Haley had the same hazel eyes he had.
"Dad, this is Zoe." Haley said as she put on her seatbelt.
"Hi." Zoe murmured.

Mr Locke turned off the radio. Silence roared in the car. He turned around in his seat, and flicked on the little light on the ceiling. A sharp yellow glow illuminated the car as if a spotlight had been fixed on them. His eyes were narrowed, and he was staring at Zoe. Total disbelief. Utter confusion.
"Uh. Dad?" Haley said, embarrassed.
Mr Locke studied Zoe for a moment longer. "I think Zoe should call her parents and tell them she's sleeping over tonight."
"Pardon?" Haley burst out.
Mr Locke looked at Haley, and his look silenced her. "And when we get home, I'll call your mother."

Zoe sat, paralyzed in confusion and fear. Nothing was making sense anymore. It was getting too much... far too much.
The Locke residence was a double-storey Moroccan style house with neatly mown lawn and coconut trees. Zoe felt out of place and wrong when she followed Haley inside. The furniture was white leather and mahogany wood, the walls painted neutral colours and the tilling of the floor in cool shades. Everything screamed out luxury and wealth.

Zoe didn't speak until Mr Locke explained to her that their Chihuahua had made off with the telephone receiver and that she would need to call her parents on loudspeaker.
"I want to go home." The words sounded hollow even to her ears. She didn't want to go back to that house, but she wanted her parents. She wanted their reassurance, their security. Their familiarity.

"Okay. Just let me make a call, and then I'll take you." Mr Locke stalled. Why he was stalling, Zoe didn't know and she didn't think she wanted to either.
She sat down on one of the couches next to Haley, glancing around the beautifully decorated room.

A grandfather clock stood against one wall, a large sprawling bookcase filled to the brim with books, a display case hosting a million framed photographs and a couple of potted houseplants, a wine rack with each slot containing a bottle. There was a sheepskin rug on the floor in front of her. Zoe held back her tears. She wanted to go home.

Mr Locke dialled the digits as if his fingers knew the path by habit. A loud ringing filled the house. He sat down on the couch opposite them, wringing his hands together. He looked across at her.
"Do you want some hot coco, maybe? Something warm to drink. Haley, could you go make us some tea?"
More stalling. I have to get out of here, Zoe thought.
"Do you want anything?" Haley asked her pointedly.
"No, I'm fine."
"We're good." Haley said.
"Haley." Mr Locke said warningly.
Haley didn't budge. Zoe was secretly glad. She didn't want to be left alone in this room with Mr Locke.

The ringing cut off abruptly. "Tom?" A female voice filled the room.
"Yeah, it's me." Mr Locke said.
"Is Haley home?"
"Haley's fine. But you need to come home."
"Oh, thank God." A pause. "I can't come home yet, Tom, I'm sorry."
"You really should, Faye. Tonight."
"Look, Tom." A deep sigh. "I know what's going on. Jenny called me earlier and wouldn't shut up about it. According to Jess, the girl's not exactly your average teen queen either. And Julian seems convinced it's her. But, really, as eager as I am to come home and see for myself, it will have to wait."
Mr Locke was clenching and unclenching his fists nervously.
"I thought it would be safest to keep her here for the night."
"Seriously?" There was a shuffling sound, and then the voice sounded a little faint. "Did you brainwash my husband? You swear?" There was a quiet laugh in the background – a pleasant, beautiful sound.
"Faye." Mr Locke sounded annoyed.

"Sorry, Tom. It's just... I think pigs must have spread wings today."
"What?" Mr Locke asked, stumped.
"You did exactly what Julian wanted to do, and exactly what I told him not to do. Do I really have to think for the both of you?" Faye said angrily. "You can't keep her there against her will, Tom."
"But this is where she'll be safe..."
"Zoe, sweetie, are you there?" The voice cut him off.
"Yes." Zoe said in a small voice when Haley nudged her encouragingly.
"Tom is going to take you home, okay? And if he doesn't, Haley will let me know, and I'll come down there and take you home myself."
"Okay."
"And Haley, you and I are going to have a little talk when I get back."
Haley stiffened next to Zoe. Her eyes went round in surprise.

"Faye, you really should be getting home now. What if things start happening and I can't reach you..." Mr Locke started worriedly.
"Oh, Tom. It's a given things will be happening. Nothing short of crazy happens when Julian is involved, you ought to know that by now. Besides, even if I wanted to, I can't come home yet. Julian and I aren't finished. Look, I'll see you next weekend. Love to the kiddies from mommy." There was a final click, and then the dial tone sliced through the room.
"Fine." Mr Locke said, annoyed, cutting off the sound with a button. He looked at Zoe awkwardly. "Let's get you home, Zoe."

