Nothing in the world felt more ravishing than the cold sting of fresh air on my cheek. It's the only good thing my poor cheek has felt since my coming here. Being given the trait of impressive memorizing at first look quality (Handed down to me by my mother), I knew Michael Grant's book like the back of my hand, probably better than Michael himself. I knew where everything was located from description, I knew where Cliftop was, the powerplant and of course my new profound destination: Perdido Beach. The answer was obvious for me going there: Find Sam. I didn't actually have a plan or a good enough explanation of how I arrived, I myself was still trying to clear the spiraling questions in my head.

I thought it'd be a 'smooth sailing' kind of drive, when the truck broke down in the middle of the highway. Apparently I'd forgotten to check the gas. Great. Stuck on the highway. No appropriate place to camp out. No kind of street lights, in case I decided to foot it. And did I mention, AT NIGHT! I couldn't even get the truck off the road and out of plain sight so that I could've slept in the backseat or something. Out of frustration, I banged my head into the steering wheel and it let out a loud 'beeeeeeeeeeepppp' I raised my head up instantly.

"Shut...it"

If I stayed on the road Caine or Drake would most definitely find me. By now they would've notice I was missing and sent Drake after me and knowing Drake, he's already probably halfway down the highway by now. Death was coming to me, but I refuse to let it find me. I hopped out the truck and ran into the darkness of the forest. A perfect camouflage except for my bleached hair ends. My hands guided me as I slipped through trees after trees, my left foot in front testing the surroundings while the right proceed one step at a time. I felt like how a blind person would, my eyesight was useless. I came to terms with my boastful mind and admitted to myself, it made absolutely no sense what I was doing here. Getting off the road was a survival tip but going off into the dark forest with no flashlight or lantern was something I'd get yelled at for by my dad; The king of the wilderness (so he calls himself. Her father is an professional explorer and her mom is a geeky journalist).

"Who am I kidding? I'm no wilderness explorer. I can't survive here, let alone by myself"

I sat, crushing dried leaves as I did. My knees were by my chest, and my arms enclosed tightly around them as tears trickled down my face. And before I knew it, I was drifting off into sleep.

A bright light pierced through my eyelids cause my eyes to forcefully open. Boy was I glad to see the sun. I let out a relieving sigh. I made it through the night.. in tears yes but without being eaten or captured or anything of that sort. My stench was mostly of fresh grass while dried leaves covered my hair, which was by the way, frizzed due to the dew. In other words, basically, I looked and smelled alot like mother nature. I slowly tried letting myself up, using the trees as support. But I failed and fell flat back on the ground. Something prevented my hands from moving from behind my back. Looking back I saw the problem instantly: a rope bineded my hands. Panic filled me within seconds. I'd been captured during sleep by the obvious: Drake. Weird how I did wake up back at Coates tied up or being abused. Instead I was tied up in the very spot I felt comfortable enough to fall asleep, waiting to be abused. Clever Drake. If my hands were tied...then my ankles would be as well. I looked down...yup they were. No pointing trying to fight my way out of it so I laid back against a tree and waited.

Hours passed laying here. No sign of Drake. Suddenly, something rustled in the bushes. I swallowed. A tall figure approached, with shaggy black hair, broad shoulders and long arms. Obviously not Drake. It was another creep; a handsome one too. His eyes were a piercing blue and he wore a grim smile.

"Excuse me. Why am I tied up?" I asked sternly

No response. Just continuous stares. After awhile, he made a motion with his hands. Great charades.

"You can't talk?"

He shook his head vigorously.

"Okaay... why did you tie me up?"

His hands went to his stomach and he rubbed. I swallowed harder than before. He was hungry. He was going to eat me. This is insane! Out of everything there is to eat, ME?! He grabbed some sticks from around the area and piled them in front of me. I'm going to be bar-b-qued. I watched as he fumbled with a lighter he took out of his pants. When he finally got the work of it, he threw it into the pile of sticks and they burned instantly. The person then took out a pocket knife and approached me. I screamed. He approached quicker. I screamed louder this time, but it was muzzled by his huge palms. With his right hand over my mouth, he used to left to firmly hold the knife which he was now approaching my throat. I said a silent prayer as tears flowed freely. BANG! Blood painted my face. The tall creep's body dropped to the ground. As his lifeless body fell, I saw Drake standing upright behind him, gun pointed out. He lowered it a bit for me to see his infamous shark-like grin but a good enough distance to shoot again. This time at me.

"I didn't hear my 'thank you'" his grin still played on his face as he approached me.

At this point in my life, I never wished I was more dead than now.

"You didn't have to. I was looking forward to being eaten"

Drake stooped. I flinched a bit, knowing he'd slap me in the face or whip me for leaving. But to my surprise he didn't. He just stared. His face was now directly in front of me; his handsome features exposed. This was making me a bit uncomfortable but I tried not to show it. Drake then cut the ropes from my hands and feet. "I could tell..the way you screamed like that"

"Yeah, well it's a reflex" I kept eye contact to a minimal. Didn't want him knowing I'm secretly in love with his psychopathness.

He scoffed "Whatever. Get your ass up, we're going"

We walked back onto the road. Me being in front and Drake at the back, gun still remained positioned.

"Coates is that way backside" I said as I pointed the opposite direction in which we we heading.

"We're not going to Coates hunny" His grin wider than ever.