CHAP 3

When Claire woke up again, her stomach was killing her. She wasn't sure if it was hunger or if something in this disgusting place was making her sick. Brandon eventually threw some form of meat at her. She didn't know if it was cooked, if it was toxic, or even if it was animal or not. The smell of it said enough; even making her want to throw up, but her stomach was empty.

Brandon came back, a grin on his face.

"How long has it been?" she asked.

"You've been here for four days, darling." He answered, then his eyes glittered, "Two since the last time I fed." He continued maliciously. The rotting meat lying on the floor caught his eye, "Well, you didn't eat the gift I brought you. That's very ungrateful." A dangerous gleam showed in his eyes and he picked up the piece of meat, force-feeding it to Claire. She couldn't keep herself from gagging multiple times at the disgusting stuff. When he was done with that, he fed on her again, thankfully dragging Claire into another lapse of unconsciousness.

Shane

I paced the room, not being able to keep still. I haven't been able to stop moving or sleep since Claire went missing. Eve was making coffee in the kitchen and Michael was sitting on the couch, his head in his hands. He glanced up at me after a while, "C'mon, man, you need some sleep."

I just glared at him, "Look, bro, we all love her, but not getting sleep isn't going to help her."

"So I'm just supposed to get a nice sleep, with dreams of rainbows when my girlfriend is missing?" I erupted, enraged. It's been four days since I last saw Claire:

I woke to an obnoxious beeping sound and felt Claire move under my protective arm to shut off her alarm. I cracked my eyelids open as she turned back to look at me. She looked embarrassed when she saw I was awake, "Sorry," she said softly.

I groaned, suddenly grabbing her and wrapping her tightly in my arms. She squealed and giggled as I pressed her back to my chest. I moved her hair and kissed the back of her neck, "Stay." I pleaded, even though I knew she wouldn't. She shivered beneath my kisses, "Shane," she groaned, "you know I can't."

I pressed my chin in between her neck and shoulder, "Please?" I said, giving her my best puppy dog face. She glanced at me from the corner of her eyes and snorted at my face. She turned so that she was laying on her back, looking up at me as I leaned on my elbow over top of her, "Please, is that the best you got, Collins?"

I grinned, "Nope." I crushed my lips to hers, our mouths moving in sync, sliding my tongue across her bottom lip. We were at it like that for another half hour, then Claire finally pulled away, panting, and smacked me for making her late. She got up for a shower and before she left I asked, "Can I at least walk you to your class?"

Claire smiled and nodded, disappearing into the hallway. I put my hands behind my head and relaxed, thinking about this morning. And last night. I heard the water shut off on the shower and decided to get my things ready and wait outside of the bathroom door. Claire walked out and smiled at me, kissing me quickly before running into her room. I smiled and watched her leave before finally getting my shower.

I left the bathroom and looked for Claire, finding her in the kitchen just finishing her breakfast. I grabbed her hand as she grabbed her book bag and we left. I swung our hands between us as we walked, "Have you changed your mind yet?" I ask, jokingly.

Claire rolled her eyes at me, "Not today. I have a test."

I sighed, but kissed her temple, "You owe me." I whispered in ear.

"Ugh, get a freaking room, seeing the two of you makes me want to puke."

I turned to the annoyingly familiar voice, "Back off, skank. You're just jealous."

"Right," she scoffed, "Of what?"

"Claire." I said pointedly, knowing how badly Monica wanted me in high schol. That, and Claire is a freaking genius. Monica had to be tutored by her once and Claire got some good money out of it,too. Claire also told me that Monica had wanted the answers to a test, so Claire gave them to her.

On a thumbdrive that had a password that Monica had to study to find out anyway.

I don't think I was ever more proud of her.

"Yeah, right. Like I'd ever be jealous of the fashion confused freak."

"Watch it. She'll always be ten times smarter than you, let alone the fact that she has what you've been chasing since high school." I said a little bitterly. I knew I was bitter but she killed my sister. I would never forgive her for that.

She smirked but it seemed forced. Good, "What crawled up your ass, Collins?"

"Your mom." I answered simply. Claire snorted and Monica cocked an eyebrow. I pulled Claire away before Monica could open her fat mouth again.

We stopped in front of a big building on campus and Claire sighed, "I have to go."

"Okay. Remember, you owe me. I'll hold you to it when you get home."

Claire blushed and nodded, "Good luck, not like you need it, though, freaky genius girl." I said and winked. Claire giggled and went into the building…

That was the last time I saw her.

We all heard the door open and Amelie walked in, as white and graceful as ever, "Come on in." I muttered. She glared at me for a split second before regaining her composure.

"I came with news." She announced. Suddenly, I was all ears.

"Do you know where Claire is? Is she okay?" I asked in a rush.

Eve walked into the room to hear the news and I sat on the arm of the couch. Amelie looked at each of us squarely, "There is a certain feature on Claire's bracelet. If a single drop of her blood were on it, I would know of her whereabouts immediately and be called to her."
"And?" I prompted impatiently.

"And, Claire knows how to use this feature. She has used it before, I came to warn you that either something is terribly wrong, or she has forgotten about it."

I sat and stared at her, blinking. I suddenly shot up from my position, "What was the point of that?! To worry us more?! We're already out of our damn minds, what else do you want from us?!"

Amelie's face looked straight ahead, eyes glazing over. She looked at me directly, "I know where she is."