There was no conversation in the car and the drive to Zoe's house felt like it stretched on forever.
"Remember what I said." Haley whispered to her when they pulled up her driveway.
Zoe couldn't recall any other time she'd ever been so glad to see her mother's ugly purple car parked outside the house.
"I'll see you at school." Was all Zoe said before nearly leaping out of the car.
She restrained herself from running into the house. Once inside, she locked the door securely. "Mom?"
"What's wrong?" Mrs Rudolfse appeared around the corner, her eyes slightly bloodshot and her skin pale.
Zoe responded by flinging herself into her mother's arms. Something was terribly wrong. Even though her mother was hugging her back, there was a subtle awkwardness. A weariness that there had never been before. Zoe pulled back. "Nothing. What's wrong, mom?"

"Nothing. I... just had a hard day at work today. How was the party?" She was lying. Her mother had never been a good liar. She looked strained – as if at any given moment she would just shatter into a million little fragments. It was as though she was waiting for Zoe to deliver the blow.
"Stupid. I'm not going to any more parties for a while." Zoe said, taking a step away.
"Your father will be happy to hear that." Her voice cracked.
"Is Dad okay?" Zoe asked, cold dread making her limbs go numb.
"He's fine. He's just... running some errands...er, doing some business in town. Are you hungry?"
"What business, Mom? It's nearly nine." Zoe said and followed her mother into the kitchen.

"We'll tell you. All in good time, we will tell you." Mrs Rudolfse said. She seemed to be talking to herself rather than to Zoe. She seemed very far away. Detached. "Want some lasagne, Zoe?"
"No. I'm not hungry." Zoe said. She watched her mother dish up a plate and pop it into the microwave to heat it.
"I always knew this would happen. Your father always told me, Linda that girl is going to wake up one day and she's going to know. I just... hoped, I guess. That the day would never come." Her mother wasn't making any sense. Zoe wanted to run when her mother spun to face her. "Zoe. You're not like us. You never were."

The world jerked to a halt around her. There was suddenly no breath in her lungs, and her heart seemed to be fighting to make a beat. You're not like us.
"Mom..." Zoe said quietly.
"Please. Call me Linda. It's better that way."
Zoe turned and ran. She didn't know where she was going. Her mind was filled with nothing but the cold echo of her mother's words. You're not like us.
She was crying without really knowing, her vision blurred with tears and shadows. Her feet pounded across the tarred highway. Some part of her knew the danger she was putting herself in – the highway wasn't meant for pedestrians. There was no sideline for her to keep safe to. If a car came around a corner, she would get hit. Zoe didn't care.

You're not like us.
She couldn't go into town, because there would be nowhere she could hide where she wouldn't be found. She couldn't go into the woods – she didn't want to risk running into Jess again, or worse, stumble onto their hidden campsite. Zoe wanted to get away from it all. Away from everyone, and everything. She wanted to disappear.
Funny, how she'd always felt that somebody was looking for her and how she'd wanted them to find her. But those times were far behind her now. Zoe didn't want to be found.

She found herself on a bridge without any recollection of how she'd gotten there. It was dark, the streetlights not giving adequate enough light to show her surroundings, but Zoe could see the long drop down into a gorge over the side. She glanced around, and wiped at her wet cheeks angrily. No one in sight. She looked back down. She could just jump. End it all here, tonight. She could feel things were escalating, that everything was just going to get worse. Zoe knew she didn't have the strength to face up to it.
No one will find her. No one will ever find her, or ever know. The river far below would drag her downstream, away from Vista Grande. By the time her body is found, it would have been at least a couple of weeks. Zoe pinched her eyes closed. Just do it.

"You don't belong in that house with those people who call themselves your parents." She would have thought it was just the sound of the wind, rustling through the leaves. But there was no wind, and she recognized the voice. She could see his eyes in her mind – endless and deep obsidian eyes that seemed to freeze your body and burn into your soul.
"What do you want?" Zoe whispered, and turned to glare at the shadows. They were there, of course. Melting, rising, throbbing, silent. "What do you want?" She shouted suddenly. She didn't know whether it was anger or fear that was driving her toward them.

She stopped short of them. She was upset enough to lash out at them, close enough to touch them. Zoe didn't budge an inch further from the spot of light flooding around her. Part of her was afraid of the implication it would have if she crossed the line where light met darkness. She would be stepping right into their midst. She could feel them watching her. Glaring at her. Daring her.
"What do you want?" She hissed.
Zoe thought for a second she could hear her own words hissed back at her. She turned around. She had to get away from here. Somewhere there was light, somewhere they couldn't follow her.

Zoe found her way back to town. Slowly. Dawn was breaking by the time she passed her house. There were police cars in the yard, red and blue lights flashing in the wee hours of the morning.

The asylum didn't look as creepy as it had last night. Zoe wandered through the hallways, peeking into rooms. No one was watching her. No one was following her. She could be at peace here. At least for a little while. Davis was nowhere to be found, and Zoe eventually sank down on the battered old mattress in the small room. She leaned her head back against the wall, and closed her eyes.
You're not like us. Zoe was alone with her pain and tears